EQUESTRIAN NEWS
#ehuknews
Guy Robertson
Transforms Reggie
into a Princely Ride
Great Britain’s Lee Pearson
(left), Austria's Pepo Puch
and Ricky Balshaw (GBR)
(right) at the first FEI ParaEquestrian Forum (Amanda
Berens/FEI)
FEI’s inaugural Para-Equestrian Forum
Celebrates Para-Sport Future
By Rob Howell
Paralympic athletes and experts from
22 countries were welcomed to the
FEI’s first Para-Equestrian Forum last
weekend in Essen, Germany.
The exciting two-day event gave
delegates the opportunity to engage in
the future direction of Para-Equestrian
Dressage, which will celebrate its
twentieth Paralympic Games anniversary
at Rio 2016, and discuss the wider
backdrop of Para-Equestrian sport.
Meeting the challenges of developing
Para-Equestrian sport in Asia, South
America and the Far East, and opening
up the sport to young athletes across
these regions and globally, were key
topics at the Para-Equestrian Forum.
The International Paralympic
Committee’s Director of Media &
Communications Craig Spence also
tackled the future of Para-Equestrian
Dressage within the Paralympic
Movement, giving delegates useful
tips on raising the profile of the sport,
working with volunteers, using social
media and putting the spotlight on
athletes.
Sports-specific discussions ranged
from increasing the number of
international judges, Para-Equestrian
Dressage team drop scores, latest
classification news and compensating
aids. Delegates also enjoyed a display
of the up-and-coming sport of ParaEquestrian Reining.
Austria’s European champion and
London 2012 gold and bronze medallist
Pepo Puch made a lasting impression at
the FEI Para-Equestrian Forum when
he took to the stand to explain his
journey to success, which he credited to
a combination of strong will and support
from family and friends. He received a
rapturous standing ovation with many
delegates wiping tears from their eyes.
Trond Asmyr, FEI Director, Dressage
and Para-Equestrian Dressage, said: “The
14
FEI became one of the first international
sports governing bodies to regulate
global para sport alongside its seven
able-bodied disciplines when ParaEquestrian Dressage joined its ranks in
2006.
“We have come a very long way
since, and this Forum, which has
welcomed almost 100 athletes and
experts, produced extremely lively and
helpful debates as we focus our efforts on
further growing Para-Equestrian sport
worldwide. Everyone was immersed in
the discussions - our athletes, officials,
event organisers and our National
Federations - giving us a valuable
360-degree view.
“Our Technical Committee went
straight into session to tackle key areas
raised during the Forum, which will now
become an essential bi-annual event.”
Several high profile athletes attended
the Para-Equestrian Forum, including
Great Britain’s Lee Pearson who has
won a record ten Paralympic gold
medals. “The Forum was created with
a genuine desire to listen and for twoway discussion,” he said. “Everyone is
passionate about our sport. We all want
the best for it, and want it to be people
and public-friendly, and fair. I enjoyed
the Forum, because it was real. The fact
that the Forum will be bi-annual also
puts a little pressure on to look back on
what we asked for.”
Germany’s Dr Angelika Trabert,
anaesthetist by day and Atlanta 1996
double silver and London 2012 gold and
bronze medallist, explained: “It is very
important to listen to athletes and our
opinions on where we want to take our
sport. The Forum was well organised and
I enjoyed that we had trainers, organisers
as well as fellow athletes from around
the world. We had a lot of input from
different perspectives and it was vital for
everybody to have their say.”
Melanie Cooper was about to give up on
her horse Reggie, until Guy Robertson
stepped in and helped transform him
into a gentle giant.
Melanie Cooper from East Yorkshire
has ridden since she was seven-yearsold, so when she acquired a lovely 18hh
(plus!) Pure Irish Draught gelding she
honestly thought she would have no
problems.
“I own and ride other horses and
have always been of the opinion that
‘put me on any horse and I’ll ride it’, said
Melanie. “Then Reggie came along!”
Bred for the show ring, and an inhand champion at county level, he had
real wow factor.
Melanie bought Reggie as a five-yearold. He was broken in but had never
hacked out, had been schooled at home
or been in the show ring. No problem,
she thought!
He was never nasty or vicious, or
even wild to ride. Nothing that you
could put a finger on, but Melanie
found she couldn’t ride him out on his
own. He would plant himself and refuse
to go forward and backed up regardless
of what was behind him.
“I wouldn’t call it napping as he
sometimes did it aft \