Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Riders warned against using dry ice for cooling horses after video goes viral


Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
27 July, 2019 13:05

The FEI has “strongly recommended” riders do not use dry ice as a cooling agent, following outcry over a video of an endurance horse standing amid dramatic clouds of vapour.

Immediately after the incident in France on May 9, the FEI advised the “possibility” of bringing a case of abuse against the horse’s Spanish rider Arkaitz Arakistain Aristi.

But further investigations have revealed the horse was standing in buckets of water mixed with dry ice, and as the liquid temperature did not drop below 0C, no FEI rules had been broken and no disciplinary case will be pursued.

The FEI did, though, stress it would be harmful if dry ice directly contacted the horse’s skin.

A FEI spokesman said: “The FEI veterinary department stresses that there is no benefit to using dry ice in combination with water; however, it is very clear that the use of dry ice without water is dangerous and, in the event of direct contact with skin and other tissues, could cause freeze burns, which would be a major horse welfare issue and would be a clear breach of the FEI veterinary regulations.

“Due to the associated risks of using dry ice, the FEI veterinary department strongly recommends that it should not be used as a cooling agent...”

Read more here:
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/riders-warned-using-dry-ice-cooling-horses-video-goes-viral-692704

Mongol Derby to welcome 45 competitors from around the world

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

July 29 2019

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Tuesday 29 July 2019. Featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, this is the 11th year that 45 men and women from the four corners of the earth will race 1,000km across Mongolia on semi-wild horses.

This year’s edition will start on 7 August and the riders are expected to finish on 16 August.

The race recreates Chinggis Khaan’s ancient horse messenger system in epic fashion.

In 1224, Man of the Millennium Genghis Khan set up the world’s first long-distance postal transmission system. Using a massive network of horse stations his messengers could gallop from his capital Kharkhorin to the Caspian sea in a few days. It’s thought the speed of this communications was one of the great tactical advantages of the Mongol warriors.

Riders carrying messages directly from the Khan would ride non-stop wearing a gergel (metal plates showing the authenticity of the message) on their belts. Messengers would leap onto their new ride at each Urtuu at full tilt. Not even the call of nature or hunger would stop them. The remnants of this horse-wise-web carried on delivering post and messages right into the 1950’s.

The hardy & semi-wild native horses of Mongolia reprise their traditional role as the legs and lungs of the adventure and the horse stations, or morin urtuus, will be manned by nomadic herding families as they traditionally were. The messengers themselves will be played by horsemen and adventurers from around the world all riding up to 160km a day, navigating independently and changing horses at 40 kilometre intervals.

Cool Earth is once again the race’s official charity, although riders can also raise money for causes close to their saddles, and hearts.

Riders range from a 56-year-old Texan cowboy to a helicopter pilot from Alice Springs, a paleo-botanist from The Netherlands and a management consultant from South Africa, via a host of saddle-hardened (they’ll need to be) girls and boys from the racing world. All think they are fearless and ready for the most extreme adventure of their lives – we’ll see… Some will crash and burn...

See the competitors here:
https://endurance-world.com/mongol-derby-to-welcome-45-competitors-from-around-the-world/

Australia: Miranda Hodges' Tom Quilty Gold Cup success

Inverelltimes.com.au - Full Article

July 29 2019
Laini Kirkman

Inverell horse rider Miranda Hodges, who has only been riding for around 18 months, placed seventh in her first Stirling's Crossing Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The 17-year-old qualified for the 160 kilometre endurance ride last year. Competing in the junior division against 30 other riders, Hodges started riding at midnight on the Friday, July 12.

Riders have 24 hours to complete the complex endurance ride that has a strong focus on horse safety with regular vet checking. She finished at 6.30pm on Saturday evening in equal seventh place...

Read more here:
https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/6290728/miranda-hodges-tom-quilty-gold-cup-success/

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Australia: Last muster on NT cattle station before heading to Mongol Derby

ABC.net.au - Listen

On NT Country Hour with Matt Brann
25 July 2019

Sam Chisholm, who grew up on Napperby Station in the Northern Territory, is getting ready for the world's longest and toughest horse race — the Mongol Derby.

The helicopter pilot, who admits he hasn't done too much practice apart from some mustering on a Top End station, is just weeks away from taking on the 1,000 kilometre race through Mongolia.

"I've been at work for the last three weeks, so I haven't done a great deal of riding," he said.

"I've been riding my pushbike around and will be heading back to Auvernge Station to do a couple of more rides on the horse and get back to being saddle-fit, and then I'm on the plane.

"There's a lot of professionals in the field [for the Mongol Derby] and I'm pretty glad they let a few hacks from the bush have a go and hopefully we can hold our own."

Along with his cousin Pip, the two will be taking on the endurance ride while also raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

He spoke to ABC Rural about the challenge ahead...

Listen at:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/nt-country-hour/territorian-sam-chisholm-prepares-for-mongol-derby-2019/11346524

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Australia: Racing the Mongolian steppe

ChinchillaNews.com.au - Full Article

by BROOKE DUNCAN
23rd Jul 2019

DERBY: Taroom's Sally Conway is preparing her mental and physical resilience ahead of taking on the Mongol Derby - the most gruelling, rugged and longest horse race in the world.

In two weeks Conway will swap southwest Queensland for the harsh environment of Mongolia, where she will ride semi-wild horses across 1000km in 10 days - tracing the ancient messenger route established by Genghis Khan.

The intrepid adventurer first heard of the Mongol Derby in 2017 while she was working at a safari lodge in Kenya.

A visitor to the lodge had completed the derby and Conway - along with an English friend - decided to do it together.

