In the words of Forrest Gump, “Stupid is, as stupid does”, so please don’t judge me too harshly but what is life without adventure?! Usually, at this time of year, my mind would have been taken up with plotting, planning and dreaming, about the challenges of the racing season - those extraordinary minutes where horse and jockey become one and hope and fear are all intermeshed into something unforgettable!

Having retired from racing after those wonderful few minutes with Noble Yeats, the siren call of the unknown is singing to me, so, channelling my inner Forrest, I seem to have found a new adventure.

In February I’ll be taking part in the Gaucho Derby — a 500km horse race across the wilds of Patagonia – navigating some of the most remote and challenging terrain in the world. Over two weeks, I’ll be racing 35 other riders, as we navigate through the peaks and precipices of Argentina, by night camping with my horse (who is tied to your toe, so you know if they try and hop off during the night!). In the spirit of the frontiersmen, you carry everything you need, squeezing all your life support of food, sleeping bag and tent, in to no more than 8kg of equipment. It can be boiling hot, before wildly swinging to freezing cold and the wind can be biblical. When it isn’t lashing with rain, the views are apparently spectacular. Perhaps this will answer the question, of what is life without adventure?!

Alongside the adventure, it feels a good opportunity to raise money for the Oxford John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital — a place that means a huge amount to me. It is where my brother Thomas was treated for cancer and where we saw at first hand, the extraordinary skill, dedication and compassion of the staff caring not just for children but for their families too.

I will be covering all my own costs, so every single penny raised will go directly to the Children’s Hospital and even more than that, all funds raised will be match funded up to £25,000. The funds will help provide badly needed equipment, that will make an enormous difference to the sickest babies and children, as well as support families at the hardest moments of their lives.

If you feel inspired by the cause — and perhaps simply grateful that it’s not you navigating Patagonia with a compass, a tent and a horse — I would be hugely grateful for any support you are able to give. A few pennies, a few pounds, or more if you’re feeling generous: the sky really is the limit.

If you are interested in keeping track of how it’s going, you can follow the action live (see info below!) I will be completely out of comms during the race but I’m planning to do updates before and after, on the SWC supporters whatsappgroup! If you would like sporadic updates on the (mis)adventure, please just let me know – the more the merrier!

You can track the progress of riders in the Gaucho Derby primarily through the live GPS tracking map https://equestrianists.com/gaucho-derby/ which goes live on race day.

Primary Tracking Links & Methods

• Live Tracker Website: equestrianists.com (Look for the "Live Tracking" link, which usually activates just before the race start date).

• Twitter (X): The official live, play-by-play updates are often posted on the @MongolDerbyLive account.

• Instagram: Follow @gauchoderby for photos, videos, and updates.

• Facebook: Follow the Gaucho Derby page for official daily updates.

2026 Race Information

• Race Dates: February 15 – February 28, 2026.

• Tracking Starts: Expect the live tracker to be active around Feb 18, 2026.

How to Follow the Progress

• The "Blue Dot": The live GPS map allows you to watch each rider's (or team's) "little blue dot" move across the Patagonian wilderness.

• Vet Check Stations: Riders stop roughly every 30-40km for veterinary checks. These are the best points to see who is leading and who has swapped horses.

• Updates: The Equestrianists staff provide commentary on standings, especially during tricky sections like the Meseta de la Muerte (Plateau of Death).