New Zealand: ESNZ New Horse Registration Process for Endurance

NZEquestrian.org

29 SEPTEMBER 2015

Following feedback from the ESNZ Endurance Forum the following will be the process for Endurance with regards to the registering of new horses and the issuing of ID books:

Step 1

A new horse registration form is to be sent into ESNZ along with payment as usual. There is no initial charge for the ID book for a NEW horse.

Step 2

The ESNZ Membership Services Team will issue an ID book with the name of the horse on the front of the book and keep the registration on file. The ID book is then sent out to enable the vet ID page to be completed. The registration will not be processed until the ID book is returned to be validated.

Step 3

Upon receiving the new ID the horse owner is to complete the horse ID page (either by a vet or they may do it themselves) and return the ID book to ESNZ to be validated. The owner will have 1 month to have the ID book completed and returned to ESNZ. At the end of the 1 month period if the ID book has not been returned, ESNZ will contact the owner and a charge may be applied for the cost of the ID.

Step 4

Once the ESNZ Membership Services Team receives the ID book back; they will then process the registration, validate the ID book and return it to the owner.


NOTES

Until the ID book has been validated the horse is NOT considered registered and therefore cannot compete

Failure to return the ID book after one month may incur a $20 charge for the cost of the ID book. Once the ID book is issued it becomes the liability of the owner.

This system will be trailed for a year; if people abuse the system then consideration may be given to a return to the current system.

If you need a registration done urgently then you can still complete the process as previous i.e. send in completed ID page, or if you prefer this way

Portuguese-bred arabian world’s best young endurance horse

© Alessandra Giorgio/FEI
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | 29 September 2015

The UAE’s Saif Ahmed Al Mozroui has won individual gold on Descardo in the 120km FEI World Endurance Championships for Young Horses, held in Italy at the weekend.

Two Spanish riders, Alex Luque Moral and Jordi Pons Serra, took home the individual silver and bronze medals at the event for seven-year-old horses at Valeggio Sul Mincio.

Descardo, a Portuguese-bred grey Arabian gelding (California x Tosca / Caim), is owned by MRM Stables in the UAE...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/09/29/portuguese-bred-arabian-world-best-young-endurance-horse/#ixzz3n8e1o45V

Rest periods to be reviewed by Endurance GB following outcry

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
28 September, 2015

Endurance GB (EGB) is reviewing rest periods and the procedure for returning horses to competition after a long break, following outcry over the fatality of a Ijaaz (pictured, top), a 20-year-old stallion, at Hexham on 1 August.

Ijaaz had been vetted out lame at his two previous rides this summer, having not competed since 2010. EGB’s official investigation has concluded that this did not contribute to his catastrophic fetlock injury at Hexham. But the EGB board is to discuss rule changes after receiving “numerous” emails from members.

Ijaaz, a well-bred Arabian by Narim-Ivory Wings, is understood to have been loaned earlier this year to Danielle Coulson, also known as Danielle Gray, who was herself returning to endurance after a break...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/endurance-gb-to-review-rest-and-return-to-competition-procedure-511327#RrYfjYTvMSCVY63t.99

Italy: Za'amah reigns supreme

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

September 28 2015

Al Mazroui guides Descarado to victory in Italy

Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairbi on Za'amah won the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup 100km ride with Bahrain's Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa on Kelallie de la Cure and Fahad Al Khatri second and third respectively at the Italian Endurance Festival 2015 in Verona, Italy on Saturday.

In the Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Cup, the UAE won the bronze in the team competition behind France and hosts Italy.

Meanwhile, Saif Ahmed Al Mazroui on Descarado won the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival-sponsored FEI World Championship for Young Horses.

Al Mazroui staved off strong challenge from the Spanish and Italian riders as he negotiated the scenic but challenging course adjoining the Garda River in Segurta Park in five hours 26 minutes and 56 seconds at an average time of 22.02kmph...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/horse-racing/zaamah-reigns-supreme

Great Britain: Usk horse rider who tackled 100 miles in one day set to host talk

Freepressseries.com - Full Article

Hayley Mills / Tuesday 22 September 2015

AN USK rider who competed in one of the world’s toughest horse races will be speaking about her experiences next month.

Consultant gynaecologist, Charlie Fleming, competed in the Tevis Cup, in the USA, in August.

The 24-hour 100-mile endurance ride through the Crystal Range of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is the toughest and most challenging endurance ride in the world, with only around half of all entrants finishing.

She became interested in endurance when she bought her first horse in 2004.

She said: “I was attracted by the combination of map reading in remote areas, horse physiology and pretending to be Dr Doolittle.

“Since then it’s become a passion and I’ve risen from novice, open, through to advanced and now I compete at FEI international level."