"Then things in Kenya actually went pear-shaped, we were involved in the Laikipia land invasion where basically our ranch, the safari lodge we were working on, got completely taken over so I came back to Australia and she went back to England,” Conway said.

"Not long after that my aunt committed suicide, and so I decided that I was still going to do it and do it to raise money and awareness for mental illness...”

Read more here:
https://www.chinchillanews.com.au/news/racing-the-mongolian-steppe/3786908/

Monday, July 22, 2019

Royal Cavalry wins French Jullianges endurance horse race

Timesofoman.com - Full Article

July 21, 2019 | 6:23 PM by ONA

Paris: The Royal Cavalry won first place of the two star 122-kilometre French Jullianges endurance horse race organised by International Equestrian Federation.

The race included four stages, as the first stage was for 38 kilometres the second for 33 kilometres, the third for 31 kilometres and the fourth stage was for 20 kilometres. 35 horse riders from the Sultanate, France, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain and the Netherlands participated in the race.

Ali bin Hassan Al-Farsi, riding Raphal de Creer, won the race...

Read more at:
https://timesofoman.com/article/1644088

Oman: Medication breach sees Endurance rider suspended and fined

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

July 22, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

An endurance rider whose mount failed a drug test after a 160km contest in Muscat, Oman, has been suspended for six months and fined 3000 Swiss francs.

The FEI Tribunal also imposed costs of 3000 Swiss francs – twice that sought by the FEI – against the Oman-registered rider, Abdul Hamid Al Murad Al Balushi.

This was because Al Balushi failed to file a response in relation to the failed drug test in a case the tribunal said could have been dealt with through an administrative procedure. This would have removed the need for a formal tribunal hearing.

Al Balushi rode Esus De Maraval in a CEI3* contest on April 12 last year...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/07/22/medication-breach-endurance-suspended-fined/

Friday, July 19, 2019

Australia: Tackling 1000km endurance ride across Mongolia for charity

Beefcentral.com - Full Article

Jon Condon, July 19, 2019

AN intrepid young horse enthusiast from Central Queensland is about to embark on the experience of a lifetime, competing in this year’s 1000km Mongolia Derby endurance horse ride.

Twenty-one year old Sally Conway from Spring Creek and Caenby, between Taroom and Wandoan, will next month tackle what is regarded as the longest and toughest horse race in the world.

While Sally has only limited experience in endurance riding, she ‘grew up’ on a horse, and spent her gap year before uni riding race horses in France, and worked a training season with a trick-riding team in the US...

Read more here:
https://www.beefcentral.com/news/community-and-lifestyle/tackling-1000km-endurance-ride-across-mongolia-for-charity/

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Australia: US and Canadian visitors love Rainbow Beach!

RainbowBeachCommunityNews.com.au - Full Article

July 18 2019
By Connie Caudill

Four endurance young riders along with their two sponsors came to Australia from the US and Canada to take part in an International Endurance Ride Exchange.

It’s sort of like a student exchange but only for one event, a 50 mile endurance ride that was to be held near Eidsvold on the Rockybar property on June 8.

This exchange is an arrangement between the American Endurance Ride Conference and the Queensland Endurance Riders Association.

On the first trip to Australia in 2016, the young riders requested to go and ride horses on the beach. So arrangements were made to ride on Rainbow Beach...

Read more here:
https://rainbowbeachcommunitynews.com.au/us-and-canadian-visitors-love-rainbow-beach/

Australia: Striking gold in the Mary Valley trails

NoosaNews.com.au - Full Article

18th Jul 2019

LOCAL endurance rider Kaylea Maher on a locally bred Arabian horse Matta Mia Dimari have claimed the Holy grail of endurance horse riding with 160km of true grit on the weekend.

Maher fulfilled her dream of holding up the coveted Tom Quilty Gold Cup when she crossed the line on Saturday ahead of 298 other riders from across Australia and abroad in the iconic endurance race.

Hosted at the Stirling's Crossing Equestrian Complex in the Mary Valley, it took the tough-as-teak duo 10 hours and eight minutes to complete after setting off at midnight on Friday.

The mother of two said while she was hopeful of taking out the win, there were so many factors that influenced the end result.

"Every ride you just take as it comes, as you never know what the end result is going to be,” Ms Maher said.

"You always have to have hope in your horse and believe in your horse, and that's what we did.

"We believed in each other and we worked through all our challenges and he came home really strong. I'm really happy with his achievement...”

Read more here:
https://www.noosanews.com.au/news/striking-gold-in-the-mary-valley-trails/3782655/

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Mongol Derby 2014 winner Sam Jones to compete in the Gobi Desert Cup

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

13th July 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Heather Wallace

Sam Jones, a horse trainer based in Western Australia will be competing in the Gobi Desert Cup from 27 August – 6 September 2019. Sam is a horse trainer working mostly with breakers and remedial cases.

She says, “I would like to be able to do every race / adventure / endurance ride everywhere! But Mongolia holds a very special place in my heart and I cannot wait to return to the steppe. The more I have heard about the Gobi Desert Cup the more impressed I am, I am excited to be part of an event that gives so much back to the local community. My main goal for this race is to enjoy it! I find the isolation and wide open spaces make it easy to live in the moment and nothing beats riding a good horse across the steppe!”

After winning the gruelling Mongol Derby and racing Race the Wild Coast, Sam is turning her sights on the Gobi Desert Cup, which is fast growing a reputation for horse welfare and high level of preparation and organization...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/mongol-derby-2014-winner-sam-jones-to-compete-in-the-gobi-desert-cup/

Endurance GB Young Rider Champion sets sights on British team for 2020 European Championships

Endurancegb.co.uk

- (Published:17 July 2019)

Endurance GB’s new Young Rider Champion, Suffolk-based Madison (Maddie) Pomroy, has spoken of her dream of representing her Team GB at next year’s Young Rider European Championships.

