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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Metropolitan Police horses get set for their royal duties

With the Royal Wedding going ahead on Friday, the famous grey horses of the Metropolitan Police are still waiting to hear which horses have been chosen to escort the Royal Couple’s carriage on the big day.

The Metropolitan horses will be selected down to nine based on the calmest temperaments and whether there coats match for ceremonial and safety purposes. The beautiful greys will be followed by the marriage procession after the wedding through London from Westminster Abby to Buckingham Palace.

The Troops horses are used in high profile ceremonial events and general patrol including football matches. The experience of theses horses will help them be accustomed to the type of crowds London’s streets will attract on Friday.

 The horses have been put through an intense testing programme of various exercises and routines, preparing everything from gleaming horse tack and beautifully turned out horses. The Mounted Branch has much experience leading processions including Diana’s Wedding and the funeral of the Queen Mother.

The Head of Mounted Branch, Bob Barker, explained: 'We look at the grey horses that we've got, and we assess them for their temperament and how they match in colour.  Particularly for something like the royal wedding, it's going to be a real challenge for the horses and the officers on the route.

'The noise, the crowd, the flags - it's all going to be a challenge.'

Thursday, April 21, 2011

It's Badminton time again!

This bank holiday weekend why not pull on some country boots and take the family down to Badminton Horse Trials over Easter?

Running over the bank holiday weekend from 21st – 25th April, the Friday and Saturday will hold the Dressage phase with Sunday being dedicated to the Cross Country Phase. Monday will hold the show jumping day, the finale of the whole event. Top class riders from all over the world will attend the 4 star 3-day-event along with top British riders such as Oliver Townend, William Fox-Pitt and Mary King.

Eventing is a competition designed to test horses over three different phases. The Dressage phase tests a horse’s obedience and elegance, while the cross country phase tests fitness and athleticism over a 4 mile course, jumping natural and man made obstacles. Lastly, the show jumping tests agility, control and fitness after a long 3 days.

However, it’s not all just the thrills and spills of Badmintons competitors, being home to the famous shopping village, it provides a huge range of equestrian clothing for you and everything you need for your horse with a big selection of brands; you can browse for hours!

If you can’t get down to Badminton this weekend, don’t worry as Sunday’s Cross Country and Monday’s Show jumping will be broadcast on BBC. Sunday will be broadcast from 11.50am – 5.45pm and Monday 1.00pm – 3.00pm.

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Sport Jumping - the future of Show Jumping?

It seems new equestrian sports are popping up all over the place from horse agility to horse boarding and now ‘Sportjumping’ and it just keeps growing; whatever next!

The new equestrian sport of 'Sport Jumping' was founded in Scotland by Bill Alexander, who formulated the idea when he was Chairman for the BSJA Championship show. He arranged a bookie to come along, getting people betting on different horses and riders to spice up the classes. This was when the idea for Sport Jumping was born.

Sport Jumping theoretically works on an equal platform with more experienced and able riders being handicapped. All riders have to jump one round against the clock and any fences knocked down receive time penalties. Betting is highly encouraged, giving a great atmosphere and difference to pure show jumping.

Bill Alexander said: "People came in off the street to watch. We had some coverage in the Glasgow Herald and it did create more of an atmosphere. I've been thinking about it ever since.

"Under BSJA rule 72.2, members can't jump at unaffiliated shows with prize money of more than £10," he said. "But this isn't an unaffiliated show jumping competition — it's something completely different."

The sport is targeted at Show Jumpers, with big prize cash funds and riders being able to wear the same attire as normal competitions; riding hats, riding boots, riding jackets, etc. Classes are open to over 16’s and the sport will be expanding over the UK throughout 2011 so why not give it a go!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Check out the confirmation and moooovement!

You’ve all heard the rhyme about a cow jumping over the moon, well it appears there may be some truth in this…ok, well not the moon bit but the bit about jumping!  In Germany there is a new star in the making in the form of 15 year old Regina Mayer and her cow Luna.  Luna is not your ordinary cow, as Regina says;

“She thinks she's a horse”.

Luna’s journey started over two years ago when she was born on the farm in Southern Germany.  She was slowly accustomed to humans by lots of treats, Regina then started walks with her eventually introducing some horse equipment after six months of preparation

"She was really well behaved and walked normally. But after a couple of metres, she wanted me to get off. You could see that she got a bit peeved."

Regina, who is an aspiring nurse, spends her evenings after school with Luna and likes to think of herself as Luna’s mum and even soul-mates: "When she wants to do something, she does it, when she doesn't, she doesn't," and then Regina went on to say: "And she's often very headstrong but can also be really adorable."