Great Britain: Westcountry pair aiming for Kentucky

Thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk - Full Article

Thursday, March 18, 2010

E NDURANCE is a tough sport, and definitely not for the faint hearted, so the South West can be proud of the fact that two of its riders have made it onto the Endurance GB British Team Elite Squad.

Annie Joppe with her horse, Dilmun, from Perranporth, Cornwall, and Karen Jones with Macadamia from Culmstock, Devon, are now working hard to be selected for this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

The EGB British Team Elite Squad is a small pool of horses and riders selected from the Endurance GB Senior Squad. It is from the Elite Squad that a team of up to five combinations will be chosen to represent Great Britain.

To become part of the elite squad takes total commitment, dedication and hard work on the part of each rider as they must attend various training and assessment weekends held around the country. At these sessions both horses and riders undergo rigorous evaluation by a team of veterinary experts comprising vet, equine physiotherapist, farrier, trainer and human physiotherapists.

Interestingly, the team vet, Hugh L Salmon, BVetMed DBR MRCVS, is also from Devon and is based at the Wolfgar Veterinary Surgery in Cheriton Bishop. Horses are assessed by trotting up and lunging on a hard surface before being checked in more detail. The horses are then assessed while being ridden. Riders must do a dressage test to illustrate the level of schooling and suppleness of the horse, which is assessed by team trainer, Annabel Schofield.

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