Five years ago she had breast cancer and now says she lives to seize the moment...

Read more here:
http://www.freepressseries.co.uk/news/13777529.Usk_horse_rider_who_tackled_100_miles_in_one_day_set_to_host_talk/

European Endurance Championships 2015, Samorin

Endurance-belgium.com - Full Article

by Leonard Liesens

Belgium in disarray. Spain unreachable. France has reasons to worry. Netherlands at their highest.

The Chefs d’equipe claiming for medals of any color must start to worry, would they speak French or another language. Because Spaniards have been reaching summits of perfection in all domains. The time of one Spanish couple above the others is over. Done! Now we have to fight against an armada – that’s saying a lot – of riders, horses and grooms highly organized and working very hard to achieve their goal. And be sure that behind the Arboix, Punti or Luque, there are a lot of others, ready for the fight.

They took the start at the back of the venue, along the Danube and went very fast from the beginning. The first stage of 40km was bringing the horses to a vetgate in the countryside near the footstep of the Carpathians. Even if this stage wasn’t really totalizing 40km, the speed was impressive. The gap between the leaders and others was already reaching 7 minutes. On the trail they (the Spaniards, Frances, Visser and two Hungarians) were cruising at 23 km/h. The four French riders were already left 7 minutes behind.

Then came the second stage, that everyone was qualifying as tough and technical, heading toward the foothills of the Carpathians. It didn’t seem to slow down too much the leaders; they did it at 18 km/h, way faster than during the preride. The Spanish riders Luque and Cervera had slowed down a bit and were 3 minutes behind the leading group. The French riders arrived at the vetgate 15 minutes later. On top of that, they lost Mosti, lame at the trotting. The Belgians were starting their retreat, losing two riders, Bastijns(flutter) and Boulanger(lameness).

The Finnish amazone Huovinen and the Swedish Henrikson were doing very well, together with the French. Both will finish in the Top Ten, even before the French riders. Henrikson has a good competitive horse, like her compatriot Sara Erikson but the latter was not able to complete. The Finnish rider, on the other hand, was unknown for many. She is living in Spain, so she did learn from the best. Another performance to underline is from the Croatian rider Iva Lipovac, completing 13th with her small looking like a mustang horse...

More story and photos here:
http://endurance-belgium.com/n-competitions/15samorin.htm

Bromont WEG Announces New CEO

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

September 15, 2015
by: Horse-Canada.com

The Board of directors of the 2018 World Equestrian Games announces the appointment of its new chief executive officer, Mr. Luc Fournier, taking over from Paul Côté, who has accepted a new challenge.

“Three years before the Games, his talent and his large experience in major events will renew the energy of the team and he can count on our full support and confidence” said François Duffar, chairman of the Board...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/bromont-weg-announces-new-ceo/?utm_source=Enews+Sept+21%2C+2015&utm_campaign=EnewsSept212015&utm_medium=email

UAE: Shaikh Rashid a world champ in endurance - 1981-2015

Khaleejtimes.com

KT Report/Dubai
Filed on September 20, 2015

Shaikh Rashid was a gold medallist in the endurance championship at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006 at the individual level, and also a member of the team which clinched the overall gold.

The UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) paid tributes to Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who passed away on Saturday morning. Shaik Rashid, a true horseman, raised the UAE flag high in the international arena.

Abdul Rahman Al Owais, vice president, UAE NOC and chairman of the Executive Council, expressed his deep grief over the huge loss of Shaikh Rashid, describing him as a true horseman who has done honour for his nation and raised the national flag in international events. Owais said Shaikh Rashid would remain to be remembered as an honourable and competent sportsman.

Al Owais extended condolences to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praying to Allah Almighty to rest his soul in paradise.

"Shaikh Rashid has left behind a brilliant sports career achieved during his lifetime," he added.

UAE NOC adviser and secretary-general Mohammed Al Kamali said, the late Shaikh Rashid was a champ and a horseman who was keen to represent his country in as many events as possible. He won trophies and accolades in continental and global events, not to mention his crowning moment in the World Endurance Championships in 1998/1999, with the highest rank in the world in endurance events.

He was a gold medallist in the endurance championship at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006 at the individual level, and also a member of the team which clinched the overall gold.

He won more honours and trophies in big equestrian events including titles at the Lutzenberg ride over 130km; the Endurance Challenge in Switzerland in 1998, the Italian 160km Endurance Championship in 2000; and the Bazilio 102km Endurance Championship in Spain the same year.

