WeeklyTimesNow.com.au - Full Article
FRAN CLELAND, The Weekly Times
December 31, 2019 11:03am
AUSTRALIAN Endurance riders finished second in the FEI Trans Tasman Event held in Waiouru, on New Zealand’s North Island, hosted by Ruahine Endurance Club.
The Australian team was Tahlia Franke (youth rider), Marty Bryson, Jessie Herman, Sorsha Stuart Rkvic and Alison Noble (reserve). The Chef d’Equipe was Sonya Ryan.
The competition was a borrowed horse event where the Australian riders had horses sourced by ESNZ, and offered by generous owners.
Australia’s young rider Tahlia Franke delivered a stellar performance taking first place in the CEI2* 120km Young Rider competition riding Makahiwi Phoenix, Tahlia was also awarded Best Conditioned Horse...
Read more here:
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/horses/tahlias-stellar-show-as-aussies-clinch-second-spot/news-story/058f4208091d995f278d47d611a79240
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Monday, December 30, 2019
Record Fines for Endurance Riders on Doped Borrowed Horses
HorseSport.com - Full Article
Riders who travelled to the Middle East for big-purse endurance races have paid a heavy price after loaned horses tested positive for banned substances.
December 27 2019
By: Pippa Cuckson
The serious risks in accepting rides on horses managed by someone else have been highlighted by record fines of 7,500 Swiss francs ($10,000 CDN) plus two-year suspensions in each of three anti-doping decisions recently handed down by the FEI Tribunal. The fines are the largest ever set in an equine anti-doping case.
Two leading south American endurance riders Federica Rossi (Argentina) and Jonatan Rivera Iriarte (Uruguay) rode doped horses supplied by the same trainer, Abdullah Hasan Al Hammadi of Al Reef Stables, when visiting the UAE early in 2018...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/record-fines-plus-two-year-bans-riders-doped-borrowed-horses/
Riders who travelled to the Middle East for big-purse endurance races have paid a heavy price after loaned horses tested positive for banned substances.
December 27 2019
By: Pippa Cuckson
The serious risks in accepting rides on horses managed by someone else have been highlighted by record fines of 7,500 Swiss francs ($10,000 CDN) plus two-year suspensions in each of three anti-doping decisions recently handed down by the FEI Tribunal. The fines are the largest ever set in an equine anti-doping case.
Two leading south American endurance riders Federica Rossi (Argentina) and Jonatan Rivera Iriarte (Uruguay) rode doped horses supplied by the same trainer, Abdullah Hasan Al Hammadi of Al Reef Stables, when visiting the UAE early in 2018...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/record-fines-plus-two-year-bans-riders-doped-borrowed-horses/
Sunday, December 29, 2019
UAE: Coulomb wins Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival ride
Gulfnews.com - Full Article
Azizi, Meydan’s Pillar Partner, sponsor the event for the third year
Published: December 28, 2019 18:08
Staff Report
Dubai: Talented French rider Camille Coulomb upstaged a strong field to win the prestigious 120km HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Festival Ride for Ladies on Friday.
Riding Vista Du Barthas, the 21-year-old endurance rider completed the gruelling distance in front of Spain’s Eulalia Guardia aboard Al Hajaj with Indian teenager Nida Anjum Chelat, the rider of Umour D’ Aurabelle, taking third place...
Read more here:
Azizi, Meydan’s Pillar Partner, sponsor the event for the third year
Published: December 28, 2019 18:08
Staff Report
Dubai: Talented French rider Camille Coulomb upstaged a strong field to win the prestigious 120km HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Festival Ride for Ladies on Friday.
Riding Vista Du Barthas, the 21-year-old endurance rider completed the gruelling distance in front of Spain’s Eulalia Guardia aboard Al Hajaj with Indian teenager Nida Anjum Chelat, the rider of Umour D’ Aurabelle, taking third place...
Read more here:
Friday, December 27, 2019
Kuwait: Winners of ‘Night Ability and Endurance’ Championship honored
ArabTimesOnline.com - Full Article
December 26 2019
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 26: Mubarak Al-Kabeer Equestrian Club recently organized a ceremony in honor of the winners of the “Night Ability and Endurance” Championship organized by the club.
The club’s board was represented at the event by Advisor Tareq Al-Nisf and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the championship Sultan Al- Othab. The chief organizer praised the championship for being the first of its kind to be organized at night, affirming that all objectives were achieved, although there were few negative aspects.
Al-Othab declared that the championship attracted large number of spectators of the excellent performances of the horses...
Read more here:
https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/winners-of-night-ability-and-endurance-championship-honored/
December 26 2019
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 26: Mubarak Al-Kabeer Equestrian Club recently organized a ceremony in honor of the winners of the “Night Ability and Endurance” Championship organized by the club.
The club’s board was represented at the event by Advisor Tareq Al-Nisf and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the championship Sultan Al- Othab. The chief organizer praised the championship for being the first of its kind to be organized at night, affirming that all objectives were achieved, although there were few negative aspects.
Al-Othab declared that the championship attracted large number of spectators of the excellent performances of the horses...
Read more here:
https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/winners-of-night-ability-and-endurance-championship-honored/
Thursday, December 26, 2019
2019: A Look Back at Endurance, Reining & Vaulting
FEI.org - Full Article24 December 2019
We look back on a year of thrills in these three disciplines...
Endurance
Meydan FEI Endurance European Championships
Endurance combos showed their mettle over tough terrain at the Meydan FEI Endurance European Championships at Euston Park in Suffolk, Great Britain.
The 200-acre venue in Thetford Forest was perfect for the event, and the new location will help build a legacy for the future, as seniors and young riders are easily able to compete there from throughout Europe.
The Meydan FEI European Championships were the highlight of the HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum UK Endurance Festival there.
Fans lined the tracks that followed along ancient forests and historic parkland, filled with river crossings to test the equine athletes. Sixty-three horses from 20 nations were at the starting line for the Championships.
It was Italy’s Costanza Laliscia who ultimately took the top Individual honours in the 160-kilometre ride, aboard Sacha El Kandhaar. Her teammate Carolina Tavassoli Asli riding Sequinte had held the lead throughout much of the competition but fell back in the final loop to yield to Laliscia.
Paula Muntala Sanchez of Spain took the silver medal on T’Aime De Coeur, whilst Jaume Punti Dachs, also of Spain, and Echo Falls won the bronze, after the disqualification of Tavassoli Asli ahead of them.
It was Spain at the top of the Team podium. France went home with the silver medal, and Germany secured the bronze.
Less than half completed the 14-hour race and many of the last riders finished in the dark. Now, that’s a true show of endurance!
More at:
https://www.fei.org/stories/2019-endurance-reining-vaulting-review
Friday, December 20, 2019
UAE: Endurance Rider Suspended for Kicking Horse ‘27 times’ at the Finish
HorseSport.com - Full ArticleThe FEI Tribunal rules that kicking a horse is ‘not a normal natural aid,’ and criticizes officials who turn a blind eye to abuse.
By: Pippa Cuckson | December 19 2019
An endurance rider whose exaggerated kicking towards the end of race did not “constitute normal riding” has been suspended 12-months and fined 4,000 Swiss francs (CAN $5,300) by the FEI Tribunal for horse abuse.
In footage of Mohamed Ali AL Marzouqi from the official livestream, the FEI Legal department counted 27 kicks, with long reins used as a whip 19 times, in “only a few seconds of video from a ride that was going on for 100 km over 6 hours.”
The incident occurred at the end of the CEI* 100km race at Al Wathba, the principal venue in Abu Dhabi, on December 8, 2018, in which the accused rider rode the horse Romeo to fourth place.
The rider was not sanctioned on the day. A Protest alleging horse abuse was then lodged by Rosemary Sloan, a member of the “Clean Endurance” community in the UK. She said the rider was kicking so hard “daylight could be seen between the entire length of the rider’s legs and the saddle. He struck the horse repeatedly with the reins and threatened to strike it with his left arm. The horse was visibly exhausted and unable to accelerate its canter despite Mr Al Marzooqi’s actions...”
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/endurance-rider-suspended-kicking-horse-27-times/
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
FEI Tribunal sanctions rider in new Abuse Protest lodged by Clean Endurance
PRESS INFORMATION FROM CLEAN ENDURANCE
18 December 2019
Immediate Release
Clean Endurance is satisfied that the FEI Tribunal sanctioned Mr al Marzouqi (UAE) with a 12-month immediate suspension in the 4th of a series of Abuse Protests they have brought forward this year.
Mr Marzouqi rode the horse Romeo at the CEI 1* 100 KM event in Al Wathba on December 8th 2018. The Tribubal took note that video evidence submitted by Clean Endurance showed that “Mr.al Marzouqi was kicking the horse as hard as he could, to the point that daylight can be seen between the entire length of the rider’s legs and the saddle. He struck the horse repeatedly with the reins and threatened to strike it with his left arm. The horse was visibly exhausted and unable to accelerate its canter despite Mr. al Marzouqi’s actions”. The FEI stated that that it counted the excessive kicking to 27 timewhipping with the reins to 19 times.
Mr al Marzouqi stated in his defense that he wanted to assure the Tribunal that he looked after his horse during the whole ride. He said that because he is a tall rider with long legs it may have looked like he was hurting his horse by kicking it, but that he encouraged it to move forward without abusing or beating it. He also mentioned that the Ground Jury members and Stewards present and watching at the finish line did not notice nor sanction any horse abuse, but that they congratulated him and recognised his position (5th) in the competition.
Ms Rosemary Sloan from Clean Endurance who lodged the protest said “Someone has to speak up for our gentle partner, the horse. We know from anecdotal evidence that this behaviour is but the tip of the iceberg, and we are only able to lodge abuse protests and obtain sanctions because of our diligent monitoring of video footage provided by the official broadcasting companies of these events. I hope the rider in question learns from the sanctions imposed on him for the brutal treatment of a horse in his care.”
The Tribunal mentioned, as it did in 3 previous abuse protests brought forward by Clean Endurance this year, that it encourages the FEI to investigate and open disciplinary proceedings against FEI Officials present if they did not act on the present horse abuse case during the event. To Clean Endurance’s knowledge, the FEI has not acted (yet) on this recommendation by the Tribunal.
Until the FEI does, Clean Endurance regrets that it is apparently up to them to lodge abuse protests with the Tribunal in order to avoid that abusive riders continue to escape the sanctions they so well deserve, and which Officials fail to apply.
In addition to the 12-month suspension, Mr al Marzouqi was disqualified from the event thus forfeiting medals, points and prizes, fined 4 thousand Swiss Francs and required to contribute 1 thousand Swiss Francs towards the cost of proceedings.
The video footage used as evidence before the Tribunal can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q32o7ps3Eng
The full FEI Tribunal decision notice is published here:
https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Decision%20of%20the%20FEI%20Tribunal%20-%20Alleged%20Horse%20Abuse%20Case%202019-08%20-%20Ms.%20Sloan%20vs.%20Mr.%20Al%20Marzouqi%20-%206%20December%202019.pdf
18 December 2019
Immediate Release
Clean Endurance is satisfied that the FEI Tribunal sanctioned Mr al Marzouqi (UAE) with a 12-month immediate suspension in the 4th of a series of Abuse Protests they have brought forward this year.
Mr Marzouqi rode the horse Romeo at the CEI 1* 100 KM event in Al Wathba on December 8th 2018. The Tribubal took note that video evidence submitted by Clean Endurance showed that “Mr.al Marzouqi was kicking the horse as hard as he could, to the point that daylight can be seen between the entire length of the rider’s legs and the saddle. He struck the horse repeatedly with the reins and threatened to strike it with his left arm. The horse was visibly exhausted and unable to accelerate its canter despite Mr. al Marzouqi’s actions”. The FEI stated that that it counted the excessive kicking to 27 timewhipping with the reins to 19 times.
Mr al Marzouqi stated in his defense that he wanted to assure the Tribunal that he looked after his horse during the whole ride. He said that because he is a tall rider with long legs it may have looked like he was hurting his horse by kicking it, but that he encouraged it to move forward without abusing or beating it. He also mentioned that the Ground Jury members and Stewards present and watching at the finish line did not notice nor sanction any horse abuse, but that they congratulated him and recognised his position (5th) in the competition.
Ms Rosemary Sloan from Clean Endurance who lodged the protest said “Someone has to speak up for our gentle partner, the horse. We know from anecdotal evidence that this behaviour is but the tip of the iceberg, and we are only able to lodge abuse protests and obtain sanctions because of our diligent monitoring of video footage provided by the official broadcasting companies of these events. I hope the rider in question learns from the sanctions imposed on him for the brutal treatment of a horse in his care.”
The Tribunal mentioned, as it did in 3 previous abuse protests brought forward by Clean Endurance this year, that it encourages the FEI to investigate and open disciplinary proceedings against FEI Officials present if they did not act on the present horse abuse case during the event. To Clean Endurance’s knowledge, the FEI has not acted (yet) on this recommendation by the Tribunal.
Until the FEI does, Clean Endurance regrets that it is apparently up to them to lodge abuse protests with the Tribunal in order to avoid that abusive riders continue to escape the sanctions they so well deserve, and which Officials fail to apply.
In addition to the 12-month suspension, Mr al Marzouqi was disqualified from the event thus forfeiting medals, points and prizes, fined 4 thousand Swiss Francs and required to contribute 1 thousand Swiss Francs towards the cost of proceedings.
The video footage used as evidence before the Tribunal can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q32o7ps3Eng
The full FEI Tribunal decision notice is published here:
https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Decision%20of%20the%20FEI%20Tribunal%20-%20Alleged%20Horse%20Abuse%20Case%202019-08%20-%20Ms.%20Sloan%20vs.%20Mr.%20Al%20Marzouqi%20-%206%20December%202019.pdf
FEI Tribunal issues Final Decisions, 4 of 5 involving Endurance
Inside.fei.org
Dec 18, 2019 Author: FEI
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a horse abuse case and four Final Decisions in cases involving Prohibited Substances.
The horse abuse case, which was opened by the FEI following a protest filed by Rosemary Sloan from Clean Endurance, involved the horse Romeo (FEI ID: 105BQ04/UAE). The FEI Tribunal confirmed that the athlete, Mohamed Ali Al Marzouqi (FEI ID: 10041488/UAE), had committed horse abuse during the CEI1* 100 in Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba (UAE) on 8 December 2018. In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal ruled that the athlete had committed horse abuse and suspended him for 12 months from the date of the Final Decision, 6 December 2019. He was also fined CHF 4,000 and ordered to pay CHF 1,000 towards legal costs.
The Final Decision on this case can be found here.
