| 05 |
Last Training Together... |
| November |
At the CHIO showground, Qabil, Wup and Joyce are preparing for the Asian Games, the biggest event of Asia, held every four years. The quarantine period for the Asian Games is almost at its end.
"Friday was the last day of training together. In the evening after dinner, Qabil and his sister Quzandria drove to Amsterdam, where they had to catch their early Saturday morning flight. On both Saturday and Sunday I will ride Wup and prepare him for his flight on Monday, together with groom Fia.
Qabil trained in the actual 20x60m arena in the Dressage Stadium and rode the Young Riders Preliminary Test, the first test of the Asian Games. In the afternoon Wup did some had walking with Fia. No grazing this time, as it would have been a bit too cosy with all the other horses around on the little grazing field. He would havebeen more interested in the horses anyway.
I went to a big tack shop downtown, together with Qabil and Fia, to buy the last things we need fot the trip to China, like brushes, a tail guard and a reserve lead rope.
In the evening we had dinner with the whole team for the last time. We went to Edo, the Japanese restaurant in the Best Western Hotel.Had a good time andgood food there. Been analysing the week and making plans for the following days. So many things stillneed to be done, like re-checking the packing lists,packing the trunks and boxes,labelling all the items withname, country, flight number, destination, etc. I also need to take stuff home for the other riders, things that don't fit in the trunks or suitcases or things they don't need in China like winter clothes. After the Asian Games we will see how it's all going to be shipped to the other side of the world...
The big show jumping stadium is great when it's quiet en no one around. You even see things that you would not see when the CHIO is being held. Like the 'crossing horses' sign, never seen that before! The stadium is mega, the grasssurface looks excellent and is waiting for the next big event. I can't wait!"
