We had a fantastic afternoon last Sunday at Whatley Manor with our amazing Sponsored Rider Natasha Baker MBE and our 3 new Young Sponsored Riders – Lucy Mae Bush, Jess Parsons and Jemima Stratton. The 3 girls won our competition for a sponsorship package with us, which  includes three mentoring sessions with Natasha, a photoshoot with us, branded horse goodies and ongoing support from us during 2017.

We started the afternoon with introductions, and a brief background on how our Young Rider Sponsorship started in 2014, when a young rider Amelia James approached us about sponsoring her and we decided  we loved the idea of sponsoring young talent. After the first year of sponsoring 3 young riders – Amelia James, Flo Dawes and Kirsty Camm, we decided we wanted there to be a “developmental” aspect to the sponsorship, so we asked Natasha to come on board to mentor our sponsees. We were thrilled when she said yes!

Sunday was the first meeting of our 3 new riders with us and Natasha. After introductions, Natasha spoke about her ambition to go to the Olympics as a young child, her experience of becoming a dressage rider, and then going on, with her horse JP, to win two Gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics and three at the Rio games last year – as well as numerous European titles. Each of the 3 girls then had their first 1:1 mentoring session with Natasha, and the afternoon flew by!

Jess said ” I feel incredibly lucky and still can’t quite believe that I have been lucky enough to have won the sponsorship. It is also a great honour to be able to receive mentoring from Natasha. I found the session truly inspiring.”

 

Pictured above, left to right myself Jo, Lucy Mae Bush, Natasha, Jess Parsons and Jemima Stratton.

Pictured above, Lucy Mae Bush with Natasha.

Pictured above, Jess Parsons with Natasha.

Pictured above, Jemima Stratton with Natasha.

Pictured above, Tom the Rio mascot!

 

As well as bringing along one of her Rio gold medals for the girls to see, Natasha brought Tom – the mascot which the Para competitors were all given during the games. At the end of the sessions, we presented Natasha with a gift – a framed print of her and her horse Cabral (JP) from one of our 2016 photoshoots.

We’re really excited about what this year will bring for each of our riders as they go out competing on their steeds!

If you would like to apply for Jo Hansford’s next sponsorship programme please email jo@johansfordphotography.com .

With huge thanks to Whatley Manor for allowing us use of the hotel for this event, for the second year running.