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An Olympian from North Wales is facing a race against time to stop his beloved competition horse being sold from under him.

Jonty Evans, 45, of Trefriw, Conwy, was devastated to learn Cooley Rorkes Drift – aka Art – the three-day eventing horse he has ridden and trained for six years, is now being sold by his owners.

The former pupil of Trefriw and Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy Secondary School, grew up in North Wales “riding hairy ponies” with Aberconwy Pony Club; his family still lives in Trefriw and were at the Rio Olympics to see him place 9th.

But now he faces being parted from the horse he calls “my best mate”.

Jonty, whose training yard is in Shipton Oliffe, near Cheltenham, said: “Unfortunately, the success that Art and I have achieved has not gone unnoticed, and there have been some huge offers made for him to be sold.

(Image: Photography by HR)

“His owners have a young family and I totally understand their need to accept an offer.

“Selling my best mate had never entered my head. It has been an horrific few months wondering if he will be sold, and praying that a solution might be found. The owners have given me time to try and raise the funds”.

A crowdfunding scheme to raise the £500,000 needed to buy Art has been set up, and has raised £75,000 in just a few days.

Jonty, who has Irish relatives on his father’s side, elected to ride for Ireland only because Wales had no Olympic team. He is fondly known as the “Ireland rider with the Welsh GCSE” in the country he competes for.

“Art and I represented Ireland at Rio in the Olympics and were one of only three horses to jump triple clear. We finished 9th in the Individual final – it was an amazing experience and my whole family came to watch, they have always supported me throughout my career”.

It was after Art and Jonty’s outstanding performance in Badminton this year that pressure on the owners to sell the horse started mounting.

“I was horribly naive,” Jonty said. “We came out of the ring, and a dealer came up to try and buy him. I told the owners - I wanted them to hear it from me - but I had no idea what was going to happen. It was just the start”.

Three day eventers are often not owned by their riders and the sport does not attract the same sponsorship or corporate funding as horse racing.

(Image: Jess Photography)

Although Jonty has been told he can buy Art for a preferential rate, there is still no way he can afford the huge sum alone.

“The only solution we have left is to try a Crowdfunding campaign. I hope and pray that people around the world will appreciate that Art and I are partners – we have come through life so far together and I hope that we can finish our journey together.

“If people will pledge to support us they are a part of that journey – previously owning an event horse has been the privilege of the wealthy, I hope that our situation gives everyone a chance to get involved – so that they can feel part of the family that will own Art.

“Art has given me his all, he is clever, talented and has an almost human brain. I have competed around the world and pointed him at huge fences and he has never let me down. He’s my best friend – part of our family”.

The campaign is being backed by many in the eventing world; among celebrities who have pledged support are Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden and former eventer Madeleine Lloyd Webber.

Jonty said: “If, and I know it’s a huge if, 5000 people around the world could see their way to donating £100 each, we could afford to buy him – and he would never again be under threat of being sold; he and I can stay together for good”.

You can support Jonty’s crowdfunding bid at www.jontyandart.com