Father and daughter pair take on Exmoor's Golden Horseshoe

Abby was the South West junior champion in 2007 and reserve last year. Her ride, Diana of Court, was bred at Court Farm in Exford, the village which has welcomed the Horseshoe on all but one year since 1974.

Carmarthenshire-based Harry Adshead, also starting in the Exmoor Experience class, rode from the Black Mountains in Wales to Jordan on his pure-bred Arabian, Sealeah Myranda. The ride covered 6,000 miles and took 17 months.

The pair have been doing endurance rides, mostly at 25 miles, for three years.

Altogether, 181 horses and ponies will be competing over the three days, 12 of them in the gruelling 100-mile Golden Horseshoe itself. Ten have entered for the Exmoor Stag, which covered 50 miles on the first day and 25 on the second - the original distance for the Golden Horseshoe when it returned to Exmoor in 1974. Another seven, including endurance champion Sally Hall, from Banwell, Somerset, have entered the Exmoor 80, an energy-sapping 50 miles in one day.

More than 100 riders are coming from all over the country to ride in the 14-mile sponsored and training ride, with proceeds going jointly to the Moorland Mousie Trust and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

"I think we are set for another wonderful three days," said Barbara Wigley, who heads the organising committee. "We were worried that the financial crisis and the cost of fuel might affect entries this year, but the attraction of riding over Exmoor, one of the most challenging venues for endurance riders, has obviously been irresistible!"

The three days open on Sunday, May 10, with a great family day out to the venue, the Exford Show field to the south of Exford village. A programme of arena displays includes exhibitions by Exmoor ponies and dog agility.

Refreshments and trade stands will also be on the site.

Vetting for three of the classes will also be carried out on the same day.