Paralympic horses fly in to Prestwick
PARALYMPIC HORSES FLY IN TO PRESTWICK
PRESTWICK has welcomed a couple of four-legged VIPs – two magnificent horses competing for Canada in next week's Paralympics Equestrian events.
The horses – Ferdonia 2 and Maile - flew in on a Cargolux jumbo jet and were cared for at Prestwick's Border Inspection Post before being reunited with their rider Ashley Gowanlock.
Maile, with the white nose, was the gold medal winner in dressage at Beijing’s Paralympic Games in 2008.
Seventy-eight competitors and their horses will be on display during this year's Equestrian event in London’s Greenwich Park.
From Thursday 30 August to Tuesday 4 September, riders will compete in Individual Championship and Freestyle Tests across five classifications as well as a Team Test.
The Canadian Para-Equestrian team riders have had remarkable success over the past twelve months, achieving podium performances at international events in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Belgium, Germany and the United States which has put the team in fourth place in the world heading into the Games.
Prestwick’s Freight Operations Manager Heather Scott said: “Prestwick Airport is the only airport in Scotland licensed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Commission as an approved Border Inspection Post for the importation of horses. We were delighted to welcome these splendid animals and made sure they were comfortable and relaxed after their long transatlantic journey.”
Our picture shows the two horses with their grooms who accompanied them on the flight.
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