Endurance Great Britain introduces welfare seminar series

January 30 2018 

Endurance GB, the National Governing Body for the sport of Endurance Riding, has announced the first two dates of its series of Horse Welfare Seminars it will host this winter.
 
Taking place on Saturday 3rd February at the Woodside Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, the first seminar will be hosted as part of the International seminar by the International Committee. The event, which will take place from 9am – 5pm, will feature talks from key industry figures on the issue of horse welfare in endurance. The seminar will feature talks from the following speakers and cover the following subject matter:
 
·         Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare - Welfare of the Competing Horse
·         Prof. Tim Parkin from Glasgow University – Endurance Injuries study
·         Henry Bullen, Peden Bloodstock  - Travelling your horse
·         Dr Sophie Ignarski, Boehringer Ingelheim - Muscle Development
·         Dr Mark Caldwell, FWCF - Endurance Farriery
·         Ian Williams – Former FEI Endurance Director - FEI Endurance

On Saturday 3rd March, 9am – 5:30pm, the second seminar will be hosted by the Welfare Committee at the British Racing School Conference Centre in Newmarket, Suffolk. It will focus on Use Not Abuse of the performance horse and will feature the following guest speakers and talks:
 
·         Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare - an insight into the Use not Abuse of performance horses and the global Visibility of horses
·         Dr Annamaria Nagy, Animal Health Trust - Lameness in Endurance Horses 
·         Prof. Tim Parkin from Glasgow University - Work to predict and minimise Risk in Endurance Worldwide
·         Lee Clark, Functional Physiotherapy - The importance of Saddle and Rider balance 
·         Dr David Marlin, Scientific and Equine Consultant - Training, Competition and Career Strategy
·         Tom Eaton-Evans MRCVS (Newmarket Equine Hospital) - Inside the Treatment
·         Dr Annamaria Nagy, Animal Health Trust - Q&A session on The Purpose of the Vetgate

Both seminars will end with an open Q&A with Endurance GB guest speakers.
 
Nicki Thorne, Chair of Endurance GB, said: “Our focus for Endurance GB is centred around our commitment to the positive promotion and growth of the sport, which horse welfare is absolutely an imperative part of. Through our Horse Welfare seminars, we will draw upon key issues and provide attendees with vital education to ensure the safeguarding of our sport.
 
“Horse welfare is a fundamental pillar in terms of our strategy, focus and plans for EGB and as the newly appointed Chair I hope to bring a fresh, new approach in making positive changes for the benefit of our Membership, our sport and of course for horse welfare.”
 
Spaces for each event are limited, so please book your ticket in advance to avoid disappointment. For further information or to book your ticket, visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.

For more information, please contact GUNG HO Communications:
Pippa Routledge         pippa@gunghoco.com           +44 121 6046366
Paul Phedon               paul@gunghoco.com             +44 121 6046366
 

New Zealand Championship series gets underway at Taupo National Equestrian Centre

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

26 January 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Daryl Owen

Taupo National Equestrian Centre. Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 January 2018. A select but strong field started this season’s 160km event at the ESNZ North Island Championships in Taupo.

The starting line-up suggested the probable leaders, and this was indeed the case for the first part of the event. Georgia Smith and Glenmore Vixen led strongly from the start, with Alison Higgins, Sian Reid and Amanda McConachy not far behind. As day dawned the temperature climbed, the humidity reaching 85% at one point. The field thinned out as the hard ground took its toll in gait irregularities.

As expected Georgia Smith was first across the finish line but unfortunately went out lame at the last vet check. All eyes were on the remaining three riders. Deirdre Bartlett and Craig Royston Zaria, in their first 160km, took the win in 13:28:05, and were also awarded Best Conditioned...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/new-zealand-championship-series-gets-underway-taupo-national-equestrian-centre/

India: Marwari horses to prove their mettle this weekend

Timesofindia - Full Article

Shiladitya Pandit | TNN | Updated: Jan 25, 2018

PUNE: For a while now, Mumbai-based property consultant Ajay Shah has been spending nearly half the week at his stable in Lonavla to look after his horses. On January 26, he will be taking part in The Marwari Horse Endurance Championship, an equestrian sport, all for his passion for riding.

