December 6, 2012

Horses' big weekend #2: Before the event

It's the sport called Endurance Riding - well named!
A big weekend for horses, riders and helpers. 

Rides are held every couple of months in the cool season. Riders & horses often come out to Charleville from far afield, arriving for the event after maybe two days of driving. 

For some, this is a serious business. A good performance means the horse has value as breeding stock - and that can mean BIG money from Dubai sheiks.

For others, it's a challenge of fitness for themselves and their horses and a chance to catch up with mates.

And this time there are also the backpacker travellers from France, Italy, Germany and the UK - all horse-riders at home - taking the chance to really see the "outback" from the back of their borrowed horses.

Saturday 2pm: 
Loading - always a special strategy for this horse 
("No! I don't wanna, don't wanna .... oh OK ... if you push me ...")
Ready to go - only a 5-minute drive to the ride base. 
Horses and humans get fed and settled in for the night, before tomorrow's early start. 




Sunday 8am: 
Now really ready to go - some smiley starters waiting for "Go!" at the start of their 40 kms 4-hour ride.

2 comments:

  1. ahahah loading part :)
    and who wins? the fastest or what matters is just to arrive?

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  2. * just arriving is good - but also winning is good ... they have divisions according to rider's weight, and winners are combination of time taken and condition of horse
    * there's also awards for "best conditioned horse"
    * also at the vet checks every 20 kms condition of horse tested and can be disqualified if problem (heart rate or lameness usually)

    THIS is why the record-keeping is sooooooooo extensive!!

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