The first of the prohibited substances FEI Tribunal Decisions involved the athlete Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (FEI ID 10093885/UAE) who was riding the horse 8 Minute (FEI ID: 104BW22/UAE), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Nandrolone at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Valeggio sul Mincio (ITA), 22-24 September 2017. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months as of the date of notification (28 November 2017). The FEI Tribunal accepted the agreement reached on 30 September 2019 between the FEI and Mr Al Jahouri. A two-year period of ineligibility, from 23 September 2017 to 22 September 2019, had already been served. In addition, all the results of the athlete from the date of sample collection on 23 September 2017 until the date of the provisional suspension (28 November 2017) were disqualified. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
In connection to this case the FEI has also opened procedures against the registered trainer of 8 Minute, namely Mr Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (FEI ID: 10014750/UAE). This trainer had already been involved in two other banned substance cases as the registered trainer.
The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 9 October 2019 between the FEI and the trainer Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri. The parties agreed that Mr Al Jahouri, who was provisionally suspended from 10 January 2018 until 7 February 2019 connected to the three banned substance cases had served the entire period of ineligibility. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
The third FEI Tribunal Decision involved the horse Dalton des Hayettes (FEI ID: 104TD71/BEL), ridden by Pascal Van Laethem (FEI ID: 10044685/BEL), which had tested positive to the Banned Substance O-Desmethyltramadol at the CSI2* in Deauville (FRA), 15-18 June 2017.
The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete, reached on 21 October 2019. The period of ineligibility of the athlete was reduced to one year, as he demonstrated that he bore No Significant Fault or Negligence. As the athlete already served a Provisional Suspension from 7 August 2017 until 17 August 2018, which was credited in the final ineligibility period, there was no further suspension to be served. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months until 6 October 2017. All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000 and legal costs of CHF 500.
The fourth Final Decision involved the horse Sohair Des Bruyere (FEI ID: 104VK62/QAT), ridden by Elizaveta Minina (FEI ID: 10140497/RUS), which tested positive to the Banned Substance Testosterone at the CEI2* 120 in Doha Mesaieed (QAT) on 20 January 2018. The trainer of the horse was Hassan Khamis Mohammed A Al Shahwani (FEI ID: 10131286/QAT), admitted injecting the horse with the Testosterone. Separate proceedings has been initiated against the trainer of this horse.
The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 22 October 2019 between the FEI and the athlete. The athlete demonstrated that she bore No Significant Fault or Negligence and was suspended for 20 months from the date of notification on 5 March 2018 until 4 November 2019. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months until 4 May 2018. All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000 and legal costs of CHF 1,500.
The Final Decisions on these cases can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decisions.
Dec 18, 2019 Author: FEI
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a horse abuse case and four Final Decisions in cases involving Prohibited Substances.
The horse abuse case, which was opened by the FEI following a protest filed by Rosemary Sloan from Clean Endurance, involved the horse Romeo (FEI ID: 105BQ04/UAE). The FEI Tribunal confirmed that the athlete, Mohamed Ali Al Marzouqi (FEI ID: 10041488/UAE), had committed horse abuse during the CEI1* 100 in Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba (UAE) on 8 December 2018. In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal ruled that the athlete had committed horse abuse and suspended him for 12 months from the date of the Final Decision, 6 December 2019. He was also fined CHF 4,000 and ordered to pay CHF 1,000 towards legal costs.
The Final Decision on this case can be found here.
The first of the prohibited substances FEI Tribunal Decisions involved the athlete Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (FEI ID 10093885/UAE) who was riding the horse 8 Minute (FEI ID: 104BW22/UAE), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Nandrolone at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Valeggio sul Mincio (ITA), 22-24 September 2017. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months as of the date of notification (28 November 2017). The FEI Tribunal accepted the agreement reached on 30 September 2019 between the FEI and Mr Al Jahouri. A two-year period of ineligibility, from 23 September 2017 to 22 September 2019, had already been served. In addition, all the results of the athlete from the date of sample collection on 23 September 2017 until the date of the provisional suspension (28 November 2017) were disqualified. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
In connection to this case the FEI has also opened procedures against the registered trainer of 8 Minute, namely Mr Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (FEI ID: 10014750/UAE). This trainer had already been involved in two other banned substance cases as the registered trainer.
The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 9 October 2019 between the FEI and the trainer Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri. The parties agreed that Mr Al Jahouri, who was provisionally suspended from 10 January 2018 until 7 February 2019 connected to the three banned substance cases had served the entire period of ineligibility. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.
The third FEI Tribunal Decision involved the horse Dalton des Hayettes (FEI ID: 104TD71/BEL), ridden by Pascal Van Laethem (FEI ID: 10044685/BEL), which had tested positive to the Banned Substance O-Desmethyltramadol at the CSI2* in Deauville (FRA), 15-18 June 2017.
The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete, reached on 21 October 2019. The period of ineligibility of the athlete was reduced to one year, as he demonstrated that he bore No Significant Fault or Negligence. As the athlete already served a Provisional Suspension from 7 August 2017 until 17 August 2018, which was credited in the final ineligibility period, there was no further suspension to be served. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months until 6 October 2017. All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000 and legal costs of CHF 500.
The fourth Final Decision involved the horse Sohair Des Bruyere (FEI ID: 104VK62/QAT), ridden by Elizaveta Minina (FEI ID: 10140497/RUS), which tested positive to the Banned Substance Testosterone at the CEI2* 120 in Doha Mesaieed (QAT) on 20 January 2018. The trainer of the horse was Hassan Khamis Mohammed A Al Shahwani (FEI ID: 10131286/QAT), admitted injecting the horse with the Testosterone. Separate proceedings has been initiated against the trainer of this horse.
The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 22 October 2019 between the FEI and the athlete. The athlete demonstrated that she bore No Significant Fault or Negligence and was suspended for 20 months from the date of notification on 5 March 2018 until 4 November 2019. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months until 4 May 2018. All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000 and legal costs of CHF 1,500.
The Final Decisions on these cases can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decisions.
Prohibited substance cases under FEI anti-doping rules: 2 of 3 involve UAE Endurance Horses
Inside.fei.org
Dec 18, 2019 Author: FEI
The FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The cases involve *Banned Substances under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
In the following case the athlete has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Chabello (FEI ID 104OU26/MEX)
Person Responsible: Bruno Cavalheiro Rebello (FEI ID 10018978/BRA)
Event: CSI2* - San Miguel de Allende (MEX), 03-06.10.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Ractopamine
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
In the next two cases, the athletes and the trainers have been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horses have been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Cybele De L'Oule (FEI ID 105VH42/UAE)
Person Responsible: Sh Tahnoon Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (FEI ID 10093006/UAE)
Trainer: Mohd Salem Abdulla Al Ameri (FEI ID 10081586/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Arsenic, Flunixin
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
Horse: Kassidy De Jansavis (FEI ID 104QP93/UAE)
Person Responsible: Omar Ibrahim Al Marzooqi (FEI ID 10137894/UAE)
Trainer: Abdul Kader Abdul Sattar (FEI ID 10032531/UAE)
Event: CEI2* 120 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Diisopropylamine
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
In the following case the trainer has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision.
Horse: ***N/A
Person Responsible: ***N/A
Trainer: Ahmed Salem Ali Bakheet Al Rashdi (FEI ID 10027984/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine, Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
*** No PR/Horse Name in cases involving Minors and/or Fast Track Procedures.
Details on these cases can be found here.
Dec 18, 2019 Author: FEI
The FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The cases involve *Banned Substances under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).
In the following case the athlete has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Chabello (FEI ID 104OU26/MEX)
Person Responsible: Bruno Cavalheiro Rebello (FEI ID 10018978/BRA)
Event: CSI2* - San Miguel de Allende (MEX), 03-06.10.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Ractopamine
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
In the next two cases, the athletes and the trainers have been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horses have been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.
Horse: Cybele De L'Oule (FEI ID 105VH42/UAE)
Person Responsible: Sh Tahnoon Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (FEI ID 10093006/UAE)
Trainer: Mohd Salem Abdulla Al Ameri (FEI ID 10081586/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Arsenic, Flunixin
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
Horse: Kassidy De Jansavis (FEI ID 104QP93/UAE)
Person Responsible: Omar Ibrahim Al Marzooqi (FEI ID 10137894/UAE)
Trainer: Abdul Kader Abdul Sattar (FEI ID 10032531/UAE)
Event: CEI2* 120 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Diisopropylamine
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
In the following case the trainer has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision.
Horse: ***N/A
Person Responsible: ***N/A
Trainer: Ahmed Salem Ali Bakheet Al Rashdi (FEI ID 10027984/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine, Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019
*** No PR/Horse Name in cases involving Minors and/or Fast Track Procedures.
Details on these cases can be found here.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Great Britain: ‘We thought he’d live for ever’: heartbreak as 40-year-old champion put down
Horseandhound.co.uk - Full ArticleBecky Murray
16 December, 2019 18:07
A 40-year-old “horse in a million” who took four siblings to the top of the sport in endurance and showing has been put down owing to colic.
The Helme family, from Lancaster, Lancashire, paid tribute to 15hh part-bred trotter Bobby, who was put down on 9 December.
Mother Helen said the family fell in love with the gelding immediately despite the fact he was “completely different” to what they had been looking for, when he was bought from a riding school in Durham in 1986 for daughter Becci.
“Becci got into endurance by chance and they were hooked. In 1991 they did their first 100-mile ride at Ludlow. Bobby was very strong, and he would do things like mess about when you took his heart rate but then something clicked,” she said.
“He was passed to my daughter Donna, who was 16, who took him to the World Equestrian Games in The Hague in 1994 where she was the youngest rider to compete – it was amazing. They were 34th and the only Brits to get round along with Gill Smedley...”
Read more here
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/thought-hed-live-ever-heartbreak-40-year-old-champion-put-703323
Monday, December 16, 2019
Double success for Brit in Andalusian endurance horse riding championship
Surinenglish.com - Full Article
Caroline Grahm and her horse Bambina are regional champions in the 80-kilometre category
13 December 2019
Caroline Grahm and her Anglo-Arabian horse Bambina RC followed up last year's success by becoming double Andalusian endurance riding champions over 80 kilometres.
This came after this weekend's final race of the year in Sanlúcar.
Caroline won best rider and Bambina best horse in their first year competing together at this distance...
Read more here:
http://www.surinenglish.com/sport/201912/13/double-success-brit-regional-20191213095154-v.html
Caroline Grahm and her horse Bambina are regional champions in the 80-kilometre category
13 December 2019
Caroline Grahm and her Anglo-Arabian horse Bambina RC followed up last year's success by becoming double Andalusian endurance riding champions over 80 kilometres.
This came after this weekend's final race of the year in Sanlúcar.
Caroline won best rider and Bambina best horse in their first year competing together at this distance...
Read more here:
http://www.surinenglish.com/sport/201912/13/double-success-brit-regional-20191213095154-v.html
Friday, December 13, 2019
Spain: 66th International Raid of Barcelona – Santa Susana
Endurance-world.com - Full Article
13th December 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of The Organisation of Raid de Barcelona – Santa Susanna
Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona. Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December 2019. The french rider Camille Garbet won the 66th Raid Internacional de Barcelona – Santa Susana, the oldest equestrian endurance competition in Europe.
Garbet completed the 192km two-stage race on the back of his horse Baltika d’Aurabelle with a time of 11:45 and demonstrated its enormous quality in the great end-of-season party of the European endurance...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/66th-international-raid-of-barcelona-santa-susana/
13th December 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of The Organisation of Raid de Barcelona – Santa Susanna
Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona. Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December 2019. The french rider Camille Garbet won the 66th Raid Internacional de Barcelona – Santa Susana, the oldest equestrian endurance competition in Europe.
Garbet completed the 192km two-stage race on the back of his horse Baltika d’Aurabelle with a time of 11:45 and demonstrated its enormous quality in the great end-of-season party of the European endurance...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/66th-international-raid-of-barcelona-santa-susana/
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Ep. 306 Rough Magic Author Lara Prior Palmer On Horse Racing In Mongolia, Writing A Memoir And Being Brave
Gapyearradiopodcast.com - ListenPOSTED ON: DECEMBER 9, 2019 POSTED BY: GAP YEAR RADIO
Today we welcome bestselling author Lara Prior Palmer to talk about the gap year that inspired her book, Rough Magic. At the age of nineteen, Lara Prior-Palmer discovered a website devoted to “the world’s longest, toughest horse race”―an annual competition of endurance and skill that involves dozens of riders racing a series of twenty-five wild ponies across 1,000 kilometers of Mongolian grassland. Lara ultimately became the youngest and first-ever woman to win the race. Margo, Julia and Lara discuss the entirety of Lara’s gap year, what it was like competing as a woman and why she thinks all young people should consider the magical uncertainty of gap time.
Listen:
https://gapyearradiopodcast.com/ep-306-rough-magic-author-lara-prior-palmer/
New Zealand: Kohuratahi rider wins Trans-Tasman endurance ride
NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article
Stratford Press
By: Alyssa Smith
11 December 2019
A Kohuratahi horse rider has shown equestrian skills run through her blood, winning an event in the Endurance Trans-Tasman Competition.
The competition had two distances 120km ride and a 80km ride.
The New Zealand and Australian teams each had four members. One of the team members had to be a junior/ younger rider.
Two members of each team had to compete in either the 80km endurance ride or the 120km ride...
Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12291492
Stratford Press
By: Alyssa Smith
11 December 2019
A Kohuratahi horse rider has shown equestrian skills run through her blood, winning an event in the Endurance Trans-Tasman Competition.
The competition had two distances 120km ride and a 80km ride.
The New Zealand and Australian teams each had four members. One of the team members had to be a junior/ younger rider.
Two members of each team had to compete in either the 80km endurance ride or the 120km ride...
Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12291492
FEI decision-making: is one country, one vote sustainable?
Horsesport.com - Full Article
The rights of countries with a minimal international presence to decide upon FEI rules are under the spotlight
By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson
There was an awkward moment at the FEI’s General Assembly in Moscow last month when the rights of new countries to join were challenged by Norway, a FEI founder member in 1921.
President of the Norwegian federation, Tore Sannum, spoke out as Mongolia, Ivory Coast and the Bahamas were being welcomed to the FEI family. The addition brings FEI membership to 137 national federations (NFs). In future, he asked the FEI to insist upon a minimum level of domestic participation, as other sports governing bodies do; without this, the FEI has “credibility” issues, he warned.
Mr. Sannum’s suggestion that countries should not be allowed to join unless they have riders at world championship level slightly backfired, because world championships cannot be entered UNTIL a country belongs to the FEI. The day’s business moved swiftly on – but nonetheless, Mr. Sannum was articulating what delegates from leading NFs often discuss in the bars and lobbies away from the conference hall.
