It’s Time for Equestrians to Get Clearer Rules About Rules

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | May 21, 2019

No one reads a rule book from cover to cover until they fall foul of it; sometimes, not even then. By competing, you agree to abide by a sport’s rules but in reality, sitting down to immerse yourself in hundreds of pages of convoluted bumph is not appealing, especially when English is not even our native language. You rely on equestrian judges and officials to know them.

What’s more, FEI General Regulations and Veterinary Regulations always supersede the rules of your particular discipline, so ideally you should tackle those mighty tomes as well. If you go eventing, it’s even more onerous, for FEI Jumping Rules and Dressage Rules also apply in those phases.

FEI Eventing has “guidelines” about rule interpretation, but that memo also says that where said guidelines are inconsistent or contradictory the original rules should prevail! No wonder the eventers keep asking the FEI to re-do the lot from scratch...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/time-equestrians-get-clearer-rules-rules/

South Africa: Endurance rider makes Soutpansberg proud

Soutnet.co.za - Full Article

23 May 2019

Former Louis Trichardt resident Lanel van Niekerk (27) is still making the Soutpansberg proud by not only winning the recent South African International Challenge (SAIC) endurance race over 160km, but also setting up a new South African record for the race.

Many residents may remember Lanel best under her maiden name, Van Niewenhuizen. She and her horse, a mare called Jozami Zanica, competed in the race on 27 April at the Bona Bona Game Lodge near Klerksdorp.

Lanel and Zanica also attempted the race in 2018, but had to withdraw from the event after Zanica injured her tendon after 100 km. “We were very disappointed but made sure we took the correct measures to treat Zanica’s injury so she could come back again in 2019,” said Lanel...

Read more here:
https://www.zoutnet.co.za/articles/sport/50038/2019-05-23/endurance-rider-makes-soutpansberg-proud

Chile: Prohibited substance case under FEI anti-doping rules

Inside.fei.org

May 22 2019

The FEI has announced a new adverse analytical finding (AAF) involving an equine prohibited substance. The case involves a *Banned Substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

The athlete has been provisionally suspended as both Person Responsible and Trainer from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Horse: S H Ciro (FEI ID 104ZN21/CHI)
Person Responsible/Trainer: Paula Llorens Clark (FEI ID 10086065/CHI)
Event: CEIYJ2* 120 - Llay Llay (CHI), 30.03.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): O-Desmethyltramadol
Date of Notification: 15 May 2019

Details on this case can be found here.

Endurance Great Britain welfare conference in Newmarket

Endurancegb.co.uk

(Published:21 May 2019)

Endurance GB welfare conference in Newmarket focuses on improving long term performance of the endurance horse

Endurance GB’s welfare conference next weekend will bring together experts from the animal health, veterinary and sports science industries to focus on how to extend the careers of long-distance equine athletes.

The Endurance GB conference, taking place on Saturday 25th May at the Newmarket Equine Hospital, features an impressive line-up of speakers including; Dr Sue Dyson of the Animal Health Trust, Dr Roly Owers, from World Horse Welfare, Dr David Marlin, Scientific and Equine Consultant, together with Fran James and Tom Eaton Evans of the Newmarket Equine Hospital who will look at orthopaedic longevity and biosecurity.

Topics being covered range from identifying lameness, to understanding how ridden horse behaviour can predict the presence of musculoskeletal pain.

The conference will also hear findings from a pilot study looking at the weight that a horse can safely carry.

Alex Tennant, Director of Development and Welfare for Endurance GB said: “This day is aimed not only at anyone involved in endurance at all levels from novice to international but anyone interested in finding out more about the performance of the equine equivalent of the marathon athlete. Endurance GB is dedicated to offer education and discussion on improving horse welfare; which is the foundation of our sport and society. The theme of the day is, ‘Improving the longevity of the endurance horse’.

“Our speakers will be offering guidance on how we can plan our horses’ careers, training and competition to maximise health and fitness and minimise injury. There will be opportunities throughout the day for delegates to have any questions answered.

