UPDATED MARCH 11TH: I've done it! Yesterday, March 10th, I did a 4 mile cross-country gallop over 23 fences and hedges, and followed it with a couple of hours hunting (a further 8 miles or so, and 11 more jumps!) ALL WITHOUT A SADDLE! It wasn't easy, and I am suffering for it with pain in various places, so please make it worth my while by donating!

ORIGINAL STORY:What? On March 10th, I will be taking part in the Bilsdale & Hurworth Hunt's final day of the season - which consists of a cross-country gallop over a full course of fences & jumps, followed by a full day's hunting. I will be doing so on my kind wife's horse, Ron (that's the horse's name, not my wife's!).

I will be doing so without a saddle.....

Why? I'm not quite sure. I probably said something stupid like "How difficult can it be?"...

But then I realised that it would be an immense challenge, both physically, and for my horsemanship. I'm not a born rider - I started a few years ago (for fear of becoming a riding widower!), and I ride occasionally, sometimes not for months, sometimes once or twice a week. But this year Jen (that's my wife) and I started riding Ron without a saddle at home, and after a couple of rides I suggested trying a small jump or two. Jen let me (so this is all her fault really), and Ron & I absolutely loved it! Which is probably when I suggested that it couldn't be too difficult to do a day's hunting bareback..... And now there's no going back!

Those of you that ride will hopefully realise just what I'm letting myself in for, and I ask that you dig appropriately deep. Those that don't ride, I hope you can still appreciate the enormity of the challenge, and if not, ask someone that rides! Every donation will make me more determined not to just do it, but to do it as well as I possibly can.