Coronation Street star Claire King backs #GetHorsey campaign

King, who plays the feisty and flirty Erica Holroyd in Coronation Street, is backing Take up the Reins, a new campaign encouraging everyone to #GetHorsey, whether in or out of the saddle, and improve their health, fitness and wellbeing.

Claire, who grew up with her brother and sister in Harrogate and went to Balliol House at Harrogate Ladies College, is well known for being a horse lover.

She said: “Horses have always been a big part of my life. When I’m really busy and things start to get stressful, I saddle up and go for a ride to clear my head. Just me and a horse in the beautiful countryside, you can’t beat it!”

Claire’s support for the #GetHorsey campaign will see the 53-year-old star attending the major Springtime Live event at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate this Sunday, April 3.

Prior to her major role on Coronation Street, Claire was probably best known for playing Karen Betts in Bad Girl and Kim Tate in Emmerdale.

During her 10-year stint in the 1990s, the Yorkshire-based ITV soap opera, the popular actress often appeared in scenes riding across the countryside.

She’s also a Strictly Come Dancing graduate. In 2006, she was one of the contestants in the fourth series of BBC’s hit reality show.

A subject of tabloid attention when she left Celebrity Big Brother early for health reasons, she raced as an amateur jockey for several years and currently has a share in two racehorses.

The campaign has been devised by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) and supported by Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) initiative to encourage more people into the sport.

It aims to get those of all ages and backgrounds connecting with horses by riding, volunteering to help at their local equine charity or simply attending equestrian events to show their support – anything that gives them the pleasure of being around horses.

One of the many stories that have attached to Claire King during her lengthy and successful career concerns her actual name.

Reportedly, when she tried to register with actors union Equity, she found there was already another Claire Seed.

Her solution was to change her name to King in light of her love of horse racing, the sport of kings, and her favourite pop star - Elvis Presley, the king of rock ‘n’ roll.