Tough new local rules designed to reform UAE endurance

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
29 November, 2015

A member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family aims to reform UAE endurance with tough new local rules.

FEI rules still apply, but at the Bou Thib venue of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, prizes will only be awarded to combinations meeting new best condition-orientated criteria. These include a GPS-controlled maximum speed of 20kph, 10-minute vetting time, 50-minute compulsory hold, hypersensitivity tests to discourage nerve-blocking, and a bid to reduce “mobile crewing” by limiting following cars to one per five horses and providing official crew points every kilometre...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/tough-news-rules-reform-uae-desert-endurance-518775#wxr8tUvbM55Dxx6f.99

Bahrain: Nasser bin Hamad awards endurance race winners

BNA.bh - Full Article

28/11/2015

Manama, Nov.28 (BNA): HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee and Honorary President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) on Saturday crowned the winners of opening 120km, 80km qualifying endurance race at Bahrain International Endurance Village.

The event was attended by HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Athletic Federation and Captain of Al Khalidya Stables...

Read more here:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/698510

Abu Dhabi: Milena partners Moreno to victory

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

November 29, 2015

Last year Moreno carried Argentina's Catalina to victory in this race and this year it was another Argentinean lady Milena Mendez who won a thrilling 100-km ride spread over four stages.

Moreno, an 11-year-old bay stallion from Al Reef Stables won the 100-km Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup for the second year in a row at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Last year Moreno carried Argentina's Catalina to victory in this race and this year it was another Argentinean lady Milena Mendez who won a thrilling 100-km ride spread over four stages.

Earlier in the morning 95 lady riders started in the race which was held under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The UAE's Mariam Jasim Al Ansaari on Horr Ibn Jahir was second with Kamila Anita Kart on Othentik Du Fausset third. Argentina's Maria Julia Sciaroni on Sugarsop De Sallaz and the UAE's Sara Mohammed Al Jaber on Highland View Dolly finished fourth and fifth and all five top riders were awarded a 4WD car each...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/horse-racing/milena-partners-moreno-to-victory

Spanish Chef d'equipe Ignasi Casas Appointed to FEI Endurance Committee

November 15, 2015

Ignasi Casas, Chef d'Equipe for the Spanish endurance team, was appointed to the FEI Endurance Committee, replacing outgoing member John Robertson of Great Britain, for a term of 4 years (2015-2019).

He joins the other new appointee, Rocio Echeverri of Costa Rica, who replaces Brian Dunn of Ireland.

The appointments took place at the FEI Bureau meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.

Riding ‘Mongol Derby,’ The Longest Horse Race On The Planet

Gearjunkie.com - Full Article

November 25, 2015
By: Erik Cooper

Horses are the ‘vehicle’ of choice in the wilds of Mongolia, where an adventure event each year draws competitors from around the globe. Our correspondent was there to take part in the action.

Riders from a dozen countries converge upon Mongolia to test their skills and luck in the Guinness Book of World Records’ recognized longest horse race on the planet — The Mongol Derby.

Organized by The Adventurists, riders in the event race atop the semi-wild horses of the steppe for 1,000km through the Mongolian wilderness.

They are only allowed 11lbs of essential survival kit — no changes of clothing and no back-ups in case something breaks. For navigation, riders are armed with a GPS device and crude intuition to guide them.

World’s Longest Horse Race

In its 6th year, the Mongol Derby is a multi-horse race taking influence from Genghis Khan’s legendary postal route. The system relied on a vast network of horse stations manned by the nomadic herding families of the steppe.

Throughout the 10-day race, riders live with these same herding families and race in the hoof prints of those ancient messengers.

The Mongolian families are the heart of the race; they open their homes and condition their horses for the Western riders.

Riders race 13.5 hours a day, and they switch horses in pony-express-fashion, sometimes four times a day. It’s really an ultimate test, both mentally and physically, that pushes riders to the absolute limit!

I was one of these scrappy, questionably-sane competitors in 2012, and this year I was offered the opportunity to return to the steppe and experience the race as a crew member, heading the Bloodwagon — essentially scraping broken riders off the dirt and performing search and rescues...