"I attend to my five horses in Lonavla at least thrice a week. Horses and equestrian sports are my passion. I have been riding since 1972 and the Endurance Championship is just an extension of that passion. Riding has helped me keep fit because of the concentration and balancing skills that go into it," the 67-year-old remarked.
Besides, he is participating "not for the prize", but for the thrill. "I am one of the oldest participants. So I am happy to have qualified and I will compete on the 20km course," said Shah...

Read more here:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/marwari-horses-to-prove-their-mettle-this-weekend/articleshow/62641429.cms

Spanish Endurance Rider Takes on Desert Races That Are 100 Miles Long

WideOpenPets.com - More

January 22 2018
Posted by Paige Cerulli

When most people go horseback riding, they head out for about an hour, but for Uma Mencia Uranga, a one-hour ride is nothing.
Uma, a professional endurance rider, grew up in northern Spain before moving to Dubai at age 18. She’s now lived in Dubai for 10 years and loves that she can spend time in the city before quickly heading out into the desert for a ride...

Read more and see video here:
http://www.wideopenpets.com/endurance-rider-takes-desert-races-100-miles-long/

Is It Too Easy to Become an 'International?'

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | January 19, 2018

Scores of evolving equestrian nations belong to the FEI. There are over 130 member countries, at least half without the remotest chance of ever sending a rider to the Olympic Games.

There are altruistic reasons for the FEI to oversee the expansion of horse sport globally, even in countries that are geographically horse-unfriendly. A country with a budding equestrian program is better off inside the FEI, which will provide guidance, support and expertise, than trying to do its own thing.

In those terms, I hope the FEI’s new collaboration with China has a supervisory motive as well as a promotional one, in the light of what has happened to desert endurance. The Middle East was another enormous land-mass with a newly found, whopping disposable income enabling it to develop its own abusive sporting aberration, one now proving impossible to rein-in...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/easy-become-international/

Team spirit” and “new policy for selections”…the right way for the bronze medal at the 2017 European Championship

Sportendurance-evo.com - Full Article

7 January 2018
sportendurance@gmail.com

By Leonard Liesens, coach of the Swedish team

Another big goal to me was to create a real ‘team spirit’ Obviously the Team Bronze was like the ‘icing on the cake’ for the Team Sweden.

It was not my goal to go for a medal at the European. I started my duty as the coach of Sweden only in April.

I wanted to review the whole elite system. Like in any situation, a first study of the existing situation was mandatory to me. I was already able to pick a list of rider/horse combinations which could pretend to a better speed on the distance of 160 km. But these amazons – almost all endurance riders in Sweden are females – didn’t really believe in their ability to perform better and faster.

A first gathering with the riders, followed by a couple of clinics in the spring were organized. Some changes were introduced in the training program, in the management of the horses, and so on. Also a major change was brought to the selection system: no minimum speed – except the 14 km/h FEI threshold which was required to enter the long list.

All in all, we were able to reach a total of 15 horse/rider combinations qualified on 160 km. While only 5 were qualified at the start of the season. So the new policy was working...

Read more here:
http://www.sportendurance-evo.com/team-spirit-and-new-policy-for-selections-the-right-way-for-the-bronze-medal/

Australian Endurance Riders Long Listed for WEG 2018

Equestrian.org.au

Equestrian Australia (EA) is pleased to announce its long list of Endurance riders for the FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Tryon this September.

The list of riders is as follows:

Brook Sample
Christine Stomps
Jodie Salinas
Naomi O'Shaughnessy
Penny Toft
Rebecca Pinder
Stella Harbison
Tahlia Franke

Penny Toft and Brook Sample are no strangers to this list and there are some new names that feature on this occasion. Whilst Rebecca Pinder and Jodie Salinas competed at the World Championships last year, they are WEG contenders for the first time. Other WEG long list debutants are Christina Stomps, Naomi O’Shaughnessy, Stella Harbison and Tahlia Franke.

