A dental nurse who works at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, is to ride a retired racehorse to raise money for wounded soldiers.

Tracey Mackie, 43, from Wantage, is to take part in the Horses for Heroes ride around Ascot Racecourse and Windsor Great Park to raise money to help rehabilitate soldiers at Headley Court, Surrey.

Miss Mackie will be riding 21-year-old ex-racehorse Penny Bridge, of the Blowing Stone Stables, Kingston Lisle, around the course on Saturday, July 10, alongside 2,000 other riders.

She said: “I am a horse-lover and used to work in racing as a stable girl.

“I wanted to do something for the soldiers, because I know 18-year-olds are having their limbs blown off while they are doing something for people.”