The Golden Horseshoe ride is the oldest ride in the UK and although there are some who question its validity in this day of fast, flat, race rides, it is still, for many endurance riders, "the one to do". Despite its unique challenge of climate and terrain many riders return year after year to try their luck. Some succeed and some fail but this doesn't seem to dent the enthusiastic support generated by this very traditional ride where the old endurance adage "to finish is to win" is very firmly in place.

The venue is the Exford Show Ground. There is a pleasure ride class on the Sunday morning in aid of charity, with the major classes following on the Monday and Tuesday as Horseshoe has traditionally been a weekday event. The four major classes range from the Exmoor Experience (80kms over two days) through the Exmoor Eight (80kms in one day), the Exmoor Stag (120kms over 2 days) and finally the one everyone wants to win – the Golden Horseshoe (160kms over 2 days). If you have never ridden over Exmoor before then break yourself in gently with the 25kms pleasure ride or if your horse is reasonably fit, the Exmoor Experience. Exmoor’s biggest challenge is the weather and the hills and with this in mind the major classes are restricted to Advanced riders and horses fit enough to cope with the arduous terrain.