SHOW JUMPING COMPETITION FOR THE CUP OF NOVI SAD FAIR - Love and attention to horses as a prerequisite for good results

The tournament for the Novi Sad Fair Cup was held yesterday at Manjež, when a dozen horses competed for the highest award, while another thirty participated in the show part. Eminent competitors from all over Serbia showed knowledge and skill, but also an inextricable commonality with the horse they ride.

– The task of every competitor is to take good care of his horse and to train every day – says the director of the Equestrian Center "Novi Sad Fair", also the organizer of the competition, Biljana Suvajdžić. – Upon entering Manžeg, the horse and rider have a certain trajectory that they have to pass, and the more they fit in and the better friends they are, the easier it is to overcome the hurdles.
Three ladies also participated in the 115 cm category: Jelena Mastilović (20), Staša Lazarević (16) and Mia Jeftić (16). All of them are members of the Equestrian Centre "Novi Sad Fair".
– I have been practicing show jumping for ten years and it is my favorite sport – says Jelena. – Riding a horse is a beautiful feeling. Even though I'm afraid of heights, when I'm on a horse I forget about everything and I wouldn't change the pleasure of riding for anything. Whatever my day is, when I'm with a horse, I forget about everything.

Although she started doing equestrian sports recreationally, Staša soon realized that show jumping attracted her the most. Over the years, he enjoys this discipline more and more.
– The most beautiful feeling is when you know that you have a beautiful horse under you that would do everything for you, so every jump is perfect – admits our young interlocutor.
Bonding with an animal is the most important thing in equestrian sports. In addition to the fact that the horse provides the rider with security and tries not to let him down, we can say that it also takes care of his mental and emotional state.
– I usually don't have stage fright before a match, although there is a little of it when I enter the parkour, but it disappears as soon as I start jumping – says Mia. – Show jumping is a wonderful sport, different from all the others because you don't use a prop, but you have a living being that you love.

Yesterday's tournament is proof that equestrian sport is attracting more and more children and young people.
– It is extremely difficult and demanding to engage in this sport, but in the last five years we have had an expansion of children who want to do it, so we are making progress as far as the population is concerned – emphasizes Biljana Suvajdžić.