30th May: More lost property has materialised so now the list is as follows:
a pair of small gold-rimmed reading glasses, and a silver DKNY watch; 1 x stirrup leather; 1 x whip; 1 x Nuumed seat-saver; 1 x pair of brown riding gloves (medium); 1 x red hoof pick Barbara has all of these at home so if anyone recognises them they can be claimed back. If they are not claimed within one month she will donate them to 'The Brooke' charity.
25th May: Linda Kidd who, with Nikki Routledge’s CA Daisha successfully completed the 2-day 160km Golden Horseshoe this year, has sent in the following very entertaining article. “No Hopers, Jokers and Rogues” - a song by Fisherman’s Friends.
Adopted by Nikki Routledge, Angela Osborne and Linda Kidd as their theme song for the 2010 Golden Horseshoe 160km Class. The lyrics of this song are:- "C'mon you no hopers, you jokers and rogues, we're on the road to nowhere, let's find out where it goes, it might be a ladder to the stars, who knows, c'mon you no hopers, you jokers and rogues"....
This article is about the tale of three friends who took a less than orthodox approach to competing at this year’s Golden Horseshoe and despite the odds, did successfully complete this supreme endurance challenge and perhaps their experience demonstrates that team work and sound preparation plus a dash of humour are key ingredients for success.
At the end of last season I had to retire both my advanced horses from competition and was particularly gutted that my plans for my nine year old mare were dashed so early in her career. However, as I set about starting again my good friend Nikki Routledge offered me the opportunity to ride her mare, Daisha, at Golden Horseshoe in the 160km class, subject to the endurance gods playing their part. It was her intention to compete her other mare, Mimi, Daisha’s half sister and try for the double. To add to the mix she also proposed that Angela Osborne, her next door neighbour in Brompton Regis in Devon, who owns Dee a big ID/TB mare who has successfully completed 160km with Nikki as her jockey in 2007 and 2008, join the team. Angela has only ever competed once at a 80km endurance class and that was in 2009 in the Exmoor Eighty. To further complicate matters I live one hundred plus miles north from Nikki so training was certainly going to be a challenge.
We agreed a plan which basically meant that I would travel to Exmoor every three to four weeks from the start of the year and ride Daisha with Nikki and Angela on their respective horses, building up the distances and getting to know Daisha! Well the last bit didn’t take long – mad but talented (similar traits to her owner many would say!!) Daisha is at her happiest when she is going as fast as her legs will allow which makes for an interesting relationship when you decide to take control. At least I didn’t need to join a gym as every session on her provided a full upper body workout!
We used the Quantock Hills Ride in March to test out our horses’ preparation thus far, and the outcome was positive although some who saw me trying to mount Daisha may have questioned whether this veteran rider was in her right mind! (bearing in mind Daisha is happiest when her legs are flying)
By the time the week-end of Golden Horseshoe arrived all three horses were looking very fit. The pre-ride vetting went well apart from Daisha’s determination to canter in the trot-up so she was sent again. She really needs a spell on the naughty step but probably would not stand still and fall off!!
The horses were stabled in Withypool which was ideal as we could hack the two miles to the venue on the morning of Day One and ensure that they were all suitably warmed up. Our strategy was to ride as a team so much to the Timekeeper’s dismay, we did not follow form and leave on allocated individual times but opted to go out on the latest of the three times. Daisha led the way in the only way she knows like a train pulling for her head with Mimi and Dee in her wake. By the time we got to Lorna Doone Farm at the halfway I felt as if my arms had completed an hour‘s weight training. I also was bleeding profusely from the mouth as I had had a disagreement with a branch which I failed to notice when cantering under some trees.
Remarkably we all presented to vetting with a very short time of arrival and then the horses got stuck into their food and drink. Soon we were back on the trail and enjoying the wonderful views along the SW coastal path. We enjoyed a quick lick of ice cream as we cruised through checkpoint 4 and headed for the last quarter of the course. Daisha was still full of go and there was little point battling with her as she just uses more energy trying to get her own way.
As we neared Exford Nikki shouted that gold time was still an option and perhaps we should kick on, which she did leaving Dee and Daisha chasing after her. We knew that we were taking a risk on the heart rates as both Dee and Daisha are not natural low pulsers; however the gamble had to be taken. We crossed the line in gold time but despite best efforts by our crew received a penalty point each for the heart rate – demoted to silver time but still in the competition!
We walked the horses back to Withypool and stood in the river with them for a while to let the water cool their legs. Dee loves to play “Big Splashes” with her long large forelegs so water went everywhere.
Another hack up to the venue on day two followed by Mimi and Daisha passing the morning trot up and Dee also passed her vetting. With Nikki singing our song – she has not got the best voice (!) – we set off again determined that we would get round. We slowed the pace down as it was much hotter and had agreed with our crews that crewing would be critical to completing the course and worth sacrificing some time. By the time we had completed the first 43km and arrived at halfway it was very warm indeed. The horses presented and all passed the vetting which gave us all a real boost. Once again they all ate and drank well and ten minutes before we were due to depart we had a compulsory re-check. Again all three horses were ok and the Chief Vet made it absolutely clear that she expected us to ride with care on the homeward leg.
The last part of the final loop was tough for the horses as it was very warm with little or no wind. Our singing skills were put to the test as we encouraged horse and rider to keep focused and moving forward. Every time we met our crew we allowed the horses to eat and drink and where suitable stand in rivers and be cooled with litres of water. The clock was ticking but we knew that the horses needed to eat if they were going to finish.
