Irene Benjamin, a grandmother and probably the best known side-saddle rider in the world, died on 30th April 1998.

Originally we had planned an article featuring Irene Benjamin's proposed epic 1250 mile ride around Britain, side-saddle, to raise awareness of the work of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Despite being unwell, Irene did depart, as planned, from Glasgow on 20th April, but was unable to continue after the first day and was taken to hospital in Oban, where she died nine days later.

It is obvious that Irene was one of those rare people who live life to the full and are completely true to themselves. On a personal level I feel extremely sad as I was so looking forward to meeting this extraordinary woman upon completion of her journey. She had taken an interest in this magazine and had offered to share with us some of her immense knowledge and experience of horses, especially in connection with the art of riding side-saddle and Iberian horses.

Irene was the wife of the late Frederick Kadoorie Sassoon Benjamin and only daughter to Alan and Grace Christison. She was the mother of three children and had four grandchildren. Irene was diagnosed as having cancer three years ago and had to undergo chemotherapy. She refused to allow this to interfere with any of her work, and right up to the very last continued to divide her time, working closely with the various side-saddle organisations and the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers of whom she was the First Lady.

In November of last year, she insisted in delaying her chemotherapy treatment in order that she may organise and give an extremely interesting and informative lecture on rare breeds in this country. This took place in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. In April of this year, Irene had just begun a 1250 mile ride from Glasgow to Surrey in order to raise £100,000 for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust when she fell ill with pneumonia and was taken to hospital in Oban where she died nine days later.

It is obvious from speaking with people who knew Irene personally that she was an extraordinary woman who lived life by no-one's rules but her own and had an immensely generous spirit. Much of Irene's life centred around horses. She was not only an extremely accomplished side-saddle rider but also a judge of Morgans and Iberian horses amongst others and a frequent commentator at horse shows at home and abroad. She gave displays at shows all over the world and when specially invited to participate in the Championships of Horses of Pure Spanish Race in Seville, Irene became the only foreigner to win the prestigious Concursa de la Elegancia.

Irene suffered a near fatal fall a few weeks after the death of her husband; her injuries included four crushed vertebrae, a permanently displaced hip, seven broken ribs and a pierced lung. Doctors said that Irene would be paralysed for life, but they didn't reckon on her unquenchable spirit and will to recover.

Recuperating in London, Irene travelled everywhere by taxi and became well known to many of the capital's cabbies. Because she was unable to walk, the drivers would carry her to and from the waiting cab as she paid countless visits to doctors and clinics. It was the taxi drivers - against the express wishes of the medical expert - who arranged for Irene to mount and ride a horse for the first time since the accident. That excursion through Hyde Park was the starting point for Irene's rehabilitation and she became determined to walk and ride again regularly, nevertheless it took 2 years and she was left with trapped neck nerves and suffered constant pain for the remainder of her life.

Irene's immense knowledge of the horse world and her marvellous sense of humour made her a perfect guest speaker throughout the world... it is obvious that Irene meant a great deal to many people and she was a generous and wonderful friend who was always willing to help people. Not only was Irene immensely interesting but she was great fun too and she will undoubtedly be remembered in this way by all those fortunate enough to have known her.

Irene showed great dedication to the causes that she deeply cared about right to the end of her life. Her greatest concern as she lay ill in hospital was that she was letting the Trust down by not completing her ride... the greatest tribute we can pay this remarkable woman, to whom horses were a source of great joy throughout her life, is to continue to support the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in her name.

Donations may be sent to The Rare Breeds Trust.

alternatively to her daughter

Loraine Pinel, St John's Wharf, 104 Wapping High Street, London E1 9PR