The teenager landed the title after a strong performance riding Roz Plail’s horse Odie in the 120km class at The King’s Forest Ride near Thetford.

Maddie, 17, has been competing in the sport for the past six years after completing her first endurance ride, covering 64km in two days with her pony Milky Way, aged just 11.

“My grandmother Jane Girling got me involved as she has been competing in endurance for a long time. I was slightly thrown in at the deep end doing a two-day ride and I kept saying, ‘I’m really tired’, but my grandma wouldn’t let me give up. It was a real eye-opener and I was hooked.”

The King’s Forest is a happy hunting ground for Maddie as she completed her first 120km ride there the day before her 16th birthday with her grandmother Jane’s horse Zaferan back in 2017.

“We train over similar countryside around the forest tracks near the Suffolk coast so Odie has got used to the going in East Anglia having moved here from Devon last autumn,” she says.

“It was my first International 2* (120km) ride and I wasn’t sure how we would get on. I misjudged things slightly at the start as we went off quite strongly. But helped by my crew of my grandmother, Jane, my father Chris and sister Ella and with assistance from Bella Fricker who pitched in to help at one of the crew points, he was soon back on track. On the first loop, I was leading the UAE riders but let them go past as Odie was getting wound up. On the second loop I caught them up again. I rode the last loop with Martin McNamara, [the race winner from Ireland], but let him go on ahead as I didn’t want a racing finish and wanted to make sure we completed safely to secure the title.”

“Odie is just a fantastic horse and it is such a great opportunity to be able to ride him. I learned a lot from this ride to help us for the future and our plan is to compete next at Euston Park in August and then if things go well, we will try for the British Young Rider team going to the European Championships in Spain next summer.”

Odie’s owner Roz Plail said: “A huge thanks must also go to Tim and Sarah Dennis for taking Odie into training at their racing stables in Cornwall, whilst I was pregnant and then poorly, and getting him in such fabulous race ready condition for when Maddie started loaning him in October. All credit to Maddie too for maintaining his fitness levels over the winter months. I am excited to see how they progress over the rest of the season.”

Katie Bedwin, 21, from Rudgwick in West Sussex was named Reserve National Young Rider Champion with Aberllwyd Ibn Phariz, owned by Welshpool-based Sue Higgins.

Katie is currently in her final year of a paediatric nursing degree from the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton. She has represented Great Britain in Young Rider teams previously and is aiming for the Young Rider World Championships in Italy this year. She was also introduced to the sport by her grandmother Rosemary Attfield, a renowned trainer and former team selector and coach...

Read more at:
https://endurancegb.co.uk/main/news#2019071701

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

45 Riders Will Contest the 11th Annual Mongol Derby

Horse-canada.com - Full Story

July 15, 2019 | Comments
by: Mongol Derby

There are crazy things to do – and then there’s the Mongol Derby. Featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, this is the 11th year that 45 men and women from the four corners of the earth will race 1,000km across Mongolia on semi-wild horses, next month.

They range from a 56-year-old Texan cowboy to a helicopter pilot from Alice Springs, a paleo-botanist from The Netherlands and a management consultant from South Africa, via a host of saddle-hardened (they’ll need to be) girls and boys from the racing world. All think they are fearless and ready for the most extreme adventure of their lives – we’ll see… Some will crash and burn.

2019 MONGOL DERBY DETAILS
August 4-6: Pre-race training
August 7: Start gun of the 2019 Mongol Derby
August 16: Final riders expected to finish

Meet the entrants:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/45-riders-contest-11th-annual-mongol-derby/

South Africa: Cold temperatures didn’t interfere successful Fauresmith 2019

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

16th July 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Manie Ward

Fauresmith, Frees State Province, South Africa. Fauresmith 2019 was run from Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 July 2019.

This years’ Fauresmith race, as was for the last 46 years, run in the small little town Fauresmith being the second oldest town in the Orange Free State. After Bloemfontein, Fauresmith was the most important town in the Free State. The first House of Assembly had to choose between the two to determine which would become the capital of the Free State. On 30 August 1851, the vote went to Bloemfontein with a two-vote majority.

Fast forward to July 2019, the temperatures dropped below zero and a rainy cold front swept over the pre-vet check on Monday, which forced the official to halt the proceeding for close to an hour. After completion of this process, 306 horses were given the go ahead to start the race on Tuesday morning at 07:00am...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/cold-temperatures-didnt-interfere-successful-fauresmith-2019/

Sunday, July 14, 2019

France: Inaugural international races in Fougères

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

12th July 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Antoine Helleux

Fougères, Brittany, France. Saturday 29 June 2019. It was the first time the association Cheval Endurance Fougeraise organised a CEI1* and CEI2*.


38 riders took off for the CEI2* 120km and another 39 riders for the CEI1* 90km ride. Due to the heat wave in France (35°C at the maximum) and in order to protect the horses, the ground jury and veterinary team decided to change the heart rate and speed rules. The maximum heart rate to enter the vet gate was decreased to 60 in 15 minutes, the minimal speed was lowered to 11 km/h.
The track ran for partly through the forest and on the little hill around Fougères.

