Completing a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award on horseback presents participants with a unique set of challenges, but it also provides a tremendous sense of adventure and achievement.

Sam Sykes™ Ltd and Bigland Hall Equine group will provide training and practice to ensure participants are well prepared and possess the necessary skills to successfully complete the expedition phase. Part of your training and practice week will be spent at the centre and part will be spent on a three day practice expedition with overnight camps surrounded by wild country and beautiful scenery.

Participants will be expected to plan a route between each camping location, maximising use of open country, bridleways and tracks. Travelling time on horseback each day will take approximately 6 hours. The route will be ridden at a mix of paces, mainly trotting with some cantering. Overnight grazing for the horses will be pre-arranged at a location close to each campsite.

The minimum age for the DofE Gold Award Horseback Expedition is 16 years and the maximum age is 24 years. To participate, you will need to be a competent horse rider who can walk, trot and canter, be experienced at hacking out in open countryside and riding on roads.