Hello! I’m Juli and I’ve been living in Georgia, in the city of Kutaisi for already 16 years (since I was born). Kutaisi is one of the ancient cities in Europe. My city is distinguished from others by its culture and traditions. On every 2nd day of May, we celebrate “Kutaisoba” or “Gviriloba” (Chamomile Day). I’ve always loved this day…I remember, when I was a child, my parents used to take me to watch the horse racing, which was held on every “Kutaisoba”. I was always fond of watching the unbitted horse racing… either this year was exceptional…I attended the horse racing, but this time, with my friends… It was really amazing! I don’t know why and how, however, excited with the performance, at night I had a dream about Georgian man and British lady, the story regarding a big love, the story on the radically different, but at the same time almost identical cultures. The story which started in one of the villages of England, on a hot summer day, while watching the horse racing… …Red-haired, green eyed beautiful girl, who was wearing high boots and women's equestrian clothing, was wholeheartedly supporting the horse number seven. Her cheeks already red with the heat, became more reddish, her hair was spread. She was screaming various supporting exclamations and could not perceive anything around her, but the horse participating in the horse racing. Her mother, Ms Hard all this time was angrily watching at her and was pointing her to abstain. Nearby, on the opposite tribune, there was sitting a boy with an amazing appearance, whose name nobody knew, however everybody wanted to know it. A boy with shortly cut black hair, also with black, astonishingly deep eyes, white skinned, with slightly hawked nose and athletic appearance, looked like a real Hollywood star. I could not say that he was watching the horse racing…he looked at it superficially, only several times …all his attention was focused on the red-haired girl. Finally, he got up and came to her. The girl who was concentrated on the horse racing did not even notice him. -Your support of the horse number seven with so much endeavour is pointlessness. It does not even have a chance of winning- said the boy to her and only now noticed the girl his existence. She got a haughty expression on her face and did not respond to his comment. -If I were you, I would bet on the horse number four. It really has a potential of winning- continued the boy. -Thanks for your useful advice, which is completely useless now, as the horse racing has already started and the acceptance of bets has stopped. Now please, leave the tribune timely and go back to your place- answered the girl harshly. The boy did not have a choice… and he obeyed her requirement. The horse number four actually won the horse racing. The girl looked through the audience, she was looking for a boy, who had predicted the victory of the horse number four, but in vain… she could not find him anywhere. In the evening there was held a party and the audience stayed on the Hards’ land. The red-haired girls was standing in a group of gentlemen and was talking with them. -Ms Hard, your father’s land is really amazing. I can definitely say, that it is the best in the whole Britain. Your horses are marvellous too. I want to ask you, do you just run the horse business or will you try in other discipline of horsemanship? - Asked one of the gentlemen to the girl, as the girl was the only child of this land owner. - You know, my father is fond of horse racing. Currently, he runs only the horse racing business, but in future, he might be interested in other types of activities. -I’m fond of animals, especially the horse- continued the gentleman again- the goal of the horse racing is to reveal the speed and strength of the horse, but to showing the athletic appearance of the horse, its level of training and professionalism of the rider, other types of riding are more useful. Earlier, the horse was used in the war and agriculture. As a result of the technical progress, it had lost mentioned functions and has become one of the types of the art and amusement (sports). Nowadays, the Olympic types of horse riding are: Show Jumping, Dressage and Eventing- also known as three day eventing or horse trials. I prefer exactly these three types of riding. All three of them were established in Europe and now are famous throughout the world. In my opinion, exactly these types are the wealth of European horsemanship. -I totally agree with you! – the second boy joined the conversation- Equestrian vaulting is also astonishing, which means dancing and gymnastics on the horse back. Basically, women are involved in this sport. - All activities of the sport named by you are enlisted among 10 International Equestrian disciplines composed by the International Federation of the Equestrian Sport. I agree with you too, those activities really represent the treasure of European culture- joined the third gentleman. The girl was saying something, when the group of talkers was joined by black-eyed young man, who was listening to the entire conversation and now he has decided to join them. The girl immediately recognized his eyes and she could not say anything for a few seconds as she was confused… -Congratulations! Your expectations are met...- said the girl to the boy, as soon as she came back to the reality. -I was sure. The horse number seven had shorter legs and it was tired very soon from starting the racing…I could even notice from my place, that it was breathing deeply and was sweating. I think apart from the winner it is quite old too. -I am surprised…you know so many things about the horses… who are you Mister?