The Island Project – I will survive!

Thinking about all the details of a project like this I’m sure is going to make the difference between success and failure. The horse training aside there is a whole other aspect of The Island Project, being able to survive alone for 30days completely unaided (as in no radio call for Chocolate, dry clothes and a cuppa tea!) I was lucky enough to recently spend some time with ex marine Richard Pencott up on Dartmoor. I definitely think surviving in the winter in Devon with 14 horses single handed is a good starting point for the mental strength required but Richard went through useful skills to be able to thrive alone.

I love watching survival programmes on TV the iconic ‘lighting a fire’ or ‘sourcing water’, so naturally I was delighted to be actually having a go! Richard took me through rescue procedures, I will have a Spot messenger which I press at set times everyday to let people know I’m OK, it also has different buttons to press in the event of a major emergency where I need immediate evacuation. Richard helped me put together an appropriate first aid kit, before teaching me how to deal with hypothermia…although personally I think he thought it was fun for me to get freezing cold, bit like giving riding lessons, the cheeky ones loose their stirrups!!! Up on the moor I spent time learning how to forage for food and make traps. I definitely feel much more prepared and seriously can’t wait to get on the island now! Thank you to Malcolm Snelgrove Photography for the cool pics and to Richard Pencott