It has always been one-country, one-vote at the FEI, whether you are as established and well medalled as the US (another FEI founder member), Canada (joined 1950), Germany (1927), Great Britain (1925), or as new as Mongolia, Ivory Coast and the Bahamas. That’s democracy – but is it common sense?...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/fei-decision-making-one-country-one-vote-sustainable/
The rights of countries with a minimal international presence to decide upon FEI rules are under the spotlight
By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson
There was an awkward moment at the FEI’s General Assembly in Moscow last month when the rights of new countries to join were challenged by Norway, a FEI founder member in 1921.
President of the Norwegian federation, Tore Sannum, spoke out as Mongolia, Ivory Coast and the Bahamas were being welcomed to the FEI family. The addition brings FEI membership to 137 national federations (NFs). In future, he asked the FEI to insist upon a minimum level of domestic participation, as other sports governing bodies do; without this, the FEI has “credibility” issues, he warned.
Mr. Sannum’s suggestion that countries should not be allowed to join unless they have riders at world championship level slightly backfired, because world championships cannot be entered UNTIL a country belongs to the FEI. The day’s business moved swiftly on – but nonetheless, Mr. Sannum was articulating what delegates from leading NFs often discuss in the bars and lobbies away from the conference hall.
It has always been one-country, one-vote at the FEI, whether you are as established and well medalled as the US (another FEI founder member), Canada (joined 1950), Germany (1927), Great Britain (1925), or as new as Mongolia, Ivory Coast and the Bahamas. That’s democracy – but is it common sense?...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/fei-decision-making-one-country-one-vote-sustainable/
Sunday, December 08, 2019
Under starter’s orders for toughest horse race
TeesdaleMercury.co.uk - Full Article8 December 2019
Only about 40 competitors worldwide are selected to take part in the annual Mongol Derby, which is described as “the world's toughest horse race”. Teesdale’s own Fiona Kearton will be taking part in 2020 and Wendy Short went to meet her on her smallholding near Bowes.
THE Mongol Derby covers 1,000km across the Mongolian Steppes, with riders racing across the gruelling terrain in just ten days. Competitors navigate the route with minimal assistance on the local Mongolian horses, which are switched every 40km and spend each night with the native horse herders.
Fiona Kearton has been involved in endurance riding for several years and first heard about the Mongol Derby in 2014...
Read more here:
https://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/country-life/under-starters-orders-for-toughest-horse-race
Friday, December 06, 2019
Team Mexico claims historic Gold and Silver at the North American Endurance Championship
Endurance-world.com - Full Article
6 December 2019
Broxton Bridge Plantation, Ehrhardt, SC, United States of America. Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November 2019. This year’s NAECH counted with a much larger Mexican team representation.
One 5-rider team for the CEI 1*, a 4-rider team for the CEI 2* and one Young Rider in one of the 25mi CEN AERC rides. In past editions and other WEC, and WEG events Mexico had presented a maximum of 3 riders but failed to ever finish as a team to score, so they took the opportunity to vindicate themselves and show the team strength.
On Thursday 14 November, riders José L Flores, Mercedes Acuña, Camila Gutiérrez, Carolina Galán, and Enrique Partida along with chef d’équipe Ricardo Galán started their CEI 1* 80km ride at Broxton Bridge Plantation with a clear objective: to finish at least three riders as a team preferably all five without risking any horse for a better individual position.
Endurance World Team Mexico.03The ride started 7am under cold conditions but no rain yet at the venue. The team rode together as a pack from the beginning and it wasn’t until gate 3 that they lost 2 of their horses due to slight lameness most likely as a result of the cold conditions. “It was important to ride as a pack as we knew our horse’s strength was based on their reliability to finish, not that so much on speed. I asked the team to hold a steady pace and keep together most of the entire ride as we had lost two mounts it was of the upmost importance to be cautious.” Said Ricardo Galán, chef d’équipe...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/team-mexico-claims-historic-gold-and-silver-at-the-north-american-endurance-championship/
6 December 2019
Broxton Bridge Plantation, Ehrhardt, SC, United States of America. Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November 2019. This year’s NAECH counted with a much larger Mexican team representation.
One 5-rider team for the CEI 1*, a 4-rider team for the CEI 2* and one Young Rider in one of the 25mi CEN AERC rides. In past editions and other WEC, and WEG events Mexico had presented a maximum of 3 riders but failed to ever finish as a team to score, so they took the opportunity to vindicate themselves and show the team strength.
On Thursday 14 November, riders José L Flores, Mercedes Acuña, Camila Gutiérrez, Carolina Galán, and Enrique Partida along with chef d’équipe Ricardo Galán started their CEI 1* 80km ride at Broxton Bridge Plantation with a clear objective: to finish at least three riders as a team preferably all five without risking any horse for a better individual position.
Endurance World Team Mexico.03The ride started 7am under cold conditions but no rain yet at the venue. The team rode together as a pack from the beginning and it wasn’t until gate 3 that they lost 2 of their horses due to slight lameness most likely as a result of the cold conditions. “It was important to ride as a pack as we knew our horse’s strength was based on their reliability to finish, not that so much on speed. I asked the team to hold a steady pace and keep together most of the entire ride as we had lost two mounts it was of the upmost importance to be cautious.” Said Ricardo Galán, chef d’équipe...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/team-mexico-claims-historic-gold-and-silver-at-the-north-american-endurance-championship/
Thursday, December 05, 2019
In Like A Lion: Mourning the End of WEG
HeelsDownMag.com - Full Article
December 4 2019
By Erin Gilmore
In like a lion, out like a... well, the World Equestrian Games as we know it are just plain out. And Tryon 2018, now the final WEG on record, was anything but a lamb.
During a non-announcement/announcement regarding WEG disciplines at the FEI’s annual meeting two weeks ago in Moscow, it was revealed that the FEI has not awarded the 2022 World Equestrian Games to one bidder, but instead divided out disciplines to several different countries (Italy: eventing and driving, Denmark: show jumping, dressage, para dressage, vaulting). No one came out and plainly stated it, so I will translate for you: no more World Equestrian Games as we knew them.
I attended three editions of the WEG as a journalist and photographer and I’m just going to go ahead and say it: this news really bummed me out. Since 1990, the WEG concept had been built out until it became an all-encompassing, two-week championship of the eight FEI equestrian disciplines. The official party line is that the WEG format of all eight disciplines being held at one venue had become too expensive and unwieldy. It is true that WEG was expensive, and the concept of each of the eight FEI disciplines holding its world championship at the same venue over a two-week period is rather “unwieldy.” But damn, it was worth it...
Read more here:
https://heelsdownmag.com/in-like-a-lion-mourning-the-end-of-weg/
December 4 2019
By Erin Gilmore
In like a lion, out like a... well, the World Equestrian Games as we know it are just plain out. And Tryon 2018, now the final WEG on record, was anything but a lamb.
During a non-announcement/announcement regarding WEG disciplines at the FEI’s annual meeting two weeks ago in Moscow, it was revealed that the FEI has not awarded the 2022 World Equestrian Games to one bidder, but instead divided out disciplines to several different countries (Italy: eventing and driving, Denmark: show jumping, dressage, para dressage, vaulting). No one came out and plainly stated it, so I will translate for you: no more World Equestrian Games as we knew them.
I attended three editions of the WEG as a journalist and photographer and I’m just going to go ahead and say it: this news really bummed me out. Since 1990, the WEG concept had been built out until it became an all-encompassing, two-week championship of the eight FEI equestrian disciplines. The official party line is that the WEG format of all eight disciplines being held at one venue had become too expensive and unwieldy. It is true that WEG was expensive, and the concept of each of the eight FEI disciplines holding its world championship at the same venue over a two-week period is rather “unwieldy.” But damn, it was worth it...
Read more here:
https://heelsdownmag.com/in-like-a-lion-mourning-the-end-of-weg/
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
New Zealand: Trans Tasman Endurance Challenge hosts more than 50 horse riders near Waiouru
NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article
4 December 2019
By: Staff Reporter
news@whanganuichronicle.co.nz
Top equestrian endurance riders had a long day in the saddle at the Trans Tasman Endurance Challenge in the central North Island.
Australian Equestrian Endurance team members on borrowed horses joined New Zealand riders at Waiouru on Sunday for a 3am start to the Trans Tasman event, riding into the darkness across hilly farmland. They competed in 80km and 120km rides over five farms between Tangiwai and Hihitahi...
Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/north-island/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503932&objectid=12290421
4 December 2019
By: Staff Reporter
news@whanganuichronicle.co.nz
Top equestrian endurance riders had a long day in the saddle at the Trans Tasman Endurance Challenge in the central North Island.
Australian Equestrian Endurance team members on borrowed horses joined New Zealand riders at Waiouru on Sunday for a 3am start to the Trans Tasman event, riding into the darkness across hilly farmland. They competed in 80km and 120km rides over five farms between Tangiwai and Hihitahi...
Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/north-island/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503932&objectid=12290421
Great Britain: Endurance Gala Dinner Presents Over 50 Awards to Salute Achievements
EverythingHorseUK.co.uk - Full Article
04/12/2019
ehuknews
The Endurance Gala Dinner saw more than 50 awards saluting achievement across the sport in 2019. The event, held at the Village Hotel Club in Coventry, was attended by more than 200 members from across the country with Devon-based rider Judy Holloway taking the Supreme Championship (Manar Trophy) for the second time in three years.
The Supreme Championship is awarded to the overall high point horse/pony of the year gaining the most points in all types of rides. Judy took the title ahead of Saffron Bishop and Ty Shute Golden Savannah, and Ella Bunting and Aly’s Estrella De Roc (Rocky) in third place...
Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/endurance-gala-dinner-presents-over-50-awards-to-salute-achievements/
04/12/2019
ehuknews
The Endurance Gala Dinner saw more than 50 awards saluting achievement across the sport in 2019. The event, held at the Village Hotel Club in Coventry, was attended by more than 200 members from across the country with Devon-based rider Judy Holloway taking the Supreme Championship (Manar Trophy) for the second time in three years.
The Supreme Championship is awarded to the overall high point horse/pony of the year gaining the most points in all types of rides. Judy took the title ahead of Saffron Bishop and Ty Shute Golden Savannah, and Ella Bunting and Aly’s Estrella De Roc (Rocky) in third place...
Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/endurance-gala-dinner-presents-over-50-awards-to-salute-achievements/
Ireland: Successful year for Endurance Riding in ILDRA’s Ulster Branch
Farmweek.com - Full Article
By Bree Rutledge -December 4, 2019
THE Irish Long Distance Riding Association (ILDRA) continued to grow in success in 2019, with numerous riding events across Northern Ireland, despite the wider issues in the world of Irish Endurance. Visiting venues from the rugged and remote Cam Forest in the North to the historic Florencecourt Estate in Enniskillen to a new venue for 2019 at the ever-popular riding trails around the scenic Clandeboye Estate.
ILDRA held a range of events from pleasure rides to competitive trail rides and demanding endurance races for the maddest of riders! Faces new and old attended the several events, with many new riders being introduced into the sport of endurance. ILDRA’s 2019 season kicked off at the popular venue of Gosford Forest Park for the annual New Year’s Day ride, where both riders and horses get a chance to welcome in the New Year through enjoying a relaxing ride...
Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/successful-year-for-endurance-riding-in-ildras-ulster-branch/
By Bree Rutledge -December 4, 2019
THE Irish Long Distance Riding Association (ILDRA) continued to grow in success in 2019, with numerous riding events across Northern Ireland, despite the wider issues in the world of Irish Endurance. Visiting venues from the rugged and remote Cam Forest in the North to the historic Florencecourt Estate in Enniskillen to a new venue for 2019 at the ever-popular riding trails around the scenic Clandeboye Estate.
ILDRA held a range of events from pleasure rides to competitive trail rides and demanding endurance races for the maddest of riders! Faces new and old attended the several events, with many new riders being introduced into the sport of endurance. ILDRA’s 2019 season kicked off at the popular venue of Gosford Forest Park for the annual New Year’s Day ride, where both riders and horses get a chance to welcome in the New Year through enjoying a relaxing ride...
Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/successful-year-for-endurance-riding-in-ildras-ulster-branch/
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
The epic horse race across the Mongolian steppe
BBC.com - Watch the video
In 2009 the first ever Mongol Derby was raced across the vast expanse of the Mongolian Steppe.
Riders from across the world race local, semi-wild horses in a bid to cross the finish line first.
The horses are owned by nomadic herder families and the team behind the race employ the families to host the riders.
Tom Morgan spoke to Witness History about organising the world's longest equestrian endurance competition.
Witness History: The stories of our times told by the people who were there.
Watch the video here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-49676573/the-epic-horse-race-across-the-mongolian-steppe
In 2009 the first ever Mongol Derby was raced across the vast expanse of the Mongolian Steppe.
Riders from across the world race local, semi-wild horses in a bid to cross the finish line first.
The horses are owned by nomadic herder families and the team behind the race employ the families to host the riders.
Tom Morgan spoke to Witness History about organising the world's longest equestrian endurance competition.
Witness History: The stories of our times told by the people who were there.
Watch the video here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-49676573/the-epic-horse-race-across-the-mongolian-steppe
Sunday, December 01, 2019
(Official) Demise of the World Equestrian Games and New Championships
HorseSport.com - Full Article
Pippa Cuckson is relieved the next world championships have been awarded to specialist organisers – though endurance 2022 may still present a dilemma.
By: Cuckson Report
Given my long-held dislike of the all-sports-in-one basket World Equestrian Games format, various friends have asked why I hadn’t immediately celebrated WEG’s demise, when the FEI announced its multiple 2022 world championship allocations on November 16th.
I’d held off, waiting for the delayed decisions on endurance and reining. Their 2022 world championships were to be announced after make-or break-votes at the FEI General Assembly (GA) in Moscow on November 19th, over new rules and retention within the FEI respectively.
But it turns out that deciding “after” November 19th did not mean while everyone is still in Moscow. The FEI board won’t finalise these last two world championships until its December tele-conference. I’ve also been half-waiting for news that bidding will be re-opened for endurance 2022, because options shrink by the day – more of that below.
The FEI has a proclivity for self-harm, so I would not have been surprised if it had gone for another full-blown WEG, despite conceding after Tryon that the format isn’t sustainable. It must have been very tempting to choose WEG Italy or Saudi Arabia.
But luckily, common sense prevailed. World championships for 2022 have so far been split between two countries with a strong heritage in the Olympic disciplines, especially. Jumping, dressage, para and vaulting goes to Herning, Denmark, and eventing and driving to Pratoni, Italy...
Read more here
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report/demise-world-equestrian-games-new-championships/
Pippa Cuckson is relieved the next world championships have been awarded to specialist organisers – though endurance 2022 may still present a dilemma.