First vet check was located in the place of « Rocher Portail » 15 km of Fougères. After the first 35km only six horses were stopped thanks to good management of the riders, and limited speed of only 15 km/h...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/inaugural-international-races-in-fougeres/

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Australia: Kaylea Mahera Takes Out 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup

TomQuilty2019.com.au - Full Article and Partial Results

Local endurance rider Kaylea Maher got to fulfil her dream of holding up the most coveted prize in the sport of endurance ― the Tom Quilty Gold Cup ― when she crossed the line ahead of 298 other riders from across Australia and abroad in the iconic 160km endurance race.

Kaylea completed the ride, which was hosted at the Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Complex in Imbil Queensland, in ten hours and eight minutes after setting off on the ultimate endurance challenge at midnight last night.

She said she was hopeful of taking out the win but there were many factors that influenced the end result.

“Every ride you just take as it comes as you never know what the end result is going to be,” said Kaylea.

“You always have to have hope in your horse and believe in your horse and that’s what we did today. We believed in each other and we worked through all our challenges and he came home really strong. I’m really happy with his achievement today.”

“Credit goes to the people at home in our stable, they do a fantastic job of looking after him and yes, it’s a lot of hours and a lot of time; a lot of tears and sweat that go into getting a horse to the condition they need to be in to perform on the day. And that’s what we’ve seen, the hard work’s definitely paid off and I want to thank everyone who’s helped me get there today.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re at home or away, the competition is still there but to actually pull it off on home ground with the support from all my family, my friends and my team, I guess that’s where it comes down to feeling good about having this win on home ground.”

Kaylea also gave credit to her horse, Matta Mia Dimari, a locally bred Arabian with a feisty spirit.

“The first time I saw this horse I had a connection with him and I always believed from the first time I rode him that he could take home the Gold Cup,” said Kaylea.

“I worked with him from day one on our farm and I had the goal set in my mind that I was going to work towards getting him ready for this 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup...”

Read more here:
https://www.tomquilty2019.com.au/tom-quilty-gold-cup-2019-results/

Australia: Taroom's Sally Conway one of 45 entrants in 2019 Mongol Derby

Queenslandcountrylife.com.au - Full Article

Sally Cripps
12 Jul 2019,

A year ago Taroom's Sally Conway was full of dreams of riding in the Mongol Derby and raising awareness of mental health in rural Australia - in another few week's time it won't be a dream but reality.

The 22-year-old is one of six Queenslanders in a pack of 45 competitors from around the world that will be on the ride of their life in the 11th annual Mongol Derby starting on August 7.

Sally had originally planned to take on the world's longest and toughest horse ride last year but realised she needed time to both do a good job of the ride and to honour her desire to make a difference with a suicide awareness message, so she postponed.

She was also in year three of a farm business management degree.

Now she says she's ready for the Mongolian adventure and has a great plan in place to help a cause close to herself and others...

Read more here:
https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/6271674/sal-saddles-up-for-mongol-derby/

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Middleburg woman trains to compete in Mongol Derby

News4jax.com - Full Story

The Mongol Derby is one of the most difficult horse races in the world

By Jamal St. Cyr - Sports anchor & reporter
Posted: 4:01 PM, July 09, 2019

JACKSONVILLE, Fla - A local woman is going to compete in one of the most difficult horse races in the world.

Abbi Bell is a Middleburg resident and has been riding since she was 5. But she’s never attempted anything like the Mongol Derby.

Now, she is preparing to take on the race in Mongolia that recreates Genghis Khan's mail postal system routes.

Bell says that "He was the first to have an official mail route. They could move letters from point A to point B in messages in absolutely no time. The race recreates it with a different route every year just to keep it changed up."

Riders will ride for 13 hours a day for up to 10 days...

Read more here:
https://www.news4jax.com/sports/local-woman-trains-to-compete-in-mongol-derby

Australia: Krambach's Karen Anderson to ride in the 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup horse endurance race

GloucesterAdvocate.com.au - Full Story

Anne Keen
July 11 2019

For Krambach's Karen Anderson, taking part in the annual 24 hour Tom Quilty Gold Cup horse endurance race is all about the buckle.

In fact, she has left a spot for the 2019 one in her vast collection which already includes two from this epic 160 kilometre event.

"It's like the Melbourne Cup of the endurance world. It attracts the best riders and best horses from around the world," Karen smiled. "It's an iconic Australian event that celebrates the historical bond between human and horse."

And this bond is crucial to this event, with horse and rider taking off at midnight to complete five legs of roughly 40 kilometre stints.

"It's just me, a headlight and my horse," she said. "There will be many hours where I won't see anyone else."

But it's this aspect of the event that she loves - riding a horse in the Australian bush. It's a far trot from the city of Newcastle where she lived most of her life, growing up with parents who had no experience living life on the land...

Read more here:
https://www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au/story/6258962/just-me-a-headlight-and-my-horse/?cs=435

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Australia: Three Ararat riders to tackle 160 kilometre Tom Quilty Gold Cup event

Araratadvertiser.com.au - Full Story

Lachlan Williams
July 10 2019

Ararat will be well represented when Australia's most prestigious endurance horse ride takes place this weekend.

Simon and Kasey Thomas and Shannon Decker are among more than 300 riders who will participate in the 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup at the Imbil State Forest in Queensland from midnight on Friday.

The cup is the pinnacle of endurance riding in Australia, with riders tackling a 160 kilometre course over a 24 hour period.

The riders have all participated in and completed the event multiple times, but Simon Thomas said competing again is as exciting as ever...

Read more here:
https://www.araratadvertiser.com.au/story/6266259/ararat-well-represented-at-australias-top-endurance-horse-ride/?cs=1642

Australia: Lebrina's Kristie Lockhart prepares for Tim Quilty Gold Cup endurance rider against odds

Examiner.com.au - Full Story

Andrew Mathieson
July 10 2019

Kirstie Lockhart agonised over saddling up for another Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The Lebrina rider had all but made the call to walk away from Australia's most prestigious endurance event.

