Great Britain: Royal Winner at Royal Windsor Endurance

Photo credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show
Endurance-world.com - Full Article

Info@endurance-world.com
31st May 2018

Royal Windsor Horse Show, The Great Park, Windsor, Berkshire, Great Britain. Friday 11 May 2018. Royal Windsor Endurance, kindly supported by the Kingdom of Bahrain, provided another memorable day of sport, and Bahrain itself celebrated a win in the CEI2* with HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa riding Vipper De Luriecq coming in first in a time of 05:04:48.

Portugal took top honours in the CEI1*; Rui Pereira rode a sublime three laps on Bloodie Mary finishing in 03:33:13. Twenty British horses completed the 40km GER.

HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa said: “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to ride in Windsor Great Park and to be able to shake hands with her Majesty the Queen. What a pleasure…. not only to win, but to come here, and raise my flag and perform. I’ve now won three out of six races here so I’m at 50%!”...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/royal-winner-at-royal-windsor-endurance/

Inside story from Heather Reynolds participating in the WEG 2018 test event

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

Info@endurance-world.com
29th May 2018

Tryon International Equestrian Center, Tryon, North Carolina, United States of America. Saturday 28 April 2018. Heather Reynolds was one of the riders participating in the WEG 2018 test event. Here’s her story.

The Test event for this year’s WEG was held at Tryon Equestrian Center in North Carolina. My husband and I had a big undertaking to prepare and manage 8 horses through this event. We made the 10-hour drive on Wednesday before the ride. It was an uneventful trip, the best kind.

When we arrived at the venue we had all 8 of the horses’ paperwork inspected as well as having their microchips and passport inspections. The stabling was absolutely beautiful. The stalls were a nice size and everything was clean and in working order.

At this event my husband Jeremy and I were both riding as well as leasing out six other horses. Originally, we were both crewing but a little less than three weeks before the event the OC allowed for more riders and our federation extended both of us invitations. With this new arrangement we had two more horses and two less crew. In the end we had 13 crew members, and they were the best.

After getting the horses settled we took a look around. Tyron is an amazing venue. There are so many arenas and shops, including a well-stocked tack store. The restaurants were really good as well. We had the luxury of having the place to our own discipline, I am not sure we will be able to eat at the venue restaurants come WEG as I can imagine the crowds making this venue very full...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/inside-story-from-heather-reynolds-participating-in-the-weg-2018-test-event/

Austraila: The Mudgee Ray Gooley Memorial Ride took place on May 12-13

Mudgeeguardian.com.au - Full Article

May 13 2018

It was a cold start to the Mudgee Endurance ride this year as entrants were honouring Ray Gooley across the two-day event on May 12-13.

On the Saturday, 32 riders set off gamely for a 20km event, while eight riders took part in the 10km ride half an hour later.

The weather improved for the Sunday morning ride which was 80km and featured 76 entrants with 11 juniors.

A pair of riders crossed the finish line at the same time as heavyweight John Robertson (riding Karabil) and middleweight Ellie Maddick (riding Prince Emani) clock times of four hours 19 minutes...

Read more here:
https://www.mudgeeguardian.com.au/story/5437992/endurance-riders-honour-ray-gooley/?cs=1863

Great Britain: Annie Joppe’s endurance blog: what is wrong with people?

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Annie Joppe
10:55 - 30 May, 2018

Chiara is now on a three-week break whereby she enjoys her time in the field with regular grooming and pampering in the form of massages and physio.

One serious issue came to light at Windsor which was that neither her numnah nor her girth was doing her any favours with rubs in strategic places. This is not as easily rectified as it might seem; everything will now have to be checked, the saddle refitted, new numnahs (pure orthopaedic wool, of course) and establishing why her very expensive girth rubs and what the solution would be. She is so fine skinned that perfection is really the only option and these issues only show up after she has covered a considerable distance...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/annie-joppes-endurance-blog-wrong-people-654423#k8fT9YrB8mDdvEVw.99

WEG 2018 Tryon organisers look back after test event

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

Info@endurance-world.com
23rd May 2018

Tryon International Equestrian Center, Tryon, North Carolina, United States of America. Saturday 28 April 2018. Riders from the United Arab Emirates swept the podium at the 120km CEI2* competition and FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018 Endurance Test Event held at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC).

The event served as the official test event ahead of the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, which will be held from 11 till 23 September 2018.
The endurance race which will be run over 160km is scheduled on Tuesday 11 September.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, aboard 9-year-old Upedro, won the event over the region’s diverse terrain in a time of 74:21:44, followed closely behind by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum taking second, Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum finishing in third, and Abdulla Ghanim Al Marri securing fourth place...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/weg-2018-tryon-organisers-look-back-after-test-event/

ENDURANCE: Victory for Irish Tom MacGuinness in Spain

TheIrishField.ie - Full Article

By Irish Field Contributor on 21 May 2018

AN outstanding performance from Irish endurance rider Tom MacGuinness saw him win his first ever international endurance race at the weekend, after he led from start to finish to take victory in the CEI2* 120kms race at Olot in Catalunya, Spain.

MacGuinness (66), Ireland’s top-ranked endurance athlete, is founder and CEO of Irish company Horseware Ireland which employs over 172 people in Dundalk, 47 staff at Kinston in North Carolina, and 514 people in their factories in China and Cambodia.

Having previously enjoyed success in eventing, show jumping and polo, MacGuinness took up the demanding sport of endurance racing in 2013, aged 60 and has since recorded impressive results at venues all over the globe...

Read more here:
https://www.theirishfield.ie/endurance-victory-for-tom-macguinness-in-spain-373365/

Estonian riders dominant in Kõrvemaa Endurance Ride 2018

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

18 May 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Merike Udrik

Kõrvemaa, Estonia. Saturday 12 May 2018. The international Kõrvemaa Endurance Ride also included the Estonian endurance junior championship. The title went to Lilian Schönberg on Fix, the winners of CEI1* were Kaisa Keerd and Nella.

In the Kõrvemaa competition participants from both Estonia and Finland put themselves to test in the beautiful and varied nature reserve.

According to organizer Katrin Liiv the trails were made with a view to next year’s competition where they plan to host the Nordic Endurance Championships...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/estonian-riders-dominant-in-korvemaa-endurance-ride-2018/

María Álvarez crowned new Spanish Champion in Tordera

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

Info@endurance-world.com
12th May 2018

Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona. Friday 20 and Saturday 21 April 2018. The Meydan Raid of Tordera SportHG was held in the Barcelona town Tordera.

Endurance World Tordera. The winner.The event consisted of 4 races of different distances, where more than 150 combinations of 15 different nationalities participated. The great attraction of the weekend was for sure, the celebration of the Spanish Raid Championship, which crowned María Álvarez as the best Spanish rider of 2018.

In the days leading to the event, the Raid promised great expectation due to the high number of registered riders. A Meydan sponsored event, which attracted the attention of dozens of international riders, especially from France. Nevertheless, the Spanish were the big winners of the weekend, which made the Raid de Tordera become one of the best European Endurance events.

On Friday, short tests were held. Carlos Pacheco won the CEI* 85km with Guda, beating Alex Luque and Elshir in the final sprint, while Julia Montagne with Saprina de Bozouls finished third.

The junior category CEIYJ** 123km was dominated by Jana Oms with her Valkiry la Coudrelle, and was accompanied on the podium by Juma’s Team mate Bruna Pujols with SW Duo (3rd) and Júlia Serrabassa with For Trampes (2nd). The Juma’s Team comfortably dominated the CEI** 123km. Former world champion María Álvarez entered first with Shagya Endurance, Alejandra Dachs with Elfie Salvert was second and Omar Blanco with Aiglon de la Crois came third.

On Saturday, all eyes focused on the 27 combinations participating in the CEI*** 160km...

Read more and see photos here:
http://endurance-world.com/maria-alvarez-crowned-new-spanish-champion-in-tordera/

Bahrain Royal Endurance team achievement hailed

BNA.bh - Full Article

18 May 2018

Manama, May 18 (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, Captain of Bahrain Royal Endurance Team hailed the tremendous performances showcased by Bahrain Royal Endurance Team in France, where they participated in a major international endurance horse race.

The event included a 160km course, and the Bahrainis dominated the top places, clinching second, third, fourth and fifth positions thanks to the instructions and constant follow-up by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa...

Read more here:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/841716

New Zealand: Philip Graham: Endurance rider ready to go the distance

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

May 18, 2018
by Robin Marshall

Any thoughts of easing gently into retirement have completely bypassed North Canterbury’s Philip Graham, who at the age of 63 is preparing to take his horse to the USA to compete in a hundred-mile endurance competition.

Philip and his horse, Sefton-bred Rosewood Bashir, are one of just two Kiwi combinations selected to represent New Zealand at September’s World Equestrian Games in North Carolina. The other is Jenny Champion from Masterton, riding the 20-year-old Barack Obama.

Endurance is a sport where riders are in it for the long haul, both on the day and in training. Riding 160km in a single day is no easy task, but the best in the sport can do it in well under a dozen hours.

And Philip, from Glentui, shows no signs of slowing down just yet: “We won’t be running this race and coming home to retire,” he said...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2018/05/18/philip-graham-endurance-rider-distance/

Australia: 10-year-old completes his first 80km endurance ride in 8.5 hours

TheCourier.com.au - Full Article

Ben Freeburn, 10, completed his first 80km endurance ride in 8.5 hours and he's keen to saddle up again as the Colbrook Challenge comes to town

May 18 2018
by Michelle Smith

When you saddle your horse and head off on an 80km endurance ride before dawn, you quickly realise you’re not the only thing moving through the forest as your head lamp picks up the reflective eyes of all the other creatures active in the dark.

Some might find it creepy but 10-year-old Blakeville rider Ben Freeburn finds it calming.

The Ballarat Grammar pupil recently completed his first 80km endurance ride in 8.5 hours, including a five minute nap while his horse Teddy continued on the course.

To qualify for the 80km distance, Ben and Teddy had completed two 40km rides earlier in the year...

Read more here:
https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/5409502/eight-hours-in-the-saddle/?cs=62

Northern Ireland: An evening to entertain, educate and enjoy with Sally Toye

Farmweek.com - Full Story

By Bree Rutledge -May 16, 2018

MOST people don’t associate endurance riding with a bundle of laughs – an evening spent in the company of Sally Toye on Wednesday, May 23 will soon put that right!

