ENGLISH TEXTS friends on board:“ I’ m proud to be an administrator of the association alongside my two friends. If we can bring even a little something to these budding young riders through our experience, it’ s with great joy. It’ s amazing to see them grow. And if one day they become jockeys, it will be an honor to have been part of their journey. Just like Christophe Soumillon does, it’ s a pleasure to promote racing among the next generation of aspiring competitors.” Well known to the public and with over 230 wins under his belt, Benjamin Gelhay adds:“ I’ m happy to have been named administrator of the association. If we can support and share our experience with young people, we do it gladly. We even watch their races online— we follow them closely. That’ s important, especially to help them improve.” Christine Eyvaso-Pastor, race steward and vice-president of the Southeast Breeders’ Association, explains:“ For me, it was only natural to contribute to building this association. On one hand, to give new momentum to flat racing through youth, and on the other, to give a chance to children for whom racing may seem like an unattainable dream. By supporting our young people, we’ re investing in our future.” For some of the participants, their technical trainer at the AFASEC school in Cabriès, François Lauchard, has also fully embraced the project:“ As a trainer, this association is a real springboard— both for students already enrolled in our school, helping them gain race experience before competing in apprentice races with thoroughbreds, and for a younger audience discovering racing in a safe environment through ponies.” The association’ s success is thanks to a growing network of passionate contributors— each a vital link in a chain driven by a single goal: to share, or help others discover, the love of racing in a spirit of kindness and support.
Next Poneys au Galop du Sud-Est race day: July 13 at the Aix-les-Bains racecourse.
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PEDAGO
� PAGE 100
By Céline Gualde
THE WARRIORS’ REST
Like any elite athlete, racehorse needs breaks between periods of intense work. These phases of“ temporary withdrawal from training” are a fundamental part of managing their careers and contribute directly to their athletic success.
For a breeder or pre-trainer, welcoming a racehorse on rest is never insignificant. Even if each person has their own method for offering these luxury vacationers the break they deserve, it always requires fine-tuning and a tailored approach. Each case is unique, even when the horse shows no apparent pathology. Natacha Gimenez, a veterinarian specialized in imaging and orthopedics, and also an osteopath, works with racehorses for various owners. She explains why rest periods are essential:“ Training is intense physical effort imposed on horses who are usually still growing. Not all of them develop at the same pace. Often, we only realize they’ re overworked when their bodies begin to stiffen. The key is to listen to them and watch for any sign of discomfort. If a horse is no longer making progress, it’ s time to stop – no matter what time of year it is.” A horse on rest always needs time to adjust to a new environment – except when it’ s returning to its birthplace, which it usually recognizes. In that case, it quickly and clearly finds comfort in familiar routines. But caution is still required. A racehorse fresh out of training might jump a fence, get stressed in the field, feel lost, or poorly tolerate the transition back to grass, especially digestively. The careful caretaker of a horse on break must pay attention to countless details. Is the horse eating well? Does it have a shiny coat or bumps along the girth line? Is it
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