A sunny, breezy, occasionally showery summer Sunday proved perfect for today’s (4 July 2021) inaugural Luffenhall Ride for Life Endurance GB event. Ballinger Equine sponsored the local grassroots endurance pleasure ride and undertook Official Veterinarian duties, ensuring veterinary health checks for all competing horses and ponies, as required by the sport’s governing body, Endurance GB.
Veterinary health checks for all entrants
Ballinger Equine’s clinical director Dr Susanna Ballinger was accompanied by colleague veterinary surgeon Dr Eleanor Kigozi as the official vets for the day, undertaking the required pre and post ride vet health checks and ensuring fitness to compete and fitness to travel afterwards. They were also on hand to answer veterinary health questions, offer advice and provide veterinary care as needed for all those attending.
Rides of different lengths throughout a busy day
Some 42 riders participated throughout the day on rides through the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside varying in length between 10, 25, 32 and 40 kilometres, with 4 undertaking the daunting 64 kilometre endurance ride, requiring halfway vet gates and additional health checks. All the rides are rigorously timed with mandatory rest periods. The event required meticulous organisation and record keeping. Ballinger Equine Practice administrator Sharni Heaps, special assistant Basil and practice managing director Andrew Hillier were also in attendance to organise veterinary logistics and support throughout the day.
Support for a good cause
The day is also being run to benefit the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. The Bob Champion Cancer Trust was established in 1983 and supports and raises funds for the Bob Champion Cancer Research Laboratory, which forms part of the largest male dedicated research facility in Europe, situated at the Institute of Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey. Support is also provided for the research team at the Bob Champion Research and Education Building at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, Norfolk.
A great event for everybody involved
The day was judged a tremendous success with everybody looking forward to the Luffenhall Ride for Life becoming an annual fixture to look forward to in the Hertfordshire equestrian calendar. Ballinger Equine will certainly be sponsoring and supporting the 2022 ride!
