Great Britain: Mary King to Ride in Golden Horseshoe

Goldenhorseshoe-ride.co.uk

14 March 2011

Popular event rider Mary King, British champion a record four times and holder of an Olympic Silver medal, will take part in this year’s Golden Horseshoe Ride over Exmoor.

Mary, one of the favourites for the British team at next year’s London Olympics, will ride the first 25 miles of the daunting, two-day 160 kilometre (100 miles) Golden Horseshoe class on May 16.

“I watched some of the Endurance competition at last year’s World Championships and was really impressed by the fitness of the horses and the courage of the riders,” she said.

“When I was invited to the Horseshoe I jumped at the chance of trying it myself.” And she adds: “It also gives me the opportunity of seeing something of Exmoor and experiencing the kind of challenge the competitors face.”

Mary will ride a proven endurance horse and be accompanied by an experienced competitor.

Organiser Barbara Wigley hopes that riders aiming for a team place at the European Endurance Championships - due to be held in Florac, France, later this year - will use the event as part of their preparation.

“We are really excited that Mary has accepted our invitation,” Barbara said. “We hope that her interest will highlight the sport to the equestrian world in general and to the general public.”

The Golden Horseshoe takes place on 15th, 16th and 17th May 2011.

For more information, see http://www.goldenhorseshoe-ride.co.uk/index.php