Thursday, August 31, 2023

Meet the athletes and horses at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors!

US Equestrian - video

August 28 2023

Meet the athletes and horses at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors! 🏇 Meghan Wert and Avery Betz-Conway are ready to represent the U.S. and take on the competition in Castelsagrat, France.

Two ways to follow along are social media and the Yamamah App On the app look for the 120 KM Castelsagrat France Young Riders and Juniors World Championship

The Yamamah app provides real-time stats as riders come through vet gates and head out on the loops. Alex Shampoe and Fine Cut Gold withdrew prior to shipping Cut after he sustained a minor injury in the pasture.

See the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfhU1Q_gPSA

Sunday, August 27, 2023

FEI confirms bidders for FEI World Championships 2026

FEI.org

24 August 2023
Author: FEI Communications

The FEI has today confirmed the shortlisted bidders for the FEI World Championships 2026. The shortlist comprises five Organising Committees who have applied to host events in various disciplines, as follows:

Aachen (GER) – Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, Eventing, Driving Four-in-Hand, Vaulting;
Boekelo (NED) – Eventing;
Burghley (GBR) – Eventing;
Al Ula (KSA) – Endurance;
Samorin (SVK) – Endurance;

The FEI Board will allocate the FEI World Championships 2026 at its in-person Board Meeting on 18 November 2023 in Mexico City (MEX), following a thorough review by the FEI Evaluation Commission and taking into account recommendations by the Technical Committees.

Following three decades of a unique host formula for senior World Championships under the FEI World Equestrian Games™ format, in 2022 the FEI returned to a more flexible approach accepting single and multiple World Championship bids with a focus on catering to the needs and specificities of each discipline. Herning (DEN) hosted hugely successful events in Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, and Vaulting whereas Eventing and Driving Four-in-Hand competitions took place at Pratoni Del Vivaro (ITA), venue of the 1960 Olympic equestrian events. The FEI Endurance World Championships 2022 were held at Butheeb (UAE) last February.

“We are very pleased with the variety of bids we have received,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “Following the outstanding FEI World Championships 2022 organised in Denmark, Italy and the UAE, we are confident this flexible approach with single and multiple bids serves not only the sport, but also the fans and the development of equestrian around the world, allowing different nations and venues to bid to host a major FEI event.”

Olympic qualifications

The FEI World Championships 2026 in Jumping, Dressage, Para Dressage, and Eventing will be the first qualifying events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A bit of history

The FEI World Championships have a long history.

Dressage is the FEI discipline with the longest tradition of Championships. A Grand Prix de Dressage, organised in Lucerne (SUI) as early as 1927, had hosted 12 riders representing five nations.

Official FEI Dressage Championships were organised on all non-Olympic years between 1930 and 1939 in Switzerland, France, Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Great Britain. The last such event took place in August 1939, only days before the outbreak of World War II.

The FEI tried to revive the event after the war with limited success. Participation gradually improved and European Championships were organised in 1963, which led to the first FEI Dressage World Championship held in Bern (SUI) three years later.

The first Para Dressage Championship, which took place under the leadership of the FEI, was held in July 2007 only a year after Para Equestrian came under the FEI umbrella. The event enjoyed a truly international representation gathering 133 athletes from 35 nations. Since 2010, FEI Dressage and Para Dressage Championships are being held concurrently.

The first FEI Jumping World Championship was organised in June 1953 at the Parc des Princes stadium in the south west of Paris (FRA). The event was drastically different from its modern equivalent as only 19 athletes from 11 countries, including Yugoslavia, Cambodia and the USA, competed. No women took part since female riders would not be able to enter Jumping competitions until 1956.

The first FEI Eventing World Championship was organised in 1966, the same year as the first FEI Dressage World Championship, at the beautiful estate of Lord Burghley in Lincolnshire, Great Britain. The Championship gathered 39 athletes representing five nations: Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, USA, USSR.

The previous year the FEI had established the configuration according to which World Championships in the Olympic discipline of Jumping were held every four years in the non-Olympic even years and continental championships were organised in the odd years. This pattern is still in use today for all the FEI Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.

The non-Olympic disciplines

The first edition of the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand was held in 1972 in Münster (GER) two years after Driving had become an FEI discipline. Since then, the event continues to be organised every two years.