By: Cuckson Report
Given my long-held dislike of the all-sports-in-one basket World Equestrian Games format, various friends have asked why I hadn’t immediately celebrated WEG’s demise, when the FEI announced its multiple 2022 world championship allocations on November 16th.
I’d held off, waiting for the delayed decisions on endurance and reining. Their 2022 world championships were to be announced after make-or break-votes at the FEI General Assembly (GA) in Moscow on November 19th, over new rules and retention within the FEI respectively.
But it turns out that deciding “after” November 19th did not mean while everyone is still in Moscow. The FEI board won’t finalise these last two world championships until its December tele-conference. I’ve also been half-waiting for news that bidding will be re-opened for endurance 2022, because options shrink by the day – more of that below.
The FEI has a proclivity for self-harm, so I would not have been surprised if it had gone for another full-blown WEG, despite conceding after Tryon that the format isn’t sustainable. It must have been very tempting to choose WEG Italy or Saudi Arabia.
But luckily, common sense prevailed. World championships for 2022 have so far been split between two countries with a strong heritage in the Olympic disciplines, especially. Jumping, dressage, para and vaulting goes to Herning, Denmark, and eventing and driving to Pratoni, Italy...
Read more here
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report/demise-world-equestrian-games-new-championships/
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Vets talk of challenges in identifying horses as lame during Endurance competitions
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
November 30, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
Official veterinarians at FEI Endurance rides have confirmed to researchers how difficult it can be to detect subtle lameness in horses during evaluations in competition.
Elimination rates in Endurance competitions are high, especially so in higher-level competitions in which FEI-accredited veterinarians are required to make the call over lameness.
Such decisions can affect the race outcome and commonly draw objections from competitors.
Monica de Mira, from the University of Évora in Portugal, and her colleagues from Portugal, Australia and Britain, set out in a study to assess the views of FEI official endurance veterinarians around the challenges in assessing lameness.
They also wanted to learn about the occurrence of confrontations with riders when horses are eliminated because of lameness, and to get their thoughts on the use of user-friendly technology to help detect lameness...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/30/vets-challenges-horses-lame-endurance/
November 30, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
Official veterinarians at FEI Endurance rides have confirmed to researchers how difficult it can be to detect subtle lameness in horses during evaluations in competition.
Elimination rates in Endurance competitions are high, especially so in higher-level competitions in which FEI-accredited veterinarians are required to make the call over lameness.
Such decisions can affect the race outcome and commonly draw objections from competitors.
Monica de Mira, from the University of Évora in Portugal, and her colleagues from Portugal, Australia and Britain, set out in a study to assess the views of FEI official endurance veterinarians around the challenges in assessing lameness.
They also wanted to learn about the occurrence of confrontations with riders when horses are eliminated because of lameness, and to get their thoughts on the use of user-friendly technology to help detect lameness...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/30/vets-challenges-horses-lame-endurance/
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
New Zealand: A first as South hosts endurance event
ODT.co.nz - Full Article
27 November 2019
April 2020 will be the first time the New Zealand Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Championships will be hosted further south than Christchurch.
Organised by champion endurance rider Susie Latta and a small committee of volunteers, the championships will take place over Easter weekend next year across four properties in the Nenthorn Valley in Eastern Otago.
Competitive endurance riding and competitive trail riding covers various distances on horseback. The longest distance in endurance is 160km, shorter distances are also offered. The winner is first over the line.
Competitive trail riding has a different set of rules. Riders are given time to complete a marked course and penalty points are given for arriving at the finish earlier or later than the optimum time.
The horse’s heart rate is taken upon crossing the finish line and then up to 30 minutes later once the heart rate has dropped to as low as the rider thinks it will. These heart rates are added to any time faults from finishing early or late to produce a final score. Lowest score wins.
The championship had never been south of Christchurch because getting venues was quite difficult, Mrs Latta said...
Read more here:
https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-events/first-south-hosts-endurance-event
27 November 2019
April 2020 will be the first time the New Zealand Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Championships will be hosted further south than Christchurch.
Organised by champion endurance rider Susie Latta and a small committee of volunteers, the championships will take place over Easter weekend next year across four properties in the Nenthorn Valley in Eastern Otago.
Competitive endurance riding and competitive trail riding covers various distances on horseback. The longest distance in endurance is 160km, shorter distances are also offered. The winner is first over the line.
Competitive trail riding has a different set of rules. Riders are given time to complete a marked course and penalty points are given for arriving at the finish earlier or later than the optimum time.
The horse’s heart rate is taken upon crossing the finish line and then up to 30 minutes later once the heart rate has dropped to as low as the rider thinks it will. These heart rates are added to any time faults from finishing early or late to produce a final score. Lowest score wins.
The championship had never been south of Christchurch because getting venues was quite difficult, Mrs Latta said...
Read more here:
https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-events/first-south-hosts-endurance-event
Monday, November 25, 2019
‘My period wasn’t my top concern’: Lara Prior-Palmer on bleeding on the saddle during world's longest horse race win
Telegraph.co.uk - Full Story
By Molly McElwee
25 NOVEMBER 2019
here is a paragraph in Rough Magic, Lara Prior-Palmer’s memoir on becoming the first female, and youngest, winner of the Mongol Derby, the longest horse race in the world, that any woman can relate to – the unexpected, wholly inconvenient arrival of her period.
“As of this morning, I’ve been bleeding onto the saddle,” she writes. “I forgot to take the pills that keep my period away. Its arrival strikes me as odd, perhaps because I feel the Derby has suspended ordinary life’s monthly cycles.”
Prior-Palmer had not been the best prepared for the six-day 1,000 -kilometre race across the Mongolian Steppe, riding around 25 wild ponies along a route based on the horse-messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224. She had signed up seven weeks before the start, about 10 months after every other competitor, and was ignorant of the most basic practicalities. From forgetting to pack toilet roll and naively asking the organisers, “Will anyone be waking us up in the mornings?”, tampons and the contraceptive pill fell pretty low on her agenda...
Read more here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2019/11/25/period-wasnt-top-concern-lara-prior-palmer-bleeding-saddle-worlds/
By Molly McElwee
25 NOVEMBER 2019
here is a paragraph in Rough Magic, Lara Prior-Palmer’s memoir on becoming the first female, and youngest, winner of the Mongol Derby, the longest horse race in the world, that any woman can relate to – the unexpected, wholly inconvenient arrival of her period.
“As of this morning, I’ve been bleeding onto the saddle,” she writes. “I forgot to take the pills that keep my period away. Its arrival strikes me as odd, perhaps because I feel the Derby has suspended ordinary life’s monthly cycles.”
Prior-Palmer had not been the best prepared for the six-day 1,000 -kilometre race across the Mongolian Steppe, riding around 25 wild ponies along a route based on the horse-messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224. She had signed up seven weeks before the start, about 10 months after every other competitor, and was ignorant of the most basic practicalities. From forgetting to pack toilet roll and naively asking the organisers, “Will anyone be waking us up in the mornings?”, tampons and the contraceptive pill fell pretty low on her agenda...
Read more here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/womens-sport/2019/11/25/period-wasnt-top-concern-lara-prior-palmer-bleeding-saddle-worlds/
Friday, November 22, 2019
FEI Votes for Changes Affecting Safety, Welfare
Thehorse.com - Full Article
Mandatory headgear, bitless bridle ban, imposed endurance rider weights, and frangible devices for eventing jumps are among new FEI rules.
Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Nov 21, 2019
Safety and welfare were the top priorities discussed at the 2019 General Assembly of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) held Nov. 16-19 in Moscow. Delegates of national federations from 91 member nations convened Tuesday to vote on proposed rule changes affecting the international governing body’s broad base of equestrian disciplines. The policy revisions aimed toward making international equestrian sport safer, fairer, and more respectful of the horse, said FEI leaders.
“I would like to reiterate that we cannot compromise on horse welfare, and we have to be held accountable for our actions as decision-makers,” said FEI president Ingmar de Vos as he opened the floor Tuesday morning. “We have the responsibility to uphold the values of our sport. … The decisions we make here today will have lasting repercussions in the equestrian world and those connected to our sport.”
Here are highlights of this week’s decisions:...
Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/181766/fei-votes-for-changes-affecting-safety-welfare/
Mandatory headgear, bitless bridle ban, imposed endurance rider weights, and frangible devices for eventing jumps are among new FEI rules.
Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA | Nov 21, 2019
Safety and welfare were the top priorities discussed at the 2019 General Assembly of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) held Nov. 16-19 in Moscow. Delegates of national federations from 91 member nations convened Tuesday to vote on proposed rule changes affecting the international governing body’s broad base of equestrian disciplines. The policy revisions aimed toward making international equestrian sport safer, fairer, and more respectful of the horse, said FEI leaders.
“I would like to reiterate that we cannot compromise on horse welfare, and we have to be held accountable for our actions as decision-makers,” said FEI president Ingmar de Vos as he opened the floor Tuesday morning. “We have the responsibility to uphold the values of our sport. … The decisions we make here today will have lasting repercussions in the equestrian world and those connected to our sport.”
Here are highlights of this week’s decisions:...
Read more here:
https://thehorse.com/181766/fei-votes-for-changes-affecting-safety-welfare/
FEI Drops High Profile (UAE) Steroids Case After Two-Year Legal Wrangle
HorseSport.com - Full Article
The FEI has dropped a steroids case against a top UAE endurance trainer Ali Khalfan al Jahouri, after a two-year legal battle. Find out why.
By: Pippa Cuckson | November 20 2019
The FEI has dropped a steroids case against a top endurance trainer after two years of wrangling over a legal point that potentially exposed the FEI to a damages claim.
Ali Khalfan al Jahouri, 44, long-time trainer at Al Wathba stables in Abu Dhabi, had been scheduled to appear before the FEI’s independent Tribunal in January 2019. Three endurance horses in his care – the former President’s Cup winner 8 Minute, plus HLP Gadafi and JLB Noche – tested positive to various banned substances at the end of 2017.
Under the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) the “Person or Persons Responsible” are strictly liable for the presence of a banned substance in a horse, even if someone else admits fault.
8 Minute had tested positive to three steroids, nandrolene, stanozolol and EA-ESTRANE-3B,17A-DIOL and Al Jahouri might normally have faced two years suspension.
But the 8 Minute case alone was prosecuted under the clause of EADCMRs Article 2.2, which covers “Use or Attempted Use of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method.” Proof of “intent” is required in an “attempted use” charge; after Al Jahouri produced witness statements about management practices at Al Wathba FEI legal conceded there was “insufficient evidence that Mr Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri was actually involved in the doping violation or used Nandrolone on the horse in this specific case” and dropped the 8 Minute charges...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/fei-drops-high-profile-steroids-case-two-year-legal-wrangle/
The FEI has dropped a steroids case against a top UAE endurance trainer Ali Khalfan al Jahouri, after a two-year legal battle. Find out why.
By: Pippa Cuckson | November 20 2019
The FEI has dropped a steroids case against a top endurance trainer after two years of wrangling over a legal point that potentially exposed the FEI to a damages claim.
Ali Khalfan al Jahouri, 44, long-time trainer at Al Wathba stables in Abu Dhabi, had been scheduled to appear before the FEI’s independent Tribunal in January 2019. Three endurance horses in his care – the former President’s Cup winner 8 Minute, plus HLP Gadafi and JLB Noche – tested positive to various banned substances at the end of 2017.
Under the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) the “Person or Persons Responsible” are strictly liable for the presence of a banned substance in a horse, even if someone else admits fault.
8 Minute had tested positive to three steroids, nandrolene, stanozolol and EA-ESTRANE-3B,17A-DIOL and Al Jahouri might normally have faced two years suspension.
But the 8 Minute case alone was prosecuted under the clause of EADCMRs Article 2.2, which covers “Use or Attempted Use of a Banned Substance or a Banned Method.” Proof of “intent” is required in an “attempted use” charge; after Al Jahouri produced witness statements about management practices at Al Wathba FEI legal conceded there was “insufficient evidence that Mr Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri was actually involved in the doping violation or used Nandrolone on the horse in this specific case” and dropped the 8 Minute charges...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/fei-drops-high-profile-steroids-case-two-year-legal-wrangle/
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
National delegates give green light to revamped Endurance rules
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
November 20 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
Thunderous applause greeted the passage of the new Endurance rules at the FEI’s annual General Assembly, in what could well prove to be the last roll of the dice in a bid to straighten out the discipline.
In a separate vote, the key elements of the rules package will be implemented on January 1, in an indication that a majority of national federations are keen to have to them in place as soon as possible.
The new Endurance Rules were passed by a strong majority, with 94 national federations in favour and 19 against, with no abstentions.
The new rules are the result of more than a year of work by the Endurance Temporary Committee. It was appointed in an effort to find solutions to ongoing welfare issues and reputational damage to the discipline, much of it arising from the fast-style desert racing centred on the Gulf region...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/20/national-delegates-green-light-endurance-rules/
November 20 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
Thunderous applause greeted the passage of the new Endurance rules at the FEI’s annual General Assembly, in what could well prove to be the last roll of the dice in a bid to straighten out the discipline.
In a separate vote, the key elements of the rules package will be implemented on January 1, in an indication that a majority of national federations are keen to have to them in place as soon as possible.
The new Endurance Rules were passed by a strong majority, with 94 national federations in favour and 19 against, with no abstentions.
The new rules are the result of more than a year of work by the Endurance Temporary Committee. It was appointed in an effort to find solutions to ongoing welfare issues and reputational damage to the discipline, much of it arising from the fast-style desert racing centred on the Gulf region...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/20/national-delegates-green-light-endurance-rules/
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Clean Endurance hopeful for real change as National Federations approve 2020 FEI Endurance Rules
19 November 2019
Immediate Release
Clean Endurance is relieved a large majority of National Federations represented at the 2019 FEI General Assembly in Moscow today chose to approve the full 2020 Endurance Rules proposal. Although 7 articles were amended to reflect certain National Federations’ desire for a loosening of the new rules, the overall rules package should nonetheless be effective enough to have a real impact on horse welfare in Endurance.
2 weeks prior to the FEI 2019 General Assembly, Clean Endurance had written to all 134 National Federations, urging them to vote in favour of the 2020 Endurance Rules Proposals in order to ensure the survival of Endurance as a FEI discipline.
They told the National Federation Secretary Generals that their letter was a last resort to try and convey to them the absolute emergency situation Endurance is in today, and that a positive vote was of the utmost importance.
Given that for the past several years attempts at improving the Endurance Rules failed due to commercial or political interests prevailing over horse welfare, Clean Endurance is hopeful that today marked a turning point in Endurance history. It is particularly pleased with the increase in qualifying criteria for moving up competition levels, with the introduction of qualifying as a combination for CEI 3* (160 km) and Championships, and with the introduction of minimum rider weights for all distances. Minimum weights aim to slow horses down and/or eliminate them from the competition before they suffer Catastrophic Injuries.