After the standout finishes for four years straight, it was tough to get off the horse.

The trek north of Brisbane near Gympie looked too far inside a float for her beloved Razara Momentum to cop.

"It does put a strain on the horses. You just have to really look after them to make sure they're eating and everything else," Lockhart said...

Read more here:
https://www.examiner.com.au/story/6265289/how-a-top-quilty-teen-got-back-on-the-horse/?cs=96

Australia: Young and old saddle up for Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2019

QueenslandCountryLife.com.au - Full Story

Hayley Kennedy
10 Jul 2019

Kids across the state will return to school next week with stories of the adventures they had over the holidays, but few will be as exciting as those of Zac and Matthew Sample.

When the clock strikes midnight on Friday, the boys will join more than 300 other riders and their horses as they take to the tracks of the Imbil State Forest on the Sunshine Coast to tackle Australia's most prestigious endurance ride, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

At just 12 years of age, Zac is the youngest competitor this year and it will be the first time he and brother Matthew, 15, get to take part in the challenging 160 kilometre ride...

Read more here:
https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/6267236/young-guns-at-the-reins/

Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Australia: The Tom Quilty Gold Cup is on this weekend

Tenterfieldstar.com.au - Full Article

July 9 2019

One of the biggest events on the endurance riding calendar is set down for this weekend and four Tenterfield competitors will take on the gruelling ride.

Tom Quilty Gold Cup is the annual national championship event for equestrian endurance.

The 160 kilometre ride rotates between states and this year will be hosted at Imbil in Queensland by Stirling's Crossing Endurance Club.

Local vet Luke Annetts will be aiming for his 11th Quilty buckle when the ride gets underway at 12am on Friday.

Last year, Annetts and Glen Innes-bred Churinga Taboo were the fifth heavyweight pairing over the line and received the prestigious best conditioned award in their division.

He and Churinga Taboo are heading to Imbil for this year's event...

Read more at:
https://www.tenterfieldstar.com.au/story/6264281/quartet-of-riders-set-to-take-on-gruelling-tom-quilty-gold-cup/?cs=1640

Scotland: Military riders to retrace 1930s trek

Northern-Scot.co.uk - Full Article

By Lorna Thompson - l.thompson@spp-group.com
Published: 16:09, 08 July 2019

MILITARY horse riders will retrace a historic trek this month on a four-day endurance ride ending at Kinloss.

Exercise Highland Garron will follow in the hoof-marks of a recruitment and publicity drive undertaken in 1934 by the Cavalry Regiment of the British Army. In the inter-war years, the Royal Scots Greys – so-called for their grey horses – traversed the Cairngorms in an effort to bolster its troop numbers.

Riders from the Royal Scots Greys will be represented by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and Royal Engineers. The mounted teams will follow four sections of the original ride, passing points of military and historical significance for both the Royal Engineers and the Cavalry, with the trek also serving as a recruitment ride for the modern-day units.

Some of the riders will dress in period uniform and carry 1930s equipment – and there will be a chance to meet the riders when they stop at the Highlanders' Museum at Fort George...

Read more at:
https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/military-riders-to-retrace-1930s-trek-180159/

Arabian Horse Int'l Endurance Issue 2 is Online

The second issue of Arabian Horse Int'l is available online at
https://issuu.com/arabianhorseintl/docs/revista_endurance2_2019

This endurance issue features articles on Joao Moura, four times the Champion of Portugal, an interview with Dominique Freeman, Andre Vidiz conquers the two most important trophies, and Uruguayan Cecilia Garcia crowned champion of HM The Kings Cup.

The cover photo is of Nathalie Weemaels and Box Bruma, from Ecuador, who finished second in the Biltmore Challenge.

Monday, July 08, 2019

Australia: REVEALED:Tom Quilty full program of events

Gympietimes.com.au - Full Article

7th July 2019

ENDURANCE is a family sport and there are several families who will take to the tracks in the Tom Quilty this year.

Kenilworth local Brook Sample, who holds the record for the most Tom Quilty wins with seven, will be joined by his two sons Matthew, aged 15, and Zac, aged 12.

The Lochtenbergs, from Imbil, will see Linda, Olaf and his daughter Tahlea, aged 14, take to the tracks.

Zac Sample will be the youngest rider to take off into the pitch-dark Imbil State Forest at midnight with just a headlight and horse for company but there are several other children close to his age taking part.

The children have already completed a 160km ride in order to qualify for the Tom Quilty Gold Cup and they can't wait to take on the most prestigious ride on the calendar.

The oldest rider to tackle the course this year is Toowoomba rider Ken Gordon at 76...

Read more at:
https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/revealedtom-quilty-full-program-of-events/3772654/

France: Shaikh Nasser hails UAE riders

GDOnline.com - Full Article

7 July 2019

Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affair, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president and Bahrain Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa praised the UAE riders for sweeping the podium of the Chantilly Endurance Race in France.

The 120km prestigious race, which was held under the patronage of Bahrain Royal Endurance Team, featured a broad pool of 100 elite participants from both genders, representing 21 countries from around the world, including Bahrain and the UAE.

The UAE’s Saeed Salim won the race in 5 hours, 14 minutes and 40 seconds, nearly one minute ahead of second-placed compatriot Saeed Ahmed Al Harbi (5:16.01)...

Read more here:
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/568180/Shaikh-Nasser-hails-UAE-riders

Saturday, July 06, 2019

Australia: Imbil to host Golden Guitar winner at Tom Quilty Cup

GympieTimes.com.au - Full Article

6th July 2019

TREVOR Knight is one of Australia's finest Country/Folk entertainers and has a fine reputation as a songwriter having won two Golden Guitar awards with many more nominations.

