An 82-year-old rider who has completed 20,000km (12,427 miles) of competitive endurance riding in four decades has no plans to stop, as she continues to live her childhood dreams.
Pat Guerin has been competing in endurance since 1978; in the past 48 years she has represented England, been shortlisted for the British team and completed the top-rated Endurance GB (EGB) rides.
“I am absolutely delighted and still can’t quite believe I have ridden so many successful competitive kilometres,” said Pat. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Pat started riding aged five but her first taste of endurance came a few years later. In 1977, she moved from Suffolk to Cheshire, where her answer to a local newspaper advertisement for someone to exercise hunters led to a 40-mile ride on Exmoor with Treble Chance, in 1978.
She bought Blue G a few years later, with whom she achieved great success.
Pat Guerin and Treble Chance at Clee Hills in 1980
“Among Pat’s many highlights are third and fourth placings in the EHPS Summer Solstice 100-mile rides, the unforgettable experience of mass starts in the dark, and being shortlisted for a Great Britain team to compete in the USA in 1988,” an EGB spokesperson said.
In 1989, Pat Guerin represented England in the team that won at the first home international and she finished in the top five of the prestigious Mana Trophy, three times with CF Winter Amadeus and once with Blue G.
She is still competing with Amadeus, now 19, and with Farid My Lad, 16. Both are Arabs and Amadeus is a three-time winner of the Arab Horse Society pure-bred performance horse award.
Pat said she believes in varied training, careful management of horses and knowing when to rest. She and her horses have flatwork lessons and compete in dressage as well as hacking and her horses live out as much as possible. She also credits her support team, including her husband and friends, as part of her success, and values the social side of endurance, which she said is an “ all-inclusive sport where everyone is friendly, helpful and encouraging.”
“Endurance GB is my absolutely amazing happy place,” she said. “As a child I dreamed of having my own pony and riding for miles and miles. Endurance has certainly fulfilled that dream.”
Pat plans to continue riding in 32km and 40km rides, and aims to return to some of her favourites such as the Red Dragon.
The EGB spokesperson said: “Pat Guerin’s 20,000km achievement stands as a testament to commitment, horsemanship and a lifelong passion for endurance riding within the Endurance GB community.”
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