Former World Horse Welfare Chairman Christopher Hall handed an OBE

Christopher Hall, who has recently retired as the World Horse Welfare Chairman has been awarded with an OBE by The Queen.

He has been recognised for his continual work to help horses and he told the charity’s official website – worldhorsewelfare.org - “I feel extremely honoured to have received this award. I have worked closely with horses in a number of different ways for many years. I have been lucky enough to meet many wonderful people along the way and have much appreciated the help of excellent Trustees.

“I have been very privileged in my time working with horses as I have visited so many interesting countries and met such a diverse range of people while doing what I love. I feel very grateful indeed for the opportunities that I have been given.”

He joined World Horse Welfare in 2005, became the Chairman in 2006 and retired from his post last month. During Christopher’s time with the charity he has been instrumental in bringing about significant improvements to horse welfare not only in the UK, but worldwide.


Some of the highlights during Christopher’s time at World Horse Welfare include:

- The charity has become the only welfare organisation to be appointed as an Associate Member of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). He has ensured that the charity has also developed close links with the European Commission, DEFRA, the devolved administrations, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the British Equestrian Federation.

- He was the driving force behind the charity’s change of name from ILPH to World Horse Welfare.

- He encouraged the decision to substantially increase the charity’s overseas training projects in countries where there is a desperate need for better treatment of working horses. Over the past three years nearly 400 saddlers and farriers have been trained in eight countries worldwide. Nearly all of these projects Christopher has visited, some more than once.

- He was responsible for appointing a new Chief Executive Roly Owers in 2008 and together they have moved the charity forward; the charity’s purchase of Glenda Spooner Farm in Somerset and major capital expansion at Belwade Farm in Scotland has followed that.

Christopher has been involved with horses all his life, as he was a successful rider and trainer of point to pointers. He has been a Trustee of Racing Welfare, a Steward of the Jockey Club, and chaired the Jockey Club’s Disciplinary Committee subsequently a Member of the Appeal Board.

Christopher joined the BHS’ Council in the 1960’s holding among other positions the first Chairmanship of the Rights of Way Panel. He was the Chairman of British Equestrian Promotions which organised the London horse shows and is a former Chairman of the London International Horse Show at Olympia and the South of England Agricultural Society.

Christopher is succeeded as World Horse Welfare Chairman by Barry Johnson MRCVS, a 30-year vet and former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.