Saturday, February 29, 2020

Gemma is all set for Moroccan adventure

DailyRecord.co.uk - Full Article

Hero Harry persuades Perth woman to take on trek

ByRachel Clark
11:48, 28 FEB 2020

A Perth woman is getting ready to go on the trek of a lifetime to raise money for a local stables.

Gemma Patterson (37) will be heading out to Morocco next month to take part in Rallye Maroc 2020 , a 30 kilometre day horse riding endurance challenge.

And she is hoping to raise some much needed funds for Kinfauns Riding for the Disabled stables.

She is going to be joined by a group of veterans on the trek, including Harry Marshall who works alongside Gemma at Kinfauns RDA.

In 1999 Dundonian Harry was injured at the age of 19 in an explosion which also killed two men when an anti-tank device blew up.

He was a soldier with the Royal Highland Fusiliers and was stationed in Bosnia at the time as part of a peacekeeping force.

Ever since, he has suffered from PTSD and survivor’s guilt, including having flashbacks and suicidal thoughts, and now uses horse riding to cope.

Gemma will be joining Harry and other veterans as their horse riding coach, and is hoping to raise money at the same time...

Read more here:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/gemma-set-moroccan-adventure-21596940

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Marlborough horse woman braves 500km Andes horse race for charity

Gazetteandherald.co.uk - Full Story

By Niki Hinman
Reporter
February 26 2020

A Marlborough horsewoman is saddling up for the ride of a lifetime across the remote Patagonian Andes in South America.

Clare King is taking part in the first-ever Gaucho Derby and is hoping to raise £10,000 for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group

The multi-horse endurance race from March 5 to14, is the brainchild of UK-based adventure gurus The Adventurists and its gruelling course covers 500km of beautiful and challenging terrain.

In addition to riding and hiking for 13 and a half hours a day – swapping horses every 50km – riders will have to fend for themselves throughout.

Though Clare, 41, is no stranger to endurance horseback racing, this latest adventure represents a completely new challenge.

She explained: “In 2013, I came third in the Mongol Derby, the longest and toughest horse race in the world. It was undoubtedly the hardest thing I have ever done, mentally and physically, and I said, ‘Never ever again, I’m settling down’...

Read more here:
https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/18263329.marlborough-horse-woman-braves-500km-andes-horse-race-charity/

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Sweden: Good racing in tricky weather conditions at Vasaritten in Rättvik

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

23 February 2020
Race Report made with the assistance of Linnéa Engblom

Rättvik, Sweden. Saturday 15 February 2020. After two years of successful races it was time for the third edition of Vasaritten in Rättvik.

Rättvik is located in the middle of Sweden where ‘warm’ weather conditions have not been seen for over 20 years, with snow only in some parts of the forests. Usually the competition is being held mid-January however this year it got postponed to give all riders the best conditions possible, even if this was not what the organizers hoped for. The interest in this competition has grown each year and is now considered as Sweden’s biggest international endurance competition. Among the starters were riders from the Nordic countries, UAE, Italy, Holland and the USA. This year there was the option to choose between the CEI2*120, CEIYJ2*120, CEI*100 and two national classes. As usual the vet gate and resting area were located inside the big hall at the venue.

During the night prior the competition, temperatures dropped below zero degrees and a thin snow blanket covered parts of the track. During the day the temperature rose and the sun even appeared for a while. As the day went on the course became softer...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/good-racing-in-tricky-weather-conditions-at-vasaritten-in-rattvik/

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Jordan: Two Prohibited substance endurance cases under FEI anti-doping rules

Inside.FEI.org

February 19 2020

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 two Endurance, 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: Blue Diamond (FEI ID 106HE36/JOR)
Person Responsible: Fahad Alkharmani (FEI ID 10072564/KSA)
Trainer: Anas Al Saied (FEI ID 10185797/JOR)
Event: CEI2* 120 – Wadi Rum (JOR), 13-14.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Diisopropylamine
Date of notification: 13 January 2020

Horse: Bouzarika (FEI ID 106RJ34/JOR)
Person Responsible: Sameh Faris Mohammad Said (FEI ID 10040466/JOR)
Trainer: Khldoon Mohd Al Sayed (10014556 /JOR)
Event: CEI1* 80 – Wadi Rum (JOR), 13-14.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine
Date of notification: 13 January 2020

The trainer in the Bouzarika case, Khldoon Mohd Al Sayed, has been provisionally suspended, both in this and a second case from the same event, from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision.

