Online Reporter
FOR Charley Barford, becoming the first Zimbabwean showjumper to qualify for the FEI World Equestrian Games is the reward for a lifetime spent chasing a dream that began at a small riding school in Norton, a town located about 40km west of Harare.
The 40-year-old is representing Zimbabwe at the World Equestrian Games, which got underway yesterday in Aachen, Germany, alongside her horse, Odiena Van Berimar, marking a historic moment for Zimbabwean equestrian sport.
The 10th equestrian games are featuring six core equestrian disciplines at the historic Soers showgrounds and will serve as key qualifiers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. More than 800 athletes from 70 countries are paricipating in the event, which ends on Sunday.
But for Barford, qualification is not the destination. It is another step towards an even bigger ambition.
“I’m very proud to be the first Zimbabwean to qualify for the World Equestrian Games,” Barford told Zim Sport Live in an exclusive interview.
“I love my country and this has been a long-term dream of mine.
“I will be competing against the best showjumpers in the world and it’s an opportunity that I’m going to make the most of. This is one of the biggest showjumping events ever, with 40 000 people watching inside the stadium in Aachen.”
The road to Germany has demanded years of sacrifice.
Barford has been based in Europe since April, travelling across the continent in pursuit of the qualifying standards.
“I’ve been based in Europe since April this year, and it’s been a tough but exciting few months on the road, and I’m so glad I managed to meet the qualifying requirements in time.”
Barford’s appearance in Germany marks a significant milestone for Zimbabwean equestrian sport as she takes the country onto one of the sport’s biggest international stages.
Her journey in the sport stretches back almost four decades.
Barford first climbed onto a horse at the age of two after being introduced to riding by her grandmother, who ran a riding school in Norton.
Despite growing up without significant financial resources, she refused to let that stand in the way of her ambition. — Agencies.
