THE family and friends of local soldiers put on a horse fun day to raise money for wounded servicemen and women.

Hundreds of budding riders took part in showjumping classes, fancy dress, and sack races at the fundraising event, held at Longwood Equestrian Centre in Dry Street, Basildon.

Spectators were entertained by soldiers on horseback leaping over jumps, as well as ponies, and riders decked out as princesses and wounded veterans.

Tracey McCabe, 43, and her daughter, Kirsty, 19, were among those who helped organise the event, which raised more than £2,000 for Help for Heroes.

Mrs McCabe’s son, Private Harrison McCabe, 24, who has recently returned from a second tour of Afghanistan, made the trip from his base in Surrey, where he is stationed, to help out for the day with some of his fellow soldiers.

He also judged the fancy dress competition and picked eight-year-old Chanel Little, from Langdon Hills, and her pony Sparkle, as the winner for her wounded soldier and injured pony costume.

Mrs McCabe, who lives in Battleswick, Basildon, said: “We had such fun, it was a brilliant event.

“We even got most of the soldiers who had never ridden before on horseback, which was a bit of a challenge. We chose Help for Heroes because of all the good work it does.

“It was especially important to me as Harrison was himself injured by an explosion while in Afghanistan, he’s got shrapnel wounds all over his body.”

Mrs McCabe said the horse show was such a success they plan to hold one every year.