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. 

Carolyn Price

Carolyn Price
I started doing endurance riding with the EHPS in 1995, on my retired racehorse, to accompany my mother - we decided to be competitive from the start and upgraded ourselves to Advanced in 1998.  The horse in question “Back to Form” (aka Wolfie), and he was best known for pulling hard and having a somewhat quirky temperament!  Our success together culminated in a place at the National Awards in 1998 where we were 3rd in the Boston Bay Trophy for Thoroughbred horses.  Around this time I took on the Editorship of the Wessex group magazine – ‘From the Saddle’ and continued as Newsletter editor when the two Societies merged.  I am still on the Wessex Group committee, although I retired from the editorship last year due to pressures of work.  This year I will be competing on another ex-racehorse who will be starting in Novice graded rides. Other interests include Racing, Riding Club and my job as Project Manager at South Somerset District Council.

Sally Grant

Sally Grant
First introduced to endurance riding in 1979 I’ve been involved in one way or another at all levels and I completed several Summer Solstice rides and achieved a Golden Horseshoe.  I started competing on my 14.2 pony Squire Tebeldi – and if you have seen me lately you can only feel sorry for him!  We completed about 4000 miles and he is still around at the grand age of 31.  I haven’t done much riding lately but I crew for my sister, Jane, at home and abroad.  I’m currently Treasurer of the Wessex Group.  Having a family I find helping at weekends difficult, but being on the committee I am able to “do my bit” - I think it is important to contribute something to the sport which has provided me with so many positive experiences and memories.

Elisabeth Loxston

Elisabeth Loxston
I started riding when I was 4 years old and have continued more or less ever since!!  I have always had an ambition to do the Golden Horseshoe and this got me interested in Long Distance Riding.  I am a grass roots riders – I have no ambition to ride more than 25 miles, although I did do a Bronze Buckle Final in my second year.  I bought my horse Lucky as a four year old and we have been very successful at our level in Graded Rides - she nearly always gets a Grade One!  We enjoy doing the Red Dragon Ride and have successfully completed the Dragons Egg every time.  I joined the EHPS Wessex committee in 1997 - I think – and have remained on the committee now that we are EGB.

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.

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.

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.

Alice Loten

Alice Loten
I have been riding since I was a few months old and I got into Endurance riding because mum used to do it. I used to crew for her with my wooden hobby horse strapped into the other side of the trailer! I Rode my first ever pleasure ride on my friend’s pony in 2004, and loved it. So I got a little New Forest pony on loan, we didn’t really get very far and just poodled around, but after a bad jumping session I lost my nerve on this little pony, so mum went out and bought me a 5 year old 15 hh Arab. I was only 11 and I was quite a small weedy 11 year old!. “Mad” you may say, but it was the best thing she could have done. Verde became my best friend, and we had so much fun, I got my confidence back and became a much better rider. Verde and I attempted our first Pleasure ride at Breamore in 2006, and that did not start well, he got a bit excited by all the horses coming past and I nearly fell off, but we still finished. We had the rest of the year off to do some more work with him and then came back in 07 with a vengeance and came 3rd in the Wessex Novice Trophy. Then in 08 we competed at Open and finished the season on my first 64km ride. I took him to YR camp in 08, had a great time, made loads of friends and dislocated my shoulder (something I am quite proud of). At the beginning of 2009 I was planning my rides to reach advanced, but we never got there because he had to be put down. So Ann, Roger and Carri Ann Dark were very kind to us and I was able to ride one of their youngsters, Prince, with Carri for the beginning of the season. Then we got ourselves two new horses, Oli, who is an Arab x Welsh and who I have done several rides on at the end of the season and got grade 1s on almost all of them. Also Moth who is a 14.1 Arab (chestnut mare), she has not had a saddle on for three years, so I can’t wait to get her going.

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 we are already planning and looking forward to the 2008 Golden Horseshoe!