Are you taking part in the Horses for Heroes charity ride?

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If you're taking part in the Horses for Heroes charity ride on 10 July at Windsor Great Park and Ascot Racecourse, we want to talk to you — H&H is looking for riders to speak to after the event about their experience.

If you are happy to help, please email your details (name and phone number) to hheditor@ipcmedia.com

HHO Admin
 
I've donated to friends and am supporting on foot, but I'm not taking my horse. He's a rehabilitated racehorse and it wouldn't be fair to put him into an environment where he is surrounded by such huge numbers of ( 2,000 ? ) others, and I suspect many may be out of control.
I hope it works, but logistically with that many (un-checked horses and riders) I'm not sure, so didn't want to risk putting my boy into danger.
 
Yes, I'm going with my horse The Badger! Can't wait to gallop past the finish line (although the T&Cs say 'walk & trot only', I'm not sure Badger can read...). Would be very happy to tell you his story, since being bought from the gypsies at Tallow Fair.
 
I forgot to say also that this is even more meaningful to me as a charity, as my husband, who is a serving officer in the RAF, has just been deployed to the The Gulf for 6 months. Many of our friends are serving abroad, and Help for Heroes is an amazing, non-political resource that makes a HUGE difference for those injured servicemen who have sacrificed so much.
 
irishcob said:
I forgot to say also that this is even more meaningful to me as a charity, as my husband, who is a serving officer in the RAF, has just been deployed to the The Gulf for 6 months. Many of our friends are serving abroad, and Help for Heroes is an amazing, non-political resource that makes a HUGE difference for those injured servicemen who have sacrificed so much.
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I hope your husband and friends have a safe tour xx, my son has just got back from his first tour with the RAF, i'm also taking part in the ride as I have also wanted to do something to help this fantastic charity for a long time. Hope you have a good day
 
Will be interested to see how many do take part. Myself was put off by the costs that kept changing, and the lack of communication from the oragnisers at the start, so bowed out. We have taken part in other fund raisers and plan more for services charities, which are foremost for us, but this one, had to give it a miss. Was a lesson to choose events that do not take a premium for the event managers.

Best of luck to all those taking part though.
 
I have just completed a brilliant 'Ride for Heroes' in Shackerstone, Leics. It was attended by the wonderful Household Cavalry - although I didn't do the ride with them, we let them go off at their pace and we followed at a more leisurely one!
I felt so proud of our superb soldiers, it was great to see them and their beautiful horses.

I wish all those riding in next week's event lots of luck and lots of fun!
 
Not doing the ride (I'm rather far away!!) but I did just buy a help for heroes hat silk!! Husband is a fast jet pilot. Good on everyone participating for such a worthy cause.
 
I have now pulled out of this ride,

From the beginning Hpower have clearly not had the skills to communicate with people wanting to help this charity,

I initially paid the £100.00 registration fee then the £75.00 that was to be paid by the end of March, I then was informed by a girl at the stables that we didnt need to make this extra payment anymore, and that she had got a letter to say so,

So i emailed and asked for a refund!! this took 7 emails (all unanswered) and 3 phone calls before they put the money back into my account!!!

£100.00 COSTS for 2010 riders is a lot of money, money they say is for organising this ride, and anything else goes to the charity!!

Personally I think someone somewhere is making a lot of money out of this ride,

100 horses setting off every 20 minutes is unrealistic and unsafe!
all it is going to take is one person to have a fall, or one over zealous horse and this ride is going to be pure chaos!

I have requested my £100.00 back on the grounds of health and safety, and lack of communication from Hpower, and all i got last week (2 wks bfefore th e ride) was my set off time and told to collect my tkts for the racing after when I register on the morning ( so how am I expected to pass these tickets onto my family when Im off riding??)

I am going to take my horse on The Newmarket Heath ride instead, its 17 miles longer than this one, and is only £40.00 to enter and all sponsorship going to Macmillan Cancer nurses.

Help 4 Heroes is a fantastic charity, and should Hpower bother to return my £100 i shall donate it direct to them and still have a horse with no broken bones, and none myself!!!

I know of at least 4 other people that have bailed out of this ride, which is a shame, but the organisers are just a sham..............
 
I've obviously had quite a different experience with Hpower than many other people!

I was quite happy to pay the £175 initial registration fee. After all, how many other times will I be given the opportunity to ride on Ascot racecourse on my little cob?! Yes most sponsored rides are a) much longer and b) much cheaper, but to me this really isn't just any old sponsored ride, it is a much more prestigious and unique event. Having worked in Event Management in my time, I can only begin to imagine what a massive undertaking this has been to manage, and as it is the first one of it's kind, yes there have been changes and uncertainties.

Hpower, true to their word, refunded all riders £75 as they subsequently found they could run the event on a smaller budget. Good for them for being so honest. This registration fee has come out of my own pocket, quite willingly, as I am benefiting by being allowed to ride across the landmark finish line of Ascot racecourse. All sponsorship money is going directly to the charity, just as it should do.

Hpower have been good at answering my emails, and were kind enough to rearrange, at the last minute, which group I was allocated to allow me to ride with some friends. I'm sorry other people have had negative experiences, but personally I am happy with the organisation so far, and am really looking forward to the day.

I just hope I don't have an unplanned Frankie Dettori dismount at the end!!
 
im not taking part do to the ridiculous cost and the fact that none of that fee is going to the charity! People should be donating their time/facilities etc for free not charging more than the fee for a ODE to go on a hack - disgracefull

Good luck to all those taking part
 
I understand that riding over the finish line at Ascot would very cool!!

I'd love to do it, but personally I think hpower are relying on people who believe this is soooo prestigous,

to have 100 horses setting off at once every 20 minutes providing everything goes to plan is just unrealistic, I dont want to be involved in an accident, and I certainly dont want my horse to get injured or cause an injury,

However, I think that the amount of people bailing out of this ride now, there are going to be so fewer numbers than they anticipated that they may be able to set off in smaller groups, Good Luck to everyone who is taking part,
 
Just back from the ride. It was brilliantly well organised and run. I had a fantastic day and cantering down past the big stand through the finish was an amazing feeling! Well done to those who organised it and I hope they do it again!!!
 
Well done Blakesmum! I'm a teeny bit jealous - what a great moment for you. I hope lots of money was raised!
 
Me too Blakesmum - and how lovely to meet you at the organisers tent! What an amazing day, and really special to charge over the Ascot Finish Line! The organisation was superb, small groups of 10 riders let off at a time so no hoolying idiots, beautiful riding through Windsor Park and then final hurrah along the racecourse with cheering crowds. Wow, STILL on high 11 hours later! (Oh and yes, LOTS of money raised too!).
 
It was lovely to put a face to a name Irishcob :)

I'm hoping they do one too then I can hopefully bring my horse as opposed to the pony. Who actually behaved quite well seeing as he's a rather unpredictable pony lol
 
blakesmum said:
It was lovely to put a face to a name Irishcob :)

I'm hoping they do one too then I can hopefully bring my horse as opposed to the pony. Who actually behaved quite well seeing as he's a rather unpredictable pony lol
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my god it was fantastic,great to look back and see the Grandstand and great they didnt stop anyone from cantering to the finishing post.... however would have been great to go all the way round!!! The ride had some lovely veiws and all horses were well behaved in my group. Well done to all that took part and to all the organisers i would be more than willing to talk to anyone about my amazing experience......
 
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