“Thank you to all our speakers, sponsors and guests who have supported this event.”

Welfare Conference sponsors, HPower and Meydan are event organiser and headline sponsor to the FEI European Endurance Championship which take place this summer at Euston Park in Suffolk on Saturday 17th August.

Jo Peck, Marketing and Communications Director of HPower which also organises the Royal Windsor Horse Show and London Olympia Horse Show, said: “We are proud to be associated with Endurance GB’s annual welfare conference and to be involved with building understanding of how long term performance for these incredible equine athletes can be improved. We have also been supporting Endurance GB in widening participation in the sport and are delighted that this summer’s European Championship will sit alongside the UK Endurance Festival featuring both national and Pony Club riders and teams in this popular and growing sport.”

Rebecca Kinnarney, Chair of Endurance GB said: “Endurance as a sport has consistently broken new ground in enhancing understanding of how equine athletes can best be cared for both in training and competition and we are proud that, while success is based on the strength of the partnership between horse and rider over long hours in the saddle, as riders we are always open to expanding our knowledge. This day promises both new scientific and research insight of benefit to both endurance and other equestrian sports. We would like to thank the conference sponsors for making the day possible.”

Tickets to the Endurance GB Welfare Conference at the Newmarket Equine Hospital, Saturday 25th May from 9am-5pm are priced £20 including lunch. Some spaces may still be available, to enquire, please contact conference@endurancegb.co.uk.

Riders celebrate success at Endurance Great Britain Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor

Endurancegb.co.uk

(Published:20 May 2019)

Riders are celebrating coveted completions in Endurance GB’s Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor, which after more than 50 years since it first began, remains one of the most challenging events in the sport’s calendar.

The oldest long-distance Endurance GB ride in the UK is widely regarded as one of the most challenging in Europe and sees competitors tackle classes ranging from 24km to 160km (100 miles) over spectacular moorland terrain.

This year’s top successes came in the Exmoor Stag class which takes competitors over 120km (75 miles) in two days. There were silver awards for Devon-based Karen Jones with Treasured Moonbeam and Kathy Carr who had travelled from Leicestershire to take part with Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle. A third rider, Exeter’s Gillian Mann earned a completion with HS Parnasse.

Cullompton-based Karen Jones and her 13yr old mare, Treasure Moonbeam, had success over the 160km in 2017 and so stepped down a distance to take on the 120km two day class.

On top of her Silver award, Karen collected the Exmoor Stag 75 mile Cup and the Exmoor Stag Award together with the Jill Calvert Cup for her crew.

Gillian Mann and her 13yr gelding HS Parnasse first attempted the 160km class in 2015 but were unfortunately unsuccessful. They went on, however, to successfully complete the one-day 80km class in 2018 so this year went one better in stepping up to a second day of competition.

Kathy Carr with Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle came to the ride with a strong record of success including a silver and bronze over the 160km class in 2018 and 2015. They have also enjoyed multiple successes at challenging rides including a notable 14th place at the European test-event in Brussels in 2016.

Kathy received a glut of silverware for her efforts on Exmoor including the Marcy Pavord Memorial Trophy, the Zayin Arabian Stud Award, the Esprit de Ferzon, the Dunlop Heywood Veteran Rider Award, the Saillard Fuller Silver Trophy the Exmoor Stag Fleur Award.

Kathy said: “That was a really tough one! It was definitely the most challenging Golden Horseshoe Route I've experienced. We just made Silver time on day two with one minute to spare. Paris never ceases to amaze me.”

A completion in the Golden Horseshoe is regarded as being on the ‘bucket list’ for most top level endurance riders, and the degree of the challenge registered this year with no completions in the weekend’s top class of 160km in two days. However, there were nine completions in the two-day 80km Exmoor Hind class with first place for Craig Budden from Southampton and GL Gilded Lance, a second place for Karen Wendy Jones on Indian Princess and third place for Charlie Turley and Safiya. Three riders enjoyed success in the one-day 80km Exmoor Fox class, Andrea Champ with Druimghigha Lantana earning first place, Sally McIlwaine and Winnie the Witch coming second and Antonia Milner-Matthews coming third with Clonmore Treasure.

