TODAY'S WOMAN - A charity trek on the hoof - across India
They got their degrees this summer, but one in four graduates is now facing unemployment. Joanna Tomlin, who has a 2:1 in journalism from Sheffield University under her belt, won't be signing on. Instead she's heading off on the charity trip of a lifetime. This is her story in her words...
Golden sands stretch out deep into the sun. The thundering hooves of purebred battle horses disturb the otherwise silent and desolate terrain.
Brightly painted mansions or 'havelis' dotted along the horizon create a striking contrast to the dry and dusty desert.
This is the scene I shall be greeted with in two months as I swap the bright lights of Sheffield for the quiet villages of Rajasthan.
Twelve months ago I signed up to a 150-mile horse riding trek across India to raise money for charity.
Choosing to take part in the British Horse Society's ride to Rajasthan wasn't just another desperate attempt at prolonging the job seeking process after three years of 'dossing about' at university.
In fact it was after I'd spent a year mourning the end of my relationship with my first love that I felt like I needed something else to focus on other than finishing my degree.
Trekking 150 miles on horseback, camping in tents and trying to avoid malaria for 10 days wasn't particularly at the top of my 'to do' list.
But when I heard about 'riding with the kings' across India's most spectacular region, with its quaint little villages, and stunning palaces, on its rare breed of horse, the threatened Marwari, I was suddenly intrigued.
I heard about the trip through The British Horse Society, a charity set up to help ill-treated and neglected horses and ponies across Britain.
Its BHS Challenge Rides take place in several very different and demanding environments from the mountains of Peru to the glaciers of Iceland.
But it was India which had long appealed to me and the chance to go off the beaten track and discover the real Rajasthan seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. Journey starts close to home
Helping out at my local riding school has been part of my life for the last seven years.
Glebefield Riding School is a small yard situated in the middle of a housing estate in Mexborough not far from my home in Conisbrough.
It was like a secret haven as a child. I spent every evening, weekend and school holiday up on the yard, and had my own horse there for a while.
I'd see horses and ponies of all shapes and sizes come on to the yard, but had been blissfully unaware of what a fantastic new lease of life the riding school's owner, Jane Hemmingway, was giving this motley crew.
As a welfare officer of The British Horse Society, Jane gives free stables to the horses and ponies rescued by the BHS.
All of the horses arrived there in need of a better life thanks to the BHS.
Some had been abandoned or mistreated, others had owners who simply couldn't look after them any more.
It was this unfaltering dedication and effort given by the BHS welfare officers that really pushed me to take part in the challenge ride and support the BHS.
I know that the money I have raised will go towards helping those like Brandy, a gorgeous 14hh grey cob, who came to Glebefield after been reported to the RSPCA.
He was in such a mess when he arrived, after suffering serious neglect.
Evaery bone protruded from his malnourished body. He had to wear five rugs just to keep warm. He suffered from extreme diarrhoea and worms.
After a relatively short stay at Glebefield, Brandy was fit and well again and changed from timid and wary to a pleasant and inquisitive little pony.
Glebefield and its rescue horses offer riding lessons to both children and adults on evening and weekends but their main focus through the week are our disabled riders.
Bramble is one of many who give lessons to even the most severely disabled. It is so fulfilling to watch a disabled rider who didn't even want to pat the horses when they first arrived, to then be trotting around the school, demonstrating to their carers how they can steer and stop their ponies just a few short weeks later.
After years of volunteering at Glebefield I am back working on the yard after finishing my degree with the hope of getting in shape for India and saving enough money to go travelling upon my return.
I am so excited about the trip. I've had my injections and managed to stick to my fitness plan.
In order to survive this trip I have had to build up my stamina and strengthen my legs, bottom and arm muscles.
An intense programme at the gym includes treadmill, bike, cross-trainer and stepper and I am trying to ride at least three times a week.
The only thing that worries me about the trip is that I won't be prepared for the heat.
Working out in an air conditioned gym is very different to riding in India.
I don't think I'm going to find it easy, riding all that way.
All that is left is to enjoy what I hope will be a fantastic adventure, although I am continuing fundraising up until the day I go as the more money raised the more horses and ponies can be helped.
FACTFILE
The British Horse Society has a network of 180 volunteer welfare officers.
In Yorkshire Jane Hemmingway, of Mexborough, won the Society's Welfare Award for her years of work with rescue horses.
BHS Welfare Officers are also an information point for any owner who has questions about their own horses or who needs support through a difficult time.
They are also an excellent source of local contacts, and therefore may be able to put owners in touch with each other.
To report a horse welfare issue, call 01926 707791 or 01926 707839 or e-mail welfare@bhs.org.uk.
To donate towards Joanna's riding challenge, go to www.justgiving.com/joanna-tomlin or email to jotomlin@hotmail.com Highs and lows in fundraising marathon
Adventure doesn't come for free.
Apart from my initial 250 registration fee, visa and equipment to pay for, there was the small matter of raising at least 2,800 for the charity itself - the challenge rides are its main source of income.
My head spinning with the prospect of exploring the bustling streets of Delhi and mystical havelis in the remote Indian countryside, I hadn't even begun to think how I would raise such a huge amount of cash.
The fundraising was the hardest part of the challenge (though I'm saying this before I've been on the trek so I should probably reserve judgement until my return!)
Coming up with money-making ideas seemed impossible and with zero pounds in the pot I had a long way to go.
But with a great deal of help from my mum,the ideas came. We were really enthusiastic about our Pampered Chef parties, raffles, sponsor forms and Webb Ivory collections and sent out invite after invite, trying to drum up as much support as possible However we soon learnt that trying to get money out of people, even for a good cause, is not as easy as it sounds.
There were many disappointments along the way. Some people didn't turn up to events and some just didn't bother to reply.
I sent out lots of letters to equine companies, both locally and nationally, asking for their support but never heard anything back. It was really disheartening.
I started an aluminium can collection with the help of everyone I know.
Weekends were spent crushing cans and sorting out the aluminium from the steel.
Finally, my parents and I took a van full to be weighed in for cash, only to receive 17.40!
But even now we are still collecting, as every little helps.
By the end of the fundraising we had got into the swing of things. We now know that when we host an event we need to invite at least double, if not more, guests than we actually want to turn up to make it worthwhile.
And there have been so many people who have been extremely kind - R&R Saddlery, for example, have offered me a discount to buy my equipment for the trip. I have now achieved my target of 3,000 and am continuing to fundraise for the charity. I'm also looking for donations of snaffle bits to take to India as part of their appeal against the mistreatment of the Marwari, their traditional breed of horse.
The hardy animals descended from the war horses that served the ruling families and warriors of feudal India will be our trusty steed for the trek.
The British Horse Society uses a charity-run riding establishment which is trying to re-establish the Marwari in Indian society and teach owners how to care for them.
The period of the British Raj hastened the breed's downfall.
British occupiers preferred other breeds and tried to eliminate the Marwari. By 2001 there were only a few thousand purebred Marwaris left.
The Marwari was once considered divine and superior to all men, even royalty.
I am proud to be among the British people now attempting to right a wrong that was done to this noble and brave breed.
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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