Once off the last section of the moor we could see the venue high on the hill above Exford and our spirits lifted. The long final pull up from the river was tough but it really is a case of forgetting the clock and encouraging the horses to keep their forward momentum. Once we were on the flatter ground we picked up a steady trot and headed for the venue. We could hear the loudspeaker and it was such a wonderful feeling to cross the line together having got the horses home albeit in bronze time.
Yet again we prepared the horses for vetting – with minimum fuss, letting them nibble at hay and walk gently round, using water as appropriate – lots in Dee’s case as she gets so hot; not helped by a sun that was beating down.
As we had started this competition we presented together. It is always very quiet at this point as everybody is willing the horses to succeed and the tension is very apparent. Daisha was asked to re-trot and then I got the good news from the Head of the Ground Jury – pass but a heart rate penalty. Then it was Dee’s turn and she too was given a thumbs up but also with a heart rate penalty and finally Mimi who did not lose her bronze time through any penalties. What an achievement - two completions and one bronze award for three horses who trained and competed together in one of the most iconic endurance events in the calendar. To add to the success, the breeder of Daisha and Mimi, Wendy Cousins from Castle Arabians, was standing watching the final vetting – no doubt immensely proud of two very brave and talented mares which she had bred all these years ago.
So as we sang our song "c'mon you no hopers, you jokers and rogues, we're on the road to nowhere, let's find out where it goes, it might be a ladder to the stars, who knows, c'mon you no hopers, you jokers and rogues".... we left the venue and walked the horses back to Withypool.
Dee won the prize for the veteran horse, for the most accumulated kilometres at GHR and Angela won the trophy for best result at first attempt.
Nikki won the Best Handling Award with Mimi– she had plaited all three horses and was so instrumental in their preparation, and I received the veteran rider award.
Our crew, Derek, Keith and John also received their rosettes and without their fantastic crewing over the two days there would have been no celebrations, I am sure.
It had been a memorable two days – an experience that many try but only some succeed. To compete in and complete the 160km class at Golden Horseshoe is for many endurance riders an ultimate goal and for me it fulfilled an ambition - one that I thought I had lost in 2009 when I no longer had an advanced level endurance horse to compete.
Thank you Nikki for allowing me to ride your mad but talented mare – what a pony!!
So who was the joker, the rogue and the no-hoper amongst us? I leave that with you to guess but from a personal perspective age is no barrier to success!!! Linda Kidd
24th May: A follow-up report about the stranded Mitsubishi at Brendon Two Gates is now available, courtesy of Robert Johnstone as follows:
It was with great delight that my daughter showed me the picture of our car with the front nearside wheel in a drain culvert contemplating my next move - I need to crew my wife's horse, she will go mad, she may not be able to complete and need to crew at Simonsbath and Landacre and horse obviously tired from day one, what a prat etc. As ever there are many sides to a picture. In my defence I am not a complete Exmoor novice having been coming to Exmoor since the late 1970s when we stayed in Luxborough and walked over to Winsford. We tend to come down two to three times a year to walk and have walked many times over most of the footpaths and bridleways around Exford/Withypool/Winsford/Simonsbath/Dunkery/ Horner Wood so do know the area well. My wife and daughter have both competed in the Golden Horseshoe as we love the event.
My biggest crime was trying to recce the route for the Exmoor Beast cycle ride which my son and I are both doing in October and one part of the route is from the top of the moor above Exford, goes past the turn to Aldermans Barrow and then onto the coast road to Lynmouth and then back over the moor through Brendon Two Gates and onto Simonsbath, so I decided to loop round that way between crewing points rather than go through Exford, so that I could judge how busy the coast road would be that evening when I went out on the bike. It took slightly longer than expected and as I drew up, I saw some of the horses that had been in front of my wife at Aldermans Barrow so decided to pull off the road to get ready ASAP to crew - hence the direction of the car!
It is a credit to the people in the Endurance world and Exmoor that I had many offers to pull the car out of its predicament and to crew my horse if needed within minutes of going into the drain. Despite the dramatic photo, the car came out very easily and I continued on my way after applause from the farrier for my parking skills ..... Robert Johnstone (crew for Jo Johnstone)
22nd May: And now Fiona Price of Horse Hero has posted her Blog of her experiences down on Exmoor - very entertaining!!
21st May: Nicky Moffatt, Editor of Horse and Rider magazine, has produced an article for the next edition of the publication, but you can see a preview here. Fantastic video footage from the Horse Hero website of Fiona Price's ride with Annie Joppe in the Media Class on Tuesday. The link will be live for the next 7 days apparently - so don't miss it (you need to click on the Horse Hero banner at the top of the page)! In addition, there is a wonderful article from Lucy Higginson of Horse and Hound, on the Horse and Hound online web page.
An important message from Barbara Wigley as follows:
Here is a little dog found at the Horseshoe (this is a joke incidentally - the notice says "For Sale" as I kept abandoning Pebble while I was busy doing things and people kept offering to adopt her! - she puts up with a lot from me!) Seriously though, other lost property is: 1 x stirrup leather; 1 x whip; 1 x Nuumed seat-saver; 1 x pair of brown riding gloves (medium); 1 x red hoof pick Barbara has all of these at home so if anyone recognises them they can be claimed back. If they are not claimed within one month she will donate them to 'The Brooke' charity. Our runners raised £116 for Leukaemia Research. The PR raised £137 for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, and the amount raised for the Moorland Mousie Trust has yet to be counted, but we will let you know in due course how much was raised! On a happier note for Pebble - we had a fantastic few days following Horseshoe, with a walk from Withypool to Landacre, a picnic at Malmsmead and a swim at Dunster - fabulous ... and we are looking forward to next year already!