As the owner of Zabeel Racing International, Shaikh Rashid had led the individual owners list an unprecedented five times with over 428 wins to date. Shaikh Rashid was also a big soccer fan, one of his favourite clubs being Manchester United, among others.

sports@khaleejtimes.com

Bahrain: Sheikha banned over positive drug finding in endurance horse

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | 19 September 2015

A member of Bahrain’s ruling family has received a two-year ban from the FEI Tribunal after her mount tested positive for a banned substance after an Italian endurance race a year ago.

Sheikha Najla Bint Salman Al Khalifa’s horse, Salahdin Du Lauragais, tested positive for the long-acting sedative reserpine, after the 120km 2* star ride in Verona San Martino Buon Albergo in July last year...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/09/19/sheikha-banned-positive-drug-finding-endurance-horse/#ixzz3mC10yonR

Meet the Torontonian who spent 9 days on horseback riding across Mongolia

Thestar.com - Full Article

34-year-old Liz Brown took part in the annual Mongol Derby, involving 36 riders and 1,220 horses. She reflects on ‘the experience of a lifetime.’

By: Liz Brown Special to the Star, Published on Fri Sep 18 2015

I thought I was hallucinating when I rode past the rotting horse carcass sprawled on a dusty trail somewhere in the middle-of-nowhere-Mongolia. But the swearing behind me confirmed my fellow rider Thomas Ellingsén had seen it too. We halted our horses and stared at the cracked, drying hide receding from the animal’s skull, wondering if it was disease, predators or starvation that had ended its time on Earth. Buzzing flies provided the only white noise in the stillness as Ellingsén brought out his camera to snap a picture, a permanent reminder of the fragility of life in the wild.

It was mid-afternoon of the fourth day of the Mongol Derby and the sun was frying our helmet-clad heads. The next horse station, where we could get more water and new mounts, was more than 25 kilometres away across a wide-open plain and over a small cluster of mountains. Only 10 minutes before, Ellingsén, 38, a rider from Sweden not used to such extreme temperatures, had vomited from heat exhaustion. My other riding companion, Paddy Woods, a 52-year-old Irish jockey, was flushed and gasping as we pressed on. This was the third day of 40 C heat and my mouth felt like it was stuffed with wadded cotton balls, my vision was blurry and my balance was starting to go. As I calculated our speed and distance on my GPS, I let out a sob. It was going to take us at least two hours to reach our next destination.

As my horse plodded on, I closed my eyes, imagining a tall glass of ice water, then licked my cracked, sunburned lips and started laughing that I’d willingly signed up for this torture. This was the adventure I’d spent 12 months preparing for and in the moment, it didn’t seem I would finish...

Read more here:
http://www.thestar.com/life/2015/09/18/liz-brown-i-rode-the-mongol-derby.html

Equine Influenza Hits Malaysia

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA
Sep 17, 2015

International horse transport has been blamed for the first outbreak of equine influenza in Malaysia in nearly 40 years. The occurrence has resulted in a disruption of events in the racing industry and a complete ban on horse movement in and out of the country, according to official reports.

Horse races across the country have been cancelled since the outbreak was detected in late August. However, morning gallops were allowed to resume at affected courses last week.

As many as 400 horses might have been exposed to the disease at the Selangor Turf Club in Kuala Lumpur, said Mohamad Azmie Zakaria, DVM, PhD, director general and chief veterinary officer in the Department of Veterinary Services and Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry in Putrajaya...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/36436/equine-influenza-hits-malaysia

FEI Tribunal questions whether trainer doped endurance horse for ‘revenge’ as claimed

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
18 September, 2015

“Serious doubts” have been expressed about the authenticity of a trainer’s “confession” exonerating a member of the Bahraini ruling family from blame in a reserpine doping offence.

The FEI Tribunal found that the endurance rider, Sheikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa, had not established the fundamental principle of “no fault no negligence” for the presence of the banned sedative in her ride Salahdin du Lauragais at the 120km CEI in Verona, Italy, on 26-27 July 2014. It suspended her for two years.

In its 13-page decision notice, the Tribunal queried at length the veracity of a statement purportedly submitted by trainer Narendrha Singh, admitting injecting the horse “between 2 and 7 July,” without the Sheikha’s knowledge, out of “revenge”...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/fei-tribunal-trainer-singh-confessed-doping-510553#ZBt4UsfB6PvKYWUk.99

More Problems for Bromont WEG 2018

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

September 11, 2015
by: Horse-Canada.com

Problematic from the start, the groups involved with bringing the 2018 Bromont WEG to fruition continue to struggle with organizing the behemoth event. At the end of August they lost their long-standing leader, Paul Côté, who had been chair of the bid committee and was subsequently named CEO, when he announced his resignation. This week, the Town of Bromont has – for the second time – refused to grant the long-term lease necessary to build the 4,500-seat indoor arena.

