The GOLDEN HORSESHOE
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2025
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2025
Opening Date: Tuesday 18th March 2025
Closing Date: Monday 18th May 2025
Enter via EGB Website egb.myclubhouse.co.uk
Exford Showground, Exford, Somerset, TA24 7ND
Ride Description: The original endurance ride in the UK...what more is there to say!
SPECIAL 60th ANNIVERSARY RIDE
Come and support this iconic ride...we can't wait to see you there!
To commemorate the initial Golden Horseshoe Ride in 1965 we will be running a special Golden Horseshoe Class. The very first GHR was one class - a 50 mile linear route from Malmesmead to Ronald Duncan’s (the creators) home in Welcombe, Devon.
Sadly we can’t follow the exact route due to building work and busier roads so we have created a similar 50 mile linear route from Treborough to Exford via Minehead (ish!). This will be known as The Golden Horseshoe.
This class can either be ridden in full or just the final 40km; or can be ridden as a relay team.
There will be supporting classes on the Sunday - circular routes from the Exford Showground.
The majority of the ride is on Exmoor moorland, with some bridleways, tracks, fields and small amount of roadwork in between.
Day 1 - Saturday 24 May 25
Class 1. The Golden Horseshoe 50 Mile Linear (80km; 1 Vetgate on course)
Class 2. The Golden Clench 25 Mile Linear (40km; Start at on course vet gate) - Open/Advanced only
Class 3. The Golden Team Event (80km; 2 Legs - Leg 1 Start to VG; Leg 2 VG to Finish). Team members to enter individually and put in notes which leg they are doing and who teamed up with.
Class 4. The Exmoor Stag (120km; 2 day 80/40; Day 1 80km Linear route, Day 2 40km Circular)
Day 2 - Sunday 25 May 25
Class 5. Otter 40km GER
Class 6. Otter Cub 40km NOVICE GER
Class 7. Bambi 25km PR
Class 8. Fawn 16km PR
Event Website: www.goldenhorseshoeride.com
Postcode: TA24 7ND
Grid Ref: SS852 369
What3Words: ///eggs.flopping.fingernails (entrance to venue field)
Entries Limited: 200 per day
Stabling / Accommodation: Camping and Corralling is available at Treborough. No C&C at Exford Showground. No Stabling available at the venue but can be booked locally. Riders are responsible for sourcing/booking their own stabling/accommodation. Please see website for more detail.
Facilities: Refreshments, toilets, first aid, mobile farrier, trade stands. Water at Treborough. No water at Exford Showground. Plenty of water on route.
Gates: The nature of Exmoor means that there are a lot of gates on this ride. We will try to steward or have lovely farmers open as many as possible! Please see notice board for Gate Allowance.
Late Entries: Late entry fee payable from Sunday 11th May 2025.
Special Instructions:
Entry fee includes a £2 National Trust Surcharge payable per day and a £1 CareMoor Scheme (Exmoor National Park) per participant.
Qualification criteria are in place for this ride -
40km Golden Clench, 40km Novice (Otter Cub) or Open/Advanced (Otter) - Must complete a minimum of one 32km ride in 2025
80km (1-Day) (Golden Horseshoe) /120km (2-day) (Stag) - Must complete a minimum of one 60km ride in 2025 (a 2-day 80km is also acceptable)
All qualification rides must be completed by 12th May 2025 as a combination. Qualifications will be checked on submitting your ride entry and your entry may be refused if they do not comply.
Classes 7 and 8 are open to all riders but it is recommended that this should not be viewed as a first endurance riding experience unless coming from an area with similar terrain.
Special Awards
Alongside the normal Golden Horseshoe trophies available a new award has been kindly sponsored by Dr Sarah Coombes.
Moor to Mountain Challenge - A challenge that rewards the brave. Enter an 80km or above class at two of the following events: Golden Horseshoe Ride, Cumbria Challenge and The Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, for your chance to win this prestigious prize. A trophy and voucher will be awarded to the winner.
Shiny Boots Award - A turnout and presentation award for the initial trot-up for Saturday classes, kindly sponsored by Major Shelley Bates. Get your glad rags on and horses sparkling to be in with a chance to win.
Golden Horseshoe Relay - there will be an award for the winning relay team.
Competitors in all classes will be awarded GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE awards based on the Golden Horseshoe Ride formula. There will be no Graded Rosettes. Trophy Points are calculated slightly differently to normal grading points. Please see the website for more information.
Prizegiving Will take place on Sunday evening - price, location and menu TBC.
Crew Rules - The 80km Linear Course will have a mid way Vet Gate on course - this will be used as the handover for relay or the start for the 40km Linear route.
Each rider in classes 1 and 4 must have their own crew, not shared.
Riders in classes 2, 3, 5 and 6 must have designated crew, but these may be shared.
Classes 7 and 8 are not required to have crew, but are allowed and are strongly encouraged to so .