20th May: Liz Hinings reporting for the last time from this year's Golden Horseshoe..... captions have now been added to most of the photos on the Photo Gallery and the Timekeeper's sheets have been added to the Results Page. The venue has been tidied away and now looks just like a large field again and most of the competitors have left Exford and the surrounding area - The White Horse and The Crown have been returned to the locals and we thank Exford for having us once again! Don't forget to put next year's date into your diary .... 15th to 17th May 2011.
19th May: Some lovely photos from David Saunders Photography (David Saunders) have now been added to the top of the Photo Gallery - and there are also many more to be sifted through, taken by Ian Wigley. Ian was down in the village with some of the children from Exford School during yesterday morning - they were doing a 'project' associated with the Golden Horseshoe and had a splendid view of all the comings and goings of the competitors. Later he came across a crew member in some difficulties - maybe this gentleman will now understand why we have designated parking areas on Exmoor!!
18th May: 2035hrs - Just got back from the prize-giving which was attended by a large number of competitors, crews, helpers and local people. Huge thanks were extended to the local landowners for their generosity in enabling the route to cross their land, moving stock so that gates could be left open etc. Andy Wooff who was the commentator for the event introduced Nicky Moffatt of Horse & Rider, Fiona Price of the Horse Hero website and Lisa Reich of Horse magazine, who all contributed to the presentation of prizes. Lucy Higginson, of Horse & Hound was unable to stay for the presentations but had expressed her great admiration for the endurance community, following her own participation with Nicky, Fiona and Lisa in the 40km Media Class today - it was quite an experience for each of them!
The results will appear on the Results Page as soon as I can type them in but, in the meantime, the news is that this year there were no Golds in Class 1, but three Silvers, two Bronzes and two Completions. There were no completions in the Exmoor Stag; in the Exmoor Experience there were 12 Gold awards, 6 Silver awards, 11 Bronze awards and 2 Completions - as Ride Organiser Barbara Wigley commented this has not been an easy year for getting horses fit for Exmoor with the bad weather we had at the start of the season and over the winter .... maybe next year will be better for us! Put a note in your diary now that Golden Horseshoe will be running from 15th to 17th May in 2011.
1400 hrs - We have now got to that time of the day when riders are returning to the venue for their final vettings and so the next bulletin to be posted here will not be until after the prize-giving, which is scheduled for 7 o'clock this evening. In the meantime, however, I can tell you that this has been yet another memorable Golden Horseshoe and huge thanks must be given to all the many helpers who make this prestigious event possible. Congratulations also to Barbara Wigley and her organising committee for staging another spectacular event and thanks to the weather gods for looking kindly on us, even if the Pleasure Riders did draw the short straw!
1116 hrs - At halfway for Golden Horseshoe and the Exmoor Eighty the first arrivals were numbers 27 Carolyn Edwards, 28 Heather Weston, 1 Jill Semmens, 15 Helen McFarland and 3 Alison House. Number 2 - Gill Talbot and Malabar Storm have retired on course before reaching halfway, having had a fall. At the end of the halfway vetting we have the following 'casualties': Mary Korn and Mister Mylo who have retired after a successful vetting, Heather Weston and Ashley who was lame and Malcolm Greenaway with Ilinga of Sharloam who had a sore back.
At 1050 hrs the Media Class competitors had all cleared CP6 which is 5.5km from the venue (having started out at 1015)!
1030 hrs - At the Day 2 Trot-up for the Exmoor Experience (Class 3) the following were eliminated 49 Venturoso Repoula (lame), 39 Eluard (sore back), 70 Lovelyhill Stepping Out (sore back) and 80 Spellbound Colour Connection (lame). Number 66 CS Clarion retired after a successfuly vetting last night and did not present for the trot-up this morning.
0830 hrs - A new day has dawned and, amazingly, the sun is shining once again albeit somewhat weakly at the moment! You will want to know what has transpired overnight and I can tell you the following: Both Kirsty with Eskar and Jo with Grey Medlar finished and vetted - Grey Medlar passed the vetting, but Jo decided they would not start on Day Two. Eskar was also vetted and Kirsty made the same decision and will not start today. Sadly we lost both the Exmoor Stag horses at the final vetting.
The nine remaining horses in Class 1 all started this morning - going out in reverse order of finishing as follows: Mary Korn (Mister Mylo in first picture), Helen McFarland (J St Jake in second picture), Jill Semmens (Evermore Exciting), Lesley Dore (Firebird), Angela Osborne (Wickham's Just Distinct), Linda Kidd (CA Daisha), Nikki Routledge (CA Merishia) - the last 3 all choosing to ride together on Nikki's start time (third picture) - Gill Talbot ( Malabar Storm) and Alison House (Aberllwyd Briar Rose).
All the Class 4 Exmoor Eighty horses who presented for vetting yesterday have passed their preliminary inspections and will start today from 1030, after the Media Class riders have got underway. This latter class still has to be vetted and briefed this morning, commencing around 9.45am ...... and more news of that later I hope!