The town council has two main concerns with the building which will host the Reining and Vaulting competition during WEG. The first issue they cite has to do with the design; they don’t want the building to be a big box that looks like your typical industrial building in the middle of their pristine green space. The second concern is that they have not been presented with a comprehensive business plan for how the building will be financed over the long term...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/more-problems-for-bromont-weg-2018/

FEI European Endurance Championships 2015: Spain continues domination with team and individual gold in Samorin

Jaume Punti Dachs and the chestnut mare Ajayeb took individual gold in a sprint finish for the line with the Netherland’s Marijke Visser and Laiza de Jalima at the FEI European Endurance Championships 2015 in Samorin (SVK) and also led the Spanish team to victory. Spanish team mates Alex Luque Moral/Calandria PH and Javier Cervera Sanchez-Arnedo/Strawblade are also pictured. (FEI/Giorgio Bissi)
FEI.org

14 Sep 2015

By Berry Pattison

Hot off their superb win at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy (FRA) just over a year ago, Spain continued its reign at the top of the Endurance world when Jaume Punti Dachs took individual honours and led the Spanish to team gold at the FEI European Endurance Championships 2015 in Samorin (SVK) on Saturday 12 September.

The Samorin Elements Resorts, a state-of-the-art, multi-sport facility covering over 100 hectares, hosted the biggest event on the 2015 Endurance calendar and saw competitors from 20 nations gathering to challenge for the title of European champion.

Marijke Visser (NED) and Laiza de Jalima, silver medallists at the Games in 2014, were back to see if they could climb to the top step of the podium this time round, but with other strong combinations such as Jean Philippe Frances (FRA) with Secret de Mon Coeur, and four of the five members from last year’s Spanish gold medal team, the bid for victory was never going to be easy.

This year’s Championships differed from the usual format seen in Endurance events of late with linear sections and a remote Vet Gate providing a logistical challenge for both crews and officials alike. Loop 1 followed the course of the Danube River north, skirting around the Slovakian capital Bratislava and, 40km from the start line, arriving at the first vet gate, nestled at the foot of the Little Carpathian Mountains.

Spain looked strong at this stage with all of their athletes within the top 10. Frances and Visser, along with three Hungarian competitors, were all within five minutes of leading rider Jordi Arboix Santacreu (ESP) aboard the 10-year-old bay gelding Aquiles.

The second loop was the toughest loop of all and climbed from 125 metres up to 550 metres and then descended back to the same vet gate, all within 33km. The difficulty of this section saw the leading speed of just under 23kph drop to 17.7kph. Visser (NED) took a 30-second lead over second-placed Frances (FRA) followed by the entire Spanish team, all of whom were less than three minutes behind the leading horse.

A surprising exit at Vet Gate 2 for Laurent Mosti (FRA) and Reve de Sauveterre meant France could only afford to lose one more team member if they were to hold on to a chance of a team medal. Belgium’s chances were severely hampered here when both Morgane Boulanger and Peter Bastijns failed to qualify for the third loop.

From the remote Vet Gate, athletes retraced their steps along the 40km stretch of the River Danube and back to the Samorin Elements Resort. Top 10 placings remained pretty much unchanged over loops three and four, but the race for team placings were dashed for Belgium, Poland, Norway and Hungary following the high drop out rate at Vet Gate 3.

Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP) and the chestnut mare Ajayeb snatched the lead at the final Vet Gate and headed out on the last 20km loop with just three seconds to spare over Visser (NED). The pair were neck and neck throughout the final phase and a thrilling sprint finish saw Punti Dachs (ESP) take the top spot at an average speed of 22.58kph. Visser (NED) and the stunning 11-year-old grey mare Laiza de Jalima were just a second adrift and had to settle for silver once again.

Despite making up over a minute on the final loop, Alex Luque Moral (ESP) and Calandria PH finished outside the individual medals just two seconds behind bronze medallist Jean Philippe Frances with Secret de Mon Coeur. This means that Frances continues his perfect record and has completed every FEI event he has started.

Former World Champion Maria Alvarez Ponton (ESP) crossed the line aboard Selif de la Nie some 20 minutes later to secure team gold for Spain, but the Spanish weren’t finished yet and, just to really stamp their dominance on the competition, sixth place also went to a Spanish athlete, Javier Cervera Sanchez-Arnedo with his striking 13-year-old gelding Strawblade.

A total team time of 22:42:28, some 52 minutes slower than Spain, was enough for France to take silver, with Nina Lissarrague riding Keeshan D’Aillas and Enora Boulenger with Guarfao de Bozouls finishing 8th and 11th respectively.

As well as individual silver and team bronze with a total team time of 23:54:31, the Netherlands also went home with a 100% completion rate – the very first time this has been achieved in an Endurance Championship. Italy and host nation Slovakia were the only other nations to successfully complete with a team result.

With a starting field of 62 combinations and 37 finishers for a completion rate of just under 60%, the 2015 European Championships was a great example of excellent sportsmanship and team performance.

With team podium finishes at the last three Championships, and reigning current World and European Champions, Spain are looking like a formidable force and are surely tipped for great things at the 2016 World Championships.

“The Championships were a great success, held in a magnificent venue that delivered really great sport” FEI Director of Endurance Manuel Bandeira de Mello commented. “Congratulations to everyone involved, but particularly to all the medallists and all those that completed the Championships.”


Final Results

Team

Gold - Spain – 21:50:59

Jaume Punti Dachs/Ajayeb – 07:05:13/22.58kph

Alex Luque Moral/Calandria PH – 07:13:33/22.14kph

Maria Alvarez Ponton/Selif de la Nie – 07:32:13/20.11kph

(Javier Cervera Sanchez-Arnedo/Strawblade – 07:37:07*)



Silver - France – 22:42:28

Jean Philippe Frances/Secret de Mon Coeur – 07:13:31/22.14kph

Nina Lissarrague/Keeshan D’Aillas – 07:41:03/20.82kph

Enora Boulenger/Guarfao de Bozouls – 07:47:54/20.52kph



Bronze - Netherlands – 23:54:31

Marijke Visser/Laiza de Jalima - 07:05:14/22.58kph

Carmen Römer/Siglavy Bagdady Zeusz – 08:24:38/19.02kph

Melisa Huijsman/Kain – 08:24:39/19.02kph

(Iris van der Horst/Benthe – 08:36:46/18.58kph*)

(Jarmila Lakeman/Okkie – 08:44:16/18.31kph*)



* Scores not included within team score as only the top three are used for the total time



Individual

Gold - Jaume Punti Dachs/Ajayeb (ESP) – 07:05:13/22.58kph

Silver - Marijke Visser/Laiza de Jalima (NED) - 07:05:14/22.58kph

Bronze - Jean Philippe Frances/Secret de Mon Coeur – 07:13:31/22.14kph



Full results

http://www.endurance-timing.net/index.php

Mongolia: Crossing the Finish Line

Horse-canada.com - Full Story

Desk to Derby | August 31, 2015

It’s been over two weeks since I crossed the Mongol Derby finish line and I’m just beginning to understand what happened to me.

Twenty-eight Mongolian horses and 1,000 kilometres later I’m a much different person from the timid amateur rider who crossed the start line on August 5th. The extreme experiences I’ve had over this last month make my six weeks training in Utah feel like a dream – like overheard anecdotes from a stranger’s life.

The real Mongol Derby journey began after a bumpy four-hour bus ride out of Ulaanbaatar and two days of training out on the steppe, when we finally reached start camp. Day 1 of the Derby was a brilliantly sunny day, with few clouds in the sky. The sweet grassy smell of the open plains was almost overwhelming, choking out even the musky odour of our Mongolian bridles made of goat hide.

I think I was fifth or sixth in line to get my mount and the herders threw me up on a frisky little chestnut and we milled about for almost an hour before all 36 riders were up and organized. We clustered about the flags at the start and Mongol Derby chief Katy Willings began counting down from 10. It was only in the 10 seconds before the race began I truly began to feel calm, knowing I’d prepared as best I could. In those final 10 seconds another emotion began to build – real excitement about the adventure I was about to embark on...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/desk-to-derby/crossing-the-finish-line/

Jaume Punti Dachs wins 2015 European Championship

September 13 2015

Spain's Jaume Punti Dachs repeated his win in the 2013 European Endurance Championship by winning the 2015 FEI CEI**** 160-km European Championship held in Slovakia over the weekend of September 11-13. Riding the 14-year-old Ajayeb this year, the pair crossed the finish line in a time of 7:05.13, by just one second over the Netherlands' Marijke Visser, riding Laiza de Jalima. France's Jean Philippe France (another former European Endurance Champion) finished third aboard Secret De Mon Coeur in 7:13.31, just nipping 4th place Alex Luque Moral of Spain aboard Calandria PH by two seconds. Spain's Maria Ponton, yet another former European Champion, finished 5th riding Selif De La Nie.

Best Condition went to Jean Philippe Frances and Secret de Mon Coeur.

Spain won the Team Championship, in a combined time of 21:50.59. France took the silver in 22:42.28, and the Netherlands got the bronze, in 23:54.31.

