Equestrian stars en route

They’re real jet setters, at home on international show courses worldwide. Be it Aachen (GER) or Abu Dhabi (UAE), Calgary (CAN) or Cannes (FRA), Doha (QAT) or Dublin (IRL), Monte Carlo (MON), Wellington (USA) or Zurich (SUI) – those four-legged superstars have already travelled the world.

Now they’re off to the CSI5* at GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER. But how do the athletes under the saddle actually get there? Underlying these complicated travel arrangements are logistical masterstrokes, wide-ranging modes of transport and of course also the loving caretakers of the four-legged equestrian stars.
 
From Australia to Europe
Colthaga, Killeter Park Caracas and Quite Cassini are the horses of Australian rider Jamie Kermond, who won the Gaston Glock’s Championat MAGNA RACINO at the beginning of June. Till recently, the horses had been based literally on the other side of the world in Kermond’s home country Australia. Their success made it possible for Jamie Kermond to come to Europe, where they are participating in test events for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy(FRA). All necessary travel documents had to be provided for his three horses. Flights were found and booked that took them in special transport containers over the Indian Ocean including ‘meals on board’ with water and hey. Finally also land transport had to be planned, meanwhile these services are offered by specialised horse transport companies.

Full steam ahead on the sea
British and Irish rider’s horses are usually taken to the continent on ships. Tinka’s Serenade, one of the horses of famous Irish show jumping rider Billy Twomey (IRL) and Argento, the impressive stallion of famous Brit John Whitaker, can certainly look back on quite a few miles at sea. After their brief experience as ‘sea horses’, the noble steeds were driven to their final destination on perfectly equipped horse trucks.
 
Travel with style on the ‘luxury liner for horses’
One might think that the US American favourites would also have to cover long distances. Yet, many of them, such as Reed Kesslers KS Stakki, Mika and Soraya de L’Obstination, are now based in Europe, because training and tournament conditions are usually better than in America. Within Europe, most of the German and other European riders can travel with their tailor-made horse trucks. These trucks are adapted to all of the requirements of the demanding animals, whilst also making the long journeys more pleasant for the riders themselves.
 
The highest priority is always given to the well-being of the horses so as to make long-distance journeys as pleasant and horse-friendly as possible. Thus GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder, for instance, included frequent watering stops for GLOCK’s London on their journey to the Nations Cup in Rome (ITA). Also an overnight stop was included at the halfway point in Munich (GER), at which the horses were able to feed properly and move freely.
 
One thing all these trips by the spectators’ favourites have in common is that, whether on an aircraft, ship or truck, conditions are made to suit them perfectly and the only consistent element on even the longest trips are the loving caretakers at their side. They look after their charges around the clock and represent ‘home’, accompanying and giving a sense of security to their horses.

Anyone wishing to see riders and equestrian stars together with their large tournament trucks will have the chance to do so in the CSI5* Show Jumping at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER from July 24th till 27th, 2014.

Free entrance
Visitors can access the showground for free. There’s guaranteed entertainment for the young ones at the Kids Lounge, as well as pony riding fun. Dogs will be well looked after too; at the Dog Lounge the faithful friends will be catered for generously and given splendid massages (subject to availability and by reservation).

Live stream and infos
All information about the competitions, daily summaries, lots of photos and news as well as live streaming of International Show Jumping at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER available on www.ghpc.at.

What, where, when?
What: International Show Jumping
When: July 24th till –27th, 2014
Where: GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER, Gaston Glock Strasse 8, A-9521 Treffen/Austria
Free entrance to all competitive events; for information on day tickets contact: +43 664 88 73 44 01
www.ghpc.at

They are used to travelling and the horses feel really comfortable in the perfectly equipped trucks. GLOCK’s Romanov looks visibly relaxed here. © GHPC

The best riders and the best horses enjoy excellent travel management, making an Olympic victory like that of Steve Guerdat (SUI) no problem © Michael Rzepa