We congratulate all riders on their selection and wish them the best of luck with their preparations over the coming months.

Discover more about the Tryon 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games on our dedicated website http://www.equestrian.org.au/weg2018

Volunteers Needed for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

Tryon2018.com

By: WEG Admin
Jan 16, 2018

Volunteer inquiries are currently being accepted for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). Expected to be the largest event in North America in 2018, the Games will be held at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on September 11-September 23, 2018 in Tryon, N.C.

Currently, the WEG Volunteer Management Program is in the “Scope Phase” and receiving inquiries from prospective WEG volunteers. People interested in volunteering can fill out an inquiry form online at Tryon.com.

Submitting an online inquiry is the first in a sequence of steps required to complete a volunteer application. The additional steps can be found in the online WEG Volunteer Portal that will be launched in March. This scheduled launch will begin the “Recruitment Phase.” Volunteers who have submitted an inquiry through the existing online form will receive a link to the Volunteer Portal to begin an application. Volunteers will create a login and password, answer security and ability questions, purchase the uniform package, and sign a liability waiver.

Beginning in April 2018, volunteers selected for service will be notified of their assignment(s), during the “Selection Phase.” May 1 is the deadline for all volunteers to complete applications through the online Volunteer Portal. “Orientation” and “Pilot Training Phases” will occur June through September.

Anyone who has previously filled out the online inquiry form on the Tryon 2018 website does not need to resubmit the form to receive an invitation to the online Volunteer Portal. Interested parties who have not yet submitted an inquiry form may do so, here: https://tryon2018.com/page/volunteer-inquiry-form#top

Housing Update:

Local accommodations may be booked online at: https://tryon2018.com/page/lodging-request

The WEG Volunteer Management Committee is also pleased to announce a community hosting initiative for WEG volunteers. Volunteers may request complimentary housing through the online Volunteer Portal. Hosting families will be located regionally within proximity of TIEC. If you are a homeowner and would like more information on how to host a WEG volunteer, please contact volunteerhousing@tryonweg.com.


Click here to learn more about the WEG Volunteer Program.

For the most updated WEG information, please sign up for the newsletter online at www.tryon2018.com or follow @Tryon2018 on social media.

For even more info, see:
https://tryon2018.com/article/volunteers-needed-for-fei-world-equestrian-games-tryon-2018

Endurance GB sets out commitment to welfare

January 16 2018

Endurance GB, the National Governing Body for the sport of Endurance Riding, has set out its agenda for 2018 which defines its commitment to the positive promotion of the sport, in particular ensuring horse welfare.
 
Under the new elected Chair of Endurance GB, Nicki Thorne, the organisation has detailed its plans to lead from the front to change attitudes in regard to welfare. Endurance GB is introducing a number of initiatives to address these changes proactively, and has called on the FEI for dialogue on this vision and values which has been received positively.
 
Included in the strategy is Endurance GB’s plans to continue developing initiatives such as the Leading Rider Award and the Best Condition Award with ride organisers.  This includes HPG Endurance Ltd, organisers of the Euston Park rides where HPG Endurance Ltd and Endurance GB are working closely together to implement a number of additional measures in 2018 including increased on course veterinary presence and other innovations agreed with the FEI.
 
Central to implementing change within the sport is to ensure that Endurance GB members uphold its values on horse welfare, which has led to the development of ‘British values for British riders’ which will provide a foundation of agreement between British riders abroad and Endurance GB, to ensure standards and welfare meet requirements at all times.
 
Endurance GB will also continue to conduct regular research with its own national database to further their training and development plans, which will be furthered with the recent appointment of Dr David Marlin, a Scientific and Equine Consultant.
 
Nicki Thorne, Chair of Endurance GB, said: “Welfare is at the heart of our sport and a fundamental pillar for all of our activities. Safeguarding the future of Endurance in this country is pivotal for all of us and we hold horse welfare in the highest regard. We are justly proud of our excellent welfare record within the UK and we wish to reiterate Endurance GB’s firm commitment as a leader in welfare practices, with research, innovation and development driven from the UK.”
 
