Iconic Endurance GB British Horse Feeds and Golden Paste Company Red Dragon Festival is back with a roar

Often billed as an end of season party, the iconic British Horse Feeds & Golden Paste Company Red Dragon Festival of Endurance is back bigger and better than ever next month after a year’s absence due to the spike in Covid cases across Wales last autumn.

Iconic Endurance GB British Horse Feeds and Golden Paste Company Red Dragon Festival is back with a roar
  • Festival of Endurance at Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells (24-26 September) sponsored by British Horse Feeds and Golden Paste Company hosts array of 2021 Championship events  
  • Nearly 300 riders expected to compete over the three days including teams from across the country in the Pony Club National Championships  
  • National Championship classes to attract many leading horse and rider combinations to tackle iconic Cambrian Mountain route including the ride’s legendary climb over Aberedw Hill summit. 
  • Welsh Championship newly added after move from Pembrey Sands 

 

Often billed as an end of season party, the iconic British Horse Feeds & Golden Paste Company Red Dragon Festival of Endurance is back bigger and better than ever next month after a year’s absence due to the spike in Covid cases across Wales last autumn. 

Organisers say support for the iconic event in the Cambrian Mountains, swelled last year and have put plans in place to ensure it bounces back bigger and better than ever.  

John and Jane Hudson in their 10th year as organisers of the prestigious event, held from the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, say that they were overwhelmed by the strong backing of the sponsors and the support of the endurance community when it became clear that the Welsh Government would have to delay lifting of restrictions in time, forcing the cancellation of the 2020 event. 

John Hudson said: “A huge amount of work had gone into last year’s event and the support then gave us the impetus to return this year bigger and better than ever.”  

“We would like to express our thanks to our sponsors British Horse Feeds and The Golden Paste Company for their generosity and continued support throughout the preparations and to Steve Hughson and his Royal Welsh Showground team and the numerous volunteers who work so hard and local landowners who welcome us.” 

“With the addition of the National, Pony Club and Welsh Championships, we can promise that after a difficult 18 months for everyone, this year’s Red Dragon Festival of Endurance will be an opportunity for the endurance community to gather safely, compete and celebrate our sport at this wonderful venue.” 

Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, along with the sport’s other epic challenge, the historic Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor is a bucket list event for most endurance riders. Weather conditions as well as terrain offer unique tests at both. 

Just 4.5km from the start, the Red Dragon route takes riders over the legendary feature climb over the 400-metre Aberedw Hill. After tackling this, competitors are led out onto a spectacular grass covered plateau and onto mountain trails.  

As well as the National and Welsh Championships, this year sees the event play host to the Pony Club National Championships on Sunday 26th September offering Pony Club members from across the country the unique opportunity to take part in this prestigious endurance event.  

Hattie I’Anson of sponsors British Horse Feeds said: “The Red Dragon event is certainly one of the highlights of the calendar in the sport of endurance and we are delighted to once again be supporting with both of our companies British Horse Feeds and The Golden Paste Company.                 Our carefully formulated products are ideal for the endurance horse or pony and we always get such fantastic feedback throughout and after the event. 

“Our products Speedi-Beet, Fibre-Beet, Cooked Linseed & TurmerAid are hugely beneficial to endurance horses and ponies and even our newest supplement, TurmerItch will be beneficial to help keep those pesky flies away! We are very pleased to continue our longstanding sponsorship of the marvellous Red Dragon Endurance Ride in 2021.” 

With Endurance GB’s ride calendar now extended until the end of the year to meet demand, the Red Dragon Festival of Endurance no longer occupies the position as the season finale with 11 rides so far planned in October. After Red Dragon, all eyes will turn to this year’s Home International at a new venue at Cropton Forest at Pickering in North Yorkshire, 9-10 October. 

Planning is also underway for the 2022 domestic and international season which will see British teams competing at both the FEI World and Young Rider European Endurance Championships. 

Picture courtesy of David Saunders Photography