Meet Rae Turner - BHS POSTER MODEL
She’s the model being featured in the new British Horse
Society road safety poster.
She’s at the centre of a BHS national advertising campaign
for new members.
She’s a 67-year-old grand-mother of two , who has been
breeding New Forest ponies for over 25-years.
The BHS has just launched the second phase of their membership
recruitment campaign and wanted to highlight the work of their
Safety Department.
They originally planned to produce a poster featuring two
riders side by side, one in high visibility clothing, the other
in ordinary riding clothes.
David Kerry, Cumbria’s Senior Road safety Officer and
the British Horse Society (BHS) Safety Representative for the
North of England volunteered to take the photograph.
Says Rae, “We were all at the Kingswater Equestrian
Centre at Brampton, near Hadrian’s Wall for a Dressage
competition. David had succeeded in persuading his wife, Helen,
and her horse Breeze to dress up in fluorescent gear. He needed
another horse and rider.
“I’ve known David for a long time – many
years ago he taught me for my Riding and Road Safety Test.
He approached me to do the photo-shoot. I was happy to oblige.
“Helen was dressed up in high-vis gear and I was dressed
down in dark jeans, chaps and dark green jacket. I knew
David had to get the photos right that day – no second
chances. They turned out to be very good but when the
photos were sent off the BHS decided to change the theme. They
only wanted me and my pony, Abbs in the picture . They
then enhanced the photo to make it appear as if you were seeing
us through a shattered car windscreen.
“The advert has appeared numerous times since in lots
of the top equestrian magazines as well as now being turned
into a poster.”
In the poster, Rae is riding her pure-bred New Forest
pony, Bowerwood Arabesque whose pedigree goes back four
generations.
<<Rae and Helen Kerry
Says Rae, who was born in Edinburgh but moved to the New Forest
when she was a child, “I used to have her mother and
grandmother. But they are sadly no longer with us. All
three have won at their breed show. Her mother, Aquila,
was my “pony of a lifetime”, but Abbs is already
showing signs of living up to her mother’s reputation.
“Abbs was born in 2001, Foot and Mouth year. Living
in Gretna we were in the thick of it all. Surrounded
by death, it was so good to have this foal – so alive
and well.
She was broken by a friend of mine, with no problems. At
the time I was waiting for a hip operation and that meant I
couldn’t ride, so she was put into foal to a Champion
New Forest Stallion – the result, a daughter called Anna.
“I started to ride her last spring but had to
stop when a sarcoid was discovered between her front legs on
the girth line. She was treated, but it meant another
year off work.
“So in Spring 2009 - she was 8 years old - I started
to work her. Typically the weather on the Solway was
not so good, so I took her to our local equestrian centre to
do some dressage. We started with Introductory A & B – winning
both.
“We’re now going on to compete in Endurance under
Scottish Endurance Riding Club rules. We have completed
four rides so far and clocked up 127km. The aim is to
reach 150km or 100 miles. I am convinced that this sort
of riding has taught her so much.
“Abbs is a wonderful fun pony and a credit to
her breed and will be ready for my seven-year- old granddaughter
to ride”.
Adds David Kerry, (pictured left) “Rae
tells me that this is not the first time she has had a famous
pony. Abbs mother was photographed at the Royal Show and her
picture appeared in a book “The Ultimate Horse” by
Elwyn Hartley Edwards.
“As far as the BHS campaign is concerned, I was lucky
that Rae and Abbs were available for the photos. The
BHS are very pleased with the resulting poster.” See
the BHS Poster here
To find out more about the BHS or how you can become
a member and receive some fantastic benefits call 01926
707 744. www.bhs.org.uk
