GREAT Cheverell’s Carri-Ann Dark admits plotting the long-term course of her endurance riding career won’t be an easy task after ending her time as a Young Rider on a high.

The 21-year-old helped Endurance GB win bronze at the European Young Riders Championships with her ride Vavavoom in Belgium earlier this month and says that competing exclusively in adult events from now on will be testing.

“It was really good to finish with a fantastic result and we were all really happy because we were told that it was the first medal Britain have won in endurance for about 15 years,” said Dark.

“It’s a bit of a stressful time now though because it’s all about big life decisions.

“The adult events cost a lot more to compete in so the first thing I’ve got to look in to is getting some kind of job so that I can afford it all.

“There aren’t too many big competitions straight away but there are the World Equestrian Games (in 2014 in Normandy, France) which I’d love to do because all of the different disciplines will be competing there, as well as endurance.”

On September 30, Dark will get the chance to collect some well-deserved adulation for Vavavoom as she parades her ride at Newbury Racecourse in a special presentation.

Then, on October 5-7, the Wiltshire rider is competing in the prestigious Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, a two-day 100 mile ride at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

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