Rio de Janeiro may be some 6,000 miles away but supporters of Team GB were taken closer to the action this weekend at the Official Team GB FanZone Coventry.
As well as following the nation’s finest athletes on their quest to Olympic glory, fans at the Team GB Fanzone Coventry were given the opportunity to try their hand at horse riding.
Over 400 participants took up the reins, from the young to the old and beginner to the more experienced. All received a goody bag with information on how to discover more about horses and a voucher towards an equestrian taster experience at a participating centre.
Informative spectator guides to help Team GB fans get behind and support the equestrian athletes across eventing, dressage and jumping were also handed out.
One participant said “I would encourage anyone to visit Hoof at the Team GB FanZones, the half hour on Monday put the biggest smile on my face and I am now determined to start riding again and do the British Horse Society Stage 1 
course. Thank you!”
Hoof, the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) participation initiative will be escorting their mechanical horse, Henry around the Official Team GB Fanzones offering the public have-a-go sessions so they can experience life in the saddle.
They have partnered with Team GB to offer this fantastic opportunity to learn more about one of this summer’s most exciting Olympic sports which has been central to the Olympic Movement for over a century. It is the only sport at the Games where men and women compete head-to-head for the same medals and is underpinned by the unique bond between horse and rider.
Don’t miss out – to join in and get a flavour of what horse riding can offer, visit the following Official Team GB FanZones:
Bristol 12th to 14th August between 10am and 6pm
Glasgow 13th to 14th August between 12pm and 5pm
London, London Bridge City 20th August between 11am and 6pm
Entry to the fanzones is free and the big screen will be the best place to catch the action and soak up the samba spirit as the nation’s finest athletes aim to make Rio 2016 Team GB’s best ever Away Games.
Anna Hall, Head of Participation at the BEF said “We know that some exercise improves fitness, some relieves stress, some gets you out in the open air – but we believe that horse riding and volunteering delivers all that and more!
You can ride at all ages and the participants at Team GB Fanzone Coventry showed just how easy it is and we are urging everyone to come along and have-a-go and get a flavour of life in the saddle”
The fanzones are a partnership between Team GB and the host venues and are funded through support from official Team GB partners Aldi, Muller and The National Lottery. For more information go to www.teamgb.com/fanzones or www.hoofride.co.uk.