17th May: 1730 hrs - With all but two of the Class 1 results in I have abandoned the venue to write up the Results Page and bring you some news of the returning riders and horses. At around 1412 hrs we had the first couple of horses back in the Exmoor Experience class - Donna Turner-Irwin with Coco Ibn Chanel and Judy Baynes with HS Exile and they were closely followed by Barbara Cucchi with Bright Chance and Piers Geddes with Arabella Shaikh Al Jassan. Next came Alan Brown with Bakst at an amazing 13.3kph and Tricia Hirst with Vlacq Diamond Sparkle at 12.9kph.
Then at coming up for 1500 hrs (1455 in fact) we heard that the first horses in the Golden Horseshoe class were through the last checkpoint and numbers 3 and 2, Alison House with Aberllwyd Briar Rose and Gill Talbot with Malabar Storm respectively, arrived back at the Finish at 1508 (see the picture left), followed three minutes later by Jill Semmens (Evermore Exciting), Lesley Dore (Firebird), Angela Osborne (Wickham's Just Distinct), Linda Kidd (CA Daisha) and Nikki Routledge (CA Merishia).
It has been a fantastic day - helped enormously by the almost wall-to-wall sunshine and we are all looking forward to tomorrow's events!
1230 hrs - It is now 5 hours since the first horses set off in the Golden Horseshoe class. Halfway at Malmsmead has now closed with all but 2 of the horses in the Horseshoe and Stag passing the veterinary inspection. Candy Cameron and Jill Thomas were the 2 riders eliminated there, both Rumelito de la Boulen and Pompei being lame. First into halfway were Gill Talbot (Malabar Storm) and Alison House (Aberllwyd Briar Rose) at 1043 closely followed by Jill Semmens (Evermore Exciting) and Lesley Dore (Firebird). Candy Cameron was next to arrive, then the first of the Exmoor Stag - Heather Whiteley with More Confusion, known at home as Mickey, alongside Helen McFarland (J St Jake). All of the Class 1 and 2 riders were into halfway by 1057, so very little time separating them.
Meanwhile the Class 3 Exmoor Experience riders have all started their ride and will be well on their way back to the venue for their end of Day 1 veterinary inspection - as relayed earlier, the only horse not being allowed to start in this class being Susan Cox's SG Esscent.
More news to follow later, after the veterinary inspections at the end of Day 1. In the meantime, the sun continues to shine and everyone is feeling pretty good!
0830hrs ... Liz Hinings reporting once again ... Firstly an apology for a gross omission from yesterday's 'mentions': spectators were enthralled by the main arena display given by Jenny Myerscough and her beautiful grey Lusitano stallion, Venturoso Repoula. Jenny will be starting in the Exmoor Experience later this morning, but yesterday gave a stunning performance for the watching public.
After yesterday afternoon's driving rain and cold wind, the evening brightened and developed into a cold, starry and moonlit night - and I had to scrape the ice from my windscreen this morning when I set off for the venue at 7am. By 7.50 all the competitors in Class 1 The Golden Horseshoe and Class 2 The Exmoor Stag were out on course, although those of us watching them depart at one-minute intervals were intrigued to see Candy Cameron with Rumelito de la Boulen and Helen McFarland with J St Jake waiting until everyone else had started before they actually crossed the starting line - with Candy as the back-marker. They obviously each have a plan of some sort and we shall just have to wait until later in the day to see just what that plan might be! The picture above shows Jill Semmens, the first to go, as she leaves the start - there will be more (rather more professional) photographs from David Saunders Photography and Ian Wigley to view later on the Photo Gallery, but in the meantime you have to make do with my humble offerings!
Sad news from the White Horse yard this morning - Susan Cox's SG Esscent, who was to be trotted up again this morning before starting in the Exmoor Experience (Class 3), has proved to be lame and has therefore been eliminated at the preliminary vetting. However, everyone else in all 3 classes running today passed their first inspections and are either already out on course (Classes 1 and 2) or will be starting from 10.30 onwards. By that time, of course, the early starters will possibly already have arrived at the halfway venue at Malmsmead and I shall bring you news of the vettings there later this morning.
Finally, for the moment, back to yesterday and a mention for the Pleasure Riders all of whom seemed to enjoy their ride, despite the rather unpleasant conditions - well done to them all and we shall wait to hear in due course the results of the sponsorship raised for the various charities. Results for the Pleasure Ride and Trail Run can be found here by clicking this link to the Results page
16th May: Reporting again at 5.30pm with huge apologies for the delay in getting online today - unfortunately I had a major blip with my computer with no Internet connection .... but I won't bore you with the details!
Sadly yesterday's sunshine deserted us this morning and the 15 Trail Runners set off at 8.30am in a heavy shower and that has been the pattern of the day really. However, spirits have not been dampened and the Pleasure Riders, who set off between 9am and 10.30am on the same course as the runners all very much enjoyed their ride. The winner of the Run in a course record time of 2hours 6 minutes and 6 seconds was Iain Morgan. Close behind came Dave Wayland in 2 hours 6 minutes and 35 seconds, followed by Andrew Mansfield in 2 hours 7 minutes and 25 seconds. First of the ladies home, recording an excellent time of 2 hours 29 minutes and 58 seconds, was Maggie Wilson. The Veteran's Prize went to 60 year-old Mr Marriott in 2hours 52 minutes and 49 seconds. Congratulations to ALL the runners - their general feeling was that it had been an excellent course and they had all enjoyed it! The results were announced by Mr Richard Lillis, Director of Exmoor, the Country Magazine, who praised the runners and organisers for their preparation and dedication and congratulated them on their efforts.
Meanwhile, back in the marquee, the ladies of Exford were manning their usual magnificent cake stall with the funds raised going to Exford Church - they were delighted to announce that they had taken over £400 and were most grateful for everyone's participation and appreciation of their endeavours!
