Teenage riders go bareback for good cause (From Cotswold Journal)

Teenage riders go bareback for good cause

12:41pm Thursday 31st January 2008 in News

TWO junior members of the North Cotswold Hunt rode bareback at the weekend to raise money for the County Air Ambulance service.

Charlotte Haines, 16, and friend Anna Walby, 17, both sixth formers at Chipping Campden School, raised more than £4,000 for the service, which has often proved to be a lifesaver for riders and the farming community.

Charlotte's dad, Chipping Campden farmer William Haines, was airlifted to Redditch Hospital after falling from his horse and suffering a head injury seven years ago.

"The air ambulance does a brilliant job and this is a way of saying thank you," said Mr Haines.

He said the daughter of one of the girls' biggest sponsors last weekend also had need of the air ambulance after falling and hurting her head on Christmas Eve.

"It's amazing to think that the air ambulance is all funded by charity and by people like Charlotte and Anna fundraising," he added.

Mr Haines said the two girls did really well during the trail hunt at Bourton Hill House Farm last Saturday, riding bareback for over four hours and managing 24 jumps without falling off.

"It's very hard. You've no stirrups so you've got to squeeze very tight to stay on," he said.

For part of the day, the girls were accompanied by John Beech of the North Cotswold Hunt, who entered into the spirit of things by riding his bicycle without a saddle.