World Horse Welfare Fundraiser Jill Perry Inspired To Take On Huge Diamond Jubilee Riding Challenge

Jill Perry and Gem. A World Horse Welfare supporter is taking on another huge riding challenge across the UK to raise money for our charity. Jill Perry from Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire is riding her horse Gem, a Welsh Cob, from Sandringham House in Norfolk to the Dinefwr Castle in South Wales, via Buckingham Palace. The ride is to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year and the Olympics and raise money for five charities including World Horse Welfare. Jill who is a keen Le Trec rider and organises many training days and events for charity says: “In 2009 I successfully rode from Biggar in Scotland down to Bangor in North Wales and although it was a huge challenge and was very tiring, it was great fun and I met some really friendly and helpful people along the way. Therefore, I thought the best way to celebrate this important year was by having a go at something similar. This time though I thought it would be fitting to start at Sandringham and also take in the sights of London including Buckingham Palace.” Her last challenge took 26 days and she raised £6,500 which was donated to three charities including World Horse Welfare. This time she is hoping the ride will have a patriotic feel especially as many of the routes she will be taking have been used by Royalty over many hundreds of years, as Jill explains: “I have conducted quite a lot of research for this particular challenge and found out that many of the paths I will be taking are the some of the oldest known to man and are routes the Romans would have used such as the Peddars Way and Icknield Way.” The ride will start on Sunday 22 April at Sandringham House where Jill and her horse Gem will be waved off by World Horse Welfare Field Officer Jacko Jackson. She will then get on the Peddars Way to Epping, go into London to the Lee Valley Equestrian Centre and then head towards Buckingham Palace. Jill will continue the ride by going to Windsor where she will then head up to the Goring/Swindon area and get on to the Ridgeway towards Cheltenham and Gloucester crossing the River Seven, heading to Lydebrook and on to Brecon Beacons. The aim is to finish at Dinefwr Castle, near Llandeilo Carmarthenshire. Jill is expecting to ride between 15 and 20 miles a day and anticipates it will take about a month to complete. Jill goes on to say: “I’m really looking forward to the challenge although once again it is going to be tough! I hope that as many people as possible will be able to support me and therefore the charities I am riding for.” If you would like more details about the ride or would like to support her by donating please call Jill on 01279 718 282, 07984477991 or email [email protected]

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