Our Trustees
At Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre, we are excited to embrace a new chapter under the new leadership of our passionate board of new Trustees. As a registered charity, our mission has always been to provide former racehorses with the opportunity for a fresh start—a second career full of potential and purpose. But our dedication doesn’t stop there. We now proudly offer short-term schooling and rehabilitation for all horses, regardless of breed or background, giving every horse the chance to live a more sound, pain-free, and thriving life.
Genevieve Gordon-Thomson
Chair
Genevieve Gordon-Thomson is a sports lawyer and CEO of Tactic Connect. Since 2001 Gen has worked actively within sports law, advising organisations such as the NPA, England Netball, Rio Ferdinand Foundation, Imperial Motorsport and other major organisations. She was an initial advisor to British Polo Enterprises and worked as a legal commercial consultant for Major League Baseball International, primarily on The World Baseball Classic and MLB Academies. Through Tactic Connect Gen advises on matters of commercial activity and sports law, mainly relating to governance, welfare and contract law across various sports. Clients include EY, Netball Players Association, British DanceSport Association, Rio Ferdinand Foundation and Take The Reins, amongst others.
Gen is the Director of the BASL Sports Law in Practice Certificate. She launched sports law onto the syllabus at Birkbeck, University of London, where she lectured for 9 years. Genevieve speaks annually at Cambridge University on the English Legal System and Comparative Systems with a focus on sports law.
Gen holds the following appointments:
· Independent Trustee - Football Regulatory Board
· Board Member EDI – British Showjumping
· Vice Chair - BASL (British Association for Law and Sport)
· Editorial Board member – LawinSport
· Chair – British DanceSport Association
· Chair – SportExcel UK (UK Sports Association for Athletes with Learning Disability)
· Legal Advisor Board member - Stoolball England
Gen’s research interest lies in duty of care, risk and responsibility.
- Inclusion of Transgender Athletes: Duty of Care to Athletes: Trans Inclusion Conference, Swansea University (July 2022)
- Law for Sports and Recreation Managers – Drug Testing (2010 + 2012)
- Duties of Care and Welfare Practices in Sport (April 2020 publication)
- Duties of Care and Welfare Practices in Sport: Dr Emma Kavanagh, Bournemouth University, Dr Daniel Rhind, Loughborough University and Genevieve Gordon-Thomson, De Montfort University, (May 2019)
- Horse, Society and the Law. Past, Present and Future: Reckless Disregard for the Equine: One Broken Heart (April 2017)
Gen has ridden since a young age and as a youngster enjoyed her time in the Pony Club. Gen competed regularly on unruly ponies and was an active member of the Mounted Games team. She moved on the play polo through the Pony Club pathway and continued post-university playing in low and medium-goal competitions. She now has a keen interest in retraining racehorses and is working successfully with Moorcroft to provide futures for horses coming out of racing.
Caroline Gibson
Trustee
Caroline has been involved in the equine and agricultural world most of her life. She started riding at the age of 9 at her local stables, where she gained experience riding many different types or horses and ponies. She was given her 1st horse in her early 20s and enjoyed showing and leisure riding, but her passion has always been dressage. In 2008 she purchased her next horse, an unbacked 3-year-old. She backed him and brought him up through the levels to Prix St Georges and achieved her goal of wearing a tailcoat. They achieved many successes including riding for British Dressage Senior Teams in 2014, 2015 and 2019. She now owns a beautiful chestnut warmblood. He had many issues when he arrived with Caroline, mentally and physically. Caroline has quietly and patiently worked with him over the last 3 years. He is now a happy and healthy horse who is really enjoying his work. Caroline is totally committed to Moorcroft and everything it stands for.
Janet Hadfield MBA (Hons) FRSA
Trustee
Global healthcare experience and expertise gained from working with blue chip multi-nationals as well as the Department for Education, Innovate UK and the NHS. My particular focus is on the introduction of innovative new technologies, the deployment of health and care solutions as well as the commercial development of healthcare services, businesses and skills.
I am a passionate animal welfare advocate with a great respect for horses who are such magnificent noble animals that make such a difference to our well being.
Leena Hazeldine
Trustee
Leena comes from a background not initially associated with horses; born in a city, she had to wait until she was 12 to be allowed to take her first weekly riding lessons and these had to soon give way to other pursuits in life, including her time-consuming job. Since the age of 19 she has been a tourist guide, holiday rep, travel director, anything to do with travelling in various destinations with large and small groups of people from all parts of the world. She has now semi-retired.
When she was in her forties, she got her first horse, it was a gift of an ex-riding school horse, a thoroughbred mare. Ownership of this mare made her leave London and move to Littlehampton. Other equines followed and today she has two retired horses and a riding pony, whom she has owned since he was a foal. Her journey through life with her horses has made her expect and accept the unexpected and she is looking forward to this new chapter in her life as a trustee of Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre.