2023 Mongol Derby kicks off August 2

Equestrianists.com

The Mighty Mongol Derby is kicking off on August 2, 2023!

Forty-five equestrianists from around the world are making their way to Mongolia. Stay tuned as The Equestrianists bring you all the action from the steppe.

If you'd like to follow along you can do so via the following:
-FB/Instagram @MongolDerby
-Twitter @MongolDerbylive
-Live Tracker Map via our website: https://equestrianists.com/mongol-derby/

*Note the tracker map will not be visible/live until August 2nd when the race kicks off.

‘Powerful’ Scottish horse ride helps charity to combat isolation

TheNational.scot - Full Article

18 July 2023
By Steph Brawn

A SCOT is hoping is close a widening gap between people and the outdoors in the wake of the Covid crisis after leading a “powerful” fundraising horse ride from St Andrews to Iona along an ancient trail.

Louis Hall began long-distance horse rides in 2020 after his friend tragically died of cystic fibrosis.

The 27-year-old rode from John O’Groats to Lands End across 57 days while raising a mammoth £38,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

What he thought would be a tough, solitary journey against the elements on his Highland pony turned out to be an “extraordinary magnet for human connection” as people from all walks of life joined him for parts of his adventure...

Read more here:
https://www.thenational.scot/news/23664178.powerful-scottish-horse-ride-helps-charity-combat-isolation/

India: Saima Syed: A hijabi girl riding on horses of her dreams

DailyGoodMorningKashmir.com - Full Article

By: Dr. Shujaat Ali Quadri
July 21, 2023

With tricolour in her hand, 20-year-old Saima Syed proudly flaunts her unique achievement: She has become the country’s first One Star woman horse rider. Saima has achieved the feat of becoming a One Star Rider by qualifying with a Bronze Medal in the 80 km Endurance Race in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 17 and 18 February this year under the joint aegis of Equestrian Federation of India and All India Marwari Horse Society, Gujarat Chapter.

Saima was being brought up in a small-town called Nagaur, near Jodhpur, when she made up her mind that she would become a leading horse rider of India riding on her favourite partner, Aravalli, which is her mare...

Read more here:
https://www.dailygoodmorningkashmir.com/saima-syed-a-hijabi-girl-riding-on-horses-of-her-dreams/

New Zealand: Katikati equestrian rider celebrates big win

SunLive.co.nz - Full Article

07 Jul, 2023 | By Taylor Rice

Protein bars, a 2am start and a 11-hour ride on horseback has led to Kayla Warbrooke winning the highest overall distance for the season at the Distance Riding NZ prizegiving.

Kayla is now the proud winner of the Youth Combination Award, after clocking up a whopping total of 633km for the season.

Her impressive distance was helped by her first ever 120km ride at the 2023 Renegade Hoofboots DRNZ championships, held in Taupo earlier this year.

The track consisted of four loops, ranging from 40km to 20km. The speed of Kayla’s ride was at 10 to 13km per hour, and was completed by Kayla in 11 hours and 42 minutes.

“It was such a foggy morning at the champs, me and my friend got lost a few times but got back on track quickly,” says Kayla...

Read more here:
https://sunlive.co.nz/news/322572-katikati-equestrian-rider-celebrates-big-win.html

Midcoast dairy farmer to compete in the Mongol Derby, the longest horse race in the world

PressHerald.com - Full Article

Jessie Dowling, of Whitefield, will leave for Mongolia later this month to prepare for a 620-mile race against 44 riders from around the world.

July 5 2023
By Maria SkillingsTimes Record

A Midcoast dairy farmer and horse enthusiast will tackle the ultimate riding challenge when she competes next month in the Mongol Derby — the longest horse race in the world.

Jessie Dowling, 42, of Whitefield, will race in Mongolia alongside 44 riders from all over the world, two-thirds of whom are women. The elite race, which starts Aug. 2, follows the historical postal routes of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.

“Mongolia is the birthplace of horsemanship,” Dowling said.

Riders will have eight to 10 days to complete the 620-mile race. Competitors can only ride between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Racers must weigh no more than 187 pounds when dressed in full gear and can only carry 11 pounds of supplies. In the evenings, riders stay with Mongolian families for food and shelter, according to the derby website.

Dowling is not the only Mainer to compete in the Derby...

Read more or listen here:
https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/05/midcoast-dairy-farmer-to-compete-in-the-mongol-derby-the-longest-horse-race-in-the-world/

Horse welfare at the forefront of proposed FEI Rules changes

Inside.FEI.org - full article

05 July 2023
Author: FEI Communications

The first drafts of the proposed FEI Rule changes have been published and are now available online here.

In accordance with the FEI Periodical Rules Revision Policy, the FEI Endurance Rules are the only ones undergoing a full revision but some modifications of lesser scope have been introduced to the other FEI Rules and Regulations as well. The focus of this year’s changes is on horse welfare with strong proposals featured in the FEI General Regulations, the FEI Veterinary Regulations, and several discipline rules.

“At the heart of the FEI's mission lies an unwavering commitment to horse welfare,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “This year, we have been fortunate to receive insightful horse welfare-oriented proposals from the National Federations and Stakeholders alike. Our Technical Committees and Headquarters have attentively listened to the community and incorporated many invaluable proposals into the fabric of the Rules...

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/horse-welfare-forefront-proposed-fei-rules-changes

Unity is Strength for Portuguese Endurance Athlete Leonor Moreira

FEI.org - Full Article

06 July 2023
Words by Stacey Stearns

"Endurance is a life lesson..."

The sun hasn’t risen yet when Endurance riders begin arriving at the barn to feed horses and prepare for a 160km competition. A horse whinnies a greeting, and other horses begin moving about their stalls. Excited anticipation fills the air as preparations quietly begin.

A couple hours later, grooms begin walking the horses in large circles around ride camp to warm up, while riders nervously watch and wait, reviewing the course and their ride plan one more time.

Before long, they head off into the dark morning, head lamps bobbing up and down as they quietly trot down the track, already separating into groups by country, ride plan, or with training partners.

This is Endurance, and the partnership with the horse and pure joy of the sport keep horses and human athletes returning to head down another trail in the early morning hours.

“For me the best thing about Endurance is the teamwork between the horse and rider, handlers, veterinarians and grooms,” Leonor Moreira of Portugal says...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/unity-strength-portuguese-endurance-athlete-leonor-moreira

Mission accomplished in the Tom Quilty

Sarah Sullivan photo

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article

02/07/23
Erle Levey

New Zealand endurance rider and horse breeder Ashley Cole came to Imbil on a mission – to take home the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

Riding nine-year-old Arab stallion Tonki Dee Boo Novak, it was a matter of mission accomplished as Ashley crossed the 160km finish line in a time of eight hours, 44 minutes, 54 seconds.

From the Coromandel region of the North Island, Ashley was among almost 200 riders who competed in Australia’s premier endurance horse event.

The 2023 Tom Quilty was held at Stirling’s Crossing Equestrian Centre at Imbil, in the Mary Valley.

Catherine Bailey of Bullio Razorback Arabians at Orange, NSW, was second, riding Razorback Targayen, and Nikki Sample of Stirlings Crossing Endurance at Imbil, was third, riding Brookleigh Danu...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/02-07-2023/mission-accomplished/