He is also a horseman of note having bred Arabian horses and competed in endurance for many years winning five Tom Quilty and three Shahzada buckles along the way.

In 1998 he and his horse Armistice went to the UAE as part of the Australian World Equestrian Games team and then on to Canada to compete in the rugged Rocky Mountain Challenge ride...

Read more at:
https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/imbil-to-host-golden-guitar-winner-at-tom-quilty-c/3772661/

France: Shaikh Nasser eyes Chantilly endurance race win

GDOnline.com - Full Article

6 July 2019

HIS Majesty the King’s representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman and captain of the Royal Endurance Team Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has welcomed riders participating in the 120km Chantilly endurance race in France.

The Chantilly endurance race is set to be held tomorrow, with the participation of riders from 21 countries...

Read more at:
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/567901/Shaikh-Nasser-eyes-Chantilly-endurance-race-win

Estonia champion over Norway in Kõrvemaa

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

6th July 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Merike Udrik-Õispuu

Kõrvemaa, Estonia. Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June 2019. Kõrvemaa, also known for excellent ski trails, hosted riders & teams last weekend. Estonia excelled the famous skiing country Norway, although this time in endurance riding, with Estonia securing three Baltic and Nordic championship gold medals and Norway winning one.

Athletes from six countries competed in Kõrvemaa, Norway present with the biggest number of starters, aiming to take home the most coveted victories in Baltic and Nordic Championships. The competition was exciting from start to finish.

Duel between Norway and Estonia

Jasmin Viinamägi on Ilueedi (EST) had a very strong ride in the CEIYJ1* (86 km), which was also a Nordic Championship class. The pair finished with a 7 minute lead ahead of two Norwegian competitors, Amanda Mælum Engevold (Arina) and Sarah Kjørberg (Toruk Bey). The winner’s riding time was 4:31:58,3 with an average speed of 18,97 km/h. Arina finishing third, was also awarded the Best Condition prize...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/estonia-champion-over-norway-in-korvemaa/

Friday, July 05, 2019

Mongolia: Gobi Gallop 2019 Sets New Record(s)

July 4 2019

Nine intrepid riders from around the world met in Mongolia in early June to ride The Gobi Gallop -the longest annual charity endurance ride on the planet. Billed as a ride covering a minimum of 700 kilometers in 10 days of riding, the Gobi Gallop this year exceeded all expectations and ran for a full 770 kilometers covering Arkhangai, Overhangai, Bulgan and Tov provinces. The riders faced rain, sand storms, cold nights and searing heat in the day and miles and miles and miles of desert in addition to amazing rivers, wonderful rocky outcrops and outstanding cultural and historical sites. The Gobi Gallop this year was aptly named the Ride to Kharkhorin and the riders had a wonderful morning on their “rest day” touring the famed Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin which is the home of the oldest working monastery in Mongolia where they were treated to not only the peace and tranquility of the monastery but got to witness monks chanting their prayers.

In addition to riding farther than any previous Gobi Gallops, this international group with riders from America, Canada, Australia, Belgium and England also crossed the 700 kilometer line a day early!

Susan Smith from New Zealand, 67, became the oldest woman to ever finish the Gobi Gallop. Considering this was the longest Gobi Gallop on record this is no mean feat and she undertook it with grace and dignity and great humour and set the bar high for future Gobi Gallopers who are looking to break this record. In addition to riding the longest ever Gobi Gallop Sue had the added challenge of riding after her friend and co Gobi Galloper came off hard when her horse went through a soft spot in the ground and ended up being sent into Ulaanbaatar by ambulance to be looked at. Fortunately, she ended up with only a cracked collar bone and assorted bruises and was able to greet Sue a day and a half later back at the finish line for the Gobi Gallop. This was the first time in Gobi Gallop history that anyone was sent off in an ambulance and not a happy record to break. Michele herself was very impressed with the majestic Mongolian guides, their horses their amazing endurance abilities. As she puts it, “These are not horses that have had their spirits broken by man and work. These are horses whose spirits and hearts have been embraced and revered by their handlers and those handlers are the Mongolian horsemen who guided us safely across some of the harshest riding terrain in the world....”

Another amazing record that fell to Martin Ruppert of Belgium was the record for the most kilometers logged in the traditional Mongolian wooden saddle, an unusual looking hand carved wooden saddle which all the Mongolians ( and some of the foreign guides) traditionally ride in and which each rider is required to log at least 20 kms in. This year Martin set the stage by actually preferring the Mongolian saddle and he ended up spending 408 kms in it. In fact, whenever anyone else was not in it, you could find Martin trotting along on “Rocket” out in the lead of the pack taking care of business. In his own words, the Gobi Gallop was “an experience so beautiful it makes you want to go back there every moment of the days in memories within yourself or by talking about it to others”. The Traditional Mongolian Comfort Saddle as it is called, was sold at the live auction at the Gobi Gallop Gala which tops off this amazing ride for over $3000.00 to benefit the children.