Read more here:
https://gearjunkie.com/mongol-derby-mongolia-horse-race-adventurists/

UAE: Sheikh’s world endurance champs helmet sells for $US6.5m

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | 26 November 2015

The helmet worn by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to win the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championships has sold at a charity auction in Dubai for $US6.5 million ($NZ9.95m).

The helmet which sold for AED24.05m was among several equestrian items at the auction to benefit the Al Jalila Foundation, which raised a total of 89.8 million dirhams, or $US24.5 million ($NZ37.2m)...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/11/26/sheikh-world-endurance-champs-helmet-us6m/#ixzz3sc4aITYu

Great Britain: From Racing to Endurance

Endurancegb.co.uk - Full Story

Beths Choice (14yo) owned and ridden by Lynn Harvey from Dorset was named as RoR Elite Endurance Champion 2015. Trained by Milton Bradley Beths Choice ran a total of 15 races on the flat and over jumps winning one race in his career before retiring.

Lynn, who has worked in racing yards for most of her life and now works for Harry Fry, is ‘hooked’ on endurance, said; “Over the past 5 years Harry has surpassed anything I could have dreamt of and he shows just what former racehorses are capable of. He has completed four 80km and five 60 plus km rides, winning two of the 80km rides. We have often been out over varied terrain, ground conditions and in appalling weather but this makes it all so worthwhile...”

Read more here:
http://endurancegb.co.uk/main/news#2015112401

Great Britain: The Long Trot - John o' Groats to Land's End!

Endurancegb.co.uk

The Long Trot by Grant Nicolle

13 November 2015

After eight years, I have just completed a book on my 2007 trip from John O’Groats to Lands’s End with horse Marv. This is the story, told in mostly diary format, of that adventure, in the hope that others may undertake similar travels.

My main riding experience was gained when I served as a Captain in the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, a ceremonial mounted unit of the Army, then based in St John’s Wood London.

After my time in the Army I moved to Edinburgh and in 2005 began work as a project manager in the construction industry. It was a time of transition in my personal life and career and I frequently reminisced about the exciting challenges experienced whilst in the Army. I still hankered after adventure and conceived the idea of a long distance journey in the UK by horse, trying to recreate the mostly forgotten experience of long distance travel pre 20th century. With my affinity with horses, passion for exploring new places and skills in logistical planning, I thought I had relevant skills to undertake the challenge of traversing the length of Britain with a horse.

With the decision to complete the trip made, I was lucky to obtain a 3 month sabbatical from work, as I was prepared to forgo my employment to complete the journey. Marv (a 16hh Clydesdale cross) was bought from a farm in East Lothian in the January and soon thereafter commenced the fitness training and logistical planning required. We set off from John O’Groats on the last day of April, as this was when it is thought to be warm enough to be able to travel without rugs for Marv but also early enough in the year to escape the dreaded midge when traversing the Highlands.

Keeping away from the main roads we explored the fascinating byways, tracks and minor roads through rural Scotland and England with me often sleeping in the same field as Marv. The generosity and genuine welcome received in every village we visited was uplifting. My Scottish highlights included: having to construct a makeshift enclosure next to a remote bothy in Sutherland; traversing stunning and remote Strath Vaich; the high level crossing of the Corrieyairack Pass from Fort Augustus to Laggan and cantering along a grassy former Roman Road (Dere Street) just south of Jedburgh deep into the Cheviots towards the border with England.

When passing through the industrial north of England, we utilised the canal towpaths where possible and also the newly created Pennine bridlepath. Later on, it was with good fortune that we managed to stay just ahead of the terrible flooding which hit the south of England that year, only needing to divert from their planned route once near Evesham.

We averaged no more than 20 miles a day with at least every Sunday taken as a day off. I rode Marv daily for a limited time in trot and canter (if the ground was suitable), also frequently dismounting and walking with Marv for longer periods each day. The rationale behind this was, riding Marv in walk would have been no faster, and by walking, the daily pressure on Marv’s back was substantially reduced. Marv would therefore be more likely to remain healthy for the duration and a sound Marv was paramount to the success of the trip.

