Nurses Icelandic challenge (From Western Telegraph)

Nurses Icelandic challenge

Horse-riding nurse Pat Woodcock has saddled up for her second charity challenge in just over a year.

Her latest equestrian venture has taken her to Iceland, in complete contrast to her first fund-raising ride through Jordan.

But both rides had the same aim - to raise money for the British Horse Societys rescue centre, and Pat, of Mynachlogddu, hopes that the £1,800 she collected for her Viking Treasure Challenge will help it realise around £50,000.

The Jordan ride was such a marvellous experience that when I heard about the Iceland ride I thought I would just go for it, said 53-year-old Pat, who owns four horses and works as a practice nurse for Dr Virdi in Crymych.

Last year, the Jordan riders crossed the desert on highly-strung Arab mounts. But the Icelandic horses proved to be much more reliable companions.

They are a very pure breed, and a remarkably strong, proud and plucky horse, said Pat.

Although they are no bigger than 13 or 14 hands, they can carry a person weighing up to 20 stone.

One of the features of Icelandic horses is their special smooth gait, the tlt, which reaches the speed of a gallop but can be sustained over long periods.

They say it is possible to sip a glass of wine while riding at the tlt, and it certainly is a very smooth and fast way of travelling, said Pat.

A herd of 100 Icelandic horses, from which mounts were selected every day, accompanied the riders on their circular route from the northern port of Sau?rkrkur, which saw them negotiating glacial rivers and rugged terrain, riding along the sea shore and climbing mountainous trails. Every night, the riders would sleep in two-man tents after a traditional Icelandic sing-song led by their native guides.

We were delighted one evening when we were invited along to the opening of a riding hall to find that the choir there was singing one of our songs! said Pat.

She thanked everyone who had supported her fund-raising for the BHS Rescue Centre in Warwickshire, and the charitys nation-wide rescue and rehabilitation scheme.

Caption: On the Viking challenge: Pat Woodcock pictured with two of her charity rides Icelandic horses.