A HORSE rider from Bishops Lydeard near Taunton has been selected to take part in the Endurance World Championships in the south of France.

Shanti Roos, 47, has lived in the UK for nearly half her life but she will represent her birth country, the Netherlands, at the upcoming competition on September 7.

Ms Roos will be battling it out with 144 other riders from 39 countries at the 100-mile day race in Monpazier.

She will be riding her nine year old Anglo Arabian gelding, Fripon Au Xois.

“This is a dream come true,” she said.

“I have tried to qualify for the Dutch team for nearly 10 years, training on the Quantock Hills and competing in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain and even Costa Rica.”

Outside of her equestrian life, Ms Roos runs a holiday let called Triscombe Barns and she is a social media campaigner for the Labour Party who worked at the London headquarters during the election.

Shanti Roos will be battling it out with 144 other riders Picture: Shanti Roos/Saumur 2024

She added: “I enjoyed working in London but nothing beats being back in Somerset and training on the Quantock Hills, there is no better place in the world for me!”

“Training horses for endurance racing takes a lot of hours in the saddle and the Quantock Hills are perfect as they contribute to strength and fitness.

“I started endurance riding on my Quantock Hill pony just over ten years ago.

“Endurance riding is a great welcoming sport, anyone with a horse can join and have a go, it is like a pleasure ride without jumps and you get to ride in beautiful places with the gates opened for you – paradise.

“I would encourage everyone to have a look at the national endurance website Endurance GB“.

A spokesperson for the Netherlands team said: “Shanti Roos is the new addition to the Dutch team. Her horse Fripon Au Xois has a lot of experience with technical courses in France, which can come in handy in the hilly terrain with many turns in this championship.

“It is a tough race with only 40% completing the test event last year.

“Horses get eliminated if their trot is not regular or they have a metabolic issue from not drinking or eating well enough for example.

“Shanti’s horse Fripon has never been eliminated in his career so far.”

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