The ride is not just about the distance and the endurance component, it is a trip through time and a chance to learn about traditional horse training and care in the oldest surviving horse culture on the planet. According to Logue Williams, an experienced American endurance rider and first time Gobi Galloper describes the Gobi Gallop like this:

“You begin with recognizing the reason you are there....the precious children of the dump. Then you move on to the amazing herdsmen and guides, the fabulous horses, the tireless Julie Veloo, your equally amazing riding companions, the crew members who met you in the Yellow Bus each evening with your tent set up, your bags ready to be grabbed, the table and chairs ready to accept your tired bodies, your plastic cup filled with delicious adult libations....then you begin to gush about the tremendous views, the sure-footedness of your steed for the day, the majesty of the hundreds of horse herds headed up by a lone stallion...you then marvel at how you cantered non-stop for 15 kilometers, your horse never missing a beat, you laugh when you think of the daily joke by the herdsmen who pretend to grunt heavily when they assist you in mounting your horse for the day....you try to end your speech....the music begins playing softly, steadily rising in volume....you manage to add a few more rambling sentences about thousands of marmot holes, volcanic rocks, steep mountain climbs, a sand storm that you took unaware, the night that you slept through an entire thunderstorm, the hot springs, the trips to the monasteries, the afternoon that you got to help herd the horses,.. and you get chill-bumps when you remember listening to the melodic and soulful sounds of your guides and herdsmen, who are now your friends, sing in complete harmony a song of respect for mothers.”

The Gobi Gallop is the brainchild of Julie Veloo, Vice President of Veloo Foundation and 7 time Gobi Galloper. Coming to riding late in life when she moved to Mongolia, Julie did her first Gobi Gallop at 52, a scant year and a half after the first time she sat on a horse. She learned to ride in Mongolia and now leads treks and adventures, including the Gobi Gallop, across Mongolia to raise money to care for Veloo Foundation’s projects in Mongolia. The Gobi Gallop riders this year raised in excess of $48,000 USD all of which will go to support Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project which feeds, cares for and educates hundreds of Mongolian children who would otherwise be scavenging in the garbage to survive or home alone. This total combined with the money raised at the Gobi Gallop Gala in Ulaanbaatar and the sister Gala in Brisbane brought the 2019 total raised to a whopping $92,000 USD.

The current total for money raised for Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak / Narnii Huuhduud project over the 7 years of the Gobi Gallop stands at almost $550,000 USD all of which has gone directly to help the children. This total makes The Gobi Gallop one of the highest netting charity rides in history. In addition to the money raised for the charity, 100% of the riders fees paid to participate in the Gobi Gallop over the years have stayed in Mongolia and has gone to help support crew along with numerous traditional herder families as they train the horses in the traditional Mongolian endurance riding so they are able to take on this epic endurance challenge. A staggeringly beautiful ride, amazing horses, the oldest horse culture on the planet, raising money for an excellent cause and providing a demand for traditional training techniques which are under threat make the Gobi Gallop a truly one of a kind endurance adventure.

More information & photographs about the ride, the route, the participants and the charity available on request or visit http://www.horsetrekmongolia.com/gobi-gallop.html

Veloo Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit in the United States and a registered Canadian charity or visit http://www.veloofoundation.com/

Qatar: Trainer, rider banned after Endurance horse was not presented for drugs test

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

July 5, 2019 Horsetalk.co.nz

The failure to present a horse for drug testing after an Endurance ride in Qatar has resulted in a 30-month ban on the trainer and a 24-month ban on the rider.

The case, heard by the FEI Tribunal, involved the Qatar-registered mare Gavotte Des Pins, ridden in a CEI1* 80km Endurance ride in Doha by Ahmed Mubarak Ahmed Al Kuwari on February 3 last year.

The horse’s registered trainer at the event was Mohammed Misfer M D Al Habibi.

While accounts of the day varied, tribunal member Henrik Arle was satisfied that the FEI had proven the allegation against the pair – that of evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection.

He suspended them both and fined each of them 3000 Swiss francs. Each man was ordered to contribute 1500 francs towards the cost of the judicial procedure.

The horse had been selected for sampling at the event, none of which were ultimately taken...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/07/05/trainer-rider-banned-endurance-drugs-test/

Thursday, July 04, 2019

Germany: Endurance Festival Bavaria 2019

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

28th June 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Ursula Klingbeil

Endurance Festival Bavaria, Buch, Germany. Friday 14 and Saturday 15 June 2019. The new location in Buch for the Endurance Festival Bavaria is a beautiful place with enough space to receive a big number of riders and horses.

The new-made concept, a race weekend of two days covering nearly all competitions, was very successful and the varied landscape took the riders along forests, lakes, chapels and even wild animals. Organiser of the event is Ursula Klingbeil (trainer, rider and owner of the Bavarian endurance stable Endurance Team Klingbeil) together with her team.

Scheduled over Friday and Saturday were CEI1*, CEI2*, CEI3* and CEN races, by a lack of interest the 2 day race 80+ and the CEiO`s were cancelled.

Friday at 05:30am the CEI3* 160km started with four riders; Bernhard Dornsiepen (Bekele el Djem) and Tanja Kraft (Atoum’Re) from Germany, Ralph Dürler from Switzerland and Romane Yernaux (Sichen Des Sauvions) from Belgium. Unfortunately Ralph got a heat stress at 120km, the others finished very well with first place for Bernhard, second position for Tanja and Romane came third...

Read more at:
https://endurance-world.com/endurance-festival-bavaria-2019/

Wednesday, July 03, 2019

Australia: 2016 champion Debbie Grull heads North-West crop at Tom Quilty Gold Cup

TheAdvocate.com.u - Full Article

Juy 3 2019
Jarryd McGuane

Staverton's Debbie Grull will be part of strong contingent of North-West riders battling it out at the Tom Quilty Gold Cup endurance race starting in Queensland on July 11.

The 2016 champion will be joined at the event by Natone's Angela Hawks and Blaine Astell, Wynyard's Angie Clark and Elliott's Megan Finn and will be ready to compete over the 160km track at Stirling's Crossing.

