The Royal Countryside Fund welcomes Rupert Arnold as a new trustee
Rupert owns and manages a family farm in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire in partnership with his wife Fiona. The farm finishes pasture-fed store lambs and cattle, and produces hay for local farmers and smallholders.
Early in his career, Rupert qualified as a Chartered Surveyor with Strutt and Parker. However, a passion for horseracing saw him change course, eventually leading to him becoming CEO of the National Trainers Federation (the representative body for licensed racehorse trainers) for over twenty years. During this time, he served as a Board Director of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the governing body and regulator of horseracing in Great Britain.
Rupert continues in several roles in horseracing, including as a Specialist Panel Member of the Independent BHA Judicial Panel, a Board Director and Trustee of horse welfare charity Retraining of Racehorses, and Chair of the Racehorse Trainers Benevolent Fund and NTF Charitable Trust.
Rupert also brings to the role lived experience of the RCF’s farming programmes. In 2021, Rupert took part in the RCF’s Farm Resilience Programme, which led to a detailed strategic review of his farm business.
On his appointment as an RCF trustee, Rupert said: “I’ve experienced firsthand the important work that the RCF does and the vital support they provide farmers. Farming families and rural communities need this support now more than ever. I’m excited to join the board and help shape the future of the RCF’s work.”
The RCF’s Chair, Heather Hancock LVO DL, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Rupert as a trustee of The Royal Countryside Fund. One key reason that our farming programmes make such a difference is that they are grounded in the day-to-day realities of farm businesses across the UK. We rely on feedback and conversations with farmers to keep our support well-timed and focused on what matters most. I’m delighted that in welcoming Rupert to our board, we gain a farmer with first-hand experience of RCF support, bringing the voice of farmers even closer to the heart of our work.”
