While riders around the world are slowly starting to get back into training and competing, many horsey pairs have dedicated some of their spare time during the coronavirus lockdown to taking on a slightly different physical challenge to normal.
Check out these top riders performing the popular “koala challenge”, in which one person climbs the other like a tree, demanding high levels of strength, balance and flexibility. It’s a lot trickier than it looks…
1. Irish Olympic showjumper Trevor Breen and wife Caroline perfect the koala challenge — even if it was harder than they expected!
She might be fit but she’s not coordinated ? #stayhome #funathomePosted @withregram • @carolinebreen1 Thank you @janikasprunger for the nomination! @trevorbreen1 and I gave it our best go ? Was great fun but not as simple as you and @carolinewauters said!!!!! #lockdownfun #fitathome #showjumpersofinstagram
Posted by Trevor Breen International Showjumper on Friday, April 10, 2020
2. Danish dressage team rider Daniel Bachmann Andersen and wife Tiril Anerud mastered the challenge with style…
Thank you Jessica von Bredow-Werndl for the challenge ??I nominate Patrik Kittel & Lyndal Oatley , Dufour Dressage & Rasmine Laudrup & Severo Jurado & Annika Damrau ??♂️ #koalachallenge #couplechallenge
Posted by Daniel Bachmann Andersen on Monday, April 13, 2020
3. US showjumper Lauren Hough got in on the action with Captain Mark Phillips…
4. It was third time lucky for German dressage medallist Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and husband Max as they nailed it with a little help from son Moritz…
Challenge accepted ✅ ???I nominate Benjamin Werndl , Marcus Ehning Sportpferde & Sönke Rothenberger#couplechallenge #koalachallenge #wirbleibenzuhause #froheostern #happyeaster #westayathome #challengeaccepted
Posted by Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on Monday, April 13, 2020
5. Britain’s Robert and Kate Whitaker mastered the koala in a speedy time…
I challenge Gary Stevens, Sam Baker, Matthew Broome#koalachallenge
Posted by Robert Whitaker on Saturday, April 18, 2020
6. Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour and girlfriend Rasmine Laudrup made this tricky challenge look easy…
Thanks for the nomination @danielbachmannandersen (& the thousand others ?)..@rasminelaudrup & I completing the Gorilla-monkey-whatever-challenge ??. We nominate @hellektrolle & @utrolle, @carinakrueth & Casper C, @ffridaasvensson & @emiliamoren ??♥️..#gorillachallange #gogogo #challange #laudrupdufour #monkeybusiness
Posted by Dufour Dressage on Tuesday, April 14, 2020
7. It wasn’t all plain sailing for M.S. Eventing, but Imogen Murray and fiancé Tim King made light work of the koala challenge, even if the parents didn’t quite get there…
The Koala Challenge M.S.Team style…Mummy Murray and Big D thought they’d ’teach the younger generation’…???Please note, no parents were harmed during the making of this video ??? We are however thinking it’s more like a Panda Challenge ??We hope this brings some light hearted entertainment to your lockdown evening ???? Featuring Super X Country and coolhorsesocks.co.ukDevoucoux Protexin Equine Premium SPILLERS KEP Italia UK Finer Stables cottages.com Omega Equine Lotus Romeo UK Petrie Ridingboots Hi Ho Silver FAIRFAX & FAVOR Mackenzie & George Equi-Bebb Products Horse & Hound
Posted by M.S.Team Eventing with Imogen Murray on Sunday, April 26, 2020
8. Denmark’s Andreas and Marianne Helgstrand found the original koala challenge too easy, so opted to take it to the next level…
Vi elsker udfordringer, så vi udvider lige med et twist – kan I også klare den? Pyha nu kalder sofaen vist efter sådan en omgang – nok mest for Marianne ????
Posted by Andreas Helgstrand on Monday, April 13, 2020
Continued below…
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9. Having already mastered the koala challange, British dressage couple Jezz Palmer and Lucy Pye took things up a notch, showing off some serious strength and balance in the impressive “Titanic challenge”…
It’s back!!! Little ahead of our usual TikTok Tuesday! Nala & Rosie weren’t amused at our efforts to steal their lime light! We hope you enjoy our Titanic Challenge more then they did! We’ve loved being tagged in your posts from last weeks Koala Challenge! Thought we’d up the anti this week! JKG Physiotherapy – Chartered PhysiotherapistJLP Horsebox HireAubiose Horse BeddingPM Equestrian/Antares Sellier UK & IrelandBack on Track UK
Posted by JLP Dressage on Tuesday, May 5, 2020
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