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 18yrs old and will hopefully complete his 5600kms this year.  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 this year (2007) but, sadly, did not pass the final vet inspection.  I still consider the Golden Horseshoe to be the ultimate endurance ride in this country.  I have served on the Wessex committee for six years, including the last six months as chairman.  Sally Grant and I are responsible for the ride equipment and grading rosettes for the Wessex group.  With support from friends and family, I organise the Exmoor ride in October.  Aside from endurance, I work as office manager and general dogsbody for my partner Tony, which is great, as I manage to fit in exercising the horses around my work

Heather Giles

I discovered endurance riding whilst living in France and had the good fortune to spend fifteen years doing nothing but endurance, competing at national and international level in France and Spain.  I built up and managed an Arabian stud for its French owner, breeding exclusively for endurance, so often competing on second and third generation home-bred horses. I came back to the UK in 2000 and now have to fit my endurance riding round a full-time job, working for Hilton Herbs.  I joined the Wessex committee in 2001, seeing it as a way of putting something back into the sport. In 2005 I was, for my sins, elected Chair of the Wessex Group, Liz Hinings and Geraldine White were hard acts to follow but I gave it my best shot.  I am currently Vice-Chair.  I am also joint-webmaster, with Liz Hinings, of the Wessex website. Since I have been back in the UK I have ridden several different horses that people have been very kind to lend me.  I started in 2002 with Janet Burnett’s Kassie, followed up by the late Cheryl Logan’s Redhouse Zia in 2003, and Val Cooper’s Tomo in 2004.  My own mare Pearl has been plagued with chronic tying-up but I did manage to complete the Exmoor Eighty with her in 2005.  She is currently on loan to Marion Drew up in Solihull and is enjoying a less stressful existence doing some in-hand showing.  My new horse is Future Star who is second generation home-bred, but my first Anglo-arab.  He has completed three pleasure rides this spring and is destined I am sure to give me hours of pleasure, doing pretty much whatever I ask him to do.

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.

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.

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 BHSA in 1980 and going on to train for the 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 and originally she was destined to go eventing, but I was persuaded to go to the Wiltshire Droves ride where we  both 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 include the Tattersalls FEI ride, 160kms at Compiegne in France, and team member at the Europeans in Perugia in 2001.  Now retired Polly has since produced a foal.  My current horses are Barak, a purebred Arab, and Welsh Lad, a huge TB gelding.  In 2002 I entered and came 2nd with Arab Marathon with an Anglo-arab in its first season.  As Chef d’Equipe for the Wessex Group I am responsible for Wessex teams taking part in the Morris Trophy and the Inter-Regionals.

Anne Newton

Anne Newton

Sue Lees

Sue Lees

Laura Brown

Laura Brown

Olive Linge

Olive Linge

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!