SUNRISE Февраль_веб | Page 71

SPORT Speed and Grace meetings in England, such as Royal Ascot, Cheltenham Festival and Derby. The latter is the richest and prestigious horse-race, having a world-wide TV- audience as well as the Melbourne Cup which literally stops the workflow and makes all residents watch the incredible spectacle. On the first Saturday of May a lot of people come to see how the most famous horses compete with each other. The atmosphere of the hippodrome Churchill Downs and all kinds of entertainment make visitors linger for a long time. One more famous event is called Royal Ascot. It originated in a distant 1711 and became a gambling paradise. Bets here are done for everything including not only winners but losers too. So, as you can see at the beginning of the 20th century the whole Europe began to hold competitions in horse riding. This equestrian sport appeared on the program of the Olympic Games in 1912 and fascinated many people. However, there were almost no rules in this system that`s why special organizations were created in 1921 to establish them and bring about change. Horse racing has nothing to do with the classical understanding of equestrian sport. Horse racing is a type of a challenge for horses. Test of endurance, speed and so on. The attention of the judges in this test is riveted exclusively on a horse. Moreover, the essence of the race is not in stakes but in choosing the ideal representatives for the breeding. It is worth remarking that horses are also a sort of a remedy and they live with us as our friends. Hippotherapy is a type of human treatment when horses are used to heal emotional wounds and help to find peace and balance. I think everyone who has a horse will say that communication with it is a rest. Communication with horses is really relaxing. Sometimes, just scratching the ear of a horse can help to improve the mood. It responds to your emotional state and you feel better. My love for horses began when I accidentally got into the stable “Allure”. Then I realized that I wanted to devote myself to this type of activity. But our sport isn't only about winning the competitions. It is worth knowing that first we need to establish a contact with a horse. This is not as easy as it sounds. However, I can always rely on my friends or coaches. We are all ready to lend a helping hand to each other. I can't deny it. Perhaps the daily routines in a stable may seem boring to someone, but this is definitely not the case. There is always something to do. Most people think that riding a horse is just walking in the woods or in the park. Actually it is not all true. What equestrians do is much more than just riding a horse. We invest time and energy in our horses. We risk our lives and health. And we understand that. When I was 10 years old I decided that horse riding was the best thing I could do. I'm not sure, but, probably, I could not even imagine that I would find myself in this occupation. A quiet walk in the woods or energetic jumps over the barriers – it doesn't matter. Everything works for me. I started horse jumping over the barriers only last year and I succeeded! It is considered to be one of the most spectacular types of horse riding! Follow Elizaveta on Instagram: @_liv_ch February 2019 №2 SUNRISE 71