From 11 o'clock in the main arena there were displays including a parade of Stallions from Halsdon, Court Farm, Susan George's Arabians and Kirsty Wiscombe's Yawl Hillbilly, followed by the endearing Tawbitt Exmoors. A display of Dog Agility followed thanks to the Exmoor Dog Training Group run by Julie Dare.
The vetting of classes 1, 2 and 3 started at 2 o'clock and apart from one horse which is to be trotted up in the morning, all passed without problems.
I hope to be able to report several times during tomorrow's classes (fingers crossed for better fortune with the Internet access!) - the first horse in the Exmoor Golden Horseshoe starts at 7.30am!
15th May: (Liz Hinings reporting) 1pm and it is all systems go at the venue as Sally Grant and Rosemary Henderson, in the Ride Office, await the arrival of the first riders to declare for the ride. Nick Batho, Sue Bostelmann and Nic Wigley have been busy setting up the vetting area, amongst other things and the sun is shining! Ian Wigley and Nic have been testing the PA system and we are currently being entertained by Abba!! Ride Organiser, Barbara Wigley, is here there and everywhere seeing to the last-minute preparations and no doubt looking forward to this evening's Social Evening. Trade stands are being put together and, all in all, it is looking good! Tomorrow I will bring news from the venue about the Pleasure Ride, the various displays prior to the preliminary vetting, and also details of how the vetting has gone for the riders in the Golden Horseshoe, Exmoor Stag and Exmoor Experience classes. On Monday and Tuesday, I hope to be able to report both from the venue and halfway and will keep you all updated with news as the days progress. Keep watching - next report tomorrow around mid-day.
14th May: More news about the Media Class - some amusing comments on Horse and Hound online - click this link for Amy Mathieson's amusing article!
6th May: Editors respond to Golden Horseshoe challenge
Much of the equestrian media will come face to face in May when editors of some leading magazines and websites take on the challenge of riding over Exmoor in the Golden Horseshoe Ride.
They have responded to an invitation from Ride organiser Barbara Wigley, who has set up a special class on May 18, last day of the three-day meeting.
“We have set up a special class for them over 25 miles of the 100-mile course,” she said. “Owners have kindly loaned us horses that are fit and ready to go and each editor will be accompanied by a rider who is eligible for selection for the World Championships this year – and where they can, they will crack on at Gold speed of 7.5 miles and hour.”
Editors taking up the challenge are….
Lucy Higginson, Horse & Hound
Nicky Moffatt, Horse and Rider
Lisa Reich, Horse Magazine
Julie Brown, Your Horse
Fiona Price, Horse Hero website
“We are not asking anything in return,” said Barbara. “We just want the journalists to see at first hand what the Golden Horseshoe is all about and just how tough Exmoor can be.”
28th April: Apologies to Tricia Hirst for an error in our news item on 20th April - we had incorrectly stated that our walkers had covered 40km in 14 hours while she had taken only 6 hours to cover the same distance when, in fact, she had run 40 miles (64km!!) - amazing!!! The 20th April item has been corrected now and we are cringeing in embarrassment.
27th April: There is an additional award for the Exmoor Experience Class - The Progression Award - in Memory of Jenny Vesey. This will be presented to the rider of the highest-placed horse who successfully completes the Exmoor Experience for the first time - neither horse nor rider having previously entered a higher class. In the event of a tie, to be decided on pulse.
Last year, the OC decided to award a ‘Free Entry for 2010’ to either Class 1 (the Golden Horseshoe) or Class 2 (the Exmoor Stag) to the horse & rider who were judged most able to progress to the top class. This was won by Jenny Vesey riding Beckmeetings Khamba.
Sadly, Jenny died last summer, and we have decided to continue the award in her memory. It has been defined more precisely, and does not appear in the awards list in this year’s schedule. However all horses which are eligible will be considered, and in future years the award will be listed in the schedule.
26th April: Our Trail Riders turn their hands to most things and, quite apart from being on duty over the whole period of Golden Horseshoe, these two have been working hard to improve the trot-up area at Malmsmead, the halfway venue.
24th April: Just a reminder that, if you are entering a competitive class at Golden Horseshoe for the first time, there are some very useful hints and tips from the ride organiser which you can see if you click here.
23rd April: PRIZE BINGO AT GOLDEN HORSESHOE - We have some fantastic prizes donated including Exmoor Ales, and a Cream Tea for Two at Tarr Farm, so it is well worth coming along, and suppers do need to be pre-booked. Details have now been finalised and you can download your ticket application formhere. Also, don't forget that the much-prized Golden Horseshoe jackets need to be pre-booked for collection at Exford - closing date for orders is 30th April. The order form is available here for the fabulousGolden Horseshoe jacket - get your orders in now and collect the jacket when you arrive at the venue! Don't be disappointed thinking you can just buy on arrival - these are 'exclusive' and only pre-booked orders will be filled!
News Release from Jeffery Communications -
Katy, 11, to celebrate her birthday with a 50-mile ride.
Katy Mellor, from Asterton, Shropshire, has found a novel way of celebrating her twelfth birthday this year – riding the first 25 miles of a demanding, two-day, 50-mile endurance ride over Exmoor.
She will be riding her own pony Angelina Ginny, and competing in the Exmoor Experience class at the Golden Horseshoe Ride (May 16 – 18). The class is designed to provide experience of two-day competitive rides over the tough Exmoor terrain and encourage riders to go on in subsequent years and try the famous 100-mile Golden Horseshoe class at the same meeting.