Sally is an experienced endurance rider (and was a commercial airline pilot in a past life), who has successfully competed in some of the longest, toughest and most spectacular endurance rides in the world – including our very own St. Patrick’s Coast Ride. She has an inexhaustible fund of funny (and sometimes hair-raising) stories of her exploits on the trail and the struggles experienced in her training regime – come and hear about nights spent on the open Steppe with a half wild pony in the 1,000km Mongolian Derby or negotiating No Hands Bridge in the dark on an unknown mount in the Tevis Cup or learning how to fall safely from a rearing horse!...

Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/an-evening-to-entertain-educate-and-enjoy/

New Zealand: Horse Racing: Trudi tackles Mongol Derby

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

16 May 2018
By: Janine Baalbergen

Levin grandmother of four Trudi Thomas-Morton has been in the grip of adventure for a while now.

She loves horse riding and has been a long distance and an endurance rider both on horses and camels, but her latest venture is truly epic. She plans to ride the 1000km Mongol Derby in August.

That is no mean feat. Travelling from station to station, changing horses each time, with rider and horse undergoing check-ups at each station, each leg of the journey is 40km long and is travelled at speed...

Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/racing/news/article.cfm?c_id=53&objectid=12052415

Great Britain: Annie Joppe’s endurance blog: the sky is the limit

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Annie Joppe
10:55 - 15 May, 2018

My life over the past couple of weeks seems to have consisted to a large degree of packing and unpacking the trailer and Jeep and cleaning mountains and mountains of kit. My washing machine (and the husband!) has been complaining loudly as yet another heap of grubby horsey kit has been rammed in and the door jammed shut. All the labour, careful planning and intense action however paid off. What a good couple of weeks we have had.

First up was Fantom with a graded ride of 42km aiming to up his fitness levels. This was another ride in beautiful Dorset situated just below the Cerne Giant etched into the hillside. I thought the previous ride we went to in Dorset was hilly, but this one was even hillier and to add to that, it was a hot day for so early in the season, and of course we weren’t used to seeing much sun at all.

We had pretty much cracked the packing for this ride and managed to arrive with all the essentials for an overnight stay for both humans and horses. The ride itself went absolutely perfectly with Fantom maintaining a good speed quite effortlessly and finishing with a pulse of 40bpm...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/annie-joppes-endurance-blog-sky-limit-652897#oDBAwV5AHY9pSUtv.99

American Eventers to Contest 2018 Mongol Derby

Devan Horn in the 2015 Mongol Derby. Photo by Richard Dunwoody/Mongol Derby
Eventingnation.com - Full Article

By Leslie Wylie on May 15, 2018

Eventers have historically fared pretty well in the Mongol Derby, not because we know the first thing about endurance riding but because as a lot we’re generally tough, scrappy and just psychotic enough to think we can pull it off. Lucinda Green’s niece, Lara Prior-Palmer, won the race in 2013, and several more have found their way to the finish line over the years including (by the skin of my teeth) yours truly.

The 10th annual race, a sort of 1,000-kilometer Hunger Games on horseback, takes place Aug. 5-18 somewhere in Mongolia and will be contested by 45 riders from 13 countries. North America is sending its biggest ever contingent — a whopping 13 riders from the U.S. and two from Canada — and once again there will be a few eventers in the mix.

Let’s break down the American field!...

Read more here:
http://eventingnation.com/american-eventers-to-contest-2018-mongol-derby/

New Zealand: WEG Endurance Representatives Announced

NZEquestrian.org.nz

By Diana Dobson

Equestrian Sports New Zealand has announced the first of its team to compete at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in the United States later this year.

Endurance combinations Jenny Champion (Masterton) aboard Barack Obama and Philip Graham (Oxford) on Rosewood Bashir will wear the silver fern at the event which is being held in Mill Spring, North Carolina at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre.

Graham, a beef and cattle farmer from Canterbury, rode at the 2006 WEG and is chuffed to have once again made the team. “It is marvellous,” says the 63-year-old. “It is not as if we haven’t been trying between now and 12 years ago but it is all about the horses falling into place and doing the right thing at the right time.”

Champion is on début and is also very excited. “It is so special to be named,” said the 53-year-old who will compete aboard Barack Obama who at 20 will possibly be the oldest horse in the field.

Both Champion and Graham say one of the biggest challenges will be preparing their horses through the New Zealand winter.

“Barack will be as fit as he has ever been in preparation for the ride of his life,” says Champion. “We will be chasing the best we have ever done.”

She trains on a neighbouring farm that is near ideal. “It is nice rolling country with good contours and is great underfoot,” she says.

Both will need to raise around $80,000 for the Games if they want to bring their horses home with them, but that cost has Champion and Barack’s owner Mark Round considering leaving him in the US. “It will be just terrible to leave him behind but what do you do?”

Graham plans to bring his 15-year-old horse home. He bought the horse as a foal from breeder Helen Chambers and Rosewood Bashir holds a special place in the hearts of him and his wife Helen Bray. His bloodlines trace back to the stallion Sky Hawk who Bray imported from England many years ago and Rosewood Bashir’s dam was out of a mare she bred in the 1980s.

New Zealand expects to also have representatives in showjumping, dressage and eventing.

The Games are held every four years and are expected to attract around 500,000 people over the two-weeks. The eight core equestrian disciplines of showjumping, dressage, para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining will all be represented at the Games. The 2014 WEG attracted 984 athletes with 1234 horses, from 74 nations and was covered by 1900 accredited media from 52 countries.