Horse: ***N/A
Person Responsible: ***N/A
Trainer: Khldoon Mohd Al Sayed (FEI ID 10014556 /JOR)
Event: CEI1* 80 – Wadi Rum (JOR), 13-14.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine
Date of notification: 13 January 2020

*** No PR/Horse Name in cases involving Minors and/or Fast Track Procedures...

More at:
https://inside.fei.org/content/prohibited-substance-cases-under-fei-anti-doping-rules-1

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Spain: Completion of the file to Ignasi Casas

BlogElRaid.com

[google translate]

After arduous complaints to different instances of the FEI and TAS. Ignasi Casas has been suspended only three months, which has more than fulfilled his punishment, although he has kept, at this time, to exercise its federal charges and as an officer in the tests.

This is all the information:

CAS Ends at record FEI vs Ignasi Casas


The claim Ignasi Casas vs the International Equestrian Federation regarding Unfortunate Events Tryon (USA) WEG 2018 has been favorably resolved the claims of the Spanish by the CAS / TAS (Tribunal Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.)

This long and hard process began in October 2018 when the FEI Ignasi Casas communicated to the opening of the disciplinary proceedings where he was asked 2 years disqualification in all its functions related to the FEI.

In November 2018, even with all the open, the FEI informed him his suspension as vice president of the ETC (FEI Endurance Technical Committee).

This suspension and the proposed penalty of 2 years were not accepted by Ignasi Casas and RFHE, which led them to proceedings before the FEI Tribunal where the final resolution was 1 year sanction against the 2 proposed initial years.

This time the national coach and team leader RFHE Raid did not agree with the resolution and reported the case to the CAS, sports highest legal authority.

Finally, this body has clearly resolved in favor of Ignasi Casas, only 3 months reducing the initial proposal for suspension of the FEI 2 years. Also it indicates that the FEI must pay 5,000 CHF Ignasi Casas as a concept of aid to legal costs and expenses also recommends reinstatement in the ETC (FEI Endurance Technical Committee).

However, the final and definitive resolution of the TAS, gone forth when Ignasi Casas had already 11-month ban, so it has been 8 months more disabled, with not allowing, injury later in the 2019 season, to be head of the Spanish Raid team, or act as an officer in FEI and national tests. In addition to attending the FEI prohibit Sports Forum 2019 and the 2019 General Assembly decisive in Moscow, where the new regulation was approved Raid.

Despite being the final judgment from the exit of the resolution on 10 January 2020 and after several allegations by the FEI, the CAS letter on February 14 terminated the case without accepting the amendments proposed by the FEI and gives the resolution definitively closed and non-confidential, so since 10 January, Ignasi Casas has all its functions fully recovered FEI (TAS will shortly publish the full resolution full details of the trial). "

Source: RFHE.

Monday, February 17, 2020

New Zealand: HYGAIN ESNZ Endurance South Island Champs 2020

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

17 February 2020
Race Report made with the assistance of Heidi Bulfin

Marlborough Endurance and Trail Riding Club, New Zealand. Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February 2020.

The Marlborough Endurance and Trail Riding Club played host to New Zealand’s HYGAIN ESNZ Endurance South Island Champs with the venue being just outside the small town of Renwick at the top of the South Island. The ride programme featured classes of all levels, starting with Introductory Endurance and CTR 15km and right up to 160km Endurance. The FEI events were combined with National, so those in the combined classes were competing for the same title over that distance.

All loops over the weekend travelled over many of Marlborough’s top winery vineyards – starting with Spy Valley wines, into Delegats, Hunters and Mudhouse, Pernod Ricard (Stoneleigh), and finishing up on smaller blocks of Saint Clair, Johnson Estate and Isabel Estate. The vineyards in this area are flat but feature many creeks and ditches throughout, with the tracks winding around them, maze-like in some parts, meaning riders had to always keep checking which way the marking was taking them. Despite the heat and dry conditions, the underfoot was surprisingly good thanks to the decent grass covering over the vineyards’ many headlands.