Endurance became an FEI discipline in 1982, one year before Vaulting. The championship histories of these two non-Olympic disciplines have run in parallel from the start with World Championships organised every other year on even years.

FEI Endurance European Championships had been held in 1984 and 1985 until the first FEI Endurance World Championship was organised in September 1986 at Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA).

In 1983, one year after Driving, Vaulting also joined the FEI. In 1984 the first FEI Vaulting European Championship was organised and was followed by another European edition in 1985. This second European edition was open to the rest of the world. A strong showing from the USA convinced the FEI the time had come for a World Championship. The first FEI Vaulting World Championship took place in in the small Swiss town of Bulle from 18 to 20 July 1986.

FEI World Equestrian Games 1990 - 2018

The inaugural FEI World Equestrian Games™ were held in the Swedish capital Stockholm with the 1912 Olympic stadium as the main venue. On the initiative of the then-FEI President HRH Prince Philip, the World Championships in all the FEI discipline were held in the same city from 14 July to 5 August 1990. Given the smooth organisation and success of these Games, what should have been a one-off event, was extended and seven more editions took place in The Hague (NED) in 1994, Rome (ITA) in 1998, Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) in 2002, Aachen (GER) in 2006, Lexington, KY (USA) in 2010, Normandy (FRA) in 2014, and Tryon, NC (USA) in 2018.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Endurance's Josefina Rolt: A Deeper Connection

FEI.org - Full Story

06 August 2023
Words by Stacey Stearns
Photos courtesy of Josefina Rolt

We speak to the young Argentinian Endurance athlete...

Josefina Rolt of Argentina grew up in an Endurance family. She’s the third generation to compete in Endurance, with her first podium finish in international competition in 2013 at the age of 13.

For Josefina, the sport is all about the horses and spending time with them.

Tatiana Chas, her grandmother, was one of the riders that helped Endurance flourish in the South American country. She in turn, taught her daughter, Josefina Chas to ride. Now, Josefina Chas and her daughter, Josefina Rolt, both ride Endurance and run Chas Endurance (also known as JC Endurance), a breeding and training operation in the Buenos Aires province where Josefina Chas is head trainer. The three are pictured below.

“I started with Endurance as a baby since my whole family is in Endurance,” Josefina said. “I rode my first race at age four with my pony Vicky, and then moved from the child races to young riders at age 13. The best part of the sport is all the time that I spend with the horses...”

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/josefina-rolt-deeper-connection

Monday, August 21, 2023

Australia: Hoofing It

Newsport.com.au - Full Article

by Paul Makin
21/08/2023

GIRLS TREK FROM COOKTOWN TO MELBOURNE

Two intrepid adventurers, Sophia Homor at 26 years of age and her companion Stephanie Toms, aged 22, have embarked on an awe-inspiring journey along the renowned National Bi Centennial Trail.

This iconic long-distance trekking route spans an impressive 5330 kilometres, meandering from the historic town of Cooktown to picturesque Healesville in Victoria. The trail, an illustrious gem in Australia's outdoor landscape, seamlessly connects stock routes, bush tracks, fire trails, and surveyed roads, tracing the contours of the Great Dividing Range.

Newsport had the privilege of catching up with these enterprising young women as they reached Craiglie where they were poised to make a transition onto the challenging bump track. With a projected duration of nine months for this epic expedition, the resolute duo displayed a remarkable nonchalance. "Whether it takes ten or eleven months, our priority is the well-being of our horses," emphasized Stephanie. Since its inception in 1989, the venerable name of legendary Australian bushman R.M. Williams has stood synonymous with the National Trail. Williams, in collaboration with the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association, envisioned a trail that would immerse walkers, horse riders, and cyclists in the quintessential lifestyle of the drovers who once traversed Australia's historic stock routes...

Read more here:
https://www.newsport.com.au/2023/august/hoofing-it

Oman: 100-kilometre endurance horse race organized in Salalah

Timesofoman.com - Full Article

20/August/2023
By: Times News Service

Muscat: The 100-kilometre endurance race, Habot Dhofar, was held on Saturday evening on the shore of Khor Al-Dahariz in the Wilayat of Salalah. It was organized by the Dhofar Equestrian Committee in cooperation with the Oman Equestrian Federation.

27 riders from all governorates and wilayats of the Sultanate of Oman participated in the race...