It is the FEI Board’s mandate to now decide on implementation dates in either January or July for each 2020 new rule provision. Clean Endurance is confident that since all of the new 2020 rules are centered around horse welfare, the FEI Board will do everything in its power to avoid any unnecessary delays and thus demonstrate that horse welfare is indeed the number 1 priority of the FEI.
Clean Endurance is a global collective which aims to restore the traditional values of their sport. It combats fraud, doping and abuse in collaboration with the FEI, National Federations and numerous other stakeholders.
Clean Endurance is happy to supply links for further reading, including coverage in bona fide news media.
Clean Endurance also welcomes comments and suggestions.
Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cleanendurance and contact them through the message button, or email contact.cleanendurance@gmail.com
Immediate Release
Clean Endurance is relieved a large majority of National Federations represented at the 2019 FEI General Assembly in Moscow today chose to approve the full 2020 Endurance Rules proposal. Although 7 articles were amended to reflect certain National Federations’ desire for a loosening of the new rules, the overall rules package should nonetheless be effective enough to have a real impact on horse welfare in Endurance.
2 weeks prior to the FEI 2019 General Assembly, Clean Endurance had written to all 134 National Federations, urging them to vote in favour of the 2020 Endurance Rules Proposals in order to ensure the survival of Endurance as a FEI discipline.
They told the National Federation Secretary Generals that their letter was a last resort to try and convey to them the absolute emergency situation Endurance is in today, and that a positive vote was of the utmost importance.
Given that for the past several years attempts at improving the Endurance Rules failed due to commercial or political interests prevailing over horse welfare, Clean Endurance is hopeful that today marked a turning point in Endurance history. It is particularly pleased with the increase in qualifying criteria for moving up competition levels, with the introduction of qualifying as a combination for CEI 3* (160 km) and Championships, and with the introduction of minimum rider weights for all distances. Minimum weights aim to slow horses down and/or eliminate them from the competition before they suffer Catastrophic Injuries.
It is the FEI Board’s mandate to now decide on implementation dates in either January or July for each 2020 new rule provision. Clean Endurance is confident that since all of the new 2020 rules are centered around horse welfare, the FEI Board will do everything in its power to avoid any unnecessary delays and thus demonstrate that horse welfare is indeed the number 1 priority of the FEI.
Clean Endurance is a global collective which aims to restore the traditional values of their sport. It combats fraud, doping and abuse in collaboration with the FEI, National Federations and numerous other stakeholders.
Clean Endurance is happy to supply links for further reading, including coverage in bona fide news media.
Clean Endurance also welcomes comments and suggestions.
Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cleanendurance and contact them through the message button, or email contact.cleanendurance@gmail.com
FEI General Assembly delegates focus on change at the dedicated Rules sessions
Inside.FEI.org
Nov 18, 2019
Discussions on the proposed Rules revisions for Endurance, the future of Reining as an FEI discipline and a general Rules session were the key focus for debate at the FEI General Assembly in Moscow (RUS) today.
FEI Vice President Mark Samuel, who has acted as FEI Board liaison on the Endurance Temporary Committee (ETC) charged with a full review of the discipline’s Rules, was moderator for the dedicated Endurance session and was uncompromising in his message to delegates on the critical importance of the ETC’s work and tomorrow’s vote.
“This journey has been a sacred trust”, he said in his opening. “The status quo was clearly unacceptable. It is the time now for action rather than more words. Our partner, the horse is counting on us.”
Along with the feedback received as part of the consultation process, there was further input from National Federations at yesterday’s Regional Group meetings. As a result, the ETC made additional revisions to the proposed Rules which will be voted on at the General Assembly tomorrow, and these were explained in detail by Committee Chair Dr Sarah Coombs.
She too stressed the importance of horse welfare and the level playing field: “The welfare of the horse is our number one priority: not competition, not commercial or business interests and not administrative convenience. Every one of us is bound by the Code of Conduct for the welfare of the horse. This requires that we respect the horse during and outside competition, above all else.
“The use of illicit drugs is an abuse of the welfare of the horse. Clean Sport is a fundamental aspect of the contract to participate in FEI competitions. Where the use of banned substances and controlled medication and in particular the widespread use of nerve desensitisation has come into our sport it must be rigorously dealt with.”
Multiple topics were raised on the proposed amendments during the session, which was allowed to exceed its allotted three-hour slot to allow for all points of view to be aired. Minimum athlete weight, qualifications, ride distances, novice rides, rotation of Officials, change of trainers and the date of implementation should the Rules be approved were all debated at length.
Tomorrow’s vote on the overall approval of the Endurance Rules, which will include the date of implementation in 2020, and with the option to vote on individual provisions separately, will only be taken once the additional proposed amendments have been voted on...
More at:
https://inside.fei.org/content/fei-general-assembly-delegates-focus-change-dedicated-rules-sessions
Nov 18, 2019
Discussions on the proposed Rules revisions for Endurance, the future of Reining as an FEI discipline and a general Rules session were the key focus for debate at the FEI General Assembly in Moscow (RUS) today.
FEI Vice President Mark Samuel, who has acted as FEI Board liaison on the Endurance Temporary Committee (ETC) charged with a full review of the discipline’s Rules, was moderator for the dedicated Endurance session and was uncompromising in his message to delegates on the critical importance of the ETC’s work and tomorrow’s vote.
“This journey has been a sacred trust”, he said in his opening. “The status quo was clearly unacceptable. It is the time now for action rather than more words. Our partner, the horse is counting on us.”
Along with the feedback received as part of the consultation process, there was further input from National Federations at yesterday’s Regional Group meetings. As a result, the ETC made additional revisions to the proposed Rules which will be voted on at the General Assembly tomorrow, and these were explained in detail by Committee Chair Dr Sarah Coombs.
She too stressed the importance of horse welfare and the level playing field: “The welfare of the horse is our number one priority: not competition, not commercial or business interests and not administrative convenience. Every one of us is bound by the Code of Conduct for the welfare of the horse. This requires that we respect the horse during and outside competition, above all else.
“The use of illicit drugs is an abuse of the welfare of the horse. Clean Sport is a fundamental aspect of the contract to participate in FEI competitions. Where the use of banned substances and controlled medication and in particular the widespread use of nerve desensitisation has come into our sport it must be rigorously dealt with.”
Multiple topics were raised on the proposed amendments during the session, which was allowed to exceed its allotted three-hour slot to allow for all points of view to be aired. Minimum athlete weight, qualifications, ride distances, novice rides, rotation of Officials, change of trainers and the date of implementation should the Rules be approved were all debated at length.
Tomorrow’s vote on the overall approval of the Endurance Rules, which will include the date of implementation in 2020, and with the option to vote on individual provisions separately, will only be taken once the additional proposed amendments have been voted on...
More at:
https://inside.fei.org/content/fei-general-assembly-delegates-focus-change-dedicated-rules-sessions
Endurance: No Gain Without Pain, But Who Will Make the Sacrifice?
HorseSport.com - Full Article
The FEI’s Endurance Temporary Committee has worked for a year to come up with rule change proposals to ensure the safety of the sport’s horses
By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson
I have been writing about the woes of desert endurance for over seven years. I didn’t want to feel a sense of “déjà vu” when the latest beefed-up FEI rule proposals were published a few days ago, but read them – or more accurately, the response to them – with more weariness and exasperation.
The FEI’s Endurance Temporary Committee (ETC) has worked tirelessly for a year, going further than any of its predecessors dared to with reforms to rescue endurance’s social licence to exist. The elected athletes’ representative Tarek Taher, in particular, has been harassed on social media by anonymous cowards so blatantly in thrall to Dubai. Yet the ETC has pressed on, when others would have walked away.
The ETC undertook unprecedented consultation, listening to all territories, geographies and cultures. It has published the observations of all national federations (NFs); even the incoherent ones, and those of South Africa, Libya, Lebanon and Sudan who simply cut and pasted bumph circulated by the UAE earlier this summer opposing most of the proposals.
The ETC has carefully explained why NF suggestions have been adopted or not. No other discipline has ever reached out to its global community in this way (though no other is in such a mess that it needs to.)
But inevitably the ballsy rhetoric at the FEI Sports Forum in April has been watered-down prior to the FEI General Assembly in Moscow next month, because any rules package has to get past the national federations.
The most obvious casualty of rule reform is Valerie Kanavy’s qualifying/upgrading system, which aimed to reduce fracture-risking high speeds and encourage tactical riding. The speed merchants were always going to oppose it, but it had unintended consequences for countries practising traditional endurance, and who resent having to compromise because of the excesses spread by one region...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report/endurance-no-gain-without-pain-but-who-will-make-the-sacrifice/
The FEI’s Endurance Temporary Committee has worked for a year to come up with rule change proposals to ensure the safety of the sport’s horses
By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson
I have been writing about the woes of desert endurance for over seven years. I didn’t want to feel a sense of “déjà vu” when the latest beefed-up FEI rule proposals were published a few days ago, but read them – or more accurately, the response to them – with more weariness and exasperation.
The FEI’s Endurance Temporary Committee (ETC) has worked tirelessly for a year, going further than any of its predecessors dared to with reforms to rescue endurance’s social licence to exist. The elected athletes’ representative Tarek Taher, in particular, has been harassed on social media by anonymous cowards so blatantly in thrall to Dubai. Yet the ETC has pressed on, when others would have walked away.
The ETC undertook unprecedented consultation, listening to all territories, geographies and cultures. It has published the observations of all national federations (NFs); even the incoherent ones, and those of South Africa, Libya, Lebanon and Sudan who simply cut and pasted bumph circulated by the UAE earlier this summer opposing most of the proposals.
The ETC has carefully explained why NF suggestions have been adopted or not. No other discipline has ever reached out to its global community in this way (though no other is in such a mess that it needs to.)
But inevitably the ballsy rhetoric at the FEI Sports Forum in April has been watered-down prior to the FEI General Assembly in Moscow next month, because any rules package has to get past the national federations.
The most obvious casualty of rule reform is Valerie Kanavy’s qualifying/upgrading system, which aimed to reduce fracture-risking high speeds and encourage tactical riding. The speed merchants were always going to oppose it, but it had unintended consequences for countries practising traditional endurance, and who resent having to compromise because of the excesses spread by one region...
Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report/endurance-no-gain-without-pain-but-who-will-make-the-sacrifice/
FEI World Championships, World Cup Finals cities announced
HorseSport.com
Host cities for the FEI World Championships 2022 and other major events up to 2023/2024 have been allocated by the FEI Board in Moscow.
By: FEI Communications | November 17 2019
Host cities for the FEI World Championships 2022 and other major events up to 2023/2024 were allocated today by the FEI Board at its in-person meeting in the Russian capital Moscow.
FEI World Championships in four disciplines: Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage and Vaulting will be staged in Herning (DEN) in August 2022. The Danish city, which runs a qualifier for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ annually, previously hosted a multi-discipline equestrian event in 2013 when it staged the FEI European Championships for Jumping, Dressage and Para-Dressage.
Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), venue for the Eventing discipline at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, will host FEI World Championships for Eventing and Driving in September 2022. The Italian venue, located 35 kilometres south of Rome, is no stranger to hosting high-level equestrian events and FEI Championships. It was the site for the cross country competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 1998 and hosted the FEI World Driving Championships for Singles in 2006 and 2010.
“When we opened the process for the FEI World Championships 2022 to single and multi-discipline bids, our intention was to have events that were more manageable and sustainable at proven venues,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “By allocating these multi-discipline Championships to Herning and Pratoni del Vivaro we’re working with hosts that already have the necessary experience and required infrastructure in place to organise world-class equestrian championships.
“We received some truly excellent bids and unfortunately we don’t have enough FEI World Championships to allocate to everyone, but we very much hope that these excellent organisers will bid again in the future to host championships at their venues.”
The World Championships 2022 in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines of Jumping, Eventing, Dressage and Para Dressage, will serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The FEI Board agreed unanimously that any decision on the FEI World Championships in Endurance and Reining should be postponed pending the outcome of discussions about both disciplines on 18 November and voting on 19 November.
The FEI Board also allocated FEI World Cup™ Finals for 2022 to 2024, with Leipzig (GER) once again hosting four FEI World Cup™ Finals under one roof from 6-10 April 2022. The German city previously hosted the same four disciplines – Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Vaulting – in 2011.
The FEI World Cup™ Finals for Jumping and Dressage will return to Omaha (USA) in 2023 (12-16 April), and the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2024 for Jumping and Dressage were allocated to Riyadh (KSA). Dates for the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2024 in Riyadh will be confirmed. Bordeaux (FRA) will host the FEI Driving World Cup™ Finals in both 2023 (2-5 February) and 2024 (1-4 February).
The bidding process for the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Finals 2023 and 2024 will be reopened.
In addition, the Board allocated qualifiers for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth 2020 and FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2020, FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy™ 2020 qualifiers and Finals and other Championships.
The list of key allocations is below (a complete list will be included in the detailed report of today’s in-person FEI Board meeting):
FEI World Championships 2022
Multi-discipline
FEI World Championships (Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage & Vaulting) – Herning (DEN), 6 – 14 August
FEI Eventing World Championship – Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), 14-18 September
FEI Driving World Championship – Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), 21-25 September
FEI World Cup™ Finals 2022
FEI World Cup™ Finals (Jumping, Driving, Vaulting & Dressage) – Leipzig (GER), 6-10 April
2023
FEI World Cup™ Finals (Jumping & Dressage) – Omaha (USA), 12-16 April
FEI Driving World Cup™ Final – Bordeaux (FRA), 2-5 February
2024
FEI World Cup™ Finals (Jumping & Dressage) – Riyadh (KSA), 4-9 March or 15-20 April
FEI Driving World Cup™ Final – Bordeaux (FRA), 1-4 February
Host cities for the FEI World Championships 2022 and other major events up to 2023/2024 have been allocated by the FEI Board in Moscow.
By: FEI Communications | November 17 2019
Host cities for the FEI World Championships 2022 and other major events up to 2023/2024 were allocated today by the FEI Board at its in-person meeting in the Russian capital Moscow.
FEI World Championships in four disciplines: Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage and Vaulting will be staged in Herning (DEN) in August 2022. The Danish city, which runs a qualifier for the FEI Dressage World Cup™ annually, previously hosted a multi-discipline equestrian event in 2013 when it staged the FEI European Championships for Jumping, Dressage and Para-Dressage.
Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), venue for the Eventing discipline at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games, will host FEI World Championships for Eventing and Driving in September 2022. The Italian venue, located 35 kilometres south of Rome, is no stranger to hosting high-level equestrian events and FEI Championships. It was the site for the cross country competition at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 1998 and hosted the FEI World Driving Championships for Singles in 2006 and 2010.
