In a sponsorship strategy that will include support for the major equestrian disciplines, animal health company Intervet UK Limited (formerly Hoechst Roussel Vet), is to sponsor the British Horse Trials Association’s new Intro 2000 Horse Trials with its Panacur Equine Guard Brand.

In addition, Intervet has designated the Millenium year as the ‘Year of the Mare’ to highlight the importance of the female in producing horses of excellence in every discipline. To support this theme, a special award will be given to the highest placed Mare in each if the classes being run at six horse trials between April and July.

Horse Trials are a completely new area for Intervet and the company is particularly keen to provide support at a grass roots level. Intervet’s Deborah Baker, who is a vet and a small National Hunt breeder, comments: “Like the BHTA, we believe that a huge number of riders would like to affiliate but perhaps need a confidence boost to do so. Intro 2000 should provide just a fillip by giving riders the opportunity to compete at a basic level but with all the trimmings of an affiliated competition. We also believe that this new initiative will encourage the progressive training of horse and rider.

“We are promoting our strategic worming brand – Panacur Equine Guard – through this sponsorship because, for competition horses to perform to the best of their ability, they need to be in peak health and condition. An optimum worming programme is a vital part of a horse’s basic healthcare needs.”