Source: GCT

The symbol for the Athina Onassis International Horses Show is a flying horse but the journey to Rio is a long one for most of the humans so how do the horses fare on the journey? Some of the leading rider's grooms told the GCT how their equine charges are managed.

Josie is the groom of Edwina Alexander. “Itot doesn't mind flying at all. He is an expert now. To travel he wears thick shipping bandages and I put over reach boots on the front hooves in case he treads on his own feet and pulls a shoe off. Rugs depend a little on the weather and how many other horses are there but sometimes just a light sheet. I take a bag with an extra rope, headcollar and rug, just in case. The take off and landing is the most difficult part for the horses and we cannot sit with the horses then we have to be in our seats just as we would if on a human flight.”

These days the horses are loaded on the ground into special containers, air stables, which are then winched onto the planes cargo bay. It is rare now for the horses to have to walk directly onto the plane as in the old days and then the restricted space keeps the other horses and the plane safer if one does get frightened. Because of FEI medication rules the horses cannot be tranquilized for the journey unless it is an emergency but a vet and experience flying grooms that are employed by the transport company are on hand to help with any difficulties. This year eleven flights were needed to transport the European based horses, five of which left from Frankfurt. Each plane carried up to 15 horses.

“It is usually the loading and unloading that takes the time and is the most stressful if badly organized” said Kay who grooms for Marcus Ehning. “once they are airborne it is easier on them than a horse truck journey.” Marcus does not let his horses travel anywhere that is more than 12 hours away by road except on special occasions so the 20 hour total for the journey to Rio is quite a test for them.

“Sabrina is very sensitive and she does not like the waiting around. Also the air stables are quite a small space for the horses to go into so sometimes she can be a bit difficult but in the end she is fine” continued Kay. “It is the last bit, the unloading and then traveling to the showground that I think is the most important. Everyone is tired by then so if the unloading and then putting the horses into trucks is not efficient, then that makes the difference between arriving with a horse fit to compete and arriving with one that is a bit travel sick or carrying a fever or something.”

While the horses are in the air the grooms check their hay and water every two hours although they get buckets and hay nets in their containers. If there is turbulence, it depends on the captain and the flying groom whether the horses own grooms are allowed to stay with their horses or not. But usually everything works out fine.

“We had a really good journey here” concluded Josie, “we did not know how Kisby (Edwina's other horse) would be as she has not flown before but she was super and here we are!”