A FLORIST will not be horsing around when she takes on an 80-mile trek for charity.

Jill Harris, 51, who owns Mor Flowers in Prestatyn, has ridden since the age of seven.

She will join friends - Jane Jones, Sarah Thompson and Debbie Giamacot - for the adventure from the English border, across Wales to the coast at Borth.

Jill, who will undertake the ride on her eight-year-old horse Iris and is raising money for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “This is going to be a big adventure and a test of our stamina.

“We will go down on the Saturday and the ride will start on the Sunday. We will start it from Mid Wales and then head across Wales.”

She said they are due to follow the Prince Llewelyn route, then go up and over the Cambrian Mountains.

“The most challenging aspects are going to be navigating the open land, with no landmarks,” she added. “If I get it wrong, it could make a massive difference to the number of miles ridden.”

She added: “The other concern is just all that time sitting in the saddle.

“We will be navigating off maps but the route is there.”

The ride will start on Saturday and will take about five days.

Jill, who lives in Penyffordd with partner Shaun who also rides, added: “The idea came from friends who had stayed on parts of the trail.

“Iris should cope just fine. She is fit and young and has lots of energy. She gets a special diet that contains all the nutrients that she requires and I can up the amount should it be necessary.

“We have been training hard over the last few months to get ready. The route is largely off road.”

She added: “Self-navigation is important so I have been practicing my map reading by doing rides in more remote places like round Clocaenog forest.”

“We are staying at B&B’s overnight where they have facilities for the horses.

“The three friends I’m doing the ride with are all local to Denbighshire. They have been on riding holidays before, done petal rides where you are based at one site and do a route that leads back to the start, a bit like petals on a flower, but I haven’t done place to place before.

“I especially wanted to raise funds for Wales Air Ambulance as they do amazing work.

“We may never have to use their service, but it is always there for us – they do amazing work.

“They are a charitable trust there for people who live, work and play outside in our wonderful country.”

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jill-harris4

Readers can also call into Jill’s shop on High Street, where there is a sponsorship form.