Saturday 1 February started at 1am with two HYGAIN 160km CEN Senior riders making their way out in the dark to negotiate the 35km loop while the temperatures were still relatively cool. This loop was repeated before doing two 25km loops and finishing with two 20km loops...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/hygain-esnz-endurance-south-island-champs-2020/

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

New Zealand: Kohuratahi endurance rider wins title for the second year

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

12 February 2020

A Kohuratahi horse rider has won a endurance title at the North Island Championships.

Pip Mutch attended the Dunstan North Island Endurance and CTR Championships based at the National Equestrian centre in Taupō in January.

Pip won the 160km event for the second year in a row.

"Winning for the second time is awesome. To finish a 160km ride is an amazing feeling and to win as well just makes it that much better..."

Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12305858

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Riders at UAE President’s Cup Emirates Reminded Not to Abuse Horses

HorseSport.com - Full Article

A list of extra rules for last Saturday’s big desert endurance race shines a light on the true extent of past abuse and cheating on the field of play.

By: Pippa Cuckson | February 10 2020

Horses may not be “intimidated by any kind of electric shock device” or the “hooting” of cars, the latter a feature of the accompanying motorcade at desert rides.

It is “strictly forbidden to drag and pull horses by the tail to stimulate them to walk” or to “twitch the horse’s skin or grab his ear at any time during the ride” – the latter a widely used technique to hasten a reduction in heart rate prior to metabolic checks at vet gates.

Unauthorized assistance is often seen in the closing stages of a race, with grooms running onto the field of play to chase and strike tiring horses. Under new special rule President’s Cup riders were warned not use electric shock devices to intimidate horses or beat them with “wire” in an astonishing list of extra rules for the big 160km endurance race at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/riders-presidents-cup-emirates-reminded-abuse/

Are the Days Finally Numbered for Faux ‘International’ Horse Events?

HorseSport.com - Full Article

Scandals over Olympic jumping qualifications and endurance races have prompted the FEI to review what is meant by national, international and minor events.

By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson

So: a 2* jumping event involving half a dozen riders of moderate achievement can be deemed “international” and qualify you for the Olympics. Yet the world’s second-most gruelling 160km endurance race with a $2 million purse and 300 riders from 24 nations is allowed to run under “national” rules.

These cock-eyed scenarios have always been possible under FEI protocols, but it’s almost unheard-of for organisers or riders to exploit that loophole. Most decent people have a basic respect for fair play or, failing that, a semblance of personal pride. Winning world rankings points for a 28-fault jumping round, or being simultaneously in the top five AND bottom-placed, are not achievements most people would boast about, after all.

These nonsenses are finally in the spotlight at the same time, for widely differing reasons...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/days-finally-numbered-faux-international-horse-events/

New Zealand: Championship series kicks off with Dunstan Horsefeeds ESNZ Endurance 2020 North Island Champs

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

9th February 2020
Race Report made with the assistance of Daryl Owen

The National Equestrian Centre, Taupo, New Zealand. Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 Janaury 2020.

The National Equestrian Centre in Taupo was again the location for this season’s ESNZ Endurance North Island Champs. This venue has been the host for endurance events regularly and in the past has seen wittingly hot humid conditions. There has been hail and heavy rain. There have been frosts and severe wind, and nearly every year there is fog. This year the weather was near perfect, with mild temperatures throughout the whole weekend and a light breeze to keep the horses cool, although dry conditions leading up to the event did nothing to soften the notoriously hard ground. The milder temperatures may have had an influence in no horses requiring treatment over the whole event, with a few mild gait irregularities adding up to a very good completion rate...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/championship-series-kicks-off-with-dunstan-horsefeeds-esnz-endurance-2020-north-island-champs/

Thursday, February 06, 2020

Clean Endurance witnesses continued disrespect for FEI Endurance Rules at Al Ula (KSA) CEI 2*

PRESS INFORMATION FROM CLEAN ENDURANCE

6 February 2020

Clean Endurance is disappointed and extremely concerned that despite the new 2020 FEI Endurance rules, the al Ula CEI 2* 120 KM ‘The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup’ in Saudi Arabia on February 1st showed no improvement in terms of rule abidance, horse welfare or horsemanship.

The 2020 FEI Endurance rules were approved in November 2019 by an overwhelming majority of National Federations. Given that the most active endurance country, the UAE, decided to only run events under National Rules this winter season, the Al Ula competition is the first time the FEI’s new welfare measures were put to the test.

