The British Endurance Young Rider Squad

Chef d’Equipe – Helen Boston

It is an honour to have been given the opportunity to become Chef d’Equipe for the British Endurance Young Rider Squad, a group of people for whom I have had a lot of admiration since becoming involved with them through my own daughter’s squad involvement a few years ago. 

I have been involved with horses since I could walk, going through Pony Club and competing in dressage, showjumping and also eventing, however I always wanted to do “long distance riding” and had to wait until I was in my 30’s to have a chance to do this.  Since getting involved in endurance (in my 30’s!!!), I have competed, crewed, marshalled, helped with the local group on the committee, as well as travelling to the Czech Republic and crewing for the Young Rider Squad at the European Championships.  This was not only thoroughly enjoyable, but a fantastic experience and great insight into the world of international endurance, and I knew then, that I would love to be part of this team again. 

My working life has seen me working in all sorts of organisations, however more recently I spent 7 years as a Police Officer unfortunately being medically retired at the end of 2007 following a road traffic accident which left me slightly disabled.  I now work for a project that is part of the Social Services Dept of Newcastle City Council, based in Middlesbrough, which offers help and support to gay and bisexual men.  A total change to pounding the beat but one which brings many of it’s own challenges non-the-less!!

I currently live in the North East, approx 1 hour south of Newcastle on the North Yorkshire border. I have a partner, Stewart, and two children, Amy who is at university and Daniel who is studying towards his A levels which he takes this year.  Having had a few horses over the years we are now down to one, a beautiful part bred Arab mare who I love to bits!!!  We also have a little terrier called Toby.

I am thrilled and excited at being given this opportunity and look forward to working with EGB and the YR Squad over the coming months and through what will hopefully be, a very exciting year.

Team Manager – Stevie Martin

I started riding at a very early age when I was at school in the New Forest, but I had to wait until I was in my late 30s before I acquired a horse of my own. My first encounter with Endurance, or Long Distance Riding as it was then, was in 1989 on a borrowed horse. The ride was on Bodmin Moor and the weather was horrific but I was hooked.
Since then I have ridden, crewed and helped at rides of all levels and in all weathers. I was Chairman of Selectors for three years, spent three years on the EGB Management Committee and am a 4* FEI official.
For the last two years I have been the Team Manager for the British Endurance Development Squad, a job I thoroughly enjoy, and will be going to Belgium with them again in May this year.
I think my main attribute for this job is that I am very self motivated and organised. In fact my entire life seems to have been about organising, as a child getting a band of kids together to go scrumping for apples to organising a staff of 50 when working as the Catering Officer and Location Caterer for the local television studios and London film crews that came down to Devon and Cornwall. In 1976 my husband and I purchased a cottage with some derelict land which we cleared and then ran as a smallholding with cows, sheep, pigs and poultry even making our own butter and grinding our own wheat for our bread. A lovely way of life but hard work.
I already know quite a few of you and look forward to meeting all of you at the Haywood Oaks and Dukeries rides.

Team Vet – Georgina Hirst

Georgina Hirst graduated from the Royal Veterinary College London in 2007 after which she spent some time working for SPANA, a horse charity in Morocco, before undertaking an Internship at the Dubai Equine Hospital UAE where her time was spent working with endurance and race horses. Whilst in Dubai, Georgina also helped in the treatment tent at the endurance rides there.
Since returning to the UK, Georgina has worked in several equine practices and is now based at Chine House Veterinary Hospital in Leicestershire.  
Georgina has crewed for a number of years for members of her family at International level, including the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, the World Young Rider Championships in Bahrain and the European Championships in Compiegne. She has also competed herself at International level including coming 3rd at the World Young Horse Championships in Compiegne in 2007.  
Georgina was Assistant Team Vet for the GB Senior Team at the Europeans in Assisi last year and also travelled with the horses. She has also vetted at numerous rides throughout the UK. She is also now an FEI 2 star rated vet. Georgina in her spare time also has 3 horses, including two young endurance horses that she is bringing on.