Emma Martin

The reigning national endurance champion tells Martha Terry about the full-circle moment of completing her second 160km ride, her sport's unique camaraderie and what makes a horse a winner

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SHE was fighting back the tears as they steered the three horses out into the dusk. The riders had been in the saddle since 6am and were tackling the final loop of 160km. After some 14 hours, Emma Martin (Nightfire Hallelujah Louis), Amie Grainger (Sheraani) and Victoria Davies (Cumbria Showtyme) were putting the finishing touches to a long-distance feat rarely achieved by any horse and rider, let alone three together on one day.

As the enormity of their imminent achievement soaked in, they laughed, cried and discussed getting tattoos to mark the moment. Throughout that twilit loop, Emma was processing not just the tally of points that would give her an unassailable lead in the 2025 national championship, but completing a circle that started nearly 40 years ago. Because history was repeating itself from 1986, when Emma was 12 years old.

“That was when I last did a 160, which was then called 100 miles,” says Emma, who won the equivalent junior national trophy for the most points that season. “I was the youngest person ever to do it - you wouldn't be allowed now - and I was riding the smallest horse. I wanted to do that distance so much.”

Emma smiles at the memory of her plucky 12.1hh, Sandpiper, a roan “Heinz 57 with some Welsh”, who could turn his hoof to any discipline and was certainly a match for his bigger counterparts.

“I really enjoyed jumping as a teenager, and I got back into it about 10 years ago and did some BE90s as I had a versatile horse at the time,” says Emma. “I've done dressage, hunting with bloodhounds, a bit of everything and I enjoy it all.”

She lays the endurance drive firmly at the feet of her mother, Julie.