«Equestrian: two hearts, one athlete»

HEF successfully organized the Event "Equestrian: two hearts one athlete", in the framework of the European program "#BEACTIVE" implemented by the General Secretariat of Sports. The event, which takes place for the 2nd time after 2019, took place alongside the Panhellenic Games 2022, on Friday 9 December.

 

The purpose of the program "#BEACTIVE", which means "Movement - Exercise - Energy", is to motivate participation and not discrimination, to combine play with exercise and acquaintance with the pedagogical character of sport, emphasizing the noble rivalry , cooperation, solidarity, inclusion and respect for diversity.

The goal of  HEF's program is for the participants to learn in an interactive way the equestrian sports cultivated in our country and the peculiarities of the sport, which make it special. The action included:

Familliarization with all the equestrian sports cultivated by EOI in Greece, namely:
Jumping (Olympic),
Dressage (Olympic)
Endurance,
Driving
Para Equestrian (Para Olympic) Information on the therapeutic value of the horse and riding and the therapeutic riding programs operating in Greece.

Update on the Equestrian Code of Ethics and horse welfare. Information about horse breeding, care and nutrition of the horse.

In the action around 600 high school students from Markopoulo and Glyfada, took part, on Friday 9 December 2022, from 09.00 to 13.00, around 600 high school students, aged 12-15, as well as high school teachers-teachers.

All participants were given a special form with information and facts about the sport, as well as the form for the organization of the Panhellenic Games 2022.

The educational-sports activities and presentations were made by coaches and athletes of equestrian sports, as well as judges, veterinarians and officials of HEF, in collaboration with equestrian associations - members of HEF, in the context of which the participants rode training horses, were guided around the facilities of OKIM Markopoulo with a racing carriage and took part in a simulated Endurance competition. Furthermore, the participants attended the Panhellenic Games in the sport of Jumping .

HEF warmly thanks those who contributed to the implementation of the program, as well as the #BEACTIVE Committee of the GA for the support. In particular, thanks for their contribution to the educational-sports activities and presentations:

Dressage: athlete and trainer Christina Sahinoglou, athlete Penelope Perdikari with her horse Vabello and judge Asia Matsinopoulou

Para Equestrian Dressage and Therapeutic Riding: coach Marianna Grammatikaki and athlete Michalis Kalarakis

Endurance: athletes and coaches Efi Koutsafti, Arianna Venizelou, Marialena Karanastasi and athlete Anna Tzavela

Driving: the athlete Giorgos Magginas with his horse and carriage

Horse welfare: the veterinarian Alexandros Mitsopoulos

Equestrian: trainer Neli Sakellariou and athlete Eleni Pyrrou

The Kouvaras Equestrian Club and the athlete Antonis Antoniou for the three training horses of the club.