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Fauresmith is located 130 km south west of Bloemfontein, South Africa. The town, named after Rev Phillip Faure and Sir Harry Smith, is the second oldest town in the Free State.
Fauresmith is the only town in South Africa, and one of only three in the world, where the railway line runs down the centre of the main road.
The town is well known in equestrian circles for the annual National Equestrian Endurance Race, during which the horses and riders must complete a grueling 202 km course during the three days of the event.
Winters are extremely cold with temperatures often below freezing.
The Fauresmith ride is a tradition among endurance riders with an average of 400 entries each year. It is held at the Fauresmith show grounds and is made possible by all the farmers in the area. To qualify for the ride, the rider and horse must complete 3 x 80km, but not necessarily as a combination. The extreme cold is one of the more challenging factors of the ride.
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