Read more or listen here:
https://timesofoman.com/article/135021-100-kilometre-endurance-horse-race-organized-in-salalah

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Planting the Seeds for Endurance's Growth

FEI.org - Full Story

15 August 2023

Celebrating a first in Estonia...

Endurance is all about patience and longevity, which means the planting of trees to mark last weekend's FEI World Championship for Young Horses was a fitting tribute.

The Padise Equestrian Centre, located near Estonia's Baltic Sea coast and an hour's drive from the capital of Tallinn, successfully hosted the inaugural FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses in Northern Europe, showcasing the PEC's world-renowned infrastructure and commitment to responsible horsemanship.

The opening ceremony featured representatives from 13 National Federations (NFs) across three continents. Some 40 horses entered from countries including Argentina, Bahrain, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Kuwait, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine, and the UAE...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/planting-seeds-endurances-growth

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Swedish rider becomes the first Scandinavian to win the world’s toughest horse race

Riders with their steads during the 2023 Mongol Derby. Pakistani rider Omer Hayat Khan in the foreground – credit Shari Thompson

The Mongol Derby, the world’s longest and toughest horse race, has been thundering across Mongolia’s steppe for the last ten days. In one of the closest ever races, a Swedish woman, Linda Hermann, took home the win.

Based on the ancient horse messenger system used by Genghis Khan, in a country where the horse is king, at 1000km the Derby is the toughest test on the planet for equestrian endurance riders. Whilst horses are changed roughly every 35km, at checkpoints strung out throughout the country, riders must endure being in the saddle for up to 200km a day and face the

challenges of riding over twenty-eight different semi- wild horses - from the animals’ varying temperaments and bucking abilities and the inevitable falls and mishaps that happen along the way to navigating through challenging terrain, including giant sand dunes and freezing mountain passes.

The thirteenth edition of the Mongol Derby kicked off on the 2nd of August and looked set to be a firecracker from the off, with 42 riders, from eleven different nations, competing for the prestigious win.

Day one saw Spanish rider Xavier Ferrer riding at the front of the pack for most of the day, but he wasn’t in the lead as evening fell, having had a reversal of fortune when he abruptly parted ways with his horse enroute to HS3 (horse station 3) – resulting in him having to hitch a ride back to HS2. This left German rider Judith Jaeckle at the front of the race as night fell.

Over the next eight days Judith was never far from the front of the race and showed true horsemanship skills by never having to redraw a horse (new to the race this year, every horse station was a ‘lotto’, meaning riders had to ride the horse they were given, rather than picking a horse themselves, testing their horsemanship all the more. You could however choose to ‘redraw’ a maximum of three times in the race, if you didn’t like the look of the horse you were first given).

The real battle of the race would come on its final stretch, as Swedish rider Linda Hermann, who’d been in a game of cat and mouse with Judith over the previous days, finally managed to overtake the German rider to take the lead...but only just, and it certainly wasn’t a two horse race. Hot on the ladies’ tails was American marine Matthew Perrella, who’s navigation prowess and luck-of-the-draw, with some seriously fast race horses, now put him in contention for the win.

As it came down to the last two horse stations, Linda would find herself deep in a bog. Luckily her and her horse were fine, but it was a very tense moment and a vet team was dispatched before her horse was cleared to continue. This slowed the Swedish rider down, and allowed Judith and Matt to both gain ground, riding on very fast horses. It was down to the wire, but Linda was able to make it to the final horse station, before the finish line, in the lead clear the vet check (these checks happen at every check-point to ensure all horses are ok and they haven’t been ridden too hard), and remount on a seriously fit race horse.

The win seemed hers, as long as her horse passed the final vet check at the finish line. But Judith and Matt had other ideas and had reached the final horse station almost within eyesight of Linda. They both changed horses swiftly. With Matt on one of the most feral and fastest horses on the course, he crossed the finish line shortly after Linda, with Judith a mere few minutes behind him.

With bated breath everyone waited for Linda’s vet check to clear (a penalty would lead to her losing the win), but finally the news came that her horse’s heart rate was below the 56bmp required and the win was hers. Matt and Judith cleared their vet checks shortly after crossing- with Matt claiming 2nd place and Judith 3rd.

