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{"PageID":1542,"ThemeCode":null,"BlogInfo":{"Breadcrumbs":[{"Name":"News","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News"}],"ID":46,"SpaceID":2,"Name":"News","Description":"Key news items","Author":{"ID":14,"Name":"John Hudson","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"CreationTime":"18/11/2019 11:00","Tags":[],"URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News","IsWatching":false,"CanWatch":false,"CanPostBlogEntry":false},"EntryInfo":{"Breadcrumbs":[{"Name":"News","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News"},{"Name":"Derbyshire teenager completes first 160km endurance ride","URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Derbyshire+teenager+completes+first+160km+endurance+ride"}],"ID":1542,"Name":"Derbyshire teenager completes first 160km endurance ride","Abstract":"Fourteen-year-old Hollie Brewell from Belper completed her first two-day 160km endurance ride at Pembrey with barefoot Arab gelding Cotswolds Shaquille, tackling forest, beach, sand and bog to finish strong and pass the final vetting.","ImageUrl":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Client/Images/Cms/Hollie_Brewell_-_Pembrey_3.jpg","ThumbnailImageUrl":"","Author":{"ID":18512,"MembershipNumber":null,"Username":null,"Forename":"Bella","Surname":"Fricker","Name":"Bella Fricker","Handle":"Bella","CompanyName":null,"FamilyGroupName":null,"Branch":{"ID":3,"Name":"Cromwell","Description":"Northants, Cambridgeshire, Beds \u0026 Hertfordshire","Icon":null,"Colour":"rgb(208, 58, 73)","Depth":0,"Indent":0,"CanBeSelected":true,"Sections":null,"Label":"\u003cspan class=\u0022label label-default\u0022 style=\u0022background-color: rgb(208, 58, 73)\u0022\u003eCromwell\u003c/span\u003e","LabelLarge":"\u003cspan class=\u0022label label-default label-lg\u0022 style=\u0022background-color: rgb(208, 58, 73)\u0022\u003eCromwell\u003c/span\u003e"},"IsLoggedInUser":false,"ImageUrl":null},"IsDraft":false,"PublicationDate":"Thursday, 4 June 2026","CreationTime":"04/06/2026 17:58","CommentCount":0,"Tags":["Interviews"],"URL":"https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Derbyshire+teenager+completes+first+160km+endurance+ride","CanAdmin":false},"Content":"\u003cp\u003eFourteen-year-old Hollie Brewell from Belper, Derbyshire, has completed her first two-day 160km endurance ride with her Arab gelding, Cotswolds Shaquille, at Endurance GB’s Pembrey ride in Wales.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRiding over 80km each day on 30–31st May, Hollie and nine-year-old “Sharqui” tackled a demanding route through forest, beach, dunes, sand, stony tracks and deep boggy sections — all while Sharqui competed fully barefoot.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Hollie, the achievement still feels slightly unreal.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“It feels amazing; it’s not quite sunk in yet,” said Hollie. “I didn’t think I had it in me, so it’s made me realise I can do things when I set my mind to it.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pair chose Pembrey for their first 160km challenge after hearing what a fantastic ride it was, and because the varied route was likely to suit Sharqui’s personality.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“People told me what a fantastic ride it is and how much Sharqui and I would enjoy it, as it is a more technical course with frequent changes in scenery,” said Hollie. “Being a baby, he soon gets bored in wide open spaces. We also wanted to pick a ride he could go fully barefoot, so we didn’t need to worry about boots either falling off or rubbing.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of Hollie’s biggest concerns before the ride was the beach section. Her previous experience of riding on a beach had been at The Wirral, where she had a fall and suffered concussion. But at Pembrey, the beach became the highlight of the weekend.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“My biggest challenge was going onto the beach for the first time and seeing if Sharqui would be OK,” she said. “However, despite this, my favourite part actually was the beach for both of us, and Sharqui really looked forward to it each time we were riding up the dunes.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharqui, a 15.2hh chestnut purebred Arab gelding, has been with Hollie for almost three years. He came from a dressage background with very little hacking experience, but has since developed into a confident, capable endurance horse. In his novice season, he and Hollie won the Junior Championship and were Reserve Novice Champions. Last year, they completed their open season, secured the Young Rider Championship and upgraded to Advanced level.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHollie describes him as a horse with plenty of personality.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Sharqui lives out with his three mares at home 24/7, who he sometimes irritates the life out of — imagine a horse with ADHD who doesn’t know when to leave them alone,” she said. “He can be a bit of a fidget while he is being tacked up as he is so keen to get going, but once he’s on his way he is the most perfect ride.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“He has stamina, a good attitude to his work and always tries his best for me. He picks me up when I’m struggling and likewise I help him if he’s struggling. He has a huge ground-covering gait which seems effortless for him; this makes him a very comfortable ride and efficient.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the weekend, Sharqui completed 82km alone on the first day. On day two, he had company for the first 64km, before the other horse vetted out at the second hold, leaving Hollie and Sharqui to complete the final 18km by themselves. Hollie’s mum Angela admitted she had been worried about whether he would happily leave the venue after riding with another horse, but Sharqui “never hesitated” and trotted and cantered back out into the forest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHollie said he felt consistent throughout both days.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“He didn’t feel different on day two compared to day one at all,” she said. “He gave a very consistent ride all the way through. After the first day he had a good massage and stretches, and regular walks around the venue to keep him loosened up.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePassing the final vetting was an emotional moment for the whole family.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“When he finished with an ‘A’ for action after all those kilometres, including deep boggy sections which at times nearly went up to his belly, deep sand and stony tracks, I was so proud and happy that my horse was healthy and happy too,” said Hollie. “He was still jogging around the venue finding the nice grass before he went home!”