On 18th June 2016 I set off from Scotland's only white horse hill figure at Mormond, way north near Fraserburgh, to explore Britain's horse history on horseback. The white horses of Wiltshire, Dorset, Yorkshire, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent which I had marked on my maps over 30 years ago provided a framework for my ride, with some of Britain's other most enigmatic horse landmarks providing extra focal points: the Kelpies near Falkirk, the giant Clydedsdale which greets visitors to Glasgow and Sultan the pit pony landart sculpture in south Wales. In total, I reckoned it would be roughly 1500 miles, the furthest I had ever ridden, my ponies and I carrying all we needed with us rather than having a support vehicle trailing behind.
What a journey it proved to be. From the craggy Cairngorms to the rolling chalk downs, the emotional ups and downs were as testing as any mountain. I spent three and a half months travelling with my ponies through Britain, folowing my dreams, riding 1400 miles. Nine days before the end, I was forced to stop by serious back problems, and was told by some that I would never ride again. Coming to terms with my body's physical limitations has been tougher than anything that happened on the ride and I have struggled to come to terms with my body letting me down. It's taken three years before I've been able to return to complete my ride.
On 18th August I set off again with my two Fell ponies from the same place I set off on my last day in late September 2016. I can't ride such long distance as I used to, but I'm determined to ride to the last two white horses at Litlington and Folkestone, and to finish the most significant unfinished business in my life. I realise how lucky I am to get that chance.
Far too many of my friends haven't been so lucky because their lives have been turned upside down by cancer. Some are alive today only thanks to breakthroughs in research. Others, not so lucky, never got chance to realise their ambitions. That's why I'm fundraising for cancer charities. I know that wth your help, we can make a real difference to peoples' lives.
You can read more about our journey on facebook or on this website.
Vyv Wood-Gee