Rare stallion marks epic charity ride

Witness the end of the epic charity ride of Akhal-Teke stallion, Kaan, at Chepstow

A mammoth 500-mile charity ride from Dorset to Scotland officially ends on Saturday, 6 Octoberwhen former national hunt jockey, Peter Scudamore, gallops up the straight at Chepstow racecourse on an 11-year-old Akhal-Teke stallion. The ride has been raising funds for the Tymes Trust which helps ME sufferers.

Kaan, a 15.3hh chesnut stallion who made the epic journey is the pride and joy of Gill Suttle, a former British modern pentathlon member and ME sufferer. Gill rode the horse on the long ride – dubbed the 2001 Odyssey – along with a number of equestrian personalities, including race commentator, Brough Scott and pentathlon Olympic gold medallist, Stephanie Cook.

Kaan was taken by horsebox across Northumberland because of FMD. “We did the ride all on tarmac because of foot-and-mouth, sometimes doing 25-30 miles a day, mainly trotting,” explained Gill.

“It was tough for him and he was a bit bewildered at first, but he stood up to it well and was bombproof on the roads.”

Brought Scott, who began the race on 22 August describes Kaan as: “one of the most beautifully balanced horses it has ever been my good fortune to ride”.

Gill rescued Kaan from the Central Asian country, Turkmenistan, where the horses are native, but sadly face starvation. She had been given him to ride when visiting in 1996 – alreadyseveral years into her illness.

“Having ME, I have very limited mobility,” said Gill. “Quite simply, Khan was my legs – and he carried me for long distances, unshod and with little food other than grass,” said Gill.

For more information or if you want to make a donation visit www.2001odyssey.org.uk

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