Although the trip was not originally planned to be undertaken for charity, we did manage to raise £10,000, split between the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) and Cancer Research UK. Many donations were from people we met on the road.

This adventure was a great opportunity to test and combine my military endurance experience, navigational and equestrian training whilst also seeing parts of the country that so often get missed. With no back up or replacement horse, we arrived exactly on the planned completion date at Land’s End, some 1100 miles and just over 11 weeks later. I had purposefully planned a slightly longer route rather than a more direct one to ensure I could share the trip with friends and family.

Long Trot is available on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Trot-Grant-Nicolle-ebook/dp/B011OA5GWG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1448207147&sr=8-2&keywords=the+long+trot

FEI General Assembly Concludes with Approval of Endurance Rule Modifications

14 November 2015

The FEI General Assembly concluded in Puerto Rico on November 14, 2015.

During the annual meeting, member National Federations voted on a wide range of topics.

For Endurance, the General Assembly heard an update on the application of the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) recommendations, the majority of which have been implemented. Endurance Committee Chair Brian Sheahan gave a report to delegates, detailing additional key recommendations that are being implemented.

These recommendations include:

• Key Performance Indicators consisting of the number of NFs organising Endurance events; number of CEIs; number of registered horses and athletes; number of starters; the relationship between metabolic issues and lameness; horse fatalities; number of horses leaving competition per year; number of doping cases; and promotion of officials.

• A lifetime ban for a horse that suffers a fifth consecutive disqualification for gait irregularity
at FEI and national events

• An increase to 80 penalty points (from 50) for an athlete whose horse suffers a catastrophic injury

• Ranking lists, including additional ranking points for athletes with no penalty points

• Online publication of progress reports

• Coaching development programme

• Generating sponsorship

• Endurance Organisers Guide (to be ready in March 2016)

• Endurance FEI Coaching System (to commence in February/March 2016)

The General Assembly approved the modifications of the FEI Endurance Rules. The 9th edition, effective 1 January 2016, will be available on the FEI website here.

21 yellow cards issued in first weekend of UAE endurance season

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
12 November, 2015

Twenty-one yellow warning cards were handed out in a single weekend at the start of the UAE endurance season, as the crackdown on rule-breaking steps up.

Numerous violations were spotted on the livestream from the first major CEI/CEN at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on 22 October, in addition to many sanctioned on the day by the ground jury.

There was a completion rate of just 18% in the CEI 100Km (20 of 108 starters), no reduction in average speeds, instances of extra-long reins used as whips, and riders retiring just before vet-gates to avoid the penalty points and mandatory rest periods that follow disqualification for metabolics.

The UAE was suspended in March, reinstated only after signing a legal agreement. The FEI declined to comment how long the UAE has to improve standards before another suspension is considered...

Read more here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/uae-endurance-yellow-cards-516971

FEI announces adverse drug findings in two competition horses

The FEI has announced two new adverse findings in horses involving prohibited substances.

Samples taken at the CSIO2* in Tehran, Iran, late in September from the showjumping horse Sir de Diamant, ridden by Mohammad Davoud Shekofti, of Iran, were positive for the banned substance stanozolol and its metabolite, 16 beta hydroxy-stanozol. It is an anabolic steroid that promotes muscle mass.

The horse’s sample also tested positive for the controlled medication dexamethasone, a corticosteroid used to treat inflammatory and auto-immune conditions, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug flunixin.

Samples taken at the Young Horse Endurance Championships in Valeggio sul Minico, Italy, on September 26 from the horse Barbaforte Bosana, ridden by Camilla Malta, of Italy, have tested positive for the banned substance ergonovine, a vasoconstrictor.

Both athletes have been provisionally suspended from November 16 – the date of notification. The horses have been provisionally suspended for two months.

Read more at Horsetalk.co.nz

Uruguayan Endurance Rider's Long Road Back to Health

MSN.com - Video

November 10 2015

Uruguayan endurance rider Oriana Ricca had to overcome life-threatening illness to keep her equestrian dreams on track.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/endurance-riders-long-road-back-to-health/vp-CCccT0

Kelsey Russell Among Longines FEI Rising Star Award Nominees

FEIAwards.org

November 3 2015

Kelsey Russell (USA) Endurance, is one of 6 nominees for the Longines FEI Rising Star Award. This award goes to a person aged 14 to 21 who demonstrates outstanding sporting talent and commitment.