New for 2018, Endurance GB will be hosting a series of Horse Welfare seminars, kicking off in February 2018 with a talk on Welfare of the Competing Horse from Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare, and a presentation from Prof. Tim Parkin from Glasgow University. For more information visit endurancegb.co.uk.
ENDS
 
For more information contact GUNG HO Communications on 0121 6046366
Paul Phedon              Paul@gunghoco.com
Pippa Routledge       Pippa@gunghoco.com

FEI provisionally suspends five riders after horses test positive for banned substances

Insidethegames.biz - Full Article

By Liam Morgan Friday, 12 January 2018

Five riders have been provisionally suspended by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) after their respective horses tested positive for banned substances.

The Indian trio of Sarvesh Singh Pal, Apurva Dabhade and Raj Kumar, along with Argentina's Daiana Chopita and Waad Nadim Bou Moghlbay of the United Arab Emirates, have all been given provisional bans by the worldwide governing body.

Chopita has been sanctioned for two separate breaches of the FEI's anti-doping rules.

A sample provided by Chopita's horse J C Cahuel returned a positive test for trometamol at an endurance competition in Abu Dhabi on November 9.

Another horse ridden by Chopita, HLP Gadafi, tested positive for the substance at an event in the same city the following month, held on December 23.

Moghlbay's horse, JLB Noche, also failed for trometamol in Abu Dhabi...

Read more here:
https://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/1060054/fei-provisionally-suspends-five-riders-after-horses-test-positive-for-banned-substances

Catch Rider's UAE Trip Ends in Double Dope Test Shock

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

January 12, 2018
by: Pippa Cuckson

The risks of accepting “catch rides” in Middle Eastern endurance was highlighted again this week by revelations that two of the horses lent to Argentina’s Daiana Chopita during her first winter season in Abu Dhabi turned out to be doped.

Borrowed rides JC Cahuel and HLP Gadafi tested positive to banned diuretic Trometamol after both placing third under Chopita in their respective FEI rides on December 9th and December 23rd. The two race rides, both at Abu Dhabi’s premier venue Al Wathba, were only Chopita’s second and third ever CEI starts in the UAE. She had ridden neither horse in FEI competition before.

The 23-year-old is now provisionally suspended, pending a FEI Tribunal hearing. Two other top placed horses in the same rides ridden by Emirati jockeys also tested positive – JLB Noche to Trometamol and Crazy Antar to controlled and specified substances Theophylline, Caffeine and Paraxanthine...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/catch-rider-uae-double-dope-test/

US calls for action on continued deaths at endurance events

WeeklyTimesNow.com.au - Full Article

FRAN CLELAND, The Weekly Times
January 9, 2018 5:00am

THE US Equestrian Federation has protested what it says is the continued abuse of horses owned by endurance stables in Group VII nations after more deaths in competitions.

In a strongly worded letter to the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI), the official sporting body said sanctions and rule changes were not having sufficient effect after more than eight equine fatalities at the Dubai and Al Wathba venues in the first five weeks of this season due to catastrophic injury. They follow a dozen similar deaths at these same venues the previous seasons...

Read more here:
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/horses/us-calls-for-action-on-continued-deaths-at-endurance-events/news-story/44d4c932890757737f720b23deb1dc82

UAE: Teenager Al Mazrouei steals show in the 11th edition of HH Shaikh Mohammad Endurance Cup

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Emerges victorious in the 11th edition of HH Shaikh Mohammad Endurance Cup

Dubai: Teenager Saif Al Mazrouei stole the thunder in the 11th edition of HH Shaikh Mohammad Endurance Cup on Saturday. Al Mazrouei, aboard Nopoli Del Ma, emerged victorious in the CEI 3* 160-km event, presented by Longines, at the purpose-built Dubai International Endurance City.

The HH Shaikh Mohammad Endurance Cup headlines the four-day HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup Festival, which opened on December 28 and concluded on Saturday.