37 riders out of 65 starters completed the course.

For complete results, see
http://www.eech2015slovakia.eu/

Great Britain: Celebrity ambassadors welcome launch of Dartmoor Derby

Westernmorningnews.co.uk - Full Article

By Western Morning News | Posted: September 11, 2015

Westcountry horse riders seeking a unique challenge are being offered the opportunity to take part in a new multi-day riding experience, with an exclusive pilot event later this month.

The Dartmoor Derby has been created and organised by the team behind existing top adventure riding business Liberty Trails, in partnership with The Riding Club London.

Covering a distance of 100km across Dartmoor in Devon, the ride is open to competent riders from around the world and will take in wide stretches of open moorland, forests, ancient stone circles and some of the Westcountry’s finest views.

Riders will be expected to maintain a reasonable pace to complete the ride within daylight hours, but it is not necessary for either horse or rider to have endurance riding experience. The aim is to complete the ride with your horse in first-class condition and having had a brilliant time...

Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Celebrity-ambassadors-welcome-launch-Dartmoor/story-27779927-detail/story.html#ixzz3lXC7RTb1

UAE to stage three major endurance rides in Italy

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

September events to form part of the Italian Endurance Festival at Verona

Published: 19:19 September 11, 2015
Staff Report

Abu Dhabi: The HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival will stage a series of endurance rides including the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO Cup for teams in Verona, Italy, later this month.

Details of the events, which will take place under the directives of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, were revealed at a press conference during the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) 2015.

The rides, which will be part of the Italian Endurance Festival, comprise the FEI World Championship for Young Horses (Under 7 years) on September 26 and the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance CEIO and the HH Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival Cup rides on September 27.

Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Shaikh Mansour Festival, confirmed that in 2016 the Festival will join hands with the sport’s governing bodies in France and Portugal to stage the same events in Negrespelisse, France, and Portugal during April and September respectively...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/uae-to-stage-three-major-endurance-rides-in-italy-1.1582540

2018 WEG: Bromont Bail

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Blogs Straight-Up | September 4, 2015

Have you heard the not-so-breaking news about Paul Côté resigning as CEO of Bromont 2018? Probably not, as the announcement wasn’t exactly sung from the rooftops. I considered adding the word ‘out’ to the title of today’s post, but the suggestion that something is being rescued would give very much the wrong signal. Côté has washed his hands of Bromont and returned to the world of mass transit. If I were a palm reading type, what I would read between the lines here is that he saw an opportunity to get out while the getting’s good – and took it.

It would not be at all accurate to say that Côté jumped off a sinking ship, either, since that cliché suggests the ship was not only floating but had moved somewhere under its own power from the dock. If there is anything remarkable about the year since Bromont ‘won’ its bid for WEG 2018 (kind of like I once ‘won’ first place in a dressage class with only one entry and I exceeded the 59% minimum score to get the first place ribbon and coffee mug), it’s that so very little has happened. Three years out from D-day, two years out from when test events would be run, and we’ve heard next to zilch about the enormous infrastructure improvements that were promised in Bromont’s bid book. And now the one man who might have been able to make the show go on has walked off the set...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/straight-up/bromont-bail/

2015 Shahzada Won by Gadsby and Lengronne

September 10 2015

65 horses and riders, including 4 Juniors, started the 36th annual 400-km, 5-day Shahzada endurance marathon in St Albans, New South Wales, Australia, that began on Monday, August 24. The ultimate test of endurance horsemanship, riders must complete all 5 days and be judged fit to continue at the end to earn a coveted Shahzada buckle.

Heavyweight Matthew Gadsby and Ra Silver Dancer, and Middleweight Marion Lengronne and Kalkadoon Vienna had the fastest finish time of 34:08 over the five days. First Lightweight was Curtis Kaliana and Blake's Heaven Carousel in a total time of 37.13. Isabel Foster, riding Sharabel Kalarney, was the only Junior to finish the ride and earn a buckle. 26 horses and riders completed the 5 days.

For more information, results, and photos, see
http://www.shahzada400.com/

Bahrain Endurance: Dana enters Elite Club

GDOnline.com - Full Article

9 September 2015

Dana Al Binghadeer Al Dossary has entered the World Elite Club following her fourth place finish in Virton Endurance Championship in Belgium.

Dana is the first female Arabian rider to attain such an international accomplishment in equestrian sports in addition to qualifying for the World Youth Endurance Championship to be held in Chile...

Read more here:
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/22631/Endurance-Dana-enters-Elite-Club

UAE Controversy: Simply Shameless

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | September 1, 2015

Lots of people have asked me why I didn’t launch into print the day the FEI lifted its suspension of the UAE. Well, the short answer was that it was a suspension, not a ban, and was always going to happen at some point. After all, the only way the UAE can prove they can behave themselves in FEI rides is by taking part in FEI rides.

