E Q U E S T R I A N
EQUESTRIAN Zoe Archer on Millridge
Monique Archer on Destino
this mean? This commitment involves owning or now investing in horses that can get the job done, participation in a rigorous training schedule, fundraising to help finance the building of the required obstacles and committing to the travel needed to gain required experience before the summer 2018 deadline. When the riders are not working they are training or seeking out new sponsors to help finance this project. No small level of commitment! Every one of our hopefuls recognize the need to have a talented, safe and competitive equine partner to be successful in this plan. We already have a combination of imported and local retrained racehorses with the scope to compete at the International Level. In terms of facilities, there are already two on the island (Big C and Congo Road Equestrian Centre) that have cleared land and built practice obstacles. A third facility, Whitehall Equestrian Centre in St. Peter, has been earmarked to be the main facility due to the existing infrastructure and the varied terrain including significant hills. Construction of fences has started with permanent obstacles such as terraced
112 / SPORTING BARBADOS 2016 / 20YEARS
steps, a bank, ditches and a water hazard all to be a part of this facility. The Barbados Olympic, Association, in a show of support, has come forward to sponsor the first fence built to international standards. Finally, Joss Gray, an incredibly experienced International Eventer and Trainer, who has competed to the highest level in the sport, has relocated with his family from the UK to Barbados specifically to help make this dream a reality for the island. In addition to his own achievements in the sport he worked with the Indonesian team from the ground up and got them to their first ever Asian Games. He spent his last four years as Chef De Equipe and Coach of the Qatari National Eventing Team based at Aston Le Walls in the UK. He is the ideal coach for this task! So while ambitious and undoubtedly a steep hill to climb, the BEA is not taking this lightly! A solid plan is already in progress and there is a dedicated and excited Executive Committee and several riders, who are willing to work hard and get the job done! Watch out Baranquilla 2018!