Para Equestrian Riders - Sadly we cannot reduce the number of gates but if you have any other accessibility needs please do get in touch and we will do what we can to accommodate you.
Ride Description: The original endurance ride in the UK...what more is there to say!
SPECIAL 60th ANNIVERSARY RIDE
Come and support this iconic ride...we can't wait to see you there!
To commemorate the initial Golden Horseshoe Ride in 1965 we will be running a special Golden Horseshoe Class. The very first GHR was one class - a 50 mile linear route from Malmesmead to Ronald Duncan’s (the creators) home in Welcombe, Devon.
Sadly we can’t follow the exact route due to building work and busier roads so we have created a similar 50 mile linear route from Treborough to Exford via Minehead (ish!). This will be known as The Golden Horseshoe.
This class can either be ridden in full or just the final 40km; or can be ridden as a relay team.
There will be supporting classes on the Sunday - circular routes from the Exford Showground.
The majority of the ride is on Exmoor moorland, with some bridleways, tracks, fields and small amount of roadwork in between.
Day 1 - Saturday 24 May 25
Class 1. The Golden Horseshoe 50 Mile Linear (80km; 1 Vetgate on course)
Class 2. The Golden Clench 25 Mile Linear (40km; Start at on course vet gate) - Open/Advanced only
Class 3. The Golden Team Event (80km; 2 Legs - Leg 1 Start to VG; Leg 2 VG to Finish). Team members to enter individually and put in notes which leg they are doing and who teamed up with.
Class 4. The Exmoor Stag (120km; 2 day 80/40; Day 1 80km Linear route, Day 2 40km Circular)
Day 2 - Sunday 25 May 25
Class 5. Otter 40km GER
Class 6. Otter Cub 40km NOVICE GER
Class 7. Bambi 25km PR
Class 8. Fawn 16km PR
Event Website: www.goldenhorseshoeride.com
Postcode: TA24 7ND
Grid Ref: SS852 369
What3Words: ///eggs.flopping.fingernails (entrance to venue field)
Entries Limited: 200 per day
Stabling / Accommodation: Camping and Corralling is available at Treborough. No C&C at Exford Showground. No Stabling available at the venue but can be booked locally. Riders are responsible for sourcing/booking their own stabling/accommodation. Please see website for more detail.
Facilities: Refreshments, toilets, first aid, mobile farrier, trade stands. Water at Treborough. No water at Exford Showground. Plenty of water on route.
Gates: The nature of Exmoor means that there are a lot of gates on this ride. We will try to steward or have lovely farmers open as many as possible! Please see notice board for Gate Allowance.
Late Entries: Late entry fee payable from Sunday 11th May 2025.
Special Instructions:
Entry fee includes a £2 National Trust Surcharge payable per day and a £1 CareMoor Scheme (Exmoor National Park) per participant.
Qualification criteria are in place for this ride -
40km Golden Clench, 40km Novice (Otter Cub) or Open/Advanced (Otter) - Must complete a minimum of one 32km ride in 2025
80km (1-Day) (Golden Horseshoe) /120km (2-day) (Stag) - Must complete a minimum of one 60km ride in 2025 (a 2-day 80km is also acceptable)
All qualification rides must be completed by 12th May 2025 as a combination. Qualifications will be checked on submitting your ride entry and your entry may be refused if they do not comply.
Classes 7 and 8 are open to all riders but it is recommended that this should not be viewed as a first endurance riding experience unless coming from an area with similar terrain.
Special Awards
Alongside the normal Golden Horseshoe trophies available a new award has been kindly sponsored by Dr Sarah Coombes.
Moor to Mountain Challenge - A challenge that rewards the brave. Enter an 80km or above class at two of the following events: Golden Horseshoe Ride, Cumbria Challenge and The Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, for your chance to win this prestigious prize. A trophy and voucher will be awarded to the winner.
Shiny Boots Award - A turnout and presentation award for the initial trot-up for Saturday classes, kindly sponsored by Major Shelley Bates. Get your glad rags on and horses sparkling to be in with a chance to win.
Golden Horseshoe Relay - there will be an award for the winning relay team.
Competitors in all classes will be awarded GOLD, SILVER or BRONZE awards based on the Golden Horseshoe Ride formula. There will be no Graded Rosettes. Trophy Points are calculated slightly differently to normal grading points. Please see the website for more information.
Prizegiving Will take place on Sunday evening - price, location and menu TBC.
Crew Rules - The 80km Linear Course will have a mid way Vet Gate on course - this will be used as the handover for relay or the start for the 40km Linear route.
Each rider in classes 1 and 4 must have their own crew, not shared.
Riders in classes 2, 3, 5 and 6 must have designated crew, but these may be shared.
Classes 7 and 8 are not required to have crew, but are allowed and are strongly encouraged to so .
Para Equestrian Riders - Sadly we cannot reduce the number of gates but if you have any other accessibility needs please do get in touch and we will do what we can to accommodate you.
Ride Organiser
Shelley Bates
Shelley Bates