“When we opened the process for the FEI World Championships 2022 to single and multi-discipline bids, our intention was to have events that were more manageable and sustainable at proven venues,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “By allocating these multi-discipline Championships to Herning and Pratoni del Vivaro we’re working with hosts that already have the necessary experience and required infrastructure in place to organise world-class equestrian championships.
“We received some truly excellent bids and unfortunately we don’t have enough FEI World Championships to allocate to everyone, but we very much hope that these excellent organisers will bid again in the future to host championships at their venues.”
The World Championships 2022 in the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines of Jumping, Eventing, Dressage and Para Dressage, will serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The FEI Board agreed unanimously that any decision on the FEI World Championships in Endurance and Reining should be postponed pending the outcome of discussions about both disciplines on 18 November and voting on 19 November.
The FEI Board also allocated FEI World Cup™ Finals for 2022 to 2024, with Leipzig (GER) once again hosting four FEI World Cup™ Finals under one roof from 6-10 April 2022. The German city previously hosted the same four disciplines – Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Vaulting – in 2011.
The FEI World Cup™ Finals for Jumping and Dressage will return to Omaha (USA) in 2023 (12-16 April), and the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2024 for Jumping and Dressage were allocated to Riyadh (KSA). Dates for the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2024 in Riyadh will be confirmed. Bordeaux (FRA) will host the FEI Driving World Cup™ Finals in both 2023 (2-5 February) and 2024 (1-4 February).
The bidding process for the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Finals 2023 and 2024 will be reopened.
In addition, the Board allocated qualifiers for the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Youth 2020 and FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2020, FEI Jumping Ponies Trophy™ 2020 qualifiers and Finals and other Championships.
The list of key allocations is below (a complete list will be included in the detailed report of today’s in-person FEI Board meeting):
FEI World Championships 2022
Multi-discipline
FEI World Championships (Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage & Vaulting) – Herning (DEN), 6 – 14 August
FEI Eventing World Championship – Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), 14-18 September
FEI Driving World Championship – Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA), 21-25 September
FEI World Cup™ Finals 2022
FEI World Cup™ Finals (Jumping, Driving, Vaulting & Dressage) – Leipzig (GER), 6-10 April
2023
FEI World Cup™ Finals (Jumping & Dressage) – Omaha (USA), 12-16 April
FEI Driving World Cup™ Final – Bordeaux (FRA), 2-5 February
2024
FEI World Cup™ Finals (Jumping & Dressage) – Riyadh (KSA), 4-9 March or 15-20 April
FEI Driving World Cup™ Final – Bordeaux (FRA), 1-4 February
Monday, November 18, 2019
Australia: Growing success for the Matar Stables Bullio Cup
Endurance-world.com - Full Article
Race Report made with the assistance of the Canobolas Endurance Riders Club Inc
18 November 2019
Orange, Central West of NSW, Australia. Sunday 3 November 2019. When the Canobolas Endurance Riders Club was formed in 2018, its aim was to host an endurance event that showcased Australian endurance riding.
Matar Endurance Stables Dubai came on board with this fledging club and gave great support and confidence to move forward and host another event in 2019.
Consequently, the Club went one step further this year and staged a 120km 2* and domestic 120km ride in conjunction with the 80km 1* and 80km domestic event. Incorporated into the weekend was an intermediate 40km ride plus an introductory component of a 20km and 10-5km ride where young children were able to ride out on the course with elite riders and enjoy being a part of the sport of endurance riding.
Riders came from all over Australia, as well as New Zealand, Dubai, France, the UK, China and Hong Kong. The 139 endurance riders taking part in the senior categories have been forthcoming with high praise of the event. Even those who were not successful on the day have stated they will be coming back to try for a completion buckle at next year’s Matar Stables Bullio Cup...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/growing-success-for-the-matar-stables-bullio-cup/
Race Report made with the assistance of the Canobolas Endurance Riders Club Inc
18 November 2019
Orange, Central West of NSW, Australia. Sunday 3 November 2019. When the Canobolas Endurance Riders Club was formed in 2018, its aim was to host an endurance event that showcased Australian endurance riding.
Matar Endurance Stables Dubai came on board with this fledging club and gave great support and confidence to move forward and host another event in 2019.
Consequently, the Club went one step further this year and staged a 120km 2* and domestic 120km ride in conjunction with the 80km 1* and 80km domestic event. Incorporated into the weekend was an intermediate 40km ride plus an introductory component of a 20km and 10-5km ride where young children were able to ride out on the course with elite riders and enjoy being a part of the sport of endurance riding.
Riders came from all over Australia, as well as New Zealand, Dubai, France, the UK, China and Hong Kong. The 139 endurance riders taking part in the senior categories have been forthcoming with high praise of the event. Even those who were not successful on the day have stated they will be coming back to try for a completion buckle at next year’s Matar Stables Bullio Cup...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/growing-success-for-the-matar-stables-bullio-cup/
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Belgium: Cooling gel saw Endurance horse fail two drug tests; rider not at fault
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
November 14, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
A Belgium-registered rider whose horse tested positive for an anti-inflammatory medication after two Endurance rides bore no fault for the breaches, the FEI Tribunal has ruled.
Jacques Sabeau was not fined or suspended over the breaches, which involved harpagoside, an anti-inflammatory drug with pain-killing effects.
He competed the horse Eaunoire Cookies in a CEI1* 100km Endurance contest in Bullange, Belgium, on June 30 last year, and in a CEI2* event in Wimmenau, France, in early September last year.
Urine samples taken from each event returned positive results for harpagoside, which is listed as a controlled medication under the FEI’s anti-doping rules...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/14/cooling-gel-endurance-horse/
November 14, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
A Belgium-registered rider whose horse tested positive for an anti-inflammatory medication after two Endurance rides bore no fault for the breaches, the FEI Tribunal has ruled.
Jacques Sabeau was not fined or suspended over the breaches, which involved harpagoside, an anti-inflammatory drug with pain-killing effects.
He competed the horse Eaunoire Cookies in a CEI1* 100km Endurance contest in Bullange, Belgium, on June 30 last year, and in a CEI2* event in Wimmenau, France, in early September last year.
Urine samples taken from each event returned positive results for harpagoside, which is listed as a controlled medication under the FEI’s anti-doping rules...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/14/cooling-gel-endurance-horse/
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
UAE: Fine, suspension for Endurance rider over positive drugs test in horse
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
November 13, 2019 Horsetalk.co.nz
A young Endurance rider from the United Arab Emirates has been fined 7500 Swiss francs and suspended for two years after his UAE-registered horse tested positive for muscle-building compounds.
Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, who was aged 19 at the time of the drugs breach in September 2017, had competed the horse 8 Minute, who was not trained by him, in a 120km event for junior and young riders in Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy.
Samples taken from the horse confirmed the presence of nandrolone and stanozolol, which are listed as banned substances under the FEI’s anti-doping rules...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/13/fine-suspension-endurance-horse/
November 13, 2019 Horsetalk.co.nz
A young Endurance rider from the United Arab Emirates has been fined 7500 Swiss francs and suspended for two years after his UAE-registered horse tested positive for muscle-building compounds.
Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, who was aged 19 at the time of the drugs breach in September 2017, had competed the horse 8 Minute, who was not trained by him, in a 120km event for junior and young riders in Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy.
Samples taken from the horse confirmed the presence of nandrolone and stanozolol, which are listed as banned substances under the FEI’s anti-doping rules...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/13/fine-suspension-endurance-horse/
Monday, November 11, 2019
Endurance riding in Ukraine on the rise
Endurance-world.com - Full Article
10 November 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Lesia Gordiienko
Shchilin Endurance Equestrian Club, Iatski, Kyiv region. Sunday 6 October 2019.
Endurance riding in Ukraine is becoming more and more popular throughout recent years.
Due to the great enthusiasm of the famous endurance rider and Shchilin Endurance equestrian club owner Mr Czhou Zhuisi, who organizes FEI rides every autumn.
The rides of CEI2* 120k and CEI1* 80k were organized for both senior and young riders. Three loops of 12, 20 and 34km involved a mix of long plane field roads, moderate hills, forest paths and picturesque countryside. The track was rather technical and challenging with long speedy stretches and slopes to walk down...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/endurance-riding-in-ukraine-on-the-rise/
10 November 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Lesia Gordiienko
Shchilin Endurance Equestrian Club, Iatski, Kyiv region. Sunday 6 October 2019.
Endurance riding in Ukraine is becoming more and more popular throughout recent years.
Due to the great enthusiasm of the famous endurance rider and Shchilin Endurance equestrian club owner Mr Czhou Zhuisi, who organizes FEI rides every autumn.
The rides of CEI2* 120k and CEI1* 80k were organized for both senior and young riders. Three loops of 12, 20 and 34km involved a mix of long plane field roads, moderate hills, forest paths and picturesque countryside. The track was rather technical and challenging with long speedy stretches and slopes to walk down...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/endurance-riding-in-ukraine-on-the-rise/
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Survival of Endurance rests on crucial vote, says advocacy group
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
November 6, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
The very survival of Endurance as an FEI discipline is at stake when national delegates vote on new rules for the sport at the upcoming FEI General Assembly, a respected advocacy group says.
Clean Endurance is urging all national federations to approve the 2020 FEI Endurance Rules during the annual gathering, being held in Moscow in mid-November.
The group, a global collective which combats fraud and doping in Endurance, and seeks to restore the traditional values of the discipline, says it has written to all 134 national federations ahead of the Moscow meeting.
It is asking them to vote in favour of the rules in order to ensure the survival of Endurance as an FEI discipline.
They told secretary generals around the world that their letter was a last resort to try to convey the emergency faced by Endurance, saying that a positive vote was of the utmost importance...
Read more here
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/06/survival-endurance-vote/
November 6, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
The very survival of Endurance as an FEI discipline is at stake when national delegates vote on new rules for the sport at the upcoming FEI General Assembly, a respected advocacy group says.
Clean Endurance is urging all national federations to approve the 2020 FEI Endurance Rules during the annual gathering, being held in Moscow in mid-November.
The group, a global collective which combats fraud and doping in Endurance, and seeks to restore the traditional values of the discipline, says it has written to all 134 national federations ahead of the Moscow meeting.
It is asking them to vote in favour of the rules in order to ensure the survival of Endurance as an FEI discipline.
They told secretary generals around the world that their letter was a last resort to try to convey the emergency faced by Endurance, saying that a positive vote was of the utmost importance...
Read more here
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/06/survival-endurance-vote/
Friday, November 08, 2019
UAE: Former endurance rider Ana Mendez revels in new role as a flat-racing trainer
Gulfnews.com - Full Article
Argentine scores a double at Sharjah Racecourse’s first meeting of the new season
Published: November 02, 2019 18:54
Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Dubai: Former endurance rider Ana Mendez is revelling in her new role as a flat-racing handler where she is in charge of the Al Wathba Stables owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The Argentine horsewoman, who only took out an ERA’s training license two months ago, matched reigning champion Ernst Oertel win-for-win at the Sharjah Equestrian Club’s first meeting of the 2019-2020 UAE racing season on Saturday.
Mendez did not waste time to get off the mark at Abu Dhabi last week when she sent out Saarookh to secure a career-first victory that will always remain very close to her heart.
As the action turned to Sharjah, Mendez began the afternoon in fine style when Rawaa ran out a comfortable winner of the opening Sharjah Sports Maiden.
She then doubled the score with Fandim in the Longines Conquest VHP Maiden.
Mendez, a regular on the endurance scene, has for the past five years been honing her flat-racing skills that are essentially focused on Purebred Arabians, as an assistant trainer...
Read more here:
https://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/former-endurance-rider-ana-mendez-revels-in-new-role-as-a-flat-racing-trainer-1.67564907
Argentine scores a double at Sharjah Racecourse’s first meeting of the new season
Published: November 02, 2019 18:54
Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Dubai: Former endurance rider Ana Mendez is revelling in her new role as a flat-racing handler where she is in charge of the Al Wathba Stables owned by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The Argentine horsewoman, who only took out an ERA’s training license two months ago, matched reigning champion Ernst Oertel win-for-win at the Sharjah Equestrian Club’s first meeting of the 2019-2020 UAE racing season on Saturday.
Mendez did not waste time to get off the mark at Abu Dhabi last week when she sent out Saarookh to secure a career-first victory that will always remain very close to her heart.
As the action turned to Sharjah, Mendez began the afternoon in fine style when Rawaa ran out a comfortable winner of the opening Sharjah Sports Maiden.
She then doubled the score with Fandim in the Longines Conquest VHP Maiden.
Mendez, a regular on the endurance scene, has for the past five years been honing her flat-racing skills that are essentially focused on Purebred Arabians, as an assistant trainer...
Read more here:
https://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/former-endurance-rider-ana-mendez-revels-in-new-role-as-a-flat-racing-trainer-1.67564907
Australia: Endurance riders raise funds to support drought relief
CowraGuardian.com.au - Full Article
October 31 2019
The Lachlan Endurance Riders Club has donated $4000 to drought relief efforts in NSW, following through on a commitment made earlier in the year.
The club decided to contribute to attempts to alleviate the drought's effects earlier in the year, and after careful consideration, decided to do so through Lions International, who have more than 600 volunteers donating thousands of hours of their time servicing Central NSW.
There are several steps in the Lions International aid process, which made it clear that it was the right organisation for us to direct our energy towards assisting.
First and foremost, it is co-ordinated through the Geurie Lions Club, and with assistance from Wellington Lions, all money donated is used to purchase hay direct from farmers, as well as stock lick blocks, while delivering both items to communities in need...
Read more here:
https://www.cowraguardian.com.au/story/6468398/endurance-riders-raise-funds-to-support-drought-relief/?cs=594
October 31 2019
The Lachlan Endurance Riders Club has donated $4000 to drought relief efforts in NSW, following through on a commitment made earlier in the year.
The club decided to contribute to attempts to alleviate the drought's effects earlier in the year, and after careful consideration, decided to do so through Lions International, who have more than 600 volunteers donating thousands of hours of their time servicing Central NSW.
There are several steps in the Lions International aid process, which made it clear that it was the right organisation for us to direct our energy towards assisting.
First and foremost, it is co-ordinated through the Geurie Lions Club, and with assistance from Wellington Lions, all money donated is used to purchase hay direct from farmers, as well as stock lick blocks, while delivering both items to communities in need...