The horse details:
Rosewood Bashir owned by Philip Graham
Barack Obama owned by Mark Round

Great Britain: Royal Winner at Royal Windsor Endurance

Everythinghorseuk.co.uk

May 11 2018

Royal Windsor Endurance, kindly supported by The Kingdom of Bahrain provided another memorable day of sport. Bahrain itself celebrated a win in the CEI2* with HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, riding Vipper De Luriecq coming in first in a time of 05:04:48.

Portugal took top honours in the CEI1*; Rui Pereira rode a sublime three laps on Bloodie Mary finishing in 03:33:13. Twenty British horses completed the 40Km GER.

HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa said: “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to ride in Windsor Great Park today and to be able to shake hands with her Majesty the Queen. What a pleasure! Aside from winning, to come here and raise my flag and perform. I’ve now won three out of six races here so I’m at 50%!”

This was the sixth Royal Windsor Endurance event, and for the second year running a CEI1* 80Km and a national 40Km graded endurance ride ran alongside the regular CEI2* 120Km. A record 125 horses from 18 nations set off in near perfect conditions to take on the challenging tracks of Windsor Great Park, and the FEI classes started with a dash along the iconic home straight of Ascot Racecourse.

Great British riders were out in force today, and 68 were entered across the three classes. One notable success was Carri Ann Dark from Wiltshire, who finished a brilliant third in the CEI1* on former Team GB Gelding, HS Drift.

“I came because I love riding here at Windsor and I had absolutely no expectation of doing so well. He led for a while on the second loop but always presents slowly and we set out for the final loop on our own and I hardly saw anyone out there. I was glancing at the statues around the Park (and I’d even filmed us riding through Ascot Racecourse first thing!) I am absolutely delighted with our result and can’t believe I’m going to be in the Castle Arena at Royal Windsor Horse Show tomorrow for the presentation!” said Dark...

Read more at:
http://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/royal-winner-at-royal-windsor-endurance/

Equestrian election fever: FEI President stands unopposed for re-election and over 50 athletes target eight sport posts

Inside.FEI.org

8 May 2018

Ingmar De Vos, who was elected as President of equestrian sport’s global governing body, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in 2014, is the sole candidate for this year’s Presidential election, which takes place at the FEI General Assembly in Bahrain’s capital Manama on 20 November.

A total of 52 athletes from 26 countries on five continents will also be standing for election as Athlete Representatives for the FEI’s eight Committees for the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Paralympic sport of Para-Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Reining and Vaulting.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to stand for re-election”, Ingmar De Vos said. “While I would have expected other candidates, I take the fact that I am unopposed as recognition of all the important work that has been done by the FEI over the last four years.

“This could not have been achieved without the wonderful team at FEI Headquarters under the leadership of our Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez, and the support of the National Federations and our community, for which I am extremely grateful.”

Shaping the future

Sabrina Ibáñez, who initiated the sports-specific Athlete Representative role four years ago in her previous role as Director of Governance, highlighted the significance of the massive athlete turnout for the upcoming Athlete Representative elections:

“We have a record number of athletes wanting to play a role in helping to shape the future direction of equestrian sport, and these include Olympic and Paralympic medalists and current world champions.

“Equestrian sport is unique in the fact that our athletes have such long competitive careers, and many also want to give back to the sport and forge the right future for the next generations of athletes. These are voluntary positions for our athletes, who already spend every waking moment in this sport, so we fully appreciate just how strong a message this is sending to our global community.”

See which athletes are running as Athlete Representatives here.

More about FEI President & Athlete Elections

FEI President Ingmar de Vos, who was elected as an IOC Member in 2017, will stand unopposed following the expiry of the deadline for receipt of candidacies at midnight on 1 May 2018.

It is the first time since 2002 that there has been an uncontested election for the FEI’s top role. The FEI Presidential term is four years, with the possibility of re-election for up to three consecutive terms for a maximum term of 12 years in office.

The Athlete Representative online voting process will open on 29 July. Athletes over 18, who have competed in one of the last two senior FEI World Championships, Olympic Games or Paralympic Games can vote for an athlete in the same sport as themselves and have until the last day of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ (23 September) to do so.

To be eligible as a candidate, athletes must have a clean anti-doping record since April 2010 when the new FEI anti-doping system came into effect. The elected Athlete Representatives will be announced on 24 September.

The Athlete Representatives, who are members of their own discipline-specific Technical Committee, also form the Athletes Committee. The Chair of the Athletes Committee, who is nominated by the President, automatically takes a seat on the FEI Executive Board.

About 2018 wider elections

On 15 June, the FEI will announce here the remaining 16 positions that will be elected and appointed during the FEI General Assembly 2018. These will include Members of the FEI Bureau - which is responsible for the general direction of the FEI - FEI Group and Committee Chairs, and Standing Committee Members.

Notes to Editors

All applications for the positions voted on at the FEI General Assembly will be vetted by the FEI Nominations Committee on 7 June 2018.

In addition, an Independent Election Committee established under Article 36.1 of the FEI Statutes was approved by the FEI Bureau on 24 January 2018. The main duty of the IEC is to oversee the election process in 2018, preserve its integrity and avoid any potential conflict of interests.

Full information on the election process is here.

Endurance in Casablanca, Chile

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

8th May 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Andre Alvarez and Ivan Nunez Prado

Casablanca, El Cuadro, Region Valparaiso, Chile. Saturday 28 April. Internationally renowned for its vast wine production, the Casablanca Valley is nestled between the coastal mountain range and the Pacific Ocean in the valleys of central Chile.

