Tatarstan Open Equestrian Cup solemnly opened in Kazan

 Today, Tatarstan Open Equestrian Cup was solemnly opened at an international horse-racing complex, Kazan. During two days, 95 participants from six regions of Russia will compete in dressage and show jumping.

"About 17 teams from many regions have applied, almost all of Tatarstan regions prticipate: Almetyevsk, Yelabuga, Saby regions, and others. Nearly a hundred riders aged from 13 years are taking part, we do not restrict aging parameters," the director of the republic youth equestrian school, head coach of Tatarstan in Olympic equestrian sport Aigul Nasybullina.

According to her, the tournament is attended by athletes from Tatarstan (60), the Chuvash Republic, as well as Kirov, Samara, Ulyanovsk and Orenburg regions. Competitions are held in two Olympic equestrian sports - show jumping and dressage.

Jumping is the overcoming of obstacles, there are from eight to ten on the sites. It is necessary to go through all of them clean, without penalties and dropping a pole. Dressage is a kind of "dancing on a horse" when a rider shows various elements of higher riding school, being on horseback. This kind of equestrian sport is one of the most difficult. Each participant was evaluated in allure, plasticity, horse submission, and even beauty of rider planting.

All the Open Cup winners will be awarded with medals and cups. Cash prizes are not expected due to the lack of commercial sponsors.

"I wish that the republic is interested in the Olympic equestrian sports, particularly, which are considered among the most prestigious in the world. We are engaged in them just a little, while in Europe, show jumping and dressage are developed at a high level," the agency interlocutor concluded.

It should be noted also that the competition will be refereed by Igor Kogan, a referee of national category from Kostroma region. In his professional opinion, the Olympic kinds of equestrian sport in Russia, especially in Tatarstan, should be very popular, especially since "the republic has such an amazing modern and well-kept facility as Kazan racetrack."