Katy, who broke her pony herself when the mare was only four and completely unhandled, will be accompanied by her mother, Sally, who in 2008 and 2009 took Silver and Gold awards respectively in the same class.
Exmoor ponies break barriers at Golden Horseshoe Ride - Vet’s receptionist Mary Hannah, from Brompton Regis, and her Exmoor pony Kingsby Nutmeg – the first Exmoor to complete a competitive ride at the meeting – will be trying to better last year’s Bronze award in the Exmoor Experience class.
The pair may well have competition in coming years. Linzi Green, who works for the Moorland Mousie Trust will be trying the training ride with a Trust pony she has “homed,” Knightencombe Firecrest (stable name Basil.)“This is the first Trust pony to attempt endurance competitively,” Linzi says. She is aiming for the the Exmoor Experience class next year – “and perhaps the 100 in years to come.”
Early entries in the 100-mile Golden Horseshoe class demonstrate the challenge of Exmoor. Candy Cameron will be travelling from Scotland, Helen McFarland from Nothern Ireland and Val Cammock from Rutland. Local entries already in included David Yeoman from Somerset and Nikki Routledge from Bampton, Devon - however, sadly David has had to withdraw Kiria from Class 1 and will be riding in the Exmoor Experience 2 x 40km class instead with his 8-year-old Trotter X Mon Talisman.
22nd April: PRIZE BINGO AT GOLDEN HORSESHOE - We have some fantastic prizes donated including Exmoor Ales, and a Cream Tea for Two at Tarr Farm, so it is well worth coming along, and suppers do need to be pre-booked. Details have now been finalised and you can download your ticket application form here.
Also, don't forget that the much-prized Golden Horseshoe jackets need to be pre-booked for collection at Exford - closing date for orders is 30th April. The order form is available here for the fabulous Golden Horseshoe jacket - get your orders in now and collect the jacket when you arrive at the venue!
20th April 2010: Last weekend's Horseshoe Walk in aid of the Kentucky Fund was blessed with sunshine - Barbara reports:
We were a small but determined group - Nikki Routledge & partner Fred, Judy Baynes, Sue Thomson and friend, together with two lovely little girls, aged 6 and 8, and a collection of dogs. We started from the Horseshoe venue, & walked the route to Luckwell Bridge, where Ian & Nic served us with tea/coffee & cakes (and a bucket of cold water for me to put my foot in!) Sue & her friend & children very sensibly decided that they had done their stuff here (the little girls were brilliant, but 13K on Exmoor is really tough for little ones), and the rest set off on the hilly section of Saturday's route. I had a quick break & Nic took over from me for the first 3 miles. The last few were the worst, off the moor via Hanny combe & Brockwell, then back onto it again to finish at Webbers Post. Sunday, four of us set off and walked the most difficult section of the route - down & up, down & up, down & up to the ice cream car park - what a relief! The final section was more rolling, except for two rather short but steep pulls, and then we could see the finish - the tea shop at Lorna Doone farm, Malmsmead! Nikki took this oppotunity to show us a photo of Tricia Hirst in the lake after doing her mega run of 40 miles in 6 hours - (we took 14 hours to walk just 40km!!) - so we decided to get in the river (at least ankle deep!) to celebrate. We all really enjoyed this torture, in a slightly masochistic way, and have vowed to do it again next year. Anyone going to join us?
6th April 2010: After several abortive attempts, Barbara has finally managed to find a 'lost' track that she wants to include in this year's route - between Cheriton Ridge and Brendon Two Gates - the photo doesn't really do the views justice, so you will just have to come and see for yourselves!
26th March 2010: Details of the Social Evening on Saturday 15th May have now been finalised and you can download your ticket application form here. Profits from the evening to be divided between Golden Horseshoe and Exford School - please give this your support as it promises to be good fun!
25th March 2010: The first entry for the two-day 160km Golden Horseshoe class has now been received - we're hoping for several more of course! We apologise for having to cancel the on-line entry facility for the ride but, with the various additional forms in the schedule that need to be completed and which cannot be done on-line, it was proving rather complicated and 'long-winded'.
We now have a lovely photograph of the Court Farm 'Horseshoe foal' and you can see it by clicking here to download an entry form for the competition.
21st March 2010: Just a reminder that, if you are entering a competitive class at Golden Horseshoe for the first time, there are some very useful hints and tips from the ride organiser which you can see if you click here.
18th March 2010: Sorry, a bit of a hiccup on the foal's details - the breeding is as follows:
The foal is by AH Saluq (by Simeon Sadik) and out of Aravina (By Arastin ex Arina).
12th March 2010: Here now, as promised, some more details of this year's 'Horseshoe foal' at Court Farm. The photo was taken just as she had popped out! The weather has not been good enough to get a photo of her outside, but hopefully we will have one soon.
11th March 2010: Court Farm Arabians have had two foals in the last three weeks - the latest, born on Sunday 7th March, is a beautiful bay filly. This is our 'Horseshoe foal', whom we will be able to name. More details and an entry form will be on the web site very soon.
1st March 2010: Press Release from PR Officer Peter Jeffery of Jeffery Communications:
Writers to take part in Golden Horseshoe Ride
Editors from some of the country’s leading equestrian magazines and websites have said they will ride at this year’s Golden Horseshoe Ride over Exmoor.