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngela added: “Obviously watching them emerge out of the forest at the end of the 164km was the most emotional moment — not only emerging, but cantering along happily, Sharqui with his ears pricked and still looking happy. Then the vets passed him at the end and he still had the energy to jog around the venue afterwards too.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreparing a barefoot horse for a ride of this distance takes careful planning. Hollie said her mum is “a little bit obsessed” with Sharqui’s hooves and spent time researching the route in advance to make sure it would suit him without hoof boots. The family were concerned that sand could get into the boots and cause rubbing, while the deep boggy mud also posed a risk of losing them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo help prepare his feet, they used a hoof hardener for two weeks before the ride and support his hoof quality through nutrition. At home, Sharqui is usually booted for training on the gravelly lanes around Belper to help preserve his hooves for competition days.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 160km completion was the result of a careful build-up. Hollie and Sharqui had a slightly delayed start to the season after Sharqui had a minor skin injury, which required several weeks of box rest during very muddy weather. However, he held his baseline fitness well and returned to competition with a two-day 80km at Haywood Oaks, before completing a mixture of one-day rides and a two-day 120km at Shuckburgh ahead of Pembrey.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraining at home in Derbyshire includes plenty of hills, quiet lanes and trips to places such as Carsington Reservoir and the High Peak Trail.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“We are surrounded by hills — lots and lots of them — so this builds good core fitness quickly,” said Hollie. “We use particular hills around us to gauge their fitness as training progresses.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharqui also lives out for much of the year in hilly fields, which Angela believes helps maintain a good level of natural fitness. Between Shuckburgh and Pembrey, he was only ridden three times, including one 25km training ride, as the family are strong believers in rest and recovery.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor Hollie, balancing school and endurance riding is all part of the challenge. She said she is lucky not to have too much homework that cannot be completed outside school, and sometimes catches up while travelling to and from events. Some of her teachers follow her endurance achievements with interest, although not many of her school friends are involved with horses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsked whether horses might feature in her future career, Hollie said: “I would like them to be part of my career, but I am still undecided on what I am going to pursue when I leave school.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEndurance has always been part of Hollie’s life. Her parents competed in the sport before she was born, and her first event was a three-mile pleasure ride on the lead rein when she was just six months old, sitting in a basket saddle on her mum’s pony, Star. At four, she got her own Welsh Section A pony, Thumbelina, who took her from lead rein to riding independently.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the partnership between Hollie and Sharqui is at the heart of everything she loves about the sport.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The relationship you build with your horse is what I love most,” she said. “It’s me and him out there — we have to work it out together. Phone signals at times are dodgy so I can’t always call anyone. We go through all emotions together and keep each other going.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“We get to experience some beautiful riding which we wouldn’t ordinarily get to see, we have to deal with problems together and support one another.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe also credits the endurance community for helping her grow in confidence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I have learned lots riding with and alongside so many really experienced people at events,” she said. “I have met some lovely friends who I stay in contact with between rides to share my successes.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAngela said watching Hollie’s confidence grow has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Hollie only started riding alone last year at Shuckburgh, where they did their first 64km together,” she said. “It’s been a lovely experience watching Hollie’s confidence grow and build up the courage to ask people if she can pass them.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike every successful endurance ride, Pembrey was a true team effort. Hollie’s mum organises much of the preparation and crewing, making sure everything is ready and getting to every crew point to feed, water and “slosh” both horse and rider. Her dad also plays a key role, especially in vet gates, where he has discovered Sharqui’s secret weapon: a wooden spoon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring events, Sharqui can struggle to eat in vet holds because of the excitement, but Hollie said the family have found “a magic spoon” which encourages him to keep eating.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“He will eat and eat and eat off his magic spoon,” she said.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHorse welfare is central to endurance riding, with veterinary checks throughout the competition to ensure each horse is fit to continue. For Hollie, those checks are an important part of the sport.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The vet checks are crucial,” she said. “With a horse like Sharqui, and many other horses, they try and try for us, so it’s important that if something isn’t quite right, it is picked up early so we can either do something about it or make a decision if to continue or not.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I used to be rather scared of the whole vetting thing, but they are there to support us and our horses to ensure we all have a good day.”\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking ahead, Hollie is trying not to set too many fixed goals, knowing that “life and horses often have their own agenda”, but she is considering trying a CER this year. Her long-term dreams include becoming Supreme Champion and one day completing a one-day 160km ride.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor now, she hopes other young riders will be inspired to give endurance a try.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer advice is simple: “Do it! 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