Chris Smyth

Chris Smyth

I came to endurance rather later in life than some, doing my first ride in 1996 when I was 48yrs old. I had bought a grey Arab gelding, Yavelin, and we learnt everything about endurance together. He is now 20yrs old and has received his 5600kms award 

I also have a mare called Spice and my ambition is for her to complete the Golden Horseshoe Ride successfully. We completed the 100 mile class in 2007 but with a pulse of 67 at the end, so did not pass the vet. In 2008 she was not as fit as I would have liked following a heavy fall at the Forest of Dean ride in March, so we only entered the 80km class which she completed in bronze time. I still consider the Golden Horseshoe to be the ultimate endurance ride in this country.

I have served on the Golden Horseshoe committee for three years and on the Wessex committee for nine years, including the last three as Chairman.  I am extremely lucky in that I have tremendous support from the rest of the committee; everybody seems to have their job and most things run pretty smoothly. 

I think endurance is a tremendous sport open to anyone who has a horse/pony. As a sport it is a great leveller, as you can be flying high one minute and down to earth with a bump the next (sometimes quite literally!)

Outside endurance I work as office manager and general dogsbody for my partner Tony, which is great as I get to fit exercising the horses around work. 

Sue Lees

Sue Lees

I was a member of BHS LDRG, BERA, EHPS and a life member of EGB. I have kept horses for 36 years and still have my first horse who I purchased in 1972 at the age of 6mths and who will turn 37 in 2009. I am not riding at the moment due to arthritis in my back and lots of other places, but hopefully will start competing again this coming season. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time off, crewing for the other riders from my yard but hopefully they will crew for me now. My goal was to join the 100 mile club but at present the 20 mile club seems like 100 miles away. I enjoy being a ride organiser and TS and I have been on the committee for 3 years and have stood again for another term; my job is to organise the Training Day and I am also assistant Chef d’Equipe.

Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown

My name is Lisa Brown and I was elected onto the Wessex Committee to take over Merchandise at the beginning of the season of 2007.

I started off getting interested in Endurance when my daughter and son rode at Windmill stables on their horses. That was a while ago it seems now.

I am also the ride organiser for the Jubilee Trail ride held in March for the Wessex area.

I can quite often be seen crewing for the both the children and I enjoy it immensely.

You can see the merchandise at the Wessex rides with lots of stock available. If the item is not with me, it can be ordered. You can contact me on 01305 822060 for any queries.

Lisa Franks

Lisa Franks
I have ridden and regularly competed since a junior in military and affiliated competitions, taking my BHSAI in 1980 and going on to train for BHS Stage IV.  I also managed to get a Music Degree from the Royal Academy of Music where my professors all thought I was mad to ride as I was endangering myself even going near a horse!  In 1995 I acquired I’m Pollyanna who had not made the size to go racing.  I was persuaded to enter Wiltshire Droves by Judith Jesty where Polly and I found that endurance was THE sport.   Having completed the four rides necessary to compete in the Bronze Buckle Cup, Pollyanna then proceeded to be placed in her first big outing.  Since then Pollyanna’s successes were numerous and included the Tattersalls FEI ride, 160kms at Compiegne in France, and was a team member at the Europeans in Perugia in 2001.  When Polly retired she produced a foal from a husband of her choosing and we now have Polly II (PolyphanieVII) who will be on the circuit later this season -  be warned - she is just like her mother!  Most people know me for riding a "characterful" pony known as The Git (aka Coedeneirin Solo) who is a black Welsh Section C and although only 12.3 hh is making his presence felt on the endurance scene.   He has represented Wales at the last two Home Internationals and also Wessex at regional level.

Olive Linge

Olive Linge

I fell into Endurance by accident as the result of a day out on Exmoor with my husband and six-month old son. In May 1975 we spent a lovely sunny day following riders in the Golden Horseshoe Ride, trying to catch up with the 'tail-end charlies'. I was hooked - this was something I could enjoy doing. In the autumn of that year I bought Myebon, a pure bred Arab gelding, with the intention of having a go at the GHR, which was the only endurance ride I knew of. This purchase turned out to be the best equestrian buy that I have ever made.

