First in Lithuania: Successful Finish for Lithuanian Rider at European Endurance Championship

In a remarkable achievement for Lithuanian equestrian sports, G. Acutė has secured a historic 23rd place finish at the European Youth Endurance Riding Championship held in Jullianges, France. Competing on a demanding 120 km course, Acutė and her horse Hakaia successfully navigated treacherous conditions, including dry, slippery grass, rocky paths, and steep descents, alongside extreme temperatures that fluctuated between heatwaves and heavy rain.

Out of 61 pairs that started the competition, only 35 managed to complete the challenging track, highlighting the difficulty of the event. Acutė's performance is the best result Lithuania has ever achieved in the history of endurance riding, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country.

"I feel uplifted, but it still needs time to fully comprehend what happened. The championship was my dream, which I have been preparing for over the past few years," Acutė stated after the competition. She expressed deep gratitude to her coaches, team, and supporters for their unwavering encouragement throughout her journey.

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I feel uplifted, but it still needs time to fully comprehend what happened. The championship was my dream, which I have been preparing for over the past few years. It is hard to describe that feeling when you manage to achieve the planned result. I am incredibly grateful to my coaches and the entire team. Thank you to everyone who supported, backed, and accompanied me throughout this journey.

To prepare for the specific challenges of the French terrain and climate, Acutė and Hakaia spent the last six weeks training in France. The horse's well-being was meticulously managed by a professional team, including grooms, a farrier, an osteopath, and a veterinarian. For the first time, Acutė was also accompanied by a sports medicine team.

Ugnė Zalieckienė, president of the Lithuanian Endurance Riding Committee, sees this success as a springboard for future ambitions. "This successful finish encourages us to dream even bigger. We hope to send more riders to the championship in the future, as we could achieve an even higher result in the team standings," Zalieckienė said. She believes Acutė's achievement will inspire more young riders in Lithuania to pursue the sport with dedicated preparation, demonstrating that Lithuanian riders can achieve greater success.

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This successful finish encourages us to dream even bigger. We hope to send more riders to the championship in the future, as we could achieve an even higher result in the team standings. I hope that this result by Gabija and Hakaia will inspire more young riders and show them that with a well-thought-out preparation process, Lithuanian riders can achieve even more.