Pupils of the Feldman Ecopark’s Horse Complex participated in a Festival of equestrian trick art “Centaurs” which was held last weekend in the Kyivan Rus’ Park (Kyiv). This large-scale show brought together the best equestrian stuntmen of Ukraine, who often represent our country at the international competitions. Numerous audience came to see upside-down and backward astride riding, two-horse riding, horse pyramid and other dizzy tricks performed by them. A bright performance of Anastasiya Zhezheri and Daria Maksymenko (a team of the Feldman Ecopark’s Horse Complex) gained interest. Both girls practice equestrian sports for five years and a trick riding for about a year. According to Vladyslav Smalenii, the head of the sports and recreational direction of the Children’s Ecology and Nature Study Academy of Feldman Ecopark, it was a successful debut.
“8 teams, mainly from Kyiv and Zaporizhia arrived to the Centaurs Festival. Our team represented Kharkiv. It was not just a performance, but competitions as well. The participants competed in implementation of the obligatory and free programme, the jury estimated virtuosity, speed of riding and trick riding techniques. The participants demonstrated Cossack hang, sliding, full break off, French cross and arabesque — Vladyslav Smalenii told. — Our horse riders performed decently, considering that their rivals were skilled stuntmen acting in films and actors of professional horse theatres. This is just the beginning! We will develop trick direction, for this purpose we plan to unite Kharkiv clubs and to hold similar festivals on the basis of the Horse Complex Feldman Ecopark”.
It should be reminded that the Horse Complex is one of the main structural divisions of the Children’s Ecology and Nature Study Academy of Feldman Ecopark. Such projects as the Group of Classic Equestrian Sport, the Centre of non-Olympic Equestrian Sport, the Horse Theatre and Pony Club work on its basis. Besides, it should be reminded that Children’s Ecology and Nature Study Academy of Feldman Ecopark is one of Ukraine’s largest non-governmental out-of-school educational institutions. The number of its members has already exceeded 1,000 children. And during the summer period, when the free of charge Children’s health-improving and educational camp works in the Social and Humanitarian Complex, more than 10,000 children annually stay in the orbit of the Academy.
