Page 38 - Annual Magazine 2018
P. 38

ACTIVITY | HORSE RIDING

                                                                                                                                                                                             professional sport, and when Ascot was founded by the Queen. In
                                                                                                                                                                                             1750, the Jockey Club was established which sought to supervise
                                                                                                                                                                                             English horse racing by establishing a complete set of rules for the
                                                                                                                                                                                             sport.  Measures were also taken to regulate the breeding of race
                                                                                                                                                                                             horses, which  extended  to  the  pedigree  of  the  horse  and  family
                                                                                                                                                                                             line. The responsibility of overseeing this task was given to Jockey
                                                                                                                                                                                             Club accountant,  James  Weatherby, whose work resulted  in the
                                                                                                                                                                                             publication of the General Stud Book in 1791. The pedigree of all
                                                                                                                                                                                             foals born to race horses have been recorded in the book since 1793.

                                                                                                                                                                                             EQUESTRIAN THERAPY
                                                                                                                                                                                             Beyond horse racing, horse-back riding has also played a prominent
                                                                                                                                                                                             role in therapy for adults and children. History tells many stories
                                                                                                                                                                                             of how riding  horses has provided  both  physical  and  emotional
                                                                                                                                                                                             benefits.  As  far  back  as  460BC,  Hippocrates  allegedly  made
                                                                                                                                                                                             reference  to the “healthy  pace  of a horse”. In 1875, it was said
                                                                                                                                                                                             French  neurologist  Chassaignac  discovered  that  the  “balance,
                                                                                                                                                                                             motion, control muscle and mood” of his patients improved when
                                                                                                                                                                                             riding a horse. Chassaignac believed this to be of immense benefit
                                                                                                                                                                                             for sufferers of neurological disorders.

                                                                                                                                                                                             EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY PROGRAMMES
                                                                                                                                                                                             Today, the benefits of equestrian therapy are seen to extend beyond
                                                                                                                                                                                             the realm of just physical disabilities.  The positive impact of this
                                                                                                                                                                                             form of therapy on a range of mental disorders are making waves
                                                                                                                                                                                             in the world of psychology, particularly when applied to patients
                                                                                                                    H
                                                                                                                                                                                             with depression, anxiety, autism, down syndrome, dementia,
                                                                                                                                                                                             behaviour and substance abuse issues, amongst others. Horses are
                                                                                                                                                                                             intuitive creatures, with the capacity to mirror and respond to human
                                                                                                                                                                                             behaviour, making for fantastic companions during psychotherapy.

                                                                                                                                                                                             What is even more profound is their amazing ability to synchronise
                                                                                                                                                                                             their heartbeat to that of a person. It has been reported that the
                                                                                                                                                                                             connection  established between a patient  and a horse is deep, a
                                                                                                                                                                                             bond characterised by a unique lack of judgement that is otherwise
                                                                                                                                                                                             normally present between human beings.  With this comes the
                                                                                                                                                                                             opportunity for one to be emotionally vulnerable, to actually feel
                                                                                                                                                                   IMPORTANT ROLE            safe about being able to feel what needs to be felt, so that those
                                                                                                                                                                   Horse-back riding has played   deeply ingrained emotions can eventually be released.
                                                                                                                                                                   a prominent role in therapy for
                                                                                                                                                                   adults and children.      ACTIVITIES AND TECHNIQUES
                                                                                                                                                                                             There are a myriad of activities through which equine therapy can
                                                                                                                                                                                             be implemented, each dependent on the needs of the patient, and the
                                                                                                                                          Horse riding is undoubtedly one of the oldest and most distinguished
                                                                                                                                          sports that continues to endure.  Dating back to around 4500 BC when   severity of their disorder. These do not always include horse-back
                                 HORSE RIDING                                                                                             history of horse racing is remarkably long and fascinating. The sport   and horse care.
                                                                                                                                                                                             riding and may incorporate things such as horse grooming, saddling
                                                                                                                                          the nomadic tribesman of Central Asia first domesticated horses, the
                                                                                                                                          certainly expanded into other countries, with some archaeological
                                                                                                                                          records making mention of it taking place in Ancient Greece, Egypt,
                                                                                                                                          Syria and Babylon. Chariot racing in particular was popular amongst   Aphrodite Hills Riding Club
                       AN ANCIENT SPORT with THERAPEUTIC QUALITIES                                                                        the Greeks, Romans and Byzantines, and reportedly featured in the   Aphrodite Hills Riding Club offers horse riding experiences in
                                                                                                                                          Greek Olympics, together with mounted horse racing, by 648BC.
                                                                                                                                                                                                 the forested land of Lakkos tou Frangou, which is adjacent to
                                                                                                                                          WHEN HORSE RACING WENT TO ENGLAND                                  the north end of the Resort.
                                                                                                                                          Horse racing in the United Kingdom also stems back hundreds of
                                  “There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.”                                    years, to the 12th century. It is said that on their return from the   Located in an area of outstanding beauty, the horse riding
                                                          R.S. Surtees                                                                    Crusades, English knights brought back with them Arab horses.   facilities are available for all ages and abilities.
                                                                                                                                          These  were  subsequently  bred  with English  horses to  produce
                                                                                                                                          what are known  as  Thoroughbred horses.  In England today,       The stable facilities include:
                                                                                                                                          Thoroughbred horses are used in horse racing. From 1660 to 1685,   • Private lessons for beginners or experienced riders
                                                                                                                                          King Charles II held horse races on open fields or private courses.   • Trail riding off road in stunning countryside
                                                      Story by Eleni Hoplaros                                                             The race was typically between two horses, with the winners being   • Pony Club where children visit the stables to learn
                                                                                                                                          awarded prizes. During the reign of Queen Anne between 1702 -      about riding and pony care
                                                                                                                                          1714, horse racing involved multiple  horses and spectators were     • Large outdoor arena
                                                                                                                                          able to place bets. It was during this time that horse races became a
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       Aphrodite Hills Resort                                                                                                                                                                                          “European Golf Resort of the Year 2018”
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