It is awards season at the FEI with our annual FEI Awards Gala evening fast approaching. Each day this week we will be announcing the shortlist from our 5 categories, Longines Rising Star, Reem Acra Best Athlete, Best Groom, Against All Odds and FEI Solidarity. So far we have announced the nominees of the Longines Rising Star Award but today is the turn of the FEI Solidarity Award. While we often focus on the elite of our sport, the FEI Solidarity Award allows us to turn out attention to those individuals and organisations who dedicate their time, skill and energy to expanding and developing our sport from the grassroots up.
Nominees ‚FEI Solidarity‘:
Ready, Set, Trot
Location: Australia
Ready Set Trot (RST) is a junior participation program introducing young people to horses. The program provides opportunities for young people who may not normally have had the opportunity to be involved in sport due to geographic or socio-economic circumstances to be involved with horses in a unique way. RST also aims to provide a recognised platform for coaches, equestrian clubs and riding schools to use as a means of encouraging and recruiting more clientele to their businesses. Traditionally the sport is for higher socio-economic families, RST offers an entry level platform for all families to get involved. Ready Set Trot has provided over 3000 young Australians the opportunity to learn about horses over the past two years since it launched nationally in March 2013. Within Australia, there has been a significant increase in the brand recognition and appreciation for the program, particularly amongst industry leaders.
First Ever Pilot Course for Grooms
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
In February, FEI Tutor Susanne Macken travelled to Port-au-Prince in Haiti to deliver the first Pilot Course for Grooms supported by FEI Solidarity which was met with great enthusiasm. Approximately 20 grooms took part in the course. The goal of the course which acted as a pilot course for future courses is to provide the grooms, a vital link in the equestrian chain, the know-how and knowledge required to carry out their tasks effectively. The Haitian NF has shown great initiative and insight with regards to the importance of grooms and good horse care enabling and facilitating a course so that grooms are informed and know all the fundamentals and techniques and reinforce their confidence in what they do and the value of their role.
Les Chevaux qui pensent les plaies
Location: Port au Prince, Haiti
This project is a ‘therapeutic riding to Para-equestrian’ initiative and is aimed at children that have been affected by the earthquake, in particular amputees. With over 250 participants, the 10 best will continue to train and compete in Para-equestrian. The project is run in cooperation with the Department of Psychology of the University of Haiti. It is an interesting project as it combines a social/humanitarian effort with a sporting goal/ambition.
Youth Summer Camp
Location: Bulgaria
The Camp aims to support development of equestrian sport in the Balkan Region and is organised by the Bulgarian National Federation with invitations to other Balkan National Federations. The project will be run over 4 years and 19 riders from 5 countries took part in the 2015 edition. The coaches were excellent technicians and also excellent teachers which allowed the riders to progress confidently launching a great initiative for the region.
Source: Press release FEI
