Czech mates

The torrential downpours and storms that ravaged the region last week, left the country knee deep in places under water and put paid to the first BREEF Show Jumping event of the season.
 
This event will now be run at a later date although officially the next BREEF Show Jumping event is set to be staged on December 6.

More than just disappointed at the cancellation of last Saturday’s event was Jerri Taylor, all prepped and ready to go, alongside Raja Kiani with their newly-imported horses.

Since Bahrain, post Glanders, is once more able to import and export horses freely, we have seen an influx of new blood to the island, and eight of these are currently residing at Shakhoora Riding Centre, in Saar.

Jerri recently brought in three new horses to add to her equine family.

Manny (official name, Mano Kinsky) is a beautiful Czech warmblood eight-year-old gelding. Standing at 17.2hh he is an advanced-level dressage horse and fabulous show jumper.

Cortez, a Holsteiner show jumping stallion, is seven and currently jumps at over 1.40m. This stunning grey stallion really thinks he is a pony!

Last, but not least, is Arko, another stallion. This nine-year-old school master, a really striking bay beauty, is a 1.40m show jumper.

All three horses were due to make their debut at the weekend. Jerri hopes to introduce both Cortez and Manny to the Bahrain show jumping scene, taking Airforce One to show them the ropes. Fahad Taqi will be astride Arko as he makes his debut.

Although everyone is chomping at the bit to get going, we will have to wait just that little bit longer to see these fabulous horses in action.

It was not just Jerri who has been bringing in horses recently. Currently residing at Shakhoora Riding Centre are another five horses recently brought in by their owner Raja. Both Jerri and Raja sourced their horses throughout Europe, but all the horses came in via the Czech Republic.

Two of Raja’s new horses are an impressive 18.2hh, one is a Grand Prix show jumper, a school master with a very impressive international show record, jumping heights of 1.50m. Cadmus is a Czech warmblood and he is currently for sale.

The second of these gentle giants is Larento, another Czech warmblood, a six-year-old who currently jumps 1.40m but has proved this is not the extent of his scope. The third in Raja’s new household is Armin, a five year-old Czech warm-blood show jumper currently proven at 1.10m.

The last two are very similar, both Dutch warm-blood mares, both five and standing at 16.2hh.

The first, Dory, has super potential, jumping at 1.10m and has qualified for the EU Championships, while Dikina (Bella) has also proven at 1.10m.

Both these mares are currently for sale. They are both very sweet and gentle, and would make amazing rides for anyone.

These horses will make their debut at the next Breef show jumping event, so if you are interested in seeing them in action, make it a date to come along, or give Jerri a call on 33309972.
 
As well as an influx of horses there is currently an influx of equine specialists. Joining Tara Bishop, with her equine dentistry, who has been very successfully treating horses across Bahrain, is Genevieve Joyce, an equine physiotherapist, who is here just for a short while.

Check out their facebook pages for more information: Tara Bishop Equine Dentistry and Genevieve on her Equine Manual Therapy page.

* TWIN PALMS Riding Centre will hold a Dressage Event on Friday. Starting at 9am, there will be four classes, Working Equitation A, Working Equitation B, British Dressage Preliminary 12, and British Dressage Novice 24. Everyone is welcome, entry forms can be obtained from the Twin Palms website  www.twinpalmsridingcentre.com or by calling 39566809.
* The centre will also be hosting an in-house Fun Show Jumping Event on Saturday followed by its ‘infamous’ Christmas Gymkhana.