THERE was the spectre of a most unusual finish when the outcome of the Endurance GB-staged Cotswold Endurance Ride rested on the heartbeat of the first horse home!

Organised by Paul and Emma Froehlich, this annual event held on June 1 saw classes ranging from a ten-mile pleasure ride to a 50-mile Endurance Race.

Organisers were fortunate to have been given permission to use even more private land which enabled them to eliminate much of the road work of the established route, giving rise to records speeds in all of the classes.

In the event, the horses seemed to enjoy bowling over the grassy tracks even more than their riders.

There were six top-class vets on hand with instructions to be very strict and to stop any horse they thought was showing any signs of stress.

Horse and riders came from all over the country to compete in this event, so it also attracted the British team selectors to review certain horse's progress.

It was anticipated that the first 40 entries, which began at 8.45am to tackle the 50-mile endurance route, would cover the first 22 miles in about two hours.

However, with the course riding so well, they were back in 1hr 40 min with the leading group of five cantering into their first vet inspection, led by two local riders - Margaret McKiddie, from Gloucester, riding Bonnie Anne, and Stroud-based Melanie Fauske on Garwen Pollyanna.

Fortunately, the weather was not as hot as forecasted so horses quickly recovered and were presented to the vets within a few minutes.

After their vetting, there was a compulsory hold of 40 minutes to enable the horses to have a rest and eat.

The first loop took in Ablington and the hills above Bibury towards Northleach and proved quite testing, while the second loop was much flatter as it heads out towards Ampney St Mary.

One of the highlights was an outstanding ride round Poulton Fields.

This route, too, rode faster than expected with the front runners still together, although one of them had taken a nasty tumble.

Presentation times were again quick with Melanie and Margaret still leading, although two others were hot on their heels.

At the second Vet Gate, the hold time was 20 minutes before Melanie, who left first, was followed by Margaret some 30 seconds later and then another rider 15 seconds after that.

The last loop was only six miles through Barnsley Wold and the three horses set off for a race to the end.

They were neck and neck until the last mile when the third horse cast a shoe and was pulled up by his rider to avoid injury.

This left the intrepid duo of Melanie and Margaret to battle it out together to the bitter end.

They faced a spectacular duel to finish with Margaret winning by a head - but surprisingly the drama still wasn't quite over.

For Margaret's ultimate victory would rest on her horse passing those strict veterinary checks at the journey's conclusion.

In the competition's rules, it states that a horse's pulse has to be below 64 beats per minute 30 minutes after finishing.

Unfortunately, at 72bpm, Bonnie Anne failed to meet those requirements. As a result, she and Margaret were eliminated, leaving Melanie and Pollyanna as the winners.

Paul and Emma Froehlich commented, "We should like to say that, without the support of the local farmers, this ride would not be as enjoyable as it is.

"We owe them a great debt of gratitude, not only for maintaining this outstanding are of the Cotswolds but for allowing us access to some of its more remote and beautiful parts and to make this ride a highlight on the Endurance GB Calendar."