This event with record prize money of 3,6 million Euros is a high-risk competition attracting inexperienced and unskilled riders, thus subjecting horses and other riders to the risk of injury. This competition clearly requires highly diligent, competent and conflict-of-interest-free Officials, stringent rule application and FEI oversight of the highest level. The first edition in 2019 saw a record number of 7 doping positives, at least 1 dead horse hidden in the results, and speeds of over 30 kmph.

This year, the panel of Officials was largely unchanged from 2019: 16 out of 21 Officials were awarded (key) roles again. Clean Endurance regrets that the FEI did not send an evidently much needed independent observer (IGA) to monitor the event and report on rule breaches, horse welfare issues and the performance of the Officials. The increased involvement of Europeans such as the organiser of the upcoming European and Junior/Young Rider World Championship in the organization of the Al Ula competition visibly failed to improve matters, nor did the presence of FEI Endurance Temporary Committee member Tarek Taher (KSA) who had a horse in this competition.

The specially prepared and bulldozer-flattened track filled with cars driving among the horses, the unauthorised assistance and unidentified grooms handling the horses, the many irregularities in the results as reported by the UAE-owned results app such as missing heartrates for dozens of eliminated horses, horses forcefully being held by the ears during cooling, harsh long shanked bits used with a single rein and tight triple nosebands, and a horse with henna covered legs ranked in 5th place are some examples of the rule breaches shown in the livestream of the event.

The 2020 edition saw high levels of eliminations for lameness and/or metabolic issues again, no doubt largely due to a lack of control and horsemanship amongst many of the 189 starters. Some needed to steady themselves by holding the front of the saddle or by hanging on to the reins – unacceptable at high level competitions and a poor advertisement for horse sport in general.

The provisional results show 2 Serious Injuries, 2 Minor Injuries, 7 Disqualifications for not presenting at the Vet Gate and 85 finishers out of 189 starters.

Perhaps the most concerning issue of all was the appalling amount of dust (mainly generated by cars driving along the track) in which horses were ridden hard: at an average speed of over 25 kmph for over 120 kms, with final loop speeds of close to 32 kmph for the first 9 combinations. Riders protected themselves by wearing dust masks and clearly had no concern for the discomfort and potential long-term damage to the eyes and lungs of their horses. The Officials at this competition had the duty and the authority to remedy this on the day, but they visibly failed to even attempt to do so.

Clean Endurance asks the FEI to revisit this issue urgently, on the grounds of horse welfare.

It is of the opinion that Officials who do not uphold horse welfare by failing to take appropriate measures as defined in the FEI rules and the FEI Codex for Officials, must be severely sanctioned and their qualifications withdrawn with immediate effect.

Footage of the competition can be seen here: https://youtu.be/2lQzDXE_agI

Patagonia's Gaucho Derby: The Greatest Test of Horsemanship and Survival Skill on Earth

TheAdventurists.com - More Info

Horse racing re-invented
Imagine yourself thundering deep into the wilds of Patagonia on horseback. You’ve got your steed and, in some sections, a pack horse. You’re navigating across some of the wildest terrain on Earth attempting to win one of the toughest and most unusual equine challenges in history.
After running the Mongol Derby for a decade we knew it was time to grow the new sport of ultra-endurance horse racing we had created. So we went in search of the next world beating adventure. We’ve not replicated The Mongol Derby with new scenery but designed a new race from the ground up – based on the landscape, culture, history and horses of Patagonia and the Gauchos. This is the greatest test of horsemanship and wilderness skills on Earth. This is the pioneers Gaucho Derby.

Race format
A 10 day 500km multi-horse adventure race.
The mind bending terrain in Patagonia makes this a race quite unlike anything else on the planet. It won’t just test your skill on a horse, but push you to the limit of your navigation skills, your ability to handle the wilderness and your physical endurance.
The Gaucho Derby is a multi horse race, but not in the same way the Mongol Derby. The race is broken down into 40km legs but you won’t be changing horse at every section. The high mountains are a test of skill not flat out speed so the horses won’t run out of steam. The flatter pampas sections will see you turning up the MPH to eat up the miles. For these sections you will be swapping to fresh horses regularly.
You’ll be riding large sections with a pack horse. As well as looking after and guiding your second steed you’ll have to switch mount mid leg to ensure the health of both animals by minimising the work.


