First Golden Horseshoe Ride winner dies

Winner of the first Golden Horseshoe Ride Rachel Pope died in February, aged 89.

Rachel won many championships at White City and other shows, riding the ponies of her horse-dealing uncle.

The same ponies took her hunting with the West Kent and to Pony Club activities and, in 1937, aged 15, she won the first ever Golden Horseshoe Ride.

A staunch believer that one should give back to the horseworld, she instigated and ran a local show for many years. In her 40s she took her advanced instructor qualification to help the West Somerset branch of the Pony Club.

She leaves a daughter Diana Day and niece Catriona Cook.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (14 April, 2011)

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