The other factor was that I was so completely turned-off the subject by the cringe-worthy “welcome back” afforded to the UAE on social media from countries one rashly hoped were the decent practitioners of endurance. Most of the posters genuflecting and squealing “we’ve missed you” were youngsters who don’t maybe yet know better, or folk who make their living selling horses to the UAE. But still – yuck.

Even though some memories are short, happily today we have another jolt about the utter shamelessness of senior figures in UAE endurance community and their acolytes. Thirty horses (yes, 30) have just been disqualified from February’s President’s Cup as a result of falsified qualifications.

The FEI said all along it would excise the faked results from its database. It has now commenced this plus the marathon task of adjusting the results of real races where multiple participants were not qualified to start.

The UAE has certainly been given enough rope to hang itself by the FEI, in the conditions set for its return to competition. Bearing in mind this most outrageous piece of fakery, out of so much other fakery, occurred in January and February this year when the UAE was already on notice from the FEI that it was in very serious trouble indeed, is it likely to have undergone a collective personality transplant in a matter of months?

The horses disqualified from the President’s Cup come from 13 stables variously owned by the ruling Maktoum and Nayhan families. They represent 20 per cent of the President’s Cup starters. They include the runner-up, Kalifa, ridden by Suhail Al Ghailani. Hadeer, the ride of world champion Sheikh Hamdan, was not qualified for this or his previous two races with other riders...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/simply-shameless/

Great Britain: Mary King welcomes launch of 100km Dartmoor Derby

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Rachael Hook
5 September, 2015

Devon eventer Mary King is “excited” about a new 100km trail ride across Dartmoor.

The Dartmoor Derby, taking place next September, is inspired by the Mongol Derby, but will be less gruelling.

It will take in open moorland, gorse, forests and ancient stone circles.

Riders can take their own horses or ride borrowed mounts on the three- to five-day ride.

“We’ve had guests from all over the world riding with us and the feedback we’ve had is that Dartmoor is fantastic,” Elaine Prior of organisers Liberty Trails told H&H.

“There are vast areas that can only be seen if you are a keen rider.”

While the ride is long-distance — participants will cover at least 100km in total — it is not a race and combinations do not need endurance experience.

A pilot event over 80km will take place later this month (24-28 September) before next year’s full ride, with 15 places open to the public...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/mary-king-welcomes-launch-of-100km-dartmoor-derby-508635#Q345SpG4ivILEuGl.99

Former FEI Endurance Committee head suspended over UAE race controversy

The FEI has provisionally suspended a veterinarian who once chaired its Endurance Committee for allegedly failing to follow the rules and his purported involvement in several events in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in which duplicate results were submitted.

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said the suspension of Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, who heads the Veterinary Department at the UAE Equestrian Federation, was for an indefinite period.

Read more ...

Local equestrian sees team effort in endurance race as 'absolute honor'

NEW RINGGOLD — The bond between a local girl and her horse led a team to victory Aug. 21 at the Federation Equestre Internationale North American Endurance Team Challenge in Ontario, Canada.

“It was an absolute honor to qualify. I wasn’t expecting it. The athletic power of my horse is just incredible,” Emily Stemmler, 21, of New Ringgold, said Tuesday.

The 75-mile race through the Ganaraska Canadian Forest involved riding four phases of color-coded trails through various terrain with gaits varying from walk, trot and cantor to gallop.

“It was a more technical trail, but I’m used to riding trails around here with hills,” Stemmler said. “Faveur is extremely good at cantering up and down these hills, so it was exciting to go past people. The sheer athletic ability of my horse is incredible.”

Stemmler rode Faveur, a 9-year-old Asgard Arabian gelding, through the finish line in seventh place, combined with the scores of her two teammates, Meg Sleeper, Virginia, who placed first, and Katherine Gardener, Rhode Island, who finished eighth. The race began at 6:30 a.m. and all had to complete the race before 7:30 p.m. to avoid team disqualification.

Seven riders represented the northeastern region of the country in the race, but participants came from as far as California, Ireland, Israel and Romania.

“It was really cool. You encounter people from California, Texas and Alberta, Canada, and you all have the same passion of horses and riding,” Stemmler said. “Endurance is a little different in the sense that everyone is out to finish first and then after that is the competition. Everybody is looking out for each other riding through.”

Each phase of the race was separated by mandatory holds, or rest periods.

“It’s just something that the horse has to do on their own. Faveur did amazing with it,” Stemmler said.

