Bilsdale and Hurworth supporter Peter Hunt is recovering after completing the last day of the season without a saddle.
For the stunt, Peter and his wife’s horse Ron tackled the pre-meet Bilsdale “gallop” of four miles and 23 jumps, then a couple of hours’ hunting – a total of 36 fences.
And Peter’s prediction that “as long as I stay with him [Ron] we’ll be fine” proved to be spot on – despite a sticky moment at the second fence.
“Ron tore into it and I didn’t sit well for the ridiculously large leap he put in,” said Peter.
“I landed awkwardly on his withers,” he added, wincing.
The “now-legendary” Ron pulled so hard that, at one point, Peter’s forearms locked.
His post-match audit of aches and pains included cramp, “spectacular bruising” and, of course, the “unmentionable pain between the legs“.
But his pain is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Help for Heroes’ gain. Peter’s efforts have so far raised £2,000 for the charities.
Bob Smailes, fundraising manager for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said it was “one of the most original fundraising ideas” he had seen.
“I’d like to thank Peter – and Ron – for raising this fantastic amount of money,” he added.
So would Peter do it again?
“Probably not,” he said, “although Ron just looked so pleased with himself [as they crossed the finish line] and clearly wanted to carry on.”
www.justgiving.com/teams/withoutasaddle.
This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (22 March 2012)
