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 ...")
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.
Now really ready to go - some smiley starters waiting for "Go!" at the start of their 40 kms 4-hour ride.
ahahah loading part :)
ReplyDeleteand who wins? the fastest or what matters is just to arrive?
* 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
ReplyDelete* 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!!