In 1978 I joined the EHPS, as this gave me the opportunity of going to more rides without travelling too far from home. Over 9 seasons, Myebon and I competed all over the south west of England, occasionally venturing into south Wales. In the mid 1980s as my children were growing, it became more difficult to organise my competing with their social lives and when I retired Myebon in 1984, I rode less, but started organising more. In 1990 I became a member of the EHPS Wessex Committee and remained a member until EHPS was disbanded in 2001. During this time, I turned my hand to practically every job involved in the running of local (and some National) rides, from Ride Organiser to road-crossing steward. For 5 years I was chairman of the Wessex Group. In 1995 I was elected to the Council of EHPS. During the next 6 years I had responsibilities as Results Checker, compiler of the Ride Schedule and Trophy Secretary. In 2001 I was elected to the Board of EGB and once again held the post of Results and Trophies Secretary.

Over the last 30+ years, Endurance has given my family and me a great deal of pleasure. This is a sport in which every member of the family can take part. Though part of me would still like to compete regularly, the years are creeping on and it just isn't possible. However, I am more than happy to give back what I can to Endurance and really enjoy officiating at rides and getting out and about meeting the members, especially watching the progress of new members and novice horses.

Kirsty Wiscombe

Kirsty Wiscombe

I started riding when I was four and saved up and bought my first horse Mint Mark a thoroughbred when I was 15.We competed in all disciplines and did the odd pleasure ride when I had transport.  When he was 20 in 1995 I eventually got my own Transport and we did our novice season. I then did a novice season with my Eventing mare Burrowshot Lass in 1998 as she needed strengthening up after fracturing her pelvis, and were Wessex Novice champions and since then I have been totally hooked on endurance. Burrowshot Lass AKA Hannah was very successful and was on the intermediate squad and taught me so much. Sadly her pelvis injury meant she was often in a lot of pain so she was retired to stud in 2002 and is now producing the next generation. Connie, my next endurance horse who I bought after Mint Mark sadly died, started her endurance career in 2000 and this will be her 10th endurance season this year and I would love to do that elusive 160km ride on her.  Crimson Skye came next - he was an amazing horse!  I paid £250 for him as a very ill bag of bones and he did his first 160km at 7yo and was on the Senior Squad and short listed for WEG. I then broke my ankle and our WEG dream was over. Sadly he broke his leg in Nov 2006 and after battling to save him for 10 weeks he was put to sleep - the last time I rode him was down the beach at Sangatte near Calais, France and that exhilarating experience will live with me for ever. In 2007 Eskar, the pure bred I had bought as a yearling, started his ER career and excelled at the distances and did his first 160km at Cirencester where he won Best Condition. We did it slow and qualified for the Senior Squad. He then went on to do the tough Deux Jours de Montcuq 200km Ride in the south of France and did another 160km in 2008. We are on the shortlist for this year’s Europeans in Assisi in Italy.  I have four Horses to compete this season: Eskar and Connie and 2 6yo Ishtar Spirit and Yawl Hillbilly "Hannah" first foal who is entire and will event with top Young Rider Aaron Millar as well as do endurance www.Yawlhillstud.co.uk  .  I'm lucky to have my own yard so seem to be collecting Hannah Foals who all look like Billy and I work more than full time to finance them and my dream of a British team medal.

Lisa Langrish

Lisa Langrish
I have owned horses for 25 plus years consisting of Shetlands, a cob, P.B Arabs and a couple of Thoroughbreds.
For a short period in the past I have successfully shown 1, 2 & 3 year old P.B Arabs in hand.
This is only my third year as a member of EGB but I am a great believer in giving as well as taking and I have gained knowledge and experience as well as many new acquaintances of this exhilarating sport through helping at various local rides and for the past two years I have helped to organise and been Ride Secretary for the Hardy’s ride.
I enjoy everything about and connected to endurance riding and look forward to expanding my experience and knowledge.

Janthea Newman (with husband, Charles)

Janthea Newman

My husband Charles and I joined Endurance Horse & Pony Society and we both did our novice season in 1994. Under EHPS I organised the Exmoor Ride for a couple of years and had a short spell on the Committee.

I am a staunch and loyal member of Wessex. Each year our team at the annual quiz, called ‘Wessex by Choice’, because we choose to be Wessex members despite living in Devon, tries it hardest – never quite succeeding - to top the league. We support as many rides as possible by entering, crewing or helping, and on occasion I have been known to put my name forward to represent Wessex outside the region. My experience with two good horses, competing both alongside my husband and my son Alex (when he was young) as well as ‘flying solo’, has allowed me to see the sport from a number of perspectives – and perhaps empathise with other members views.

