On 20 - 21 February 2017, French 4* dressage judge Raphael Saleh devoted two days to a charity dressage clinic at the Pradar Equestrian Club in Moscow, Russia. All funds received from the master class were transferred to the account of Russian Grand Prix rider Ivan Antochika, who has been battling lymphoma.
After a successful bone marrow transplantation, the 27-year old Ivan Antochika has now begun the long way of rehabilitation. Between 2013 and 2015, Antochika competed the PRE stallion Zingaro at Grand Prix level. This pair was in the top 10 at CDIU25 in Barcelona, CDI3* Moscow and CDI-W Nizhniy Novgorod.
Unfortunately, the life of this young, promising athlete suffered misfortune, when lymphoma was discovered. The expensive treatment for lymphoma forced Ivan to seek funds through charitable organisations. Along the way he was supported by his friends, his coach Valeriy Tishkov and by the club his young horse was based in – the Grand International Equestrian Club Pradar”. The bone marrow transplantation was a success and now Ivan is undergoing rehabilitation.
Antochika has remained focus on sport throughout his recovery and in September 2016 he competed Cinnamon in the 6-year old division at the CDI-YH Moscow. Even while staying in the hospital Ivan kept an eye on his young mare who was being trained by his coach Valeriy Tishkov in the meantime, by watching videos via the internet.
Raphael Saleh has seen and judged Ivan Antochika’s tests many times and as soon as he learned of the serious illness of this young promising rider, he immediately offered the idea to hold a charity master class to benefit Ivan. “We all are equestrians and even if we are from different countries, we are still one family," Saleh commented. "Now Ivan needs help, but no one is immune from such troubles and maybe after 10 years Ivan will give such master class for me”.
Grand International Equestrian Club Pradar covered all the costs for Saleh's travel and accommodation expenses and opened its luxurious indoor arena for the master class for free, canceling all training sessions of their clients for 2 days. Russian international 4* judge Irina Maknami generously offered to assist in the organization of the seminar as a translator.
During these two days more than 20 riders rode in the arena, while several equestrian companies have supported this charity project with their contributions and numerous media representatives came to the club to cover the event.
For the first time after her inauguration Marina Sechina, the President of the Russian Equestrian Federation, visited Pradar to meet all the participants of the charity project. Sechina personally talked with Ivan Antochika, thanked Raphael Saleh for his noble act in support of young Russian athlete, and paid attention to the media.
The result of the charity master class with Raphael Saleh was not only the positive response from the participants who received important recommendations from the judge, but also the efforts of Pradar has brought media ttention and real support for Ivan Antochika from Russian NF, Equestrian Companies and all who attended the master class.
Photos © Artem Makeev
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