This year’s Golden Horseshoe (17-19 May) will be the 50th running of the ride, but it may be the last as no one has stepped in to take over from the retiring organiser.
Take a look at our readers’ memories of the Exmoor endurance ride.
Lorna Hogg: ‘A totally fabulous experience’
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“I undertook the long journey to get there from Aberdeenshire in 2009. I had planned it and worked towards it for two years with my thoroughbred x Welsh gelding, as my way of doing something special having just turned 30 a few weeks before it,” says Lorna Hogg.
“A totally fabulous experience, one I will never forget — the support I had there and at home was amazing and very special — topped off by achieving a gold award, among other trophies, in the two day 160km class.
“This year I am excited to be taking my younger horse to do the two day 160km again. The atmosphere at this event is also quite different and very special, the countryside is so open. Lasting contacts and friendships were also made that weekend.”
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Evelyn Orr: ‘Unforgettable’
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“I completed the Golden Horseshoe in 2005 with my mare Ginti, we had heavy rain, wind and sunshine over the two-day 160km ride,” says Evelyn Orr. “Nineteen combinations started that year and only seven of us finished. My horse was a star, and I will never forget it.”
Katharine Midgley: ‘A silver medal at 20 years old’
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“Here is my boy Quazar Star (Dusty) at the 2008 Golden Horseshoe,” says Katharine Midgley. “And again in 2009 — a silver medal award at 20 years old, he loved it. RIP my trusty Dusty.”
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Tracey Chilvers: ‘So proud to say I did it’
“I have done the Golden Horseshoe twice. It rained and there was strong wind from start to finish the first time I did it,” says Tracey Chilvers.
“It was such a tough ride but I am so pleased and proud to say I rode the Golden Horseshoe. I live in Norfolk where it is very flat so my horse Iltshi did me proud to get us up and down the biggest hills we have ever dealt with and came home sound with a pass.”
Horse & Hound is fielding a team in this year’s event, for updates on training and how they get on click here
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.