Just 45 minutes from Santiago and Valparaíso, this fertile valley is characterized by a refined production of white wine and its Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc varieties.

The races, from 40 to 160 km, were carried out near the Perales dam, a natural source of water for the wildlife of the area and for our horses; a magical rural setting surrounded by vineyards and native trees such as Maiten (Maytenus magellanica), Quillay (Quillaja saponaria), Peumo (Cryptocarya alba) and Boldo (Peumus boldus)...

More story and photos here:
http://endurance-world.com/endurance-in-casablanca-chile/

New Zealand: Weber horse trek helps pave way to Mongol Derby adventure

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

10 May 2018

The hills of Kereru Farm will echo to the clip clop of many hooves this weekend, as a two-day horse trek takes in the sights of the area.

Alongside the trekkers will be Levin-based grandmother of four Trudi Thomas-Morton, who is in training to ride in the Mongol Derby - said to be the world's longest, toughest horse race - in August this year.

The trek - on the Hales family's Weber farm - is to raise funds for international charity Cool Earth . . . as part of the conditions of Trudi's Mongol Derby entry...

Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12048041

Australia: Missing horse rider, Narelle Davies found alive, along with horse, after four nights

Heraldsun.com.au - Full Story

CASSIE ZERVOS, Herald Sun
May 8, 2018

A WOMAN who went missing after she set out for a solo horse ride near Mount Buller on Saturday was today found safe and well.

Narelle Davies spent four nights lost in rugged, freezing conditions and was forced to use her horse’s blanket to keep warm as temperatures dipped below zero.

The experienced horse rider lived off minimal food, including muesli bars and other items in an emergency pack.

The 52-year-old was last seen on Saturday by fellow campers at a campsite on Howqua Track, Howqua Hills when she left for a horse ride.

Ms Davies was riding her horse, Depict, in the area — about 220km from Melbourne, near Mount Buller — when she failed to return to the campsite.

The alert was raised and local police, air wing and SES crews started their search.

At 8.30am, volunteers found Ms Davies, along with her horse, Depict, close to the camp site where they went missing.

Senior sergeant Damien Keegan said police were investigating whether Ms Davies had a fall and hit her head causing her to be disorientated...

Read more here:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/missing-horse-rider-narelle-davies-found-alive-along-with-horse-after-four-nights/news-story/3f0db3339e21024c52d3d206bd5892cb

Cheryl Van Deusen's Long Road to Glory

FEI.org - Full Article

4 May 2018
Text by Stacey Stearns
Images by Favio Lorenz

Cheryl Van Deusen and Hoover The Mover have a busy Endurance year in store...
This year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ may seem a long distance away, but it’s much further for some riders than others.

Endurance riders and their horses take on courses of up to 160km in one day, and they’ll be putting in the miles in the lead up to Tryon and during the North Carolina event in September itself.

One of the stars of the discipline is Cheryl Van Deusen, a professor at the University of North Florida who began in Endurance in 2000 after years competing Arabian show horses, and at 60 years of age, still going strong!

We spoke to Cheryl about this fascinating discipline and Hoover The Mover, one of the incredible horses that she partners with in these epic long-distance races...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/cheryl-van-deusen-endurance-profile

Australia: Search for horse rider missing for three nights in Victorian mountains

ABC.net.au - Full Article

May 8 2018

Concerns are growing for an accomplished horse endurance rider from Victorian who has been missing for three nights after setting off for a weekend of riding in the mountains around Howqua Hills, north-east of Melbourne.

Narelle Davies, 52, left home in Mansfield, about 200 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, on Saturday.

She had planned to camp overnight near her car and horse float, which were found at Tunnel Bend, an area where people often camp when they're riding in the mountains...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-08/woman-missing-three-nights-while-horse-riding-in-victorian-moun/9739738

Italy: Third Trofeo Bassa Padovana

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

6 May 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Valentina Raisa

Vighizzolo d’Este, Padua, Italy. 29 April 2018. During the Third Trofeo Bassa Padovana, the fresh and dynamic Soleada Endurance Team in Northern Italy, organised for the first time an FEI event, a CEI1* of 82.2 km, along three other categories on Sunday 29 April as well as pony classes on Saturday 28 April.

The weather conditions remained optimal during the whole day, sun covered and ventilated so as to guarantee the ideal temperature; and just a light drizzle during the awards ceremony.

The Trofeo Bassa Padovana event took place inside the sports complex and a car cross tracks of the small town of Vighizzolo d’Este, the race route was entirely flat and ran most of the 27km alongside the river.
More than 70 entries were on the starting line, 15 horses and riders in the CEI1* coming from all over Italy, Switzerland and Germany...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/third-trofeo-bassa-padovana/

Tryon International Equestrian Center Hosts Endurance Test Event in Preparation for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Department | May 4, 2018, 9:43 AM EST

Mill Spring, N.C. – Last weekend, the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC), host of the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018, welcomed top endurance riders from around the world as they hosted the WEG Test Event CEI2*, TIEC’s first-ever endurance ride. Nearly 75 horse-and-rider combinations contested the 120 kilometer distance, with 24 combinations completing the race.