Read more here:
https://www.cowraguardian.com.au/story/6468398/endurance-riders-raise-funds-to-support-drought-relief/?cs=594
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Clean Endurance urges National Federations to approve 2020 FEI Endurance Rules
5 November 2019
Immediate Release
Clean Endurance has written to all 134 National Federations invited to the FEI General Assembly in Moscow on November 19th 2019, asking them to vote in favour of the 2020 Endurance Rules Proposals in order to ensure the survival of Endurance as a FEI discipline.
They told the National Federation Secretary Generals that their letter was a last resort to try and convey to them the absolute emergency situation Endurance is in today, and that a positive vote was of the utmost importance.
Clean Endurance sketched the dire straits Endurance is in as follows:
‘Back in 2014, the FEI created the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) which concluded that emergency measures were needed to reduce the numbers of doped, injured and dying horses at Endurance competitions. Only a few of their 41 recommendations were implemented and no improvement was seen.
In fact, the situation kept getting worse and worse, with ever increasing Catastrophic Injuries and the FEI Tribunal overwhelmed with doping and abuse cases. Currently, two thirds of all suspensions are for Endurance riders and trainers, over half of the Administrative Sanctions for doping involve Endurance horses ( and the winter season is only just beginning), over half of all doping cases treated by the FEI Tribunal in 2019 were Endurance related, and 80% of horse abuse sanctions imposed by the Tribunal this year were for Endurance. Numerous other abuse cases involving Endurance horses are queuing up to be heard by the Tribunal. An ever-increasing number of horses are collapsing and dying during Endurance competitions all over the world. This endangers ALL horse sports including the Olympic disciplines by bringing them into disrepute.
The continuing problems led the FEI to create the Endurance Temporary Committee in 2018 which was charged with creating rule proposals to protect the horses by putting them first, and thus ensuring Endurance could survive as a FEI discipline.’
Clean Endurance than pointed out that prior attempts at improving the Endurance Rules (in 2017 for example) failed, but that this time, commercial or political interests could not be allowed to prime over horse welfare, nor could a lack of involvement from those National Federations not actively participating in Endurance. They also mentioned that National Federations had no doubt, as was the case in 2017, received presentations from those National Federations who prefer to continue with racing horses at high speeds over very long distances and who will have tried to persuade them that this is the future. But that instead, they should ask themselves why the career span of a young horse sold to take part in these races is less than two years, and why the rate of positives to prohibited substances in that region is 12% - nearly 10 times greater than any other horse sport in any other country.
Clean Endurance went on to quote FEI President Ingmar de Vos from his opening speech at the 2019 FEI Sports Forum:
“Regardless of all actions undertaken, all the decisions, and all the resources made available we still have the same issues: horse welfare and the integrity of the sport remain huge concerns in Endurance. There are still too many injuries and fatalities, and I can only talk about those that we know of. We collectively hold our breaths when the season in the Middle East starts again. After Tryon, the FEI board unanimously agreed this had to stop. We need to bring horsemanship back to the heart of Endurance. It is our responsibility AND THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE. Endurance has great potential for the future, but NOT AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS”.
Ingmar de Vos also stressed the fact that “We need to be courageous to make the right decisions in November”.
Clean Endurance wrote that ‘regardless of whether you as a National Federation are actively involved in Endurance or not, we urge you to vote a resounding YES to ALL the Endurance rule propositions the FEI submits to you. These proposals are not perfect, but an important steppingstone to finally get Endurance under control and build a sustainable future for it, within the FEI’.
They concluded their letter by stating they trust that the National Federations will support the FEI in its efforts for clean and fair sport.
Clean Endurance is a global collective which aims to restore the traditional values of their sport. It combats fraud, doping and abuse in collaboration with the FEI, National Federations and numerous other stakeholders.
Clean Endurance is happy to supply links for further reading, including coverage in bona fide news media.
Clean Endurance also welcomes comments and suggestions.
Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cleanendurance and contact them through the message button, or email contact.cleanendurance@gmail.com
Immediate Release
Clean Endurance has written to all 134 National Federations invited to the FEI General Assembly in Moscow on November 19th 2019, asking them to vote in favour of the 2020 Endurance Rules Proposals in order to ensure the survival of Endurance as a FEI discipline.
They told the National Federation Secretary Generals that their letter was a last resort to try and convey to them the absolute emergency situation Endurance is in today, and that a positive vote was of the utmost importance.
Clean Endurance sketched the dire straits Endurance is in as follows:
‘Back in 2014, the FEI created the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) which concluded that emergency measures were needed to reduce the numbers of doped, injured and dying horses at Endurance competitions. Only a few of their 41 recommendations were implemented and no improvement was seen.
In fact, the situation kept getting worse and worse, with ever increasing Catastrophic Injuries and the FEI Tribunal overwhelmed with doping and abuse cases. Currently, two thirds of all suspensions are for Endurance riders and trainers, over half of the Administrative Sanctions for doping involve Endurance horses ( and the winter season is only just beginning), over half of all doping cases treated by the FEI Tribunal in 2019 were Endurance related, and 80% of horse abuse sanctions imposed by the Tribunal this year were for Endurance. Numerous other abuse cases involving Endurance horses are queuing up to be heard by the Tribunal. An ever-increasing number of horses are collapsing and dying during Endurance competitions all over the world. This endangers ALL horse sports including the Olympic disciplines by bringing them into disrepute.
The continuing problems led the FEI to create the Endurance Temporary Committee in 2018 which was charged with creating rule proposals to protect the horses by putting them first, and thus ensuring Endurance could survive as a FEI discipline.’
Clean Endurance than pointed out that prior attempts at improving the Endurance Rules (in 2017 for example) failed, but that this time, commercial or political interests could not be allowed to prime over horse welfare, nor could a lack of involvement from those National Federations not actively participating in Endurance. They also mentioned that National Federations had no doubt, as was the case in 2017, received presentations from those National Federations who prefer to continue with racing horses at high speeds over very long distances and who will have tried to persuade them that this is the future. But that instead, they should ask themselves why the career span of a young horse sold to take part in these races is less than two years, and why the rate of positives to prohibited substances in that region is 12% - nearly 10 times greater than any other horse sport in any other country.
Clean Endurance went on to quote FEI President Ingmar de Vos from his opening speech at the 2019 FEI Sports Forum:
“Regardless of all actions undertaken, all the decisions, and all the resources made available we still have the same issues: horse welfare and the integrity of the sport remain huge concerns in Endurance. There are still too many injuries and fatalities, and I can only talk about those that we know of. We collectively hold our breaths when the season in the Middle East starts again. After Tryon, the FEI board unanimously agreed this had to stop. We need to bring horsemanship back to the heart of Endurance. It is our responsibility AND THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE. Endurance has great potential for the future, but NOT AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS”.
Ingmar de Vos also stressed the fact that “We need to be courageous to make the right decisions in November”.
Clean Endurance wrote that ‘regardless of whether you as a National Federation are actively involved in Endurance or not, we urge you to vote a resounding YES to ALL the Endurance rule propositions the FEI submits to you. These proposals are not perfect, but an important steppingstone to finally get Endurance under control and build a sustainable future for it, within the FEI’.
They concluded their letter by stating they trust that the National Federations will support the FEI in its efforts for clean and fair sport.
Clean Endurance is a global collective which aims to restore the traditional values of their sport. It combats fraud, doping and abuse in collaboration with the FEI, National Federations and numerous other stakeholders.
Clean Endurance is happy to supply links for further reading, including coverage in bona fide news media.
Clean Endurance also welcomes comments and suggestions.
Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cleanendurance and contact them through the message button, or email contact.cleanendurance@gmail.com
Friday, November 01, 2019
Advice from a 70-Year-Old Endurance Champ
FEI.org - Full Story
31 October 2019
Words by Noelle Maxwell
70-year-old Bob Long reveals how preparation helped turn him from western rider to Endurance champion!
When it comes to Endurance, longevity is clearly an advantage.
That’s certainly the case for Bob Long, the 70-year-old American who – like his horses – just keeps on going!
Bob, of Boise, Idaho, just recently became the oldest ever winner of the 2019 Mongol Derby. That’s a 650-mile trek through the wilderness of the East Asian country.
As with all Endurance athletes, Bob puts his success down to readiness. “Age is just a number – preparation trumps youth,” he said recently.
We found out more about how Bob's preparations took him from long-distance novice to champion!
Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/endurance-bob-long
31 October 2019
Words by Noelle Maxwell
70-year-old Bob Long reveals how preparation helped turn him from western rider to Endurance champion!
When it comes to Endurance, longevity is clearly an advantage.
That’s certainly the case for Bob Long, the 70-year-old American who – like his horses – just keeps on going!
Bob, of Boise, Idaho, just recently became the oldest ever winner of the 2019 Mongol Derby. That’s a 650-mile trek through the wilderness of the East Asian country.
As with all Endurance athletes, Bob puts his success down to readiness. “Age is just a number – preparation trumps youth,” he said recently.
We found out more about how Bob's preparations took him from long-distance novice to champion!
Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/endurance-bob-long
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
South Africa: Australian winner of world's wildest horse race on Wild Coast
Sport24.oo.za - Full Article25-10-2019
Cape Town - The world’s grittiest horse race, Race the Wild Coast (RTWC), was won on Friday, October 25, 2019 when Australian rider Emma Manthorpe crossed the finish line at Kei Mouth, ahead of 13 other international competitors.
The dramatic multi-stage 350km race, sponsored by KTC and supported by Jack Black Beer, was the third iteration of the race, held on the Eastern Cape’s iconic, unspoilt Wild Coast.
It took place with entrants from as far afield as the USA, Hungary, Australia, Switzerland, UAE, France, Ireland, South Africa and the UK.
There were two riders from South Africa. Seven male and seven female riders competed against one another.
According to race organiser and co-founder Barry Armitage of Rockethorse Racing: “We congratulate Emma - as well as all the participants - and recognise their grit, tenacity, and exceptional horsemanship. The race is always gruelling, despite the fact that the Wild Coast is a paradise of a location...”
Read more here:
https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/australian-winner-of-worlds-wildest-horse-race-on-wild-coast-20191025
Friday, October 25, 2019
Final version of Endurance rules set to go to FEI General Assembly
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
October 25, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
The Endurance Temporary Committee, tasked with finding a sustainable way ahead for the discipline, has published its final modified version of proposed rules for next year.
The FEI General Assembly will vote on the new rules in Moscow in mid-November.
The Endurance Temporary Committee was appointed by the FEI in October last year in a bid to find solutions to ongoing welfare issues and reputational damage to the discipline, much of it arising from the fast-style desert racing centred on the Gulf region.
The committee says it has considered all feedback in shaping the final rules, which will come into effect as soon as reasonably possible in 2020 if passed by national federations at the General Assembly...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/10/25/endurance-rules-fei-general-assembly/
October 25, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
The Endurance Temporary Committee, tasked with finding a sustainable way ahead for the discipline, has published its final modified version of proposed rules for next year.
The FEI General Assembly will vote on the new rules in Moscow in mid-November.
The Endurance Temporary Committee was appointed by the FEI in October last year in a bid to find solutions to ongoing welfare issues and reputational damage to the discipline, much of it arising from the fast-style desert racing centred on the Gulf region.
The committee says it has considered all feedback in shaping the final rules, which will come into effect as soon as reasonably possible in 2020 if passed by national federations at the General Assembly...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/10/25/endurance-rules-fei-general-assembly/
Cambodia: Third endurance riding held as CEF looks to greater heights
KhmerTimesKH.com - Full Article
October 25 2019
Jose Rodriguez T. Senase / Khmer Times
A bigger turnout marked the third edition of the endurance riding event organized by the Cambodia Equestrian Federation (CEF).
Kao Vannarin and Sou Thai won in their respective categories in the competition held over the week in Kampong Chhnang province.
With Pick as his mount, Mr Vannarin, a well-known and experienced rider, won in the 40kms category over nine other competitors.
The second place went to Cheam Kean riding on Rocky and third spot was won by Dun Sokhorn on Chamreon.
In the 20kms category, it was the turn of Mr Thai riding on Liza to shine. Second spot went to Rinda Menlong on Kropum, while So Ram riding on Sros bagged the third place.
There were 14 riders that joined the endurance riding event this time. Of the number, 14 competed in the 40kms category, while four joined in the 20kms division...
Read more here:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50654125/third-endurance-riding-held-as-cef-looks-to-greater-heights/
October 25 2019
Jose Rodriguez T. Senase / Khmer Times
A bigger turnout marked the third edition of the endurance riding event organized by the Cambodia Equestrian Federation (CEF).
Kao Vannarin and Sou Thai won in their respective categories in the competition held over the week in Kampong Chhnang province.
With Pick as his mount, Mr Vannarin, a well-known and experienced rider, won in the 40kms category over nine other competitors.
The second place went to Cheam Kean riding on Rocky and third spot was won by Dun Sokhorn on Chamreon.
In the 20kms category, it was the turn of Mr Thai riding on Liza to shine. Second spot went to Rinda Menlong on Kropum, while So Ram riding on Sros bagged the third place.
There were 14 riders that joined the endurance riding event this time. Of the number, 14 competed in the 40kms category, while four joined in the 20kms division...
Read more here:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50654125/third-endurance-riding-held-as-cef-looks-to-greater-heights/
South Africa: Lormar endurance ride
Endurance-world.com - Full Article
25 October 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Carmen du Preez
Fairview Farm, Middelburg, Eastern-Cape South Africa. Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October 2019. Karoo club hosted the legendary Lormar Eudurance Ride and 95 participants were challenged by abnormally hot weather and drought conditions making the road surfaces particularly hard and stoney.
Riders were forced to be more vigilant and careful as the course was flat but had many surface changes and turns.
Samson Mjika on Perdeberg Blue Domino owned by Danie Louw skilfully grabbed the win on the FEI 160 Standard weight category. Grabbing best conditioned and Best of the Best award. Sunette Burnette on Celine close on his heals at the end recovered smoothly after a close call with a fall near the finish. Only 6 of the 13 160 km starters finished the race...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/lormar-endurance-ride/
25 October 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Carmen du Preez
Fairview Farm, Middelburg, Eastern-Cape South Africa. Friday 18 and Saturday 19 October 2019. Karoo club hosted the legendary Lormar Eudurance Ride and 95 participants were challenged by abnormally hot weather and drought conditions making the road surfaces particularly hard and stoney.
Riders were forced to be more vigilant and careful as the course was flat but had many surface changes and turns.
Samson Mjika on Perdeberg Blue Domino owned by Danie Louw skilfully grabbed the win on the FEI 160 Standard weight category. Grabbing best conditioned and Best of the Best award. Sunette Burnette on Celine close on his heals at the end recovered smoothly after a close call with a fall near the finish. Only 6 of the 13 160 km starters finished the race...
Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/lormar-endurance-ride/
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Mongolian Derby winner's book makes shortlist for William Hill sports prize
RacingPost.com - Full ArticleBy Bruce Jackson
4:52PM, OCT 22 2019
The shortlist for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year was revealed on Tuesday and Mongolian Derby legend Lara Prior Palmer features in the final six chasing the prestigious prize.
Rough Magic: Riding the World’s Wildest Horse Race (Penguin Random House) charts her unexpected win in the 1,000km race when she became the youngest winner of the race at the age of 19.
Endurance has clearly caught the imagination of the judges as another finalist is Rise of the Ultra Runners: A Journey to the Edge of Human Endurance by Adharanand Finn (Faber & Faber).
The winner, who will collect £30,000, will be announced at a reception at the Royal Horseguards Hotel on December 5. The shortlisted authors will receive a leather bound copy of their book and a £3,000 cash prize...
Read more here:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/mongolian-derby-winners-book-makes-shortlist-for-william-hill-sports-prize/405416
The Sports Book Of The Year is an official page dedicated to the Sports Book of the Year, that is updated daily. The page is: https://news.williamhill.com/sport/sports-book-of-the-year/
Monday, October 14, 2019
Photographer Ian Haggerty home from Mongolia
Ridgetimes.co.za - Full ArticleMr Haggerty took part in an endurance race, the Wild Coast, and met people there that helped him to apply to become a photographer at the Mongol Derby.
October 12, 2019
KINROSS – It is not everyone who gets selected to be an official photographer at the Mongol Derby in Mongolia in Far East Asia.
Mr Ian Haggerty was chosen as a photographer and recently returned from his trip to Mongolia.
The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race that extends over 1 000km through the Mongolian Steppe (grassland eco region) and is known as the world’s longest horse race.
He described the derby as an incredible adventure for both the crew and the horse riders.
“I do not think anyone, especially the riders, can explain to people what they have to go through and have people actually understand,” said Mr Haggerty.
“You have to experience it for yourself to truly grasp it...”
Read more here:
https://ridgetimes.co.za/146781/photographer-ian-haggerty-home-mongolia/
South Africa: Contaminated hay behind drugs breach in Endurance horse, tribunal finds
Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article
October 12, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
Contamination of teff hay with an invasive weed was behind a failed drug test in an Endurance horse in South Africa, the FEI Tribunal was told.
The contamination gave rise to a positive drug test for atropine and scopolamine in the horse Eks Aman, who competed in a CEI1* 80km event at Bredasdorp on September 29 last year.
The rider, Nico-Meyer Le Roux, acknowledged the positive drugs test, but received no fine or disqualification after the tribunal and FEI agreed that he bore no fault or negligence over the breach.
The source of the two related substances was found to have arisen from contamination of the hay with Datura stramonium, also known in South Africa as oileboom of stinkblaar.
The weed, which goes by the English names jimsonweed or devil’s snare, is a plant in the nightshade family which is now found in many parts of the world...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/10/12/contaminated-hay-drugs-breach-endurance-horse/
October 12, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz
Contamination of teff hay with an invasive weed was behind a failed drug test in an Endurance horse in South Africa, the FEI Tribunal was told.
The contamination gave rise to a positive drug test for atropine and scopolamine in the horse Eks Aman, who competed in a CEI1* 80km event at Bredasdorp on September 29 last year.
The rider, Nico-Meyer Le Roux, acknowledged the positive drugs test, but received no fine or disqualification after the tribunal and FEI agreed that he bore no fault or negligence over the breach.
The source of the two related substances was found to have arisen from contamination of the hay with Datura stramonium, also known in South Africa as oileboom of stinkblaar.
The weed, which goes by the English names jimsonweed or devil’s snare, is a plant in the nightshade family which is now found in many parts of the world...
Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/10/12/contaminated-hay-drugs-breach-endurance-horse/
Thursday, October 10, 2019
A vintage season finale at the British Horse Feeds' Red Dragon Festival of Endurance
Endurancegb.co.uk(Published:09 October 2019)
Endurance GB’s British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance serves up vintage season finale
Victories for England in Home International, Scotland in Celtic Challenge and Yorkshire in British Horse Feeds’ Riding Clubs Endurance Team Final while Nikki Malcolm is popular winner of Red Dragon title event
Nikki Malcolm (pictured above by Kerry Dawson) and Oso Spiralling Wind capped a superb season with an outstanding win in the feature event, the two-day 160km Speedi-Beet Red Dragon Ride at the British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival of Endurance at Builth Wells. The pair conquered one of the toughest tracks in the Endurance GB calendar at an average speed of 12.7km/hr ahead of Chris Rendle with Druimghigha Shatish who completed in second place at 12km/hr. Ella Bunting with Aly’s Estrella De Rock (Rocky) took third spot at an average of 11.7km/hr. Remarkably, this was Nikki Malcolm’s fourth 160km win at Red Dragon.
Owned by Linda Mars and being trained and ridden in the UK at Nikki and her partner Nathan Sweeney’s Stride Ahead yard in Dorset, Oso Spiralling Wind (Spiral) was bred at Oso Arabians Stud which is managed by Amanda Kettlewell in New South Wales, Australia. The eight year old demonstrated his consistency and versatility by winning the RiderCise Southern Championships as well as romping around Royal Windsor and Euston Park with strong completions.
Nikki and Spiral coming up the hill - Photo courtesy of David Saunders Photography
Primed to perfection for his end of season foray over the spectacular Welsh mountains, at one point the talented grey was a full hour ahead of the field.
Nikki said: “The forecast had been for heavy rain on Saturday night so we thought we would kick on during the first day – we did the second day bar 5km all on our own. He just feeds off his rider – you have got to keep him interested and let him know that the race is still on. He definitely knew he was coming in for a win at the end when he galloped over the line.
“He has really proved himself as an 80km horse with 100% success rate this season and the logical progression for him next season will be a one-day 160km but we will regroup with Linda his owner and Amanda at Oso Arabians at the end of the season. For now we have a field at home which we rest for the winter and it is shoes off time and a chance for them all to graze as a herd for three months which they love.
“I didn’t think this was a particularly hard Red Dragon. John and Jane (Hudson) have done a lot of work to improve the route over the years and it rode really well. I just love this event, the whole organisation is brilliant and with the showground at Builth Wells as an amazing venue you certainly don’t feel like the sport is a poor relation in any way. On top of it the Home International there this year gave it a great atmosphere.”
Spiral took Best Condition in the Red Dragon and as a further dollop of icing on the cake for Team Stride Ahead, Nikki’s partner Nathan Sweeney earned a completion in the 80km Saddle Exchange Dragon’s Egg, riding for Ireland in the Home International with Jenny Lees’ Pearl Island Arabians’ six year old Hamdanieh Farhah, the only pure-bred Bahrain Arab mare competing in the UK.
In the other big class of the Festival, the British Horse Feeds’ Little Dragon 80km CER, another Dorset-based rider, Ylva Samantha Mowatt emerged the winner with Terminators Dream at 13.4km/hr from Kathy Carr with Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle in second place at 13.4km/hr. Abigail Chisholm took third place with Mellway Royalblue Diamond at 12.8km/hr. Kathy Carr’s Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle took the Best Condition Award.
With the added bonus of the Home International which is hosted annually by either England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland, as well as the Celtic Challenge, contested by teams from Ireland, Wales and Scotland plus, for the first time in many years, a squad from Cornwall entries to the Festival were high.
Achieving the fantastic feat of getting six riders home, England won the Home International ahead of Scotland with Ireland in third and Wales fourth. The Celtic Challenge went to Scotland.
England’s Chef d’Equipe Maggie Pattinson said: “I am proud of my stewardship as Chef for the England Home International team but in particular this year bringing the cup home makes the glow of pride even brighter!
“Following a couple weeks of wet weather I think we all knew we were in for a tough Dragon although we did largely get away with mostly dry weather in riding hours.
“John and Jane Hudson once again pulled together an amazing team of stewards, vets and helpers of all sorts to once again put on a fantastic event for which I speak from every national Chef to say a huge thank you – they are all amazing!”
Among highlights for the winning England squad were three notable ‘firsts’, a third place in their first 160km for Ella Bunting and ‘Rocky’, a completion at their first CER for Rebecca Parsler and Shade while in the 48km Home International Junior Class, Beth Stanley-Whiteley with Tiny was the youngest ever junior at eight years old achieving a remarkable second place.
ILDRA’s Helen McFarland announced that Ireland would be hosting the 2020 Home International at the St Patrick’s Coastal Ride over the first weekend in September. Like the British Horse Feeds’ Red Dragon Festival, this is another tough ride but with the promise of seal watching whilst cantering along miles of beach in the shadow of the mountains of Mourne.
A total of 265 horse and rider combinations took part in more than 30 classes at the British Horse Feeds' Red Dragon Festival of Endurance taking in the iconic mountain grassland and heather track from the venue at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells.
Sunday’s action featured The British Horse Feeds’ British Riding Clubs Endurance Team Final with nine Riding Clubs vying for the top prize in the 36km Novice Graded Endurance Ride. The hotly contested competition was won by Yorkshire RC, which numbers riders from across area 4 (Yorkshire). Ellen Valley followed in second place with the Wessex Wanderers in third.
Linda Birkitt who competed for Yorkshire RC in the 36km GER with Mistletoe said: “Our team was formed after a chance conversation and has grown over the last three years. We started the season this year at Wootton in Lincolnshire and have had team entries in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire rides which were all qualifiers for the championships.
“Our team members have a mixed experience of endurance with a couple of advanced riders and a pony club champion who provide us with invaluable advice but most team members are novice endurance riders, some of whom have had their first competitive season this year.”
The Yorkshire RC team’s horses are of varying breeds including Welsh cobs, part-bred Irish Draught, ISH, Arab, PBA and TB. Some of the team compete at dressage and show jumping and there are former event horses on the squad.
Linda explained: “We train individually most of the time but some riders do manage to meet up in between rides and train on the North Yorkshire Moors, Pennines or Yorkshire Wolds for hill work with some beach rides if possible. On ride days, our crews are an important part of our team with some riders crewing if they are not able to ride.
Linda added: “We had a fantastic time at Red Dragon with our win topping the weekend. John and Jane are brilliant supporters to all the riding club teams throughout the year and our thanks go to them.”
The other Riding Clubs who reached the final were; East Mendip, Hampshire Combined, New Forest Hunts, National Forest, Angels of the North and Red Kite.
Acting Chair of Endurance GB, Sue Box, who competed successfully for Wales in the Speedi-Beet Red Dragon 160km class said: “As ever it was a great privilege to ride over this amazing course and we are very grateful to all our sponsors especially headline sponsor, British Horse Feeds and the organising team led by John and Jane Hudson with their wonderful team of volunteers as well as all the landowners without whose support access to the spectacular terrain would not be possible. In the build up to the ride the organisers had to contend with really wet conditions and it was a feat to ensure that so many horse and rider combinations would be able to get round safely. However, the skies cleared for the ride itself, hosting the Home International and Celtic Challenge this year was a bonus and with record entries plus some memorable performances over the weekend, this was a vintage Red Dragon.”
John Hudson said: “We are delighted with the level of entries and would like to thank both our fantastic headline sponsor British Horse Feeds who have been hugely supportive as ever and we simply could not do all this without them, as well as all the other companies who get behind the ride. We also work with more than 30 landowners and large sections of the route are across private land. We cannot praise them enough for their friendly welcome and level of cooperation. We are very grateful to the three external teams who help to run the event: The Gloucestershire TRF led by Jacky German who mark the route so brilliantly, the medics from SARA led by Merv Fleming and RAYNET led by Evan Jones.
“A great team of hard-working volunteers worked together to steward the event brilliantly and our thanks also go to the Showground staff at Builth Wells for whom nothing was too much trouble. All in all, it added up to the best Red Dragon yet in our view.”
Will I'Anson, Sales Director for British Horse Feeds said: “We are delighted with our long and successful association with this prestigious ride and team behind it and so pleased that the weekend went so smoothly and produced some excellent competition. The British Horse Feeds’ Riding Club Endurance Championships is also going from strength to strength and this bodes well for the future.”
Monday, October 07, 2019
South Australian takes out Australian Championships in Queensland
Denise Keelan photography
October 6 2019
Young South Australian rider Stella Harbison took out the FEI 160km endurance ride at Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex in Imbil, Queensland in the Equestrian Australia Championships this weekend.
The 30-year-old from the Adelaide Hills crossed the line riding Minton East Chaucer 11 hours and 17 minutes after setting out into the Imbil State Forest tracks at 2am that the morning to tackle the course.
Ride organiser and President of the Stirling’s Crossing Endurance Club Kim Moir said she was delighted with the Equestrian Australia Championships and complimented Ms Harbison on an exceptional ride.
“Stella finished 25th in her division in the 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup in July which was also hosted at Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex,” said Ms Moir.
“To see her return from South Australia just two-and-a-half months later to take out the Equestrian Australia Championship title for the three-star Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) accredited ride is impressive and we congratulate her on the outstanding result.
“Second place went to the owner of the Stirling’s complex, Matthew Sample riding Cedar Ridge Lyric while third place in the tough 160km ride went to Samantha Yates from the United Kingdom riding Ausden Prince Mahal.”
The junior title went to Tahlia Franke from Table Top, NSW riding Oso Florin who completed the ride in 13 hours and 45 minutes.
The event also included a hotly contested 80km FEI accredited ride (1 star), with the winner Imbil local Akhmed Pshunov crossing the line just six seconds ahead of runner-up Christopher Bailey from Orange, NSW who was only two and a half minutes ahead of Imbil local Nikki Scott who took out third.
“When you have riders out on the track for over five hours and they come across the line a few seconds apart it makes for great competition throughout the ride,” said Ms Moir.
“The junior title in this ride was also very close with Toowoomba riders taking home both first and second place when they came over the line only seven seconds apart having been out on the tracks for close to seven hours. 17-year-old Molly Choyce took out first and 15-year-old Mognild Eerkens came in second, with third place going to New Zealander Ana Whitehead (17).”
The two star 120km FEI ride saw only one completion with the junior title going to Elexis Webb from Boorabee Park, NSW.
In addition to the three Equestrian Australia Championship FEI rides, there were seven other rides at the event including two introductory rides to give new endurance riders the opportunity to try the sport.
Matthew Sample said he was very keen to grow the sport of endurance by offering a range of rides starting at 20km introductory rides and including 40km, 60km, 80km, 120km and 160km rides to cater for all skill levels.
“We love the sport and understand the need to offer entry level rides to attract new competitors,” said Mr Sample, who owns Australia’s only purpose-built endurance facility.
Over 182 riders participated across the thirteen rides bringing 400-500 support crew and family members to the Mary Valley region over the three-day event.
To find out more please visit www.stirlingscrossingendurance.asn.au.
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