Ex Show Jumper Finds New Star Role

An ex top flight showjumper is making a name for himself in a second career and
taking the name of a UK horse welfare charity into Europe.

ILPH Flump, or Conkeffy Black as he was formerly known, is out on loan from the
International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) to Helen Rogerson of
Berwickshire in Scotland. Helen, as well as being a registered vaulting coach, is
reserve lunger for the Scottish Equestrian Vaulting 'A' Team. She and ILPH Flump
are off to Saumur, France this Friday 29th March for the Concours Voltige
International.


photo courtesy of Anthony Reynolds


The horse was brought over from Ireland as a 5 year old by Sandra Low-Mitchell, of
Fife, who comments, "At the beginning he was an absolute delinquent but he turned
into an angel who would jump 7 feet just for fun, and was only just off upgrading to A
when his problems came to light."

Helen says, "Last weekend we went to an affiliated competition in Devon where he
carried the Scottish Equestrian Vaulting 'B' team. He is brilliant with the children and
they all love him to bits !"

Adds Eileen Gillen, Manager at ILPH Belwade Farm in Aberdeenshire, "I am so
proud of him. It just shows what can be done through a proper and effective
rehabilitation programme, his problem has been managed and he is able to lead a
very athletic life. He's such an honest horse and had he not been gifted to us when he
was he would have carried on despite the onset of an arthritic condition which
probably would have lead to him changing hands into the inevitable downward
spiralling circle."

Find out more about the work of the ILPH by visiting their website at www.ilph.org