The support
This might be some of the most remote terrain around but that doesn’t mean we won’t be monitoring the horses welfare at every stage. There’ll be vet checks every 40km as well as race marshals, emergency and roaming vets to ensure that no rider puts their own competitiveness before the welfare of the animals. We would rather nobody wins than someone wins by pushing too hard. Riders seen making bad decisions, riding too fast across difficult terrain or not presenting horses in great condition will get penalties or be disqualified. Full rules will be available to riders as we are developing them with our vet team now.
Riders will be tracked by satellite and we have a world class remote medical support team monitoring rider health and responding to emergencies.


A pack horse?
Gauchos considering a long journey in Patagonia often do so with the help of a trusty pack horse. This makes riding, well, different. You always have a fresh horse with you and can carry a bit more stuff with you. But you now have two horses to look after. Much of the time, if you handle the horses well, the pack horse can run free but in some sections you’ll need to lead adding a complication to the whole proceedings.
It’s not the fastest way to travel on flat open country but it starts to make serious sense on long mountainous regions. The Gaucho Derby won’t be all taken on with 2 horses but key sections will be. It means we can reduce the strain on the beasts carrying you over the slower more technical sections.


Your turn to pioneer
When we launch a new race we like to test it repeatedly to make it awesome. We recently completed the first test of some of the route for the new Derby by all the gods of horses is it a beast.
Once our testing is done we release the adventure to a small select crowd of adventurers to ride the race for the very first time.
These Pioneers of the Gaucho Derby have been selected and they set off in March 2020 to write their names into racing history. Applications for the 2021 race are open now.


The Gaucho
“He has taken his first lessons in riding before he is well able to walk” 
said David Christison in the 1882 Journal of the Anthropological Institute. Gaucho’s were nomadic, skilled horseman and cow herds who were reputed to be brave and somewhat unruly. Greatly admired and renowned in folklore and literature they became an important part of the regions cultural tradition. A way of life that has dwindled as farming practices and land ownership changed.
Clothed in a poncho (which doubles as a saddle blanket and as sleeping gear), a large knife called a facón and loose trousers called bombachas held in place with a wide belt, they travelled far across the wild landscapes of South America.
Just as you’re about to.

The 2020 Gaucho Derby is full.

The 2021 Gaucho Derby, set for February 28 to March 13, is open for entries.

For more information, see
https://www.theadventurists.com/adventures/gaucho-derby/



Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Australia: Tom Quilty National Endurance Championships coming to Collie in 2020

CollieMail.com.au - Full Article

February 4 2020

Collie will play host to the 55th running of the Tom Quilty National Endurance Championships, held from September 18 to 20 this year.

At midnight on the 18th, over 150 horses and their riders will take to the pitch black tracks of the Collie forest to tackle Australia's most prestigious endurance ride.

The valley's forests, sparkling waterways, scenic trails, and picturesque farmland will make for a varying and challenging course.

It will be the sixth occasion that WA has hosted this iconic event since the ride began rotating the states in 1986...

Read more here:
https://www.colliemail.com.au/story/6614734/collie-gearing-up-for-event/?cs=1443

Sunday, February 02, 2020

Saudi Arabia: Hamdan wins Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in Saudi

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Declares Saudis and Emiratis as ‘one people’ after winning it in Saudi colours

Published: February 01, 2020 19:10
Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer

Dubai: Sporting the royal green racing colours of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, won the CEI2* SR15 million (Dh14.69m) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup in Al-Ula, Province, Riyadh on Saturday.

A gold medallist at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in France, Shaikh Hamdan was cheered to victory by his father, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dedicating the victory to the Saudi people in a display of Saudi-Emirati unity, Hamdan said: “I am proud to be here today because this region has captured my heart, and I’m proud to represent Saudi Arabia.”

“If you open my heart you will find Saudi Arabia in my heart. This reflects how much we love Saudi Arabia. Saudis are Emiratis and Emiratis are Saudis. We are one people.

“When I came here last year, I promised to come back because the Al-Ula Province is breathtaking. It made me think what this beautiful region was like 1,000 years ago,” Shaikh Hamdan added.

“I love horses, they are my life. When I ride my cars I feel bored. With horses its different. I love to be with them, stay with them...

Read more here:
https://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/hamdan-wins-custodian-of-the-two-holy-mosques-endurance-cup-in-saudi-1.69427123

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...