An impressive cavalcade of more than 80 horses took to Exmouth beach when the East Devon Hunt organised a pleasure ride in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

Riders young and old hacked along the sand in a group from the Maer, to Sandy Bay, taking advantage of the low tide to splash their mounts along the shoreline.

One rider stripped off to her bathing costume and took off her horse’s saddle for a swim in the sea, to celebrate finishing the ride.

East Devon Hunt committee member Emma Cranmer-Marsh said the club hopes to repeat the popular ride again in March 2012.

She said: “It was fantastic. They all seemed to like it.

“They were all having a real good gallop. They just kept going until they got to the end.

“There are not many places you can ride on the beach. People like to ride there if they are sure of the tides and if they are safe.”

The event attracted riders from across Devon, including Kingsbridge, Tiverton and Totnes, raising around �400 for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.