Kelsey won the 2015 North American Junior Young Rider Championship and the Best Condition award. She is currently top of the Young Riders World Endurance Rankings. Kelsey works very hard and trains the horses she competes. In 2014 she was the only young rider chosen by the United States Equestrian Federation to ride on the team at the FEI World Equestrian Games 2014.

A jury of international experts, including FEI President Ingmar De Vos, will select the winners, which will be announced at the FEI Awards Gala on 13 November in Puerto Rico.

The winners will be flown to the glittering gala evening, where over 350 guests representing the 133 National Equestrian Federations, enthusiasts and stakeholders from around the world will celebrate their achievements.

The FEI Awards were launched in 2009 to put a spotlight on the men, women, young people and organisations that are making an outstanding contribution to the progress and excellence of equestrian sport – in or out of the arena.

Apathy Society

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | November 9, 2015

I meant to tell you the Apathy Society cancelled its meeting due to lack of interest, but I couldn’t be bothered...

How many tens of thousands of man-hours have been expended thinking up new formats for the Olympics and WEG, only to end up not far from where we started?

In April, I spent four days travelling to Switzerland, sitting through the FEI sports forum debates on this huge topic, and writing it up for several publications. Multiply that by 270 other delegates, and that’s 1,350 days of collective effort, before you consider all the time put in by FEI executives, committees and stakeholder groups before and since.

Now, on the eve of the FEI General Assembly in Puerto Rico, the results of a further survey of all national federations (NFs) have been published, which by no means endorse the FEI’s Olympic format preferences. However, the FEI could easily argue that strongly articulated opposition to, say, separate contests in eventing for individuals and teams, is not the majority view.
This brings us to a truth that various movers and shakers sometime utter to me in private, but baulk from saying in public.
Only 47 (35%) of the 133 member NFs bothered to respond to the most important thing they will be asked about in the next four years, apart from re-electing a president. That’s 10 fewer than the nations represented at the April forum; just seven more than competed at London 2012; and 27 fewer than represented at WEG 2014. If you don’t have long-term international ambitions, why join a global federation?...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/apathy-society/#.VkDzJhHV-TM.facebook

Wild horses could not keep her away: north-west Qld trainer takes on gruelling race in Mongolia

ABC.net.au - Full Story

November 8 2015
By Zara Margolis and Kathleen Calderwood

A horse trainer and endurance rider from north-west Queensland is one of only 40 people in the world who has been chosen to take part in the Mongol Derby, the longest and toughest horse race in the world.

Competitors ride semi-wild horses 1,000km through the Mongolian Steppe, changing horses every 40km.

Originally hailing from a small country town in France, Camille Champagne moved to Australia seven years ago to work on a property in Queensland, and now lives on Summerville Station, north of Richmond.

The keen horsewoman said she was chosen for the ride because of her experience with horses and success in endurance races in Australia.

She has been competing in endurance races in Australia since 2008, but they are nothing compared to the Mongol Derby...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-09/north-west-qld-woman-chosen-compete-mongol-derby-horse-race/6911846

Endurance officials: The gait keepers of equine welfare

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | 9 November 2015

...Horses are nigh-on perfect. Powerful, fast, agile, perfectly balanced. And they’re tractable enough to allow us to climb on their backs and do our bidding for us.

We marvel at their sheer speed on the racetrack and admire their endurance when we ask them to compete over 100-mile distances.

The sport of endurance, at its pinnacle, is about the partnership between horse and rider. Yes, horses are pushed hard, but the rider is attuned to their mount and can sense its performance as surely as any race-car driver can monitor his engine with a myriad of gauges in front of him.

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/11/09/endurance-officials-gait-keepers-welfare/#ixzz3r0cQyC2G

Endurance bosses urge officials to stay vigilant over welfare

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | 7 November 2015

Endurance officials are being urged to be vigilant by two of the most senior figures in the discipline, who warn that serious welfare incidents had the potential to irreversibly harm the sport.

