Hack to remember horse's best friend

Joy and her horse Dan took part in our Hack to Remember to honour the memory Dan's best friend Holly.

Joy with Dan (left) and Holly (right)

Joy Wood from Chard in Somerset took part in Brooke’s Hack to Remember Day on Sunday 1 July with her horse, Dan. Timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, Hack to Remember Day accompanied Brooke’s year-long Every Horse Remembered campaign, which marks 100 years since the end of WW1 and honours the eight million horses, donkeys and mules who lost their lives to the fight.

Joy and Dan had been taking part in Brooke’s MyHackathon challenge, which encourages riders to hack 100 miles in 100 days and raise £100 for Brooke. They initially took on the challenge along with Joy’s riding buddy Yvonne and her horse Holly, but tragically Holly sustained an injury and had to be put to sleep.

To honour Holly’s memory, Joy and Dan rode an extra 100 miles in MyHackathon, raising £350 for Brooke.

We miss her hugely and today was in honour of her precious memory.

Reflecting on Sunday’s hack, Joy said: “I particularly wanted to remember and commemorate Dan’s best friend Holly, who started the Hackathon with him but tragically was never to complete it. I chose to ride to the river where Yvonne and Holly and Dan and I enjoyed many very happy times together.”

She continued: “We miss her hugely and today was in honour of her precious memory.”