Not only was the race an incredible success for all those involved, but it also helped raise a huge amount of money for charity. The Mongol Derby to date has raised over $1 million for charities, with each rider asked to raise funds for good causes, including the race’s official charity partner Steppe and Hoof - www.steppeandhoof.org - whose objective is to support the herders and their animals and work to save the unique traditions that are part of the Mongolian nomadic lifestyle as it comes under fire from climate change and urbanisation.

Comments from the finish line:

Linda on being stuck in the bog enroute to the last horse station

“I had a lot of pressure today...but he (the horse) just got up and nothing was wrong with him, the vet cleared him and we continued to the final station”

On her favourite part of the race:

Riding alone.

On expectation vs reality

The rodeos at the horse station, I expected that, and I got it. Most notably being kicked in the stomach.

On the horses she raced on

The thing is, when you’re going so fast on some of these horses, there’s a feeling that if my horse trips, I am dead, but they didn’t trip, the risk and the feeling was just incredible. For more details on the race visit www.equestrianists.com

Monday, August 14, 2023

Bahrain Endurance team riders shine in Estonia race

GDNOnline.com - Full Article

14 August 2023

BAHRAIN’S Othman Abduljaleel Al Awadhi, from the Royal Endurance Team, delivered an outstanding performance, earning a commendable 10thplace finish in the FEI Endurance World Championship for 8-year-old horses, held in Padise, Estonia.

Slovakia’s Dominika Kainova claimed the first place in the championship, crossing the finish line ahead of the UAE’s rider, Butei Ali Al Nuaimi. Spain’s Gill Beringer took third place, while the UAE’s Saeed Ahmed Al Shamsi finished fourth. Al Awadhi’s consistent performance throughout the different stages showcased his remarkable skills and determination...

Read more here:
https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1288625

Sunday, August 13, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 10: The final chapter

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
12th August 2023

It’s been a long journey for these riders who set out 10 days ago to pit themselves against 1000km of rugged steppe and relentless weather, not to mention a selection of the feistiest and finest horses that Mongolia has to offer. For some, the journey began months or even years prior: commitments have been rearranged to accommodate training, piggy banks have been emptied to fund the travel to the steppe, all to satisfy the drive to become one of a very select group of riders who have experienced this event. It’s no wonder that we often say that to make it to the start line is a big win in everyone’s book, and to ride any length of the Derby is something to be very proud of. In the words of one of our illustrious alumni Kevin Price-Moor, “More people have climbed Mt Everest than have competed in this event. This is our Everest.” Thus we salute all our riders, no matter where they placed. You are all very much winners in our book...

More story, photos, videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-10-the-final-chapter/

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 9: A winner is crowned

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
11th August 2023

As the sun rose over the steppe on Day 9 there was a sense of expectation in the air. Lead rider Linda LHE was sitting pretty at HS27, a mere 60km from the finish and exquisitely positioned, should all go well, to claim the 2023 Derby title by mid-day. Crew were up at the crack of dawn, herders had horses organized and ready, and when the clock chimed 0700 Linda was out the door on her way to the finish.

Camped between HS26 – HS27 Judith JJA, Xavier XFE and Moazzam MHK were also well on their way first thing, looking to narrow the gap between themselves and the leader; and chaser Matthew MPE back at HS26 set out to continue his relentless push towards the finish line. With this tight of a race, it could still come down to the wire. One penalty, a slow horse, an unscheduled dismount and everything could change.

The crew watched Linda’s progress with bated breath while reports began pinging in that she had drawn a rather “measured pace” horse: in other words it was a somewhat leisurely ride to HS28 with the chasing pack baying at her heels...

More article, photos, videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-9-a-winner-is-crowned/

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 8: Gunning for the finish

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
10th August 2023

Day 8 dawned bright and clear with the promise of another scorcher out on the steppe. Crew and riders alike were feeling the heat and stern warnings were given to all by the medics to hydrate well and often. Water for the riders is provided at the horse stations and they are cautioned to purify any other water they come across out on the steppe prior to drinking.

Water is a precious resource in this part of the world; it is essential for the health of their livestock and families will often move to where there is a good reliable source of water. Although our course is set well in advance, we occasionally need to move a horse station location slightly to accommodate the fact that the herding family needed to move closer to better grazing and water. It is a good reminder that the steppe is still home to many nomadic people with no fixed address. Such a great cultural experience for our riders...