The chairman of the FEI’s Endurance Technical Committee, Brian Sheahan, and the FEI’s endurance director, Manuel Bandeira de Mello, in a letter to officials, said endurance had developed into a highly professional equestrian sport over the past decade...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/11/07/endurance-bosses-vigilant/#ixzz3qqauGAgo

Endurance Canada Awards now Open for Nominations

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

November 5 2015

Endurance Canada is pleased to announce that nominations are officially being accepted for the following awards:

Endurance Canada Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame Award is presented to a member of the Canadian endurance community in recognition of long-term commitment, active involvement, and outstanding contributions to Endurance Canada and the sport of endurance riding in Canada.

Ron Janzen Memorial Trophy

The Ron Janzen Memorial Trophy is given to the Endurance Canada member who best displays the same goals, vision and ethics as the late Ron Janzen. A superb athlete who dedicated much of his time to the sport of long distance riding in Canada and internationally, Janzen passed away on Jan. 6, 2008 at the age of 52, leaving behind his loving wife, Christine and children, Brett and Jaylene. Candidates nominated for the Ron Janzen Memorial Trophy should display some or all of the following qualities:

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/endurance-canada-awards-now-open-for-nominations/

FEI appoints Ralph Straus as Commercial Director & The Sports Consultancy

FEI.org

5 Nov 2015

The FEI has appointed The Sports Consultancy as its official global sponsorship sales agency up to and including the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Bromont/Montreal (CAN).

The Sports Consultancy, appointed after a competitive tender earlier this year, has a proven track record working with the FEI on a variety of commercial consultancy projects over the last seven years.

“With our partners Longines, Furusiyya, Reem Acra and Ariat International, the FEI has already proven the benefits of being associated with equestrian sport,” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos. “We still have a lot of high profile FEI events and assets for which we believe we can attract new partners. We are looking forward to working with The Sports Consultancy again, this time to develop our partnership programmes and to build relationships with premium brands who will greatly benefit from their involvement with the FEI and its wide-ranging portfolio.”

“We are delighted to have been appointed by such a prestigious international federation,” said Marc Hope, Director, Rights Marketing at The Sports Consultancy. “The high interest and participation of equestrian sport in major economies around the world, combined with its distinct positioning and demographic is incredibly appealing and we are extremely confident that our experience, use of data and understanding of the market will deliver significant results for the FEI and for the sport as a whole.”


New Commercial Director

In other commercial news, Ralph Straus (NED) has joined the FEI as Commercial Director. He takes up the post at FEI Headquarters in the Olympic capital of Lausanne (SUI) this week.

Straus was previously Vice President of Marketing and Communications in the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in the United Arab Emirates, with the primary role of developing the global marketing and communications strategy for the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.

Prior to taking up the Dubai role, Straus was Head of Strategy and Brand Management at FIFA for seven years, in charge of planning and executing the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup marketing campaigns, spearheading global licensing and brand development, and implementing all FIFA experiential marketing initiatives, including the FIFA Fan Fests.

He also oversaw the FIFA Interactive World Cup, an annual international competition of football video games recognised by the Guinness World Records Gamers Edition as the biggest global gaming tournament, collaborated with FIFA sponsors for global consumer engagement programs and developed social media strategies for FIFA event brands.

Straus has held several senior roles in the private sector, including at telecommunications company Swisscom and oil and gas company Royal Dutch Shell. He is also a regular speaker at conferences on sports marketing.

“The wealth of equestrian events, its rich history and the extensive global fan base presents compelling sponsor opportunities and provides fascinating content for broadcasters and digital platforms”, Straus said. “I am joining the FEI at a very exciting time and I am also keen to see how the changes in the digital landscape provide new opportunities to service the equestrian community and grow its fan base.”

“Ralph Straus’ extensive international marketing and commercial expertise in both the sport and private sectors will be massively beneficial to the FEI,” the FEI President said. “His leadership skills and experience in building up expert teams is crucial as we look to maximise our commercial goals into 2016 and beyond.”