Because my job is quite demanding I have never aspired to the longer distances. My goal has been consistent performance and, over the years, racking up lots of successful competitive miles by bringing out my horse most weekends year after year. I have had lots of fun, getting to know many members – past and present - and hopefully making the riding experience of people I meet as enjoyable as my own.

I am passionate about our sport. I worry that the endurance I know and love is changing, and may even be at risk if people like me do not step forward. Wessex appears not to be growing an enthusiastic proactive group of new members, instead continuing to rely on, and is seriously at risk of wearing out the few who continue to do so much for the benefit of riders. Although I must count as a younger-oldie I wish to commit time, enthusiasm and any skills that I have to support the essential work behind the scenes that underpins a programme of viable rides in Wessex.

Sam Mowatt

(Photo by Eric Jones)
Samantha Mowatt
I was introduced to endurance in 2005, when I was 13, by Nelly George and Andrew Peters, who owned the yard where I kept my pony. I went along crewing a few times, and then in June I was lucky enough to get offered a ride in the New Forest. Then I was hooked. I started riding Nell’s horses at home and had further opportunities to do some rides. I did all my novice rides and upgraded to intermediate in September. I was starting to grow out of my pony and had been riding Woody (On The Way Back) a stunning dark bay 4yo Arab stallion that Nell had bought at Ascot Sales in August. In November my parents surprised me with Woody as my early Christmas present. In the last 6 seasons I have had the privilege to ride a variety of horses, had some brilliant experiences and met some amazing people whilst riding, crewing, helping and socialising at many EGB events. My best riding achievement is 1^st at Breamore 80km ER 2009 on my horse Woody, it’s great to win an ER but doing it on your own horse is definitely the best! Other highpoints in my endurance life were with Vavaar, an Arab gelding of Nell’s. We competed together for 3 seasons and some of our achievements include 1^st at Berkshire Downs 80km ER 2009, 1^st at Ludlow 100km ER, 3^rd at Red Dragon 160km 2day ER and Young Rider National Champion 2007. In May 2010 I stopped riding for Nell and Andrew, finishing on a 1^st at Breamore 96km ER on Fools Magic their homebred Anglo stallion. My ultimate aim is to get Woody up to FEI standard with hope of getting qualified for the Young Riders Squad before it’s too late! As I was not doing as many rides in 2010, I began to help at rides more and began training to be a Technical Steward. I have thoroughly enjoyed helping and giving something back to the sport. I plan to carry on helping as much as I can, as I believe that you only get out what you put into something! On the committee I am responsible for corresponding with the Associate Members of Wessex. I started a saddlery apprenticeship with Mendit Rug and Tack in September 2009 and I am thoroughly enjoying it. In 2011 I have been given the opportunity to do some rides on the Dark family’s horses and I plan to get Woody to some rides later in the season. 

Barbara Wigley

Barbara Wigley
I am a physiotherapist by profession, bought my first horse when I was 30, and six years later was introduced to endurance riding.  My imagination was first fired by the Golden Horseshoe in 1984, when I travelled to Exford for my first attempt at this magical ride.

I came from the flat urbanised Midlands, near Coventry, and neither my horse nor I had ever seen countryside like Exmoor. Wow! I completed 50 miles (the first day) and my horse was eliminated with 'the thumps', having pulled my arms almost out of their sockets. Well, I was determined that we would return. We did the next year, and got a gold at 8.88mph. (that's 14.3 kph for those who are kilometerised).

I have competed at many other rides since 1984, but The Golden Horseshoe is still THE ride to finish, - Real endurance, - and to be chairing  the organisation of this event is a huge responsibility. Not only that, but I also have to follow in the footsteps of Liz Hinings, who is the most organised person I know! However, I was determined that The Golden Horseshoe will continue to evolve, and had a few surprises (and hopefully improvements) awaiting competitors, crews, spectators, helpers, visitors etc. when they arrived in Exford in 2007 and, despite the weather gods’ determination to spoil the event, it was hugely successful and now we are planning and looking forward to the 2012 Golden Horseshoe!