However, one of the features of the weekend was the wide spread of Endurance GB entries from around England and Wales in other shorter distance classes. A total of 15 riders successfully took on the one-day 40km with 33 completions in the novice class. Elizabeth Madell and Twosox collected the Golden Horseshoe Para Award for her grade four completion in the Exmoor Otter Cub 40km Novice class.

In addition, the non-competitive pleasure ride, which gave grass-roots endurance riders the chance to sample the Golden Horseshoe route over the stunning Exmoor National Park, saw fifty riders taking part.

Devon-based Jo Chisholm who organises the Golden Horseshoe Ride with husband Andrew said: “Despite low entries in the longer distance classes, the shorter distances were supported well and riders tackled a typical Exmoor course with many hills incorporating steep climbs and rocky tracks, along with some wonderful moorland going, which was in places almost perfect with the recent dry weather.

“The weather was once again kind to us with ideal riding conditions, not too warm but pleasant in the sun for the numerous volunteers around the course. The organisers would like to extend their utmost appreciation for the army of volunteers without whom this ride would not be possible.”

Endurance GB Chair, Rebecca Kinnarney, who attended the event expressed her thanks to the amazing team of ride organisers, vets and volunteers, without whom such a major event would not be possible and said she is looking forward to a great time next year.

Important Information Regarding Synephrine, Equine Prohibited Banned Substance

USEF.org

by Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) | May 15, 2019, 5:20 PM EST

The FEI would like to warn the equestrian community regarding synephrine, a substance listed as a Banned Substance (Specified Substance*) on the Equine Prohibited Substances List.

Note: Synephrine is also a banned substance under United States Equestrian Federation Drugs and Medications rules

A high number of samples taken from horses under the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Programme have tested positive for the substance. Although investigations into the sources of the positive cases are still ongoing, the FEI would like to warn stakeholders of synephrine which may be found in the horse’s environment and advise on measures that can be taken to prevent a positive finding.

Synephrine is a stimulant which can cause vasoconstriction, an increased heart rate and is used as a weight loss aid.

In certain parts of the world, synephrine can be found in plants such as common rush (Juncus usitatus), Mullumbimby couch (Cyperus brevifolus) and the leaves of citrus trees (e.g. mandarin, orange and lemon). Synephrine has also been detected in Teff grass hay in some countries.

It can also be found as an ingredient of herbal and nutritional supplements, and commonly found in the peel extract of bitter orange (also known as Seville orange) which is used as a flavouring agent.

Measures that can be taken to prevent positive findings include using reputable suppliers of hay, feed and supplements, checking the horse’s environment for plants containing synephrine, and ensuring that any personnel taking supplements or other products containing synephrine wash their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with the substance. Additionally, it is recommended that samples are kept of batches of hay, feed and supplements given to competition horses to enable a thorough investigation to take place should the horse test positive for synephrine.

Further information concerning contamination prevention can be found here.

The FEI urges stakeholders to be vigilant of possible sources of synephrine in the horse’s environment and implement management practices to prevent contamination or inadvertent ingestion of the substance.

* Prohibited Substances that are identified as Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances. Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by Horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance.

Australia: Mudgee Endurance Riders compete at Cooyal event

MudgeeGuardian.com.au - Full Article

May 15 2019

175 riders took to the Mudgee Endurance Riders course at Cooyal on May 11 and 12.

Just under 100 riders set off at 5am to take part in the main 80 kilometre event on the Sunday morning, while there were 37 entries in the 40km Intermediate ride which commenced at 6.30am.

The overall ride winner was Con Bouzianis who completed the course in 4 hours, 25 minutes, who also placed first in the heavyweight category...

Read more here:
https://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/6125528/it-started-off-cold-but-sunshine-soon-led-to-the-ultimate-country-side-view-for-endurance-riders/