Grull said she was going to race with no expectations, although she was still hopeful of being in contention at the business end of the race.

"I don't haven't got any expectations, I am loyal to my horse by treating well and then I will take whatever happens after that, but it would be great to be a chance," she said...

Read more here:
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6255174/former-champion-heads-north-west-crop/?cs=12

Former FEI President Flees United Arab Emirates

Chronofhorse.com - Full Article

By: Ann Glavan
Jul 1, 2019

Multiple news outlets have reported that Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the former president of the Fédération Equestre Internationale, has fled the United Arab Emirates with her two children, reportedly seeking asylum. She is also seeking a divorce from her husband, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Princess Haya, 45, is the daughter of Jordanian King Hussein Bin Talal. She served two terms as president of the FEI, from 2006 to 2014. Before her role with the FEI, Princess Haya competed in show jumping, representing Jordan at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Princess Haya married Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai, in 2004, becoming his sixth wife.

Sheikh Mohammed, 69, earned individual silver in endurance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. He also owns several well-known Thoroughbred racing stables, including Godolphin. Sheikh Mohammed has been accused of doping violations with his Thoroughbreds and his endurance horses, and he was suspended from the FEI for six months in 2009 after a failed doping test in endurance with his mount Tahhan...

Read more here:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/former-fei-president-flees-united-arab-emirates

Endurance Officials Criticized as Tribunal Bans Three Riders for Abuse

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

July 2, 2019
by: Pippa Cuckson

Abdul Rahman Saeed Saleh al Ghailani was banned 12 months and fined 4,000 Swiss francs for his riding of Sarab during the President’s Cup 160km race.
The FEI Tribunal has slammed endurance officials who turn a blind eye to horse abuse, after handing down record fines and suspensions to three Emirati riders.

In separate decisions last week, Tribunal suggested the FEI open cases against officials who failed to act against abuse on the day, warning that the “survival” of equestrianism is at stake.

In one case, the horse Castlebar Nato sustained a cannon bone fracture on the home stretch, and the incident was caught on camera. Tribunal said he was “violently kicked until the Horse eventually collapsed from exhaustion.”

In the separate case of Songbird FF, Tribunal declared the horse was so tired that even when grooms ran onto the piste to “encourage” him, he could proceed no faster than walk.

The toughest sanction was applied to Nato’s rider Khalid Jumaa Salem Al Khatri – a 30-month suspension plus a fine of 9,000 Swiss francs ($12,000 CAD) for his alleged abuse during the CEI* 100km at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on December 8, 2018...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/endurance-officials-criticized-tribunal-bans-three-riders-abuse/

Tuesday, July 02, 2019

Clean Endurance commends the FEI Tribunal’s sanctions for horse abuse

July 1 2019

Clean Endurance is satisfied that the FEI Tribunal has applied exemplary sanctions in the first 3 of a series of Abuse Protests it has submitted to the FEI this year. The athletes involved all received sanctions composed of suspensions ranging from 12 to 30 months, and fines ranging from 4 to 9 thousand Swiss Francs.

All three cases involve horses being harassed, beaten and kicked to go faster on endurance competitions during the past winter season, despite showing clear signs of distress and exhaustion. One horse, Castlebar Nato, was ridden so hard that it sustained a fracture of the cannon bone. It was not humanely euthanised but merely recorded as ‘Lame’ and swiftly removed off the track. Footage of this horse (bib 89) as well as the horse Songbird ( bib 32) which was ridden to exhaustion at the same event can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7-OSLU0zI.

The third case involved the abuse of Radja D’Altus (Sarab) and can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD2EJdeWfLI

Clean Endurance acknowledges the efforts the FEI and its Endurance Temporary Committee have made in the past months to come up with an extensive list of rule proposals aimed at restructuring the sport. It is however adamant that unless endurance moves away from purely speed based competitions, the current pattern of increasing horse destruction and abuse will only worsen. It believes the current rule proposals as presented at the FEI Sports Forum 2019, although positive in many respects and long overdue, will NOT be sufficient to achieve a significant restructuring of the sport and the necessary reduction in speeds.

Clean Endurance has submitted an alternative competition format proposal to the FEI, based on the long-standing French and Swiss national systems which rank horses based on their speed in the competition AND their final recovery (heart rate). In their opinion, this simple and well proven system is the only option to move the sport away from the still ever increasing and destructive speeds, and back to

rewarding strategic riding skills, horsemanship and the respect of horse welfare.

Clean Endurance regrets that it has had to file a series of Abuse Protests with the FEI in order to avoid that the athletes in question remain unpunished – had the Officials done their jobs on the day, this would not have been necessary.

It has therefore asked the FEI (again) to start publishing the records of Officials on their public database, similar to what is currently available for athletes and horses. It is vital in their opinion that Organising Committees, Officials and other stakeholders have the basic information on where and in which capacity Officials have been active. This information is key for enabling OC’s to choose the best Officials for their event, to respect minimal rotation requirements and to avoid conflicts of interest. Clean Endurance firmly believes that the FEI must provide transparency about Officials, urgently, as a first step in this no doubt long and complicated improvement process.

The decision notices (attached) for the 3 cases are published on the FEI Tribunal, here: https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/athletes/fei-tribunal/other-decisions

Clean Endurance is a global collective of volunteers who are committed to restoring the traditional values of their sport. It has an informal working relationship with the FEI: numerous recent FEI rule changes, procedures as well as sanctions have been developed from matters they have raised.

Clean Endurance is happy to supply further information, and 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

Australia: Queensland endurance riding season off to a ’stirling’ start

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article 16/03/2024 Erle Levey It was like the first day back at school as Queensland endurance horse riders st...