- asked the Mr Hard to the boy. -I am Onise Gilikauri. I know that you are Mr Hard, the owner of this land. Everything is ideal…thank you so much for such a hosting. -You are welcome! I will be always pleased to host such guests as you, I think we have already known each other, but I would like to introduce to you my daughter-Amelya Hard-said the old gentleman and he pointed to the red-haired girl. Onise never knew about it and he could not hide his astonishment. -Now please tell me, where are you from and how do you know so much about horses-asked again Mr Hard. -I’m Georgian. Georgia is a small country in the South Caucasus, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Despite the transcontinental location, Georgia is the part of Europe in social-political and cultural terms. In my homeland, the classical as well as national equestrian disciplines are widely spread. Riding was established in Georgia since the ancient times. It is known, that the riding was used for the physical training of boys and their preparation for wars. According to the report of Roman Historian Dion Cassius, the king of Iberians Parsman, accompanied with the dignitary, visited Rome (II century), regarding the holiday which had to be held in honour of Gods and horse-riding competition took place. By the order of the Emperor, who was fascinated with the skills of Georgians, had erected the sculpture of Parsman on the horseback on the Mars square, as an expression of particular respect. In the end of XIX century, riders from Guria had travelled to England and America and they fascinated the audience with their skills. In 1912, Georgian Konstantine Avalashvili won a big prize of Steeple-Chase in Liverpool. As for the national equestrianism, the different equestrian disciplines are popular in all parts of Georgia. Riding on a horse is very popular in Tusheti, Horse-racing, “Kabakhi, “Tarchia” “Isindi”- in Semegrelo, during the equestrian competition in Adjara, together with men participated women too and they often used to win. Equestrianism was especially popular in Abkhazia, horse-riders there were extinguished with their special skills. I, am from Khevsureti. The most popular in Khevsureti is horse racing and it is called as “Tskhenni”-(Horses) or “Tskhendoghvi”-Horse racing. Horse racing was held in memory of deceased person. Horse racing in Khevsureti was held in late Spring and Summer; the number of participant horses was odd (from 5 to 35). They were especially cared and nourished; horse’s hair-mane was braided and bounded with colour threads and they used to wear headbands. Only the “Soul Horse” (blessed for deceased person) was saddled up. On the day of horse racing, after blessing the food and drink, the riders in the queue leaded by the “Soul Horse” walked three times around the clothes of deceased person lying on the rug and they rode to the villages, where deceased person’s relatives lived. “Mourner” relatives arranged low table for the riders. Riders from the last low table rode back to the villages of the “mourner” relatives and then the real competition was starting. If they had to pass a long way, they were exchanged by the “friends”-other riders. The winner riders in the “mourner” relatives’ villages were given the prizes (cattle, weapon, cloths and etc.). One of the national disciplines of the equestrianism is the “Horse-ball” the same as “Gard”. The game is played with the racket and rubber ball between two teams (6 people in each team). The main goal of this team playing is to score a ball by the natty rackets in the door of the opposite team, while riding a horse. One national gaming is “Isindi”. It is also a team game like the Horse-ball (6 people in each). The main purpose of the team is to hit the Isindi (120-150 cm spear which has the protecting cap in the end) to the opposite horse or the rider. This all takes place in the specified sequence. “Marula” is one of the oldest national disciplines in the equestrian competitions. It is the same as horse racing on a long distance (20-25km). Running on such a long distance required a big durability, that’s why big attention was paid to the selection of the horse in advance, which lasted during 2-3 months prior to starting “Marula”. It is held even nowadays, but on a shortened distance (8-10km). “Kabakhi” is one of the old Georgian equestrian game. In the middle of the stadium 6m tall mast is erected and 30 cm bowl is put on the mast. The main purpose of the gamers is to drop the bowl down by throwing an arrow while riding on the horseback. The rider shall have a bow and arrow. Results of the competitions are revealed depending on how many times the riders can drop the target down and how much time will they spend for this. “Tarchia” is one of the old Georgian equestrian game. The game is played on the competition arena, within the specified period of time. Persons, who wish to play this game are invited (4 riders). Then, one girl is chosen from the audience as a referee, who will attach her coloured headscarf to the selected rider’s neck or collar (this gamer is called “Tarchia” too). Other riders are trying to take away this headscarf from “Tarchia”. National equestrian disciplines are also: “Lelo tskhenze”, “Mkerdaoba”, „Brandishing”, “Mangling”, „Descent from the mountain”, “Stealing of the gift” and etc… -Oh my God, it is amazing!- Mr Hard could not hide his excitement- I will start working from today to enrich the equestrian business with those disciplines. They talked much about the equestrianism. Mr Hard questioned Onise in details and decided to implement those disciplines in Great Britain. After a few months, Onise and Amelya fell in love with each other. They were walking together, when father called Amelya and notified her that he was going to marry her to the other rich landowner. The girl could not resist her father, although her heart was badly hurt. When Onise heard about it, he got very angry. He did not know what to do... and at last they decided to run to Georgia. Onise took the girl in his native part of the country, Khevsureti. Thanks to the happy fortune, horse racing was held in Khevsureti after a few days from their arrival. After attending the horse racing, the girl was once more ascertained in the correctness of her decision… -I’m surprised Onise… I am observing the local people, their tradition, nature, flora, fauna… everything is perfect… I’m just surprised how such a small country has such a great history and culture. Morning…sunbeams plying on the face are carrying the voices of the horse’s legs… the dream is ceasing and I’m still 16 years old Juli, I’m still waking up in my city Kutaisi…however, the feeling that Europe is here does not leave me, because if a person has visited my country even once, he/she easily realizes that it is a part of Europe... Georgia located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia was always desiring to take the course to Europe. As the child-to the mother…this connections are counting the centuries and modern, progressively minded people make connections closer and more trustful… When dreaming makes your dream come true.