Horse-ball and French Apple Pie

What do gourmet apple tarts and acrobatic equestrian sports have in common? This Pentecost weekend–as every year–the two mix perfectly. as the French National Junior Horse-ball Championships are held in Lamotte-Beuvron, home of the world famous Tarte Tatin. What is Horse-ball? Created about 30 years ago and based on the poor-man’s polo “patou,” horse-ball is an acrobatic combination of basketball on ponies and played at every level, from seven-year-old children on Shetland ponies through adults on horses.  The rules are simple. Two teams of four players confront each other in a rectangular riding arena with two large hoops suspended at approximately two-three meters off the ground at either end. The ball (the size of which is adapted to the size of the players) has six leather handles on it to better grip and toss. The team must make three passes among them before shooting the ball through the hoop to score, and should the ball fall on the ground (here’s where the acrobatics come in) they reach down and pick it up. In order to do this, the stirrups of each player are tied together under the belly of the pony or horse. The players literally hook their foot in the stirrup and dive down for the ball…and, of course, to make it more interesting, the pony must be in full movement while the ball is being picked up!  The matches are two half-times of between seven to ten minutes each (seven minutes for the little kids, ten minutes for the big “kids”). The older the players, the faster and more exiting the matches. T he National Junior Horse-ball Championships are held every year at the National Pony Center in Lamotte-Beuvron. One and half hours south from Paris (just south of Orleans), this adorable little town in the heart of Sologne in the Loire Valley is surrounded by famous châteaux–yet it is best known for the well knownTarte Tatin. Created by one of the two Tatin sisters at their hotel/auberge a little more than 100 years ago, it’s an upside down apple pie, caramelized and served hot with cream. The Hôtel Tatin still exists at 5, av. de Vierzon. 41600 Lamotte Beuvron ; (Tel: +33 (0)2.54.88.00.03 E-mail: [email protected]). The Eighth Annual Junior Horse-ball Championships will be held this year from May 14-16. 160 teams from all over France will participate.  More information is available from the French Equestrian Federation at www.ffe.com.