E NDURANCE is a tough sport, and definitely not for the faint hearted, so the South West can be proud of the fact that two of its riders have made it onto the Endurance GB British Team Elite Squad.

Annie Joppe with her horse, Dilmun, from Perranporth, Cornwall, and Karen Jones with Macadamia from Culmstock, Devon, are now working hard to be selected for this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

The EGB British Team Elite Squad is a small pool of horses and riders selected from the Endurance GB Senior Squad. It is from the Elite Squad that a team of up to five combinations will be chosen to represent Great Britain.

To become part of the elite squad takes total commitment, dedication and hard work on the part of each rider as they must attend various training and assessment weekends held around the country. At these sessions both horses and riders undergo rigorous evaluation by a team of veterinary experts comprising vet, equine physiotherapist, farrier, trainer and human physiotherapists.

Interestingly, the team vet, Hugh L Salmon, BVetMed DBR MRCVS, is also from Devon and is based at the Wolfgar Veterinary Surgery in Cheriton Bishop. Horses are assessed by trotting up and lunging on a hard surface before being checked in more detail. The horses are then assessed while being ridden. Riders must do a dressage test to illustrate the level of schooling and suppleness of the horse, which is assessed by team trainer, Annabel Schofield.

The horses are not the only ones to be checked. The Elite Squad Selectors demand a high level of fitness from the rider: a tired rider cannot help a tired horse. Rider fitness is tested by using whatever facilities are available at the time. Often riders are asked to run a mile and their recovery rates are recorded. Riders are encouraged to run, swim or cycle to improve their own personal fitness.

Annie and Karen recently attended a BEF (British Equestrian Federation) training day in Northampton as part of the World Class Programme. The day included lectures by a sports nutritionist, a sports psychologist and physiotherapist. The day also gave riders an idea of how their horses would travel, if selected for the World Equestrian Games which begin on September 25.

The horses fly from Belgium to Cincinatti (only 75 miles from the Kentucky venue) where they will be quarantined before the start of the event.

Hopefully, Annie and Dilmun and Karen and Macadamia will be making that trip and flying the flag for not only Great Britain, but also the South West of England.