A crew was assigned to each rider to get the horses heart rate below 64 beats per minute as quickly as possible. Horses were checked by an official veterinarian before the horse and rider could continue.

Stemmler has completed a couple 50-mile rides and three 75-mile rides before, so she and Faveur were prepared.

Horses and riders needed to complete five rides through American Endurance Ride Conference, National Federation for Endurance, then complete a 50-mile FEI ride to be eligible to ride at the 75-mile FEI level at NAETC.

FEI is an elite branch of endurance that is internationally recognized and has its own specific regulations and registrations for both horse and rider.

The scariest part of the race was at the starting gate for Stemmler.

“The starting gate is where it’s most nerve wracking. Forty-two horses go out at a trot and sometimes a gallop,” Stemmler said.

Hills proved most difficult for the horses, but Faveur was used to them.

“The toughest part was hills for horses,” Stemmler said. “The trail was mostly all forested with flat ground and hills so there was a lot of up-and-down movement. Compared to terrain around here, I wouldn’t consider it as hard. The hills here are more rocky. This was more sandy.”

Stemmler has been riding Faveur for three years.

“I love this horse. I absolutely love him, he is incredible,” Stemmler said. “I’ve done all but two endurance rides on him. He’s a very independent horse.

“He takes care of me when I ride. If something is wrong with me he just knows and he’ll turn around. He trusts me because he knows I’m taking care of him, too. I never have to worry about him taking off on me.”

Faveur is not an affectionate horse when first confronted, Stemmler said.

“It definitely took time to build up, but after you go that many miles it kind of just develops,” she said.

Faveur, owned by Holly Corcoran, was bred for endurance races.

“He was already trained before I started riding him. From birth, he was bread for endurance and given the best possible advantage,” Stemmler said.

... full article, Republican Herald

FEI database being updated in wake of so-called “phantom races”

Changes are under way to the FEI database as the fallout from the so-called phantom endurance races in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues.

The UAE national federation was provisionally suspended last March following an investigation by the FEI into what it called major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with the rules in endurance.

Around the same time, evidence emerged of UAE endurance races for which blocks of results in the FEI database appeared to mirror those of earlier races. This issue was unrelated to the suspension.

Read More ...

Endurance in young rider’s blood as she takes on overseas competition

Long haul: Alex Toft, pictured with Magnum and her dog Perry Winkle, has been riding since age two. Picture: Sue Crockett

THERE’S never been any doubt that Alexandra Toft, 20, would take up endurance riding.

Her parents, Penny and Peter, run a successful endurance horse stable at Marburg in Queensland and compete internationally.

Toft has been riding since she was two and completed her first endurance event at seven.

She is just back in Australia after competing at San Rosorre, Pisa, Italy, in a 120km FEI two star young riders event.

She finished in a very creditable sixth place on the Toft’s home-bred mare, Dream Dancer TE.

There were 17 riders from Italy and Europe, five riders from the Middle East including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, with one Australian in a field of 24 horses.

The race was won by a United Arab Emirates entrant at 22km per hour.

The first four places went to the Emirates, fifth to France and sixth to Toft.

Toft has represented Australia on four occasions at two World Youth Endurance Championships, receiving a team bronze medal in Abu Dhabi in 2011.

She also competed at the World Equestrian Games endurance test event in Sartilly, France, in 2013.

Her mount in the San Rosorre ride, Dream Dancer TE, has been stabled in France for three years and is trained by Jean Michel Grimal.

It was the first competitive race for the 11-year-old mare, who finished strongly at an average of 20.3km per hour.

“Dream Dancer TE was fresh at the end in a gallop finishing with the first of many local Italian riders,” Toft said.

“I was very excited with the ride and proud of my horse — she pulled up amazingly.

“It was a great experience riding among the world’s best.

“This was an important race in Dream Dancer’s career and will set her up for future competitions, she is a pleasure to ride and I am confident she will be a champion.”

Other events contested over the weekend included an FEI two-star 120km event and an FEI three-star 160km event.

Full article at The Weekly Times

30 horses disqualified as FEI begins clean-up of ‘phantom’ endurance rides

Thirty horses, the majority trained in 13 stables owned by the ruling Maktoum and Nayhan families, have been disqualified from the UAE’s most onerous endurance race, the 160km President’s Cup, as the clean-up of the “phantom” rides begins.

The FEI has commenced the marathon task of deleting 15 faked rides from its database, and adjusting results of real races whose participants were not qualified to start.

The 30 horses represent 20% of the President’s Cup starters. They include the runner-up, Kalifa, ridden by Suhail Al Ghailani. Hadeer, the ride of world champion Sheikh Hamdan, was not qualified for this or his previous two races with other riders.

Read more ...