About The Sports Consultancy www.thesportsconsultancy.com

The Sports Consultancy was founded in 2006 by Robert Datnow and Angus Buchanan, whose respective expertise in sports law and commercial rights management, has created a strategic sports marketing consultancy poised to provide commercial advice and delivery to venues, brands, rights holders and others involved in top-level sport. Marc Hope joined the business in 2015 to head up a newly created rights marketing practice which aims to combine an insight led approach to consulting with a proven sales record.

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI, the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was founded in 1921. The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining. The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para-Equestrian Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI governs all international competitions for Para-Equestrian Dressage and Para-Driving.

Bahrain: Endurance Season to start Saturday

BNA.bh

04/11/2015

Manama, Nov. 4 (BNA): HM the King's Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs also President of Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) cum Honourary President of Bahrain Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation (BREEF), His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has expressed optimism at the new season of endurance horseracing events.

The season is slated to open with the 80-km distance prequalification race on Saturday, November 7 from Bahrain's International Endurance Village.

His highness said this seasons will be unlike previous seasons in view of the strong competition and the high standard attained by Bahrain endurance thanks to the constant unlimited support from the Kingdom's Principal Knight His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, citing His Majesty's directives which constitute the biggest incentive to all cavaliers and stables.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad has expressed full confidence and trust in the abilities of cavaliers and stables to achieve spectacular positive results throughout the season.

FEI get-together: What’s going down in Puerto Rico – other than the daiquiris?

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | 3 November 2015

Puerto Rico, where national delegates are about to gather for this year’s FEI General Assembly, can lay claim to no fewer than five Miss Universe pageant winners. One imagines that the beautiful people of the FEI would fit in very nicely there.

Its capital, San Juan, oozes character, with its blue cobblestone streets, friendly inhabitants and copious quantities of the local delight, rum. And let’s not forget that this is the home of the beautiful Paso Fino horse.

So, in between downing rum-laden daiquiris, what can we expect from the movers and shakers of the equestrian world?

Here’s a few snippets to whet your appetite:

Endurance

What a year it has been. Negative headlines have abounded, almost exclusively centred on the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The country was provisionally suspended in March amid welfare concerns, but has since been welcomed back after agreeing to reforms...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/11/03/fei-general-assembly-puerto-rico-daiquiris/#ixzz3qRmNmYfM

UAE: Valentin powers Zenith to title win

En-maktoob.news.yahoo.com

Khaleej Times

Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, along with other Shaikhs and VIPs attended the ride.

Maeva Valentin of France steered Zenith Des Pins, a horse owned by Mubarak Al Arti, to victory in the Al Wathba Endurance Cup for Private Owners, a 100-km Endurance Ride held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs, along with other Shaikhs and VIPs attended the ride.

A total of 64 riders took part in the National Ride, sponsored by National Feed And Flour Production And Marketing Co. LLC, and the French rider took 3hrs 44 mins 51 secs to finish ahead of UAE riders Saeed Mohd Al Jaber on Highland View Dolly and Salem Hamad Al Kitbi on Mansoor...

Read more here:
https://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/valentin-powers-zenith-title-win-064306502.html

New Forest horserider Iain Hayter, 62, completed the Mongol Derby despite breaking his back in five places

Dailyecho.co.uk - Full Article

Christopher Yandell / Sunday 1 November 2015

HE WAS just three days into a two-week endurance ride when he broke his back in five places.

But 62-year-old Iain Hayter was unaware of how serious his injuries were and unwittingly risked paralysis by climbing back into the saddle and completing the 1,000-kilometre challenge.

Iain, who has won the annual New Forest point-to-point three times, was the oldest competitor in this year’s Mongol Derby.

The gruelling event involved 37 riders from 14 countries who rode semi-wild horses along a route based on a relay postal system created under Genghis Khan in 1224.

Iain, of Sway, said he was given a slow animal for one leg of the race and swapped it for a faster one.

“It dropped its left shoulder and then went into a full gallop,” he said. “I was thrown off and that’s when I broke five vertebrae...”

Read more here:
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/13928980.62_year_old_completes_1_000km_endurance_ride___despite_breaking_back_in_FIVE_places/?ref=rss