The Pan African Symposium Success!
Well, for those of you who follow us on FB, you will know that 2016 has so far been a busy one for Equestrian Performance! Early on in the year, our sponsored rider Nicolle took up an opportunity to ride for the Ryan’s in Ireland, and we wish her every success as a talented rider and true ambassador for Zimbabwe Equestrianism.
In March, we hosted the first ever “Pan African Symposium” which ended up being a smashing success. We had 3 professionals travel from the United Kingdom who included: GB World Class Farrier Ben Benson (AWCF), Equine Nutritionist and Gastroenterlogist Simon Daniels (PhD cand, BSc Hons) and World renowned Osteopath Tony Nevin (BSc, DO). They presented alongside 2 of our local professionals, our very own Specialist Equestrian Strength and Conditioning Coach, Craig Bonthrone (MSc, BSc Hons, NSCA) and renowned Veterinarian Dr Jeremy Hubert (ACVS, MS Diplomate, BVSc). Together they made a formidable team who left the Veterinary professionals challenged and the horse owners inspired if not slightly overwhelmed. It was my first ever role as “Director” of a Symposium and I’m proud to have been a part of it. There were plenty of hiccups, like a calm call from Ben on arrival at the airport to say the travel agent had put his name on the ticket as “Ben Farrier” and they would not check him in. By that stage, the travel agent could tell I was “mad as a cut snake” and miraculously corrected the mistake in under 3 minutes, which still fills me with wonder.
It was a true “melting pot” of the art and science of equestrian sports and an educational experience akin to other world class conventions. In true Zimbabwean hospitality, lifelong friendships were developed. Eternal and grateful thanks goes to our special guests who have pioneered a previously untraveled path in Zimbabwe, it was certainly awe-inspiring for me and I’m looking forward to the next one!
A few shorts days after things returned to normal, I jetted off to Tapeta Farm, Maryland, USA to work my dream job. I am now an Equine Physiotherapist at a leading Thoroughbred training facility in the USA, where I will spend the next year consulting for “The Mad Genius,” Michael Dickinson. So far it’s been an adjustment and I’m looking forward to seeing what the year has in store for me. In his own words… “Mad Genius… That’s only half true”.
Thank you for the ongoing support, it is very appreciated! When I have a spare second I will post the next blog on the Tapeta experience thus far, so stay tuned for more news from Equestrian Performance abroad. Craig is manning the fort back home and has just completed an intensive rider assessment of the newest EP sponsored athlete, the talented Para-rider Andrew Philip. I will be consulting online and helping where I can. Check out Aesthetix for more news on this exciting partnership.
Kylie x
