H&H Editor goes the distance

Horse & Hound Editor Arnold Garvey is to undertake three long-distance rides this summer to raise money to get primary school children riding as part of the Jeep National Riding Festival.

Arnold, an experienced endurance rider both in the UK and overseas, is looking for sponsors to donate money to the Horse & Hound Trigger Fund for his participation in the 100-mile White Rose international endurance ride in Yorkshire, the Tattersalls ride on Newmarket’s hallowed turf and the 200-mile Rob Roy Trail across the scenic and rugged terrain of Scotland’s Western Highlands.

The White Rose Ride in August is one of the world’s top endurance races and Arnold’s fund-raising ride would not be possible without the kind permission of the British Endurance Riding Association. His guide on the Rob Roy Trail will be David Hay-Thorburn, reigning World Le Trec champion.

Arnold will be mounted on experienced, fit endurance horses on the rides and is undergoing a rigorous fitness campaign to preparehimself for the challenge.

Trigger is the mechanical horse devised for the Jeep National Riding Festival. This lifelike mount is taken into primary schools to give children their first experience of riding and breaks into a canter under the watchful eye of an instructor from a local BHS/ABRS riding school.

Last year, thanks to the Festival, more than 5,000 children enjoyed their first experience with horses when Trigger came to visit.

Jeep plans to take Trigger into 50 schools this year, and Arnold’s challenge aims to raise £75,000 to take the mechanised mount into an additional 200 schools .

“To see a child enjoying his or her first ride on Trigger is a truly magical moment,” says Arnold, “and it is great to bring riding into primary schools in areas where the sport is traditionally thought of as elitist so that youngsters can take up this wonderful hobby at an early age. No doubt the three rides will be quite a challenge, but I am really looking forward to them.”

For more information or to make a donation contact Jenny Sims (tel: 020 7261 6315)

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