The Ride’s organising committee has put on an extra class of 25 miles for the journalists. They will be escorted by riders from Endurance GB’s – the sports UK governing body – Elite Squad. These are horse-and-rider combinations from which the British endurance team will be chosen for the World Championships in Kentucky.
The Golden Horseshoe Ride, May 16-18, will again start and finish from the show field at Exford and will attract leading endurance riders from all over the country.
Classes which will attract the cream of the sport, will be.-
* 160kms (100 miles), 80 kms on each of two consecutive days, in the Golden Horseshoe class
* 120kms (75 miles), 80kms on day one and 40kms on day two, in the Exmoor Stag class
* 80kms (50 miles), 40kms on each of two consecutive days, in the Exmoor Experience class
* 80kms (50 miles) in one day for the Exmoor Eighty class.
The route – which changes every year – will include Withypool Hill, Landacre Bridge Two Moors Way to Simonsbath then the Tarka Trail to Cheriton Ridge. Brendon Two Gates then north to Malmsmead for the halfway halt. It will then go along part of the southwest coast path to Pittcombe Head, into Hawk combe and up onto Ley Hill, Horner Woods, around the southern side of Dunkery, Luckwell Bridge, Stone Down and back through Exford to the venue.
The 40kms route will leave the main course in Doone Country and covers Larkbarrow and Almsworthy Common before meeting back up with the main route at Hillhead Cross to finish though the village.
Also on the programme, on May 16, will be a 15-mile sponsored ride in aid of the Moorland Mousie Trust and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the Golden Horseshoe Run, in aid of leukaemia research, when up to 100 runners will take on 14 miles of the 100-mile course. They will start 30 minutes before riders in the first class.
25th February 2010: Details and an entry form for the 'Kentucky Walk' are now available to download - see the news item below. Also now available is the order form for the fabulous Golden Horseshoe jacket - get your orders in now and collect the jacket when you arrive at the venue!
11th February 2010. Kentucky Fund Raising: As usual, the Horseshoe OC likes to do things differently, so our fundraiser is not a Sponsored Ride. Instead it is a Sponsored Walk! Over the weekend of 17th/18th April, you can walk half of this year's Golden Horseshoe Ride route, accompanied by a guide. Entry fee is £10 and you will need to gain a minimum of £15 sponsorship to take part. Approximately 12/13 miles will be covered on each day, with refreshments provided en route. Take this opportunity to:
** Check out this year's course
** Get yourself fit
** See the fabulous views you don't have time to appreciate when competing
28th January 2010: Ian and Barbara have been out checking more of this year's route down in Horner Woods. (Check out Barbara promoting the Golden Horseshoe Jackets, which will once again be available to pre-order and collect at the Horseshoe!)
20th January 2010: If you have queries about Golden Horseshoe before the opening date for entries (22nd February), please contact the Ride Organiser, Barbara Wigley.
Top feed specialist to support Golden Horseshoe
Leading feed specialist Dodson & Horrell is to support the 2010 Golden Horseshoe Ride over Exmoor.
The company is supporting the specially-prepared vetting area and the six veterinary surgeons who will examine horses and ponies before and after each day’s competition and at various points on course.
Barbara Wigley, who chairs the organising committee for the ride – scheduled this year for May 16-18 – said: “Funding for the Golden Horseshoe Ride becomes more crucial year by year. For us to get support from a major company like Dodson & Horrell is not only a practical help but an acknowledgment that endurance riding generally is being recognised as a national equestrian discipline.”
Dodson & Horrell will also supply tubs of Surelyte, a comprehensive blend of electrolyte salts, as prizes in kind for various competition and condition awards, along with goody bags for all competing riders.
9th January 2010: How about entering the 24km Pleasure Ride on Sunday 16th May when you can choose your charity to support - or even the Trail Run!? Entry forms and additional details are available on the Schedule page.
31st December 2009: The latest news from Ride Organiser, Barbara Wigley, is that the Exmoor National Park Authority have agreed to produce the maps for us again for 2010 - you may remember that they were absolutely fantastic maps last year when the ENPA dealt with them! Barbara also reports that it will not be necessary this year for horses to have 'flu vaccinations to enter the ride. However, individual stable owners may require this, and it is up to each rider to check when booking their stabling whether or not they need proof of vaccination.
8th December 2009: The Horseshoe Training Ride will be held on Saturday 27th February 2010 - the venue is Thornmead, outside Exford,
which will give riders an opportunity to see part of the 2010 Golden Horseshoe route. More details can be found on the Wessex EGB website Rides and Events page.
30th November 2009: The Golden Horseshoe Raffle was drawn at the EGB Awards Dinner on Saturday 28th November. Prizewinners were as follows: Steve Bates (0951) won the Holiday in Tenerife; Mrs Cane (0824) from Minehead won the French Gite holiday; Carl Langley (421) won the Holiday in Dorset; Nicky Sherry (134) won the Dunster Beach Chalet holiday and Carole Davies (745) won the Exmoor B&B holiday. Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to all who took part.
The Trail Run, which was introduced in 2009 preceding the Pleasure Ride on the Sunday morning, will become a sponsored event in 2010 in aid of Leukaemia Research - more details to follow.
A few details are emerging about the route for 2010 - halfway will be at Malmsmead and the route will be going through/past Simonsbath, Brendon Two Gates, Doone Valley, SW Coast Path, the Icecream Car Park (!), Hawkcombe, Horner Woods, Luckwell Bridge and Exford Village ............. sounds intriguing and there will be more details in due course!! Keep watching the website for further information.