“This was a very important race for me to win, because it is named after His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and we are so proud to have won this race. My horse Nopoli Del Ma is a champion horse, and this is definitely the biggest win of my career,” the 18-year-old rider said.

Al Mazrouei had first announced his talent to the world in 2015 when he won gold at the 120-km FEI World Endurance Championships for Young Horses in Valeggio Sul Mincio, Italy.
 Trained at MRM Stables, Al Mazrouei’s horse, 14-year-old Nopoli Del Ma, is the one that was ridden by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, when he won the 2015 edition of HH Shaikh Mohammad Endurance Cup.

Shaikh Hamdan also won the 2016 running of the prestigious competition, while last year Humaid Matar Rashid Al Mazrouei emerged victorious aboard Rajas.

The the 160-km ride on Saturday had 360 competitors starting the ride, from 44 countries...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/teenager-al-mazrouei-steals-show-in-the-11th-edition-of-hh-shaikh-mohammad-endurance-cup-1.2152671

Desert Endurance Could Jeopardize All Equestrian Sport, Says AERC

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

January 5, 2018
by: Pippa Cuckson

Fears that a welfare scandal at the 2018 Tryon World Equestrian Games will taint all equestrian sport are highlighted in a strong letter to the US Equestrian Federation from the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC.)

AERC president Paul Latiolais cited his members’ “outrage and protest” about the continued abuse of horses in the FEI Group VII (Middle East) and hinted this could soon attract the attention of the animal rights lobby.

The letter was posted in full on AERC’s Facebook page in the wake of the current desert racing season’s attrition rate, and the UAE’s failure to acknowledge measures repeatedly put in place since 2013 to clean up sport in their region...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/desert-endurance-jeopardize-equestrian-sport/

UAE: Endurance Cup takes pride of place in Dubai

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Strength-sapping race takes place on Saturday

January 5, 2018 Gulf News
Staff Report

Dubai: The much-awaited HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup presented by Longines takes place on Saturday, to celebrate the remarkable contribution and support of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for endurance riding and equestrian sport at large.
The 160km race takes place at Dubai Equestrian Club, Meydan...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/endurance-cup-takes-pride-of-place-in-dubai-1.2152116

UAE: Al Tayer Motors Marks 7th Association With Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares

Albawaba.com - Full Article

January 4th, 2018 - 12:32 GMT
Press Release

Al Tayer Motors and Land Rover provided Range Rovers to the first six winners in Dec 30 race

Al Tayer Motors, the UAE’s official Land Rover importer-dealer, began its association with the Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares in 2012 and the December 2017 staging marks the company’s seventh sponsorship of the event.

The Gamilati Endurance Cup for Mares, being held as part of the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival, seeks to recognise and honour the best rider and mare combination in endurance racing. The sport requires the rider and horse to work in perfect harmony as a combination. They must manage pace to complete long distances in the shortest riding time while passing stringent veterinary examinations to ensure that the horse is in a good physical condition.

As one of the UAE’s leading automobile dealerships, Al Tayer Motors is committed to providing its customers with a world-class ownership experience from the time they step into its superb facilities. The award-winning after-sales service team ensures that customers are well looked after and their vehicles cared for in the best possible way to ensure a long and mutually beneficial relationship...

Read more here:
https://www.albawaba.com/business/pr/al-tayer-motors-marks-7th-association-gamilati-endurance-cup-mares-1069242

UAE: Record entries at HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Festival

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

2 January 2018
by Admin

Dubai International Endurance Village, Dubai, UAE. Thursday 28, Friday 29 and Saturday 30 December 2017. More than 800 combinations took part in the first week of the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Festival.

For a lot of riders from the UAE and abroad, the HH Sh. Mohmmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup – CEI3* 160km, scheduled on Saturday 6 January, is the highlight of the season.

Traditionally the build up to this race are a series of races and for this season nothing different besides the fact that the lead up with three races were held the week ahead of the main event.

First part of the trilogy was the HH Sh. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Festival – Ride for Private Stables CEN 100km, scheduled on Thursday 28 December...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/record-entries-hh-sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-festival/