There were no gold medals awarded at this year’s two-day, 100-mile Exmoor Golden Horseshoe endurance ride. The wet weather combined with Exmoor’s challenging terrain to ensure that only two silver and three bronze results were achieved.
Silver medal-winning Belfast solicitor Helen McFarland and her part-bred Arab, J St Jake, took home the special prize of a free entry to next year’s Tevis Cup in California. This endurance ride covers 100 miles between Lake Tahoe and Auburn. The other silver medal went to David Yeoman riding Eleazar de Landas.
The new Exmoor Experience class, designed to give riders the taste of a two-day ride over the moor with 25 miles covered each day, produced two gold, seven silver and five bronze medals. The gold medals were won by Alex Nicholls with her Arab/Cleveland Bay gelding, Jimmy Mac and Liz Taylor with her pure-bred Arab, Karaanza.
Organiser Barbara Wigley said: “The elements plotted against us, although I think the rain and mud were less harmful to the horses than the baked ground just a week before the event.
“We are thrilled with the enthusiasm and support we have had this year and the results from the new Exmoor Experience class. It is sad that there were no gold awards in the hundred, but it is the hardest endurance course in the country.”
Read H&H’s full report on the Exmoor Golden Horseshoe Ride, including photos and further analysis, in 24 May issue
