Those who love hacking a horse are bound to be inspired by Pat Guerin’s remarkable career in endurance riding – recently clocking up 20,000 competitive kilometres across her four decades in the sport.
Pat started riding at five, but her endurance career began after moving to Cheshire in 1977. Answering a local newspaper advert to exercise hunters led to her first endurance ride in 1978 on the mare Treble Chance, a 40-mile Exmoor qualifier, and from then she never looked back.
Among Pat’s many highlights are third and fourth placings in the EHPS Summer Solstice 100-mile rides and being shortlisted for a Great Britain team to compete in the USA in 1988. In 1989, she rode for England in the winning team at the very first Home International.
Pat has also placed in the top five of the prestigious Manar Trophy on four occasions — once with Blue G and three times with C F Winter Amadeus.
Still competing, Pat currently rides two Arab geldings: C F Winter Amadeus, 19, who has recently achieved his own 4,800km award, and Farid My Lad, 16.
“I am absolutely delighted and still can’t quite believe I have ridden so many successful competitive kilometres,” she said. “It’s been an incredible journey.”
Pat credits her longevity in the sport to steady, varied training, careful horse management, and knowing when to rest. She combines regular hacking with flatwork lessons and occasional dressage competitions, while her horses live out as much as possible throughout the year.
She also acknowledges the vital role of her support network, including her husband David and a loyal group of friends who have crewed for her over the years.
A long-standing member of the Cheshire and Staffordshire bridleways community, Pat also values the social side of riding through pleasure rides and training groups, describing endurance as “an all-inclusive sport where everyone is friendly, helpful and encouraging.”
Reflecting on how the sport has evolved, Pat notes changes in feeding, equipment and clothing, while believing the heart of endurance remains the same, encompassing partnership, resilience and shared experience across beautiful landscapes.
Pat plans to continue riding 32km and 40km rides regularly, hopes to complete more two-day events, and has her eye on returning to favourites such as Red Dragon, Cirencester and Well Vale.
“Endurance GB is my absolutely amazing happy place,” she said. “As a child I dreamed of having my own pony and riding for miles and miles. Endurance has certainly fulfilled that dream.”
Lead image of Pat Guerin and Farid My Lad Okeover in 2025. Credit: IndiePics Photography
