BETHANY McGregor, 14, has been into horses all her life, but friend Lucy Ambrus, 15, has been riding for only about three years.
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Both are part of the North-East's pony club scene and more recently have become active riders in the North-Eastern Equine Endurance Club.
Bethany said that although she had grown keen on endurance riding - she had completed a couple of 20 kilometre rides and three at 40 kilometres - she was still in the pony club.
"I really like the challenge of trying to get your horse vetted in (judged fit) after the event," she said.
"And the in-the-bush rides are really relaxing."
Horses must present with a "standing" heart rate within 30 minutes of finishing a 40-kilometre ride or they are disqualified.
Lucy said that she became involved with horses through Bethany and has changed horses three times because she kept growing out of them.
But that is a problem Lucy is unlikely to face again any time soon as her latest horse, an Anglo-Arab called Tuma, stands 15.2 hands high.
Lucy said that she enjoyed the different riding involved with pony club and endurance work.
"Pony club riding gives you a really good opportunity to socialise with other people and improve your riding skills while endurance riding is really relaxing," she said.