Of the combinations that completed, four were Americans, including Heather Reynolds (Dunnellon, Fla.) and Dublin Hart’s 11-year-old Arabian mare RTR Rimfires Etta; Ellen Olson (La Motte, Iowa) and her seven-year-old Arabian gelding Noslos Tuff Enuff; Kelsey Russell (Williston, Fla.) and Wendy MacCoubrey and Valerie Kanavy’s eight-year-old Arabian gelding Fireman Gold; and Melody Blittersdorf (Morriston, Fla.) and her 18-year-old Arabian gelding Synthetic. Full results can be found here.

“The venue is wonderful and a lot of forethought has gone into the planning for our discipline,” said U.S. Endurance Team Chef d’Equipe Mark Dial. “We know aspects of the endurance portion [of WEG] will change between now and September, but we look forward to seeing those improvements. For being a new course, it is extremely doable, but the degree of difficulty will be affected by the weather and the footing.”

The sport of endurance, including the WEG Test Event CEI2*, focuses on ensuring that the equine athletes are sound, healthy, and able to compete following each of the four loops contested in the race. A vet check at the end of each loop ensures that the horse trots sound, his metabolic functions are responding properly to offered food and water, and close attention is paid to how quickly the horse’s heartbeat returns to normal. The U.S. Endurance Team applicants for WEG are conditioning and preparing their horses for the Games’s 160 kilometer race.

“Our horses are used to terrain that is similar to what we rode here at the test event,” said Dial. “We have been working with the WEG applicants to identify areas near them to train. The applicants will continue to train on similar terrain in an effort to prepare and condition their horses for WEG. We want to make sure that these horses are sound and properly prepared to compete come September – our goal is to finish as a team, with the welfare of these horses as a top priority.

“We are looking forward to the Games and being able to compete at home,” continues Dial. “Thank you to the organizing committee, the officials, Jan Stevens, Sue Phillips, and their team, as well as all of the volunteers for putting on a great test event!”

The final observation event for the U.S. Endurance Team applicants will take place during the Biltmore Challenge, May 3-6. Combinations will have the opportunity to attend Ft. Howes in Montana, June 8-11, through a waiver process, if additional qualification is needed. View the complete list of selection requirements for the U.S. Endurance Team.

The U.S. Endurance Team will be named no later than July 13, 2018.

Stay up to date on the U.S. Endurance Team by following USA Endurance on Facebook and US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Use #USAEndurance and #Tryon2018.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

Canadian Endurance Team Sets Up for WEG Success

Equestrian.ca - Full Article

May 3 2018

Canadian endurance athletes have continued to position themselves as strong contenders for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) following a successful CEI 2* 120km ride at the WEG Endurance Test Event, held April 26-28, 2018 in Mill Spring, NC.

Robert Gielen of Flesherton, ON was the first North American to cross the finish line on April 28, taking eighth place. He and his nine-year-old Arabian gelding, More Bang For Your Buck (Doran x Forty Thieves) had a total time of 08:52:29, riding at an average speed of 13.54km/hr. Gielen was supported by grooms, Misha Green and Sylvia Gillies, and crew members, Martin Gillies, Dina Riddick and Mike Bostic.

“I’m happy with the results,” said Gielen. “I set out to be somewhat competitive, but didn’t expect to be as high as I was..."

Read more here:
https://www.equestrian.ca/news/aPdRkWRY2SKabF5c5/canadian-endurance-team-sets-up-for-weg

First race of the season in Kristinehamn, Sweden

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

4 May 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Linnéa Engblom

Kristinehamn, Sweden, Saturday 21 April 2018. In early spring, 24 riders – mostly from Sweden – started the CEI1* 80km, the second of three international races in Sweden this year.

The organizers, Värmlands Distansryttare, also offered some shorter distances, so the venue was filled with horses and riders of all levels, many of them waiting to start the first race for the season. The track is well known by the national riders and has been used to determine both Swedish and Nordic champions in the past. The race track runs on a variety of roads, and this time several riders commented that the grounds were softer than usual.

Marie de Jong on Baltazar, doing their first international race, surprised all the competitors by leaving them behind on the first loop...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/first-race-of-the-season-in-kristinehamn-sweden/

FEI, WEG and New Rules That Affect Veterinarians

Equimanagement.com - Full Artice

This year has brought—or will bring—many changes to the FEI rules governing international equine sports that affect veterinarians and their clients. EquiManagement and Kindred Bio will bring you behind-the-scenes health and veterinary news leading up to and during WEG Tryon 2018.

KIMBERLY S. BROWNMAY 2, 2018

Top competitors in every discipline are focused on advancing to the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. The event will take place September 11-23. Veterinarians who care for horses at this level need to be aware of changes in regulations that occurred January 1, 2018, or that will take effect July 1, 2018.

Mike Tomlinson, DVM, MBA, is president of the Veterinary Commission I for the 2018 World Equestrian Games. He also is a Course Director for the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). He teaches the veterinary courses. Every veterinarian who serves as an official for the FEI must take this course every four years.

This is also true for endurance veterinarians as of early 2018. “Endurance vets used to have to take the test every two years,” he explained. “As of the last couple of months, they only have to take it every four years. The FEI hasn’t been able to get that word out very well yet...”

