Leisure
Riders Help Prove Worth Of Ex-Racehorses
SEIB
competition attracting widespread interest
More
than 300 entries have been registered for the celebrated South Essex
Insurance Brokers Racehorses to Riding Horses competition, more
than half of them in the unaffiliated section.
"I
think this does prove a point," said organiser Nicolina MacKenzie.
"We have entries in all the affiliated disciplines, but I question
whether having so many unaffiliated registrations doesn't prove
the worth of ex-racehorses and make nonsense of the idea that they
are difficult.
"Leisure
riders dominate this area of competition and they are, after all,
are very discerning. Their time away from the day job is very precious
and even though many of them are good and experienced riders, they
are not going to spend their energies in a pointless project."
"Racehorses
to Riding Horses" is open to horses affiliated to the British
Show Jumping Association, British Dressage, British Eventing and
the British Endurance Society as well as those contesting recognised
showing classes or unaffiliated competition run by The British Riding
Clubs, Pony Club, Permanent Show Organisers Association or approved
centre.
Horses
need to be registered with Wetherbys and to have been in training
for either Flat or National Hunt Racing, although they need not
have raced. They must compete under the name registered at Wetherbys
and used whilst in training. The end of year result is based on
points awarded for competition results through the season.
The
2002 inaugural year was a resounding success, with support from
QBE Insurance, trainer Mark Johnston, leading BBC TV racing personality
Clare Balding and international showjumper William Funnell.
"Affiliated
entries are well divided through the five disciplines," says
Miss MacKenzie. "Ex-racehorses seem to be most popular for
Dressage, but there are a lot competing in eventing and showjumping,
with the remainder equally divided between showing and endurance."
A
QBE spokes person said: "In a world where many thousands of
Thoroughbred horses are bred each year and many do not make the
grade as racehorses, it is extremely encouraging to see that so
many riders' opinions are changing.
"Now
a lot of these talented creatures are being allowed to fulfill their
potential in many other spheres and not just the high level competitions
- they are therefore no longer branded as failures if they do not
succeed in the racing world.
"We
at QBE are very pleased to see that this competition is proving
to be so popular for a second year running."
Application
forms are available from "Racehorses to Riding Horses,"
South Essex Insurance Brokers Ltd., South Essex House, North Road,
South Ockendon,
Essex, RM15 5BE. Please enclose a large, stamped and self addressed
envelope.
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