More story, photos, videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-8-gunning-for-the-finish/

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 7: Sometimes we walk, sometimes we ride

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
9th August 2023

It’s Day 7 and the lead riders have now covered over 80 percent of the course, which to us mere mortals means they’ve ridden somewhere in the neighbourhood of 800 kilometers. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. The chasing pack, their accomplishments by no means any less significant, have covered over 700 kilometers. Are they still going strong? Absolutely. And the determination is still apparent in the many photos that come out over the day via our social media channels, showing the grins, grimaces and grit-your-teeth-and-get-it-done expressions on our brave riders’ faces. The point here is that no matter where positioned on the field, every rider who has come here to taste the Mongolian horse way of life has done something significant that will change who they are forever...

More story, photos and videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-7-sometimes-we-walk-sometimes-we-ride/

Tuesday, August 08, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 6: Grit and camaraderie

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
8th August 2023

As usual , the Day 6 on the steppe started with some interesting weather. A heavy fog had descended, adding a very Game of Thrones-esque eerie atmosphere and riders and crew alike were nervously checking over their shoulders lest a white walker catch them unawares. By mid afternoon, however, the atmosphere had lightened noticeably, and the fog cleared up to reveal Mongolia’s signature blue skies punctuated with small puffy white clouds towards the horizon.

Our resident Swedish Viking Linda LHE held the lead throughout the day. It’s a well-earned lead and nothing has come easy to this intrepid rider: she has had a kick or two but has marshaled on without a complaint. We’ve met quite a few tough characters through this race but she may be one of the toughest thus far. According to the crew she’s battle-hardened and has definitely shown the world that she means business...

More stories, photos, videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-6-grit-and-camaraderie/

Monday, August 07, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 5: Teamwork and tenacity

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Outlaw Kate
7th August 2023

It was a hot and overcast kind of day today followed by an early evening thunderstorm which has become the norm since the start. Riders, knowing the routine, have been riding out of the last station of the day, rain gear on and ready. The lightning shows have been pretty spectacular.

Phoebe de Raeve has shown us her navigational prowess, taking an interesting route up and through the mountains instead of staying low and in the valleys. Understandable, because if there’s one thing we know about her, she’s got a thing for mountains. She’s a rough and tumble type, takes her training seriously, but found herself rough-and-tumbling down into a crevasse in the mountains two weeks before the Derby...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-5-teamwork-and-tenacity/

Sunday, August 06, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 4: The hustle continues

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Tom Morgan
6th August 2023

Race Report Day 4

Lost Horse Saga

RCA steppe curse continues as he got thrown off another horse, ISD attempted to catch him, but they digressed and managed to find a herding family. RCA jumped on the back of a motorbike and he and his new found herder friend caught the loose horse whilst IDS enjoyed some lovely afternoon tea with the wife.

Invasion of the Flys

Today saw riders and crew crossing some seriously fly infested swamp land. It’s gorgeous at first sight until you slow down long enough for the fly hordes to find you.

Herding Fams

Purevkhishig. D has provided horses three times for the Mongol Derby and participated in our Herder Trials. His thoughts on the Mongol Derby: I’m very excited about the Mongol Derby because it showcases our culture and most importantly our horses. I love seeing the international riders and how well they can ride my horses, it’s really incredible.

Everyone has a plan until they’re kicked in the stomach:...

Read more, see photos and videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-4-the-hustle-continues/

Saturday, August 05, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 3: Gazelles and camels and spas, oh my

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Tom Morgan
5th August 2023

The weather continued to play a major part on Day 3 in this 2023 edition of the Derby, with the riders enduring another blistering day followed by a biblical downpour just around the time they were tucking into their tents/gers/goat sheds.. If you’ve never been caught in a Mongolian thunderstorm you are missing one of the finest examples of the power of Mother Nature. You can go from parched and dried-out tongue-hanging-out sticky hotness to saturated sogginess in a matter of minutes. Lucky for most riders, they had an initiation into the fickleness of weather at start camp and are by now experienced weather-weatherers.

Weather notwithstanding, the beauty of the steppe did not disappoint today. Jessie JDO had an incredible day of solo riding, even encountering a gazelle in the mountains somewhere around HS8. Not to be outdone, Micaiