I got into riding because a friend talked me into it, with puppy dog eyes at the prospect of getting me onto a horse. Not through any love of riding or horses. But I have found it's challenging, exhilarating, great for forgetting worries of day to day life, and a great way to meet new people and make new friends. All of which was unexpected. When I only expected to take one lesson. So I am taking part in this ride along with a few hundred other people to earn money for Riding for the Disabled. So that others can experience the unexpected added benefits of learning to ride a horse, just as I have. So I am taking part in this event which brings its own personal challenge to me. It may sound easy sitting on a horse for 8 miles around a course, like a donkey ride. Only horses like dogs at the beach get very excited in open ground. So I will have control my horse over the route. Especially as there will be many other horses around, which makes it more dangerous and unpredictable. This will be something totally different to single riding lessons and organized hacks, which is what I am mainly used to. My partner in this event is Harvey the Horse (see picture above), albeit at the moment he is unaware of his vital role in this. So please sponsor the two of us in this personal challenge, for a very good cause.