Golden Horseshoe
A veteran 14hh pony takes the only gold in the 160km ride during a hot, tough two days on Exmoor
‘I rode the final 40km by myself, but Tissy is a little trooper and just keeps going. We have been together so long,
I know how she is feeling’
BETH LANGLEY
Golden Horseshoe, Exford Showground, Somerset
THE shining star after the twoday 160km ride over Exmoor was HS Ametista (Tissy), a 20-yearold 14hh who added the only gold award to her many achievements with physiotherapist Beth
Langley, 26. There were four successful finishers from the 10 horses and riders who took on this tough ride under the baking sun.
Beth and Tissy have been a partnership since Beth was 10 years old and have won the Red Dragon, were part of the bronze medal-winning team at the young rider Europeans, represented their country at the World Equestrian Games and were second at the CEI* 80km at Royal Windsor last season, among other achievements over a career of remarkable longevity and consistency.
The Horseshoe has a unique grading system, with a speed of over 12kph on both days and no vet penalties required for the coveted gold award. Of the 10 starters, six made it through to the second day, five of them sitting on gold. The tough and varied moorland terrain took its toll on the second day, with only Beth and Tissy maintaining gold speed.
“We had to look after Tissy overnight, with ice, compression bandages, feeding and walking,” said Beth. “I am lucky she knows her job so well now; she lies down in her corral to sleep. She knows when to rest and doesn’t waste her energy.”
To take gold here is very special for a veteran with many miles already on her legs. Despite their lengthy career, this was the pair’s first attempt at the Horseshoe.
“I have always been aiming for team selection, but last year I retired Tissy from CEI competitions, so this was our chance,” said Beth. “I focused our training away from speed on to slow hillwork and, as she is older, I build in more recovery days. It is one of the toughest rides I have ever done as it makes you earn every kilometre. The going is soft in places and there are no flat sections — you are either going uphill or down.”
‘100 LITRES OF WATER’
THE heat had dried up some of the notorious Exmoor bogs, but created its own challenges.
“My crew usually use around 25 litres of water per loop, but we used over 100 litres. I was sloshing myself to keep cool,” added Beth. “I rode the final 40km by myself, but Tissy is a little trooper and just keeps going. We have been together so long, I know how she is feeling; when to encourage her and when to give her a break.
“The magic of Horseshoe is that it brings everyone together. Race rides are so competitive, but at the Horseshoe I was crewed by at least four different other riders’ crews, as you are not in competition, except with the course. It is the greatest sense of community and a sense of shared achievement, as you feel you have battled together to succeed.”
Mary Stubbs (Sachiya) and Kathy Carr (Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle) reduced speed slightly on the second day to come in with successful silvers, with Andrea Champ on Drumghigha Lantana the final finisher on bronze.
The two-day 120km Exmoor Stag had six starters, with Alison House on Aberllwyd Briar
Rose and Belinda Stewart on Penny Clawd the only successful finishers, both on gold.