A training ride was also staged over the first leg og 42 K with heart rte
gate at the 28K mark. 52 riders started and believe it or not only 4 VOed,
all lame. There are no place prizes in our training rides but all
completions are given a memento of the ride and on this occasion, for the
first time, they also received an A4 sized well designed certificate which
included the riders name and the horses final heart rate plus a hearty
welcome to the sport.
At this training ride we had a 21 year old young man from Japan attempt
and complete his first training ride. Daisuke Yasunaga has some riding
experience
but has never done endurance. In fact he is the first Japanese person to
do endurance. Last year he was one of three people sponsored by the Japan
Equestrian Federation to come to Australia to witness the Tom Quilty Gold
Cup Ride in Victoria and now he is back again to qualify as an endurance
rider and compete in the 97Quilty. He will be tutored by Bob Sample of
Kenilworth and put through the mandatory 2 training rides and 2 Open rides
(80K min) to qualify. Bob is one of Australias best known, long term,
experienced riders who currently operates horse Safari trips out of
Kenilworth. Bob has 13 Quilty completions including One Win and quite a few
top 10. His son Brooke has two wins in the Quilty so Japans future in
endurance is in good hands.
so you can see the future Japans Endurance riding is in good hands.