This year, in early March, the Israel Equestrian Federation will be hosting the annual get-together of the representatives of its sister federations from 50 countries. The first day will take the guests on a tour of Jerusalem. The second day will be dedicated to discussions related to the various branches of the sport and will conclude with a gala evening in the majestic caves of Beit Gubrin. The last two days will enable participants to wrap up their discussions and go on tours of Israel's north, so green and lush at that time of year, and the one-and-only Dead Sea.

This assembly is especially important as it takes place in the year of Olympic Games. So far, European teams have taken the lead in this field, and Israel has not had a representative horse and rider in the Olympics. This year, the Israeli show-jumping rider Elad Yaniv, with his horse Liberty, will compete for a place on the team going to Beijing and Hong Kong. Another Israeli rider, Omer Ben Dor, will most likely take part in the Paralympics, which take place two weeks after the Olympics. Ben Dor and his horse Lennox are ranked a respectable seventh in the world in his branch of sports.

The Israel Equestrian Federation, which has it roots in a 1964 association, is a member of the international body, the FEI - Fédération Equestre Internationale, which coordinates equestrian activity worldwide and serves as the focus for its member countries. The FEI is headed by Jordan's Princess Hayat Bint Al Hussein. Israel has a team of 20 riders who regularly represent the country in world events in the various categories – show jumping, dressage, endurance, Western riding, vaulting, tent pegging, and para-equestrian riding.

So dust off your riding habit and come along for the ride; you're sure to get a kick out of it!

For more information please contact Amichai Alperovich

Email:    alpdin@inter.net.il

             alpdin@research.haifa.ac.il