Read more here:
https://equimanagement.com/articles/fei-weg-and-new-rules-that-affect-veterinarians

Tickets Now on Sale for FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018

By: WEG Admin
Oct 16, 2017

Games Boast a Variety of Ticketing Options and Regional Adventures

Click here for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 tickets.
Click here for WEG Ticket FAQ.
Click here for 2018 FEI WEG Lodging

Tryon, NC – USA – October 16, 2017 – Tickets for the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM Tryon 2018 (WEG) are now on sale. Set for September 11 through September 23 in the scenic Carolinas region of the United States, spectators can choose from a variety of ticket types to experience the world’s largest equestrian championship. With all competitions happening onsite at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, N.C., attendees can come for the day, a week, or the entire Games. Tickets are available online at www.tryon2018.com. Select “Buy Tickets” from the menu. Please like the @Tryon2018 Facebook page to stay informed on late breaking news.

Held every four years alternating with the Olympic Games, the FEI World Equestrian Games™ crowns the world’s best athletes and horses as the ultimate world champions in the equestrian disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Reining, Vaulting and Endurance. Horse and rider combinations from more than 70 nations are expected to compete in the massive 12-day event.

Click here to watch the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM Tryon 2018 promo video.

The initial sale of tickets for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 includes the following options: All Games Pass, Week 1 Pass, Week 2 Pass, and then All Session Passes for all of the eight disciplines. Individual Discipline-Specific day sessions will be sold, subject to availability, following sales of all multi-session discipline tickets.

Opening Ceremonies and Closing Ceremonies tickets will be sold separately. General Grounds Day Passes will be sold that allow access to the venue to experience the trade fair, event expo, as well as equestrian demonstrations and will be sold three months prior to the event.

VIP tickets and hospitality packages will also be released this winter and customers can trade up their purchased tickets toward these higher value ticketing/hospitality options.

Due to the high demand for ticket packages, those ticketing types are being offered first to ensure that those who want to purchase ticket packages can receive the same seats for all events. Seats will be assigned on a first come, first served basis according to the date and timestamp of the ticket purchase. The earlier your purchase, the better your seats.

All Day Session Passes are currently SOLD OUT. We will re-evaluate the release of additional All Day Session Passes at the time of Individual Discipline Session ticket sales.
We anticipate a sold-out event, as pre-purchase ticket sales were significantly above estimates
Ticket prices outlined below are the advanced public ticket prices which are discounted from prices for sales, subject to availability, on the day of the event,
Prices below do not include tax and 8.5 percent processing fee, which will be applied upon check out.

All Session Full Games Pass

The All Session Full Games Pass grants ticket holders access to all of the competition sessions during the full two weeks of competition from Tuesday, September 11, through Sunday, September 23. Full Competition Individual Sessions are valued at $1,600.00 USD, while the All Session Full Games Pass offers a discount of 8% for $1,380 USD.

Total Cost: $1,380.00 USD

All Games Pass – Week 1

The All Games Pass – Week 1 grants ticket holders access to all of the competition sessions during the first week of competition from Tuesday, September 11, through Sunday, September 16. Week 1 Individual Session totals are valued at $840.00 USD, while the All Session Week 1 Pass offers a discount of 8% for $750.00 USD.

Total Cost: $750.00 USD

All Games Pass – Week 2
The All Games Pass – Week 2 grants ticket holders access to all of the competition sessions during the first week of competition from Tuesday, September 18, through Sunday, September 23. Week 2 Individual Session totals are valued at $760.00 USD, while the All Session Week 2 Pass offers a discount of 8% for $675.00 USD.

Total Cost: $675.00 USD

All Session Jumping Pass
The All Session Jumping Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Jumping competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Jumping session tickets are valued at a total of $425.00 USD while the All Session Jumping Pass offers a discount of 8% for $375.00 USD.

Total Cost: $375.00 USD

All Session Eventing Pass
The All Session Eventing Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Eventing competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Eventing session tickets are valued at a total of $245.00 USD while the All Session Eventing Pass offers a discount of 8% for $225.00 USD.

Total Cost: $225.00 USD

All Session Dressage Pass
The All Session Dressage Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Dressage competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Dressage session tickets are valued at a total of $375.00 USD while the All Session Dressage Pass offers a discount of 8% for $345.00 USD.

Total Cost: $345.00 USD

All Session Para-Dressage Pass
The All Session Para-Dressage Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Para-Dressage competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Para-Dressage tickets are valued at a total of $120.00 USD while the All Session Para-Dressage Pass offers a discount of 8% for $110.00 USD.

Total Cost: $110.00 USD

All Session Reining Pass
The All Session Reining Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Reining competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Reining session tickets are valued at a total of $210.00 USD while the All Session Reining Pass offers a discount of 8% for $193.00 USD.

Total Cost: $193.00 USD

All Session Driving Pass
The All Session Driving Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Driving competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Driving session tickets are valued at a total of $90.00 USD while the All Session Reining Pass offers a discount of 8% for $82.00 USD.

Total Cost: $82.00 USD

All Session Vaulting Pass
The All Session Vaulting Pass grants ticket holders access to all sessions of Vaulting competition hosted at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018.

Individual Vaulting session tickets are valued at a total of $115.00 USD, while the All Session Vaulting Pass offers a discount of 8% for $105.00 USD.

Total Cost: $105.00 USD

Opening Ceremonies & Closing Ceremonies Passes: Pricing Coming Soon
The two-week event begins with a captivating tribute to the Tryon 2018 theme of “Celebrate the Horse, Celebrate the Sport” at the Opening Ceremonies on Tuesday, Sept. 11. The Opening Ceremonies for the 2018 WEG will feature theatrical, crowd-engaging entertainment, renowned performers, and sensational surprises. The final event of the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM will end on Sunday, Sept. 23 with a festive closing ceremony. Tickets for both events will go on sale following the public sales launch of Games tickets.

