FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision in Endurance equine anti-doping case

Inside.FEI.org

22 June 2021

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving Prohibited Substances.

The case involved the horse Cybele de L’Oule (FEI ID 105VH42/UAE) ridden by Sh. Tahnoon Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (FEI ID 10093006/UAE) and trained by Mohd Salem Abdulla Al Ameri (FEI ID 10081586/UAE). Samples taken from the horse at the CEI1* 80km in Bou Thib (UAE) on 2 November 2019, tested positive for the Banned Substance Arsenic and the Controlled Medication Flunixin.

Under the terms of the Final Decision, the horse and athlete have been disqualified from the event, and a two-year period of ineligibility has been imposed on the athlete and the trainer. The period of provisional suspension, effective from 2 December 2019, has been credited against the period of ineligibility imposed in this decision, meaning the athlete and trainer remain ineligible until 1 December 2021. As with all cases involving banned substances, the horse was provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification (2 December 2019).

The athlete and trainer are each required to pay a fine of CHF 7,500 and to contribute CHF 2,000 towards costs incurred by the FEI during the proceedings.

The full Decision is available here.

Endurance GB Northern Champion Kate Atkinson’s ‘relief’ at return to sport

EverythingHorseUK.co.uk - Full Article

24/06/2021
News Team

Endurance GB Northern Champion Kate Atkinson’s ‘relief’ at return to sport after completing last ride at 2019 FEI European Championships

Endurance GB’s new Northern Champion, Kate Atkinson has spoken of her relief at returning to post-lockdown competition just under two years after she and DNS Ronaldo finished their last ride together at the 2019 FEI European Championships at Euston Park.

The combination won the headline 80km class at Dialstone at an average speed of 16.4km/hr just a split second ahead of Linda Cowperthwaite and Epis Summer Breeze, with Jessie McHugh, on her first ever race ride, coming in third with CFS Eros at a speed of 16.3km/hr.

Kate Atkinson, a previous winner at the Northern Championship in 2011, said:

This was a proper endurance ride and a true Northern Championship course with really varied terrain, hot temperatures and some really steep climbs – you have to go over Sutton Bank on every loop. Nessie really knows his job and I could tell he was really pleased to be out again. It was like putting on an old pair of trainers for us both. He was great in the vetting and nothing fazed him and he was pulling right up to the finish – I think he knew he wanted to be the first across the line.”

Kate is enjoying a double celebration having just completed her veterinary studies at Liverpool University and with a new job in prospect as an equine vet at a practice in Lancashire...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/endurance-gb-kate-atkinsons-relief-at-return-to-sport/

First time racing in Ahijärve, Estonia

Endurance-World.com - Full Article

9 June 2021
Race Report made with the assistance of Ivi Korju

Ahijärve, Estonia. Saturday 29 May 2021.

An international endurance competition Ähijärve Endurance Ride 2021 took place in the forests of Karula National Park for the first time. During this event, also the Estonian endurance champion was decided. In a hard finish fight, Kairit Järv on the horse named Druid became the Estonian Champion.

Participants from Estonia, Finland and Lithuania put themselves to the test on quite varied South Estonian forest trails. Tracks were chosen so that gravel roads as well as sand and forest paths were present. Competitors could ride on both gentle slopes and a bit hillier ground. The weather was very favourable, sufficiently warm and a little cloudy, which was especially suitable for the horses. This time, the contestants rode in joint accounting where all participants of the Estonian Championship also took part in CEI2* class...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/first-time-racing-in-ahijarve-estonia/

Ireland: Competitive endurance returns for ILDRA

Farmweek.com - Full Article

By Bree Rutledge - June 13, 2021

ILDRA (Irish Long Distance Riding Association) hosted two riding events in May for riders to enjoy. On May 9, riders travelled to the remote and rugged location of Cam Forest near Limavady to explore the forested trails at this venue. With a variety of terrain and slopes, Cam Forest offered excellent opportunities for riders aiming to increase their horse’s fitness for the upcoming season.

ILDRA then headed to Baronscourt near Omagh on May 30 for their first event, including vetted competitive trail rides (CTRs) in the 2021 endurance season. In stark comparison to the unfortunate rain at Cam Forest, the riders attending the Baronscourt event were treated to glorious sunshine and sweltering temperatures! The stunning Baronscourt estate is a much-loved venue given the beautiful riding trails, which take in several wonderful views across the sheltered valley near the foothills of the Sperrins including woodlands, meandering rivers, rampant rhododendrons and lakeside trails. The carpets of bluebells across the estate made for a wonderful backdrop for all-important photos...

Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/competitive-endurance-returns-for-ildra/

Cancellation of Euston Park Rides in 2021

June 7th, 2021

Organisers of the Euston Park endurance rides announced today that the rides would not take place in 2021. Despite very best efforts it has become clear over the last few weeks that the ongoing pandemic places too many restrictions on the events to make them viable.

Nick Brooks-Ward, Event Director from organisers, HPower Group said ‘We had sincerely hoped that we would be able to run a series of rides this summer but unfortunately the combination of travel restrictions and the continued uncertainty of the protocols that would need to be in place for both national and international riders, their support teams and spectators, have meant that we have had to make the difficult decision to cancel this summer.’

Esther Young, Endurance GB Director of Operations said: ‘This is a very sad, but understandable, decision given the current restrictions and uncertainties we all face due to Covid-19.’

‘Euston Park is a very popular venue offering something for everyone, especially the longer distances offered that our open and advanced combinations are craving. We look forward to working closely with the HPower team to finalise the calendar for the 2022 ride season when international sports resume in full.’ EustonParkEndurance.co.uk

Italy: Sick endurance horse negative for EHV-1

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

June 8, 2021 Horsetalk.co.nz

The US horse who came down with a fever before the FEI Endurance World Championships at Pisa in Italy last month tested negative for EHV-1 (equine herpesvirus).

The entire US team was withdrawn from the event before arrival at the venue at San Rossore. Analysis of blood samples suggested a viral infection and withdrawal of the entire team was based on all the horses being considered contacts.

The team’s five horses had travelled and been stabled together over the previous two weeks, leading to the decision by the US team to withdraw from the event. The horse had developed a fever on Thursday, May 20, and the US team immediately put in place additional biosecurity measures to prevent any possible transmission of disease...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2021/06/08/endurance-horse-negative-ehv-1/

New Endurance GB scheme lets riders try a novice graded ride without paying for full membership

Yourhorse.co.uk - Full Article

6 June 2021

Endurance GB has launched a #GoEnduranceGB campaign to enable riders interested in competitive long-distance riding to have a go at a graded level competition before becoming a full member.

This ‘Try Before You Buy’ scheme is open to those who are new to endurance riding and allows them to enter a novice graded endurance ride up to 40km (just under 25 miles).

These miles also count towards a #Hack1000Miles challenger’s tally.

As part of the promotion, finishers will receive a £10 Endurance GB voucher and club membership is free for riding club teams, as well as retraining of racehorses, Pony Club and Riding for the Disabled members.

The move comes following a post-lockdown surge in grassroots entries...

Read more here:
https://www.yourhorse.co.uk/hacking/new-endurance-gb-scheme-lets-riders-try-a-novice-graded-ride-without-paying-for-full-membership/

Off to the (Mongol) Races

Argonautnews.com - Full Article

Posted by The Argonaut | Jun 2, 2021

WESTCHESTER RESIDENT PREPARES FOR UPCOMING MONGOL DERBY

By Alex Hutton

If you think a short horse race like the Kentucky Derby is grueling, try racing horses for an additional 600 miles or so.

That’s what Westchester resident Bianca Farmas-Griffith will be doing when she competes in the Mongol Derby, an annual endurance race across the Mongolian wilderness sometimes referred to as the most difficult horse race in the world. The trek is approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and Farmas-Griffith is scheduled to participate in August 2021.

Fascinated by horses and equestrianism for most of her life, Farmas-Griffith began riding horses during a childhood vacation to Poland.

“When I came home, I didn’t want to stop,” she recalled. “And the rest is history...”

Read more here:
https://argonautnews.com/off-to-the-races/

Bahamas: ‘Ride For Reine’ Trail-A-Thon A Success

Tribune242.com - Full Article

June 1 2021

TWENTY young riders mounted up and hit the trails with enthusiasm this past Sunday as a part of the “Ride For Reine” Trail-a-thon to raise funds on behalf of Reine Pagliaro.

Pagliaro, 17, is hoping to represent The Bahamas at the FEI Young Rider Endurance World Championships in Ermelo, Netherlands, September 3-10, 2021. The “Ride For Reine” event was a collaborative effort amongst all the member riding school clubs of Equestrian Bahamas - Camperdown Equestrian Centre, Mariposa Stables, and Moonstone Stables.

“The Ride for Reine was a great demonstration of the solidarity of our equestrian community,” said Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, president of EB.

“The riding schools donated the use of horses for the ride, the trainers gave of their time to supervise and organise the event, and Moonstone Stable provided a beautiful venue for riding...

Read more here:
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/jun/01/ride-reine-trail-thon-success/