Daisha led the way in the only way she knows like a train pulling for her head with Mimi and Dee in her wake. By the time we got to Lorna Doone Farm at the halfway I felt as if my arms had completed an hour‘s weight training. I also was bleeding profusely from the mouth as I had had a disagreement with a branch which I failed to notice when cantering under some trees. 
found at the Horseshoe (this is a joke incidentally - the notice says "For Sale" as I kept abandoning Pebble while I was busy doing things and people kept offering to adopt her! - she puts up with a lot from me!) Seriously though, other lost property is: 1 x stirrup leather; 1 x whip; 1 x Nuumed seat-saver; 1 x pair of brown riding gloves (medium); 1 x red hoof pick Barbara has all of these at home so if anyone recognises them they can be claimed back. If they are not claimed within one month she will donate them to 'The Brooke' charity. Our runners raised £116 for Leukaemia Research. The PR raised £137 for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, and the amount raised for the Moorland Mousie Trust has yet to be counted, but we will let you know in due course how much was raised! 
On a happier note for Pebble - we had a fantastic few days following Horseshoe, with a walk from Withypool to Landacre, a picnic at Malmsmead and a swim at Dunster - fabulous ... and we are looking forward to next year already! 
Ian was down in the village with some of the children from Exford School during yesterday morning - they were doing a 'project' associated with the Golden Horseshoe and had a splendid view of all the comings and goings of the competitors. Later he came across a crew member in some difficulties - maybe this gentleman will now understand why we have designated parking areas on Exmoor!! 
going out in reverse order of finishing as follows: Mary Korn (Mister Mylo in first picture), Helen McFarland (J St Jake in second picture), 
Jill Semmens (Evermore Exciting), Lesley Dore (Firebird), Angela Osborne (Wickham's Just Distinct), Linda Kidd (CA Daisha), Nikki Routledge (CA Merishia) - the last 3 all choosing to ride together on Nikki's start time (third picture) 
- Gill Talbot ( Malabar Storm) and Alison House (Aberllwyd Briar Rose). 
Alison House with Aberllwyd Briar Rose and Gill Talbot with Malabar Storm respectively, arrived back at the Finish at 1508 (see the picture left), followed three minutes later by Jill Semmens (Evermore Exciting), Lesley Dore (Firebird), Angela Osborne (Wickham's Just Distinct), Linda Kidd (CA Daisha) and Nikki Routledge (CA Merishia).
Candy Cameron and Jill Thomas were the 2 riders eliminated there, both Rumelito de la Boulen and Pompei being lame. First into halfway were Gill Talbot (Malabar Storm) and Alison House (Aberllwyd Briar Rose) at 1043 closely followed by Jill Semmens (Evermore Exciting) and Lesley Dore (Firebird). 
Candy Cameron was next to arrive, then the first of the Exmoor Stag - Heather Whiteley with More Confusion, known at home as Mickey, alongside Helen McFarland (J St Jake). All of the Class 1 and 2 riders were into halfway by 1057, so very little time separating them. 
By 7.50 all the competitors in Class 1 The Golden Horseshoe and Class 2 The Exmoor Stag were out on course, although those of us watching them depart at one-minute intervals were intrigued to see Candy Cameron with Rumelito de la Boulen and Helen McFarland with J St Jake waiting until everyone else had started before they actually crossed the starting line - with Candy as the back-marker. They obviously each have a plan of some sort and we shall just have to wait until later in the day to see just what that plan might be! The picture above shows Jill Semmens, the first to go, as she leaves the start - there will be more (rather more professional) photographs from David Saunders Photography and Ian Wigley to view later on the Photo Gallery, but in the meantime you have to make do with my humble offerings!
amongst other things and the sun is shining! Ian Wigley and Nic have been testing the PA system and we are currently being entertained by Abba!! Ride Organiser, Barbara Wigley, is here there and everywhere seeing to the last-minute preparations and no doubt looking forward to this evening's Social Evening. Trade stands are being put together and, all in all, it is looking good! Tomorrow I will bring news from the venue about the Pleasure Ride, the various displays prior to the preliminary vetting, and also details of how the vetting has gone for the riders in the Golden Horseshoe, Exmoor Stag and Exmoor Experience classes. On Monday and Tuesday, I hope to be able to report both from the venue and halfway and will keep you all updated with news as the days progress. Keep watching - next report tomorrow around mid-day. 
We started from the Horseshoe venue, & walked the route to Luckwell Bridge, where Ian & Nic served us with tea/coffee & cakes (and a bucket of cold water for me to put my foot in!) Sue & her friend & children very sensibly decided that they had done their stuff here (the little girls were brilliant, but 13K on Exmoor is really tough for little ones), and the rest set off on the hilly section of Saturday's route. I had a quick break & Nic took over from me for the first 3 miles. The last few were the worst, off the moor via Hanny combe & Brockwell, then back onto it again to finish at Webbers Post. Sunday, four of us set off and walked the most difficult section of the route - down & up, down & up, down & up to the ice cream car park - what a relief! 
The final section was more rolling, except for two rather short but steep pulls, and then we could see the finish - the tea shop at Lorna Doone farm, Malmsmead! Nikki took this oppotunity to show us a photo of Tricia Hirst in the lake after doing her mega run of 40 miles in 6 hours - (we took 14 hours to walk just 40km!!) - so we decided to get in the river (at least ankle deep!) to celebrate. 
We all really enjoyed this torture, in a slightly masochistic way, and have vowed to do it again next year. Anyone going to join us? 