#DestinationTryon
Complementing the unparalleled opportunity to watch the world’s top riders and horses compete is the chance to discover the distinct culture and adventures within the Carolinas region. TIEC is centrally located within an hour of some of the United States’ top destinations including Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina and Greenville in South Carolina. WEG attendees are encouraged to plan excursions to experience the collection of small towns and dynamic cities that surround the venue. For a preview of TIEC and the region that houses it, watch the “Destination Tryon” video.

Click here to watch the Destination Tryon video.

To start planning a trip to the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, visit www.tryon2018.com.

MEDIA INQUIRIES
For media inquiries, please visit www.tryon2018.com or contact one of the following press officers:

National Media – Carly Weilminster at media@tryonweg.com or (828) 863-1144.

International Media – Niki McEwen at niki@revolutionsports.co.uk or 0044(0) 203 176 0355.

For more information from the FEI, please contact Leanne Williams leanne.williams@fei.org or 0041-21-544-1178.

ABOUT THE TRYON INTERNATIONAL EQUESTRIAN CENTER
Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort, host of the FEI World Equestrian GamesTM Tryon 2018, is one of the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle destinations. From carousel to competition, the mission of Tryon Resort is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport, and increase access to this majestic animal. With first-class facilities for hunter/jumper, dressage, and eventing competitions, the facility will soon accommodate all eight equestrian disciplines. Tryon Resort is a spring, summer and fall haven for equestrian competitors and enthusiasts, and a year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment. Learn more at www.tryon.com.

ABOUT THE FEI WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES™
The FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG), which are administered by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the worldwide governing body of equestrian sport, is the major international championship event for the eight core equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage and para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. For more information, visit www.tryon2018.com and http://www.fei.org/tryon-2018.

United Arab Emirates riders win WEG Endurance trials

TryonDailyBulletin.com - Full Article

By Catherine Hunter
May 2 2018

GREEN CREEK — Languages from around the world flowed out across a grassy field glistening with dew Saturday morning.

The tense feeling of anticipation hung in the cool morning air.

“Horses!” an FEI Steward called out, as hoof beats muffled on pine needles drifts to the waiting crowd.

Sleek Arab horses with red-rimmed nostrils and steam rising from their haunches slowed to a walk, as they entered a corridor marked by white tape. Crewmembers dressed in red and yellow vests handed the riders bottles of water to pour over the horses as they walked by.

The horses did not stop as half empty bottles plopped to the ground and riders gathered their reins. Before the ground crew knew it, the horses were off again at a ground-eating trot as they headed out for the next checkpoint.

Last Saturday, 73 horses from 24 nations descended on Green Creek by way of the Tryon International Equestrian Center for the Endurance test for the World Equestrian Games...

Read more here:
https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2018/05/02/united-arab-emirates-riders-win-weg-endurance-trials/

Adventures on Horseback: Horses from around the world, in our backyard

TryonDailyBulletin.com - Full Article

By Catherine Hunter
May 2, 2018

Wow!

This weekend, I met people from Denmark, Dubai, Guatemala, Japan, Ireland, Oman, Lebanon, Iraq and other places from around the world. They were all speaking different languages and all working to help each other.

It occurred to me again what an amazing place we live in. Here, in Tryon and the Foothills, we welcome horse lovers from all over the planet. We take in those fleeing hurricanes and we open our very doors to volunteers coming here for the World Equestrian Games.

On Saturday, I was able to witness a checkpoint for the Endurance qualifying event for the World Equestrian Games. It was amazing to see these riders and horses from all over the world. Hot blooded Arabs on the muscle, slender riders making sure their horses get water, stewards and volunteers directing the horses and riders onto the right trail.

I was especially appreciative of the Columbus Fire Department who was on duty from early in the morning until late in the evening. They stood out in the sun all day, handling the traffic to be sure the horses could cross the roads safely.

There was a film crew from Dubai with a cameraman from Lebanon and an assistant from Asheville, working on a documentary. Just think, people on the other side of the globe will be seeing pictures of Green Creek...

Read more here:
https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2018/05/02/adventures-on-horseback-horses-from-around-the-world-in-our-backyard/

Home to FEI World Equestrian Games, WNC's horse culture runs deep

Citizen-Times.com - Full Article

Dillon Davis, dwdavis@citizen-times.com
Published 8:25 a.m. ET April 30, 2018

MAGGIE VALLEY — The morning fog settles over the mountains surrounding Maggie Valley's Cataloochee Ranch. It's the last week of April and Judy Sutton is readying the property for the onslaught of visitors certain to make the summer trek there.

Sutton's family has called this property at the peak of Fie Top Mountain home for 80 years. It's part of her, just as it was for her grandparents, Tom and Judy Alexander, who first purchased the property from Haywood County's "Potato King," Verlin Campbell.

They've built a memorable life there, a steep and winding jaunt from the town's main drag. It consists of numerous trails adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, cabins for visitors as well as more than two dozen horses on-site.

The horses, in particular, have played a huge role in Sutton's life...

Read more here:
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/04/30/not-horsin-around-horse-culture-runs-deep-wnc-ahead-fei-world-equestrian-games/528243002/