A once-feral pony and her Bovey Tracey-based rider will be representing England in a challenging endurance event in September.

Georgina Pitts said her selection for the England squad, with her pony Tia, was ‘an unbelievable dream come true’.

She and Tia – who she describes as having ‘the heart of a lion and the body of a sausage dog’ - will be competing against teams from Scotland, Wales and Ireland in the Home Internationals endurance event in Perth, Scotland, from Friday, September 4 to Sunday 6.

Endurance riding tests the fitness, stamina, and partnership of horse and rider over long distances. Competitors navigate pre-marked, scenic routes across the countryside.

Georgina and Tia will be tackling some of the UK’s most beautiful and testing terrain, but Dartmoor has been the perfect training ground; all their moorland rides involve at least 10km of steep climbs.

Tia was originally found feral in the Welsh mountains, and Georgina bought her five years ago with no knowledge of her breeding.

She turned to endurance riding with Tia earlier this year as a fresh start, after losing her confidence in showjumping. Training together on Dartmoor, pony and rider have built up immense physical fitness and a strong bond of trust. Although Tia is highly sensitive to sounds and movements in her surroundings, she has proven to be a solid, dependable partner.

Reacting to her selection for the Home Internationals event, Georgina said: “It is truly an unbelievable dream come true.

“After a major wrist injury and two surgeries crushed my dreams of senior international status following my time at the Junior Hockey World Cup, Tia has been my safe space.

“For her to now provide me with the opportunity to represent my country is incredible.

“I’m so proud of my pony for proving to everyone that you don’t always need fancy breeding—just a willing nature and a true partner."

Georgina’s journey to the England team has also been a team effort. Her boyfriend Ben—an avid runner who regularly trains alongside Tia up the Dartmoor hills—acts as groom, crew, lunging expert, and driver. Her father, the original support driver, has also stepped back into the crew team.

Endurance GB, the national governing body for the sport, encourages riders of all levels to experience long-distance riding – from the grassroots ‘pleasure riding’ level to international championships.

In events such as the Home Internationals competition the welfare of the horse is paramount. Before, during, and after the ride, horses must pass rigorous veterinary checks, and a successful completion is only awarded if the horse is deemed ‘fit to continue’ at the final vetting.

For any local equestrians considering endurance riding ,Georgina has a simple message: "Do it!

“The rules and vet checks sound scary, but they’re not. Everyone will help you, and you’ll be surprised by how much your horse enjoys it. Anyone and any horse or pony can do it. If you’d told me at the beginning of the year that a 14-hands mismatch pony and I would be representing England, I would have called you a fool—so give it a go and enjoy yourself."