Sarah Johnstone, owner of Scottish based equestrian performance brand, Apt Cavalier, completes 117 mile run to raise vital funds for equestrian charity, Ebony Horse Club.
Scottish Borders based Sarah Johnstone, founder of equestrian performance brand Apt Cavalier, completed a gruelling challenge of running 117 miles in less than ten weeks, raising £2,115.00 for Ebony horse Club, an equestrian charity for disadvantaged children, based in Brixton, London.
A cause close to Sarah’s heart, being a keen horsewoman herself, it had been her intention to fundraise for the charity throughout 2020 at various horse events, at which she showcases her sportswear collection.
However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, most events were cancelled and, not to be defeated, she was determined to find an alternative way to do her bit for her chosen charity.
She decided to run more than 100 miles over ten weeks, and considering she was not a runner beforehand, set herself a challenging aim!
Sarah commented “Blair International Horse trials is the largest FEI event in Scotland and the one we consider our “local”, even though it is three hours’ drive to get there. It had been my intention to do the bulk of our fundraising at Blair this August, however, due to lockdown that wasn’t a possibility for us. Not to be beaten, I decided to run the equivalent distance between our office and the horse trials to raise the funds for the riding centre.”
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Sarah selected Ebony Horse Club as the focus of Apt Cavalier’s fundraiser as she believes in the positive impact of horses, especially on children.
Ebony Horse Club is located in one of the poorest areas in London, Brixton. Its volunteers work hard to transform the lives of local young people through the care and healing powers of horses.
Equestrianism is a sport which often lacks diversity and it is the belief of both Ebony and Apt Cavalier that young people’s opportunities shouldn’t be limited by the postcode they grew up in or the colour of their skin.
Running alongside Sarah was Apt Cavalier’s supported rider Adele Ayton and a group of more than 40 of Sarah’s brand ambassadors and customers, all driven to make a difference in the equine world. The money raised by Sarah and her team will go towards buying new equipment, covering the cost of care and travel for the horses, and will fund activity days for their teenage riders.
Apt Cavalier was founded in 2017 by amateur eventer and fashion graduate, Sarah, and now boasts an international customer base. Their performance collection is designed by Sarah in Scotland and manufactured using high-quality technical fabrics in Europe. The brand strives to empower female horse riders to feel confident and comfortable in the saddle, at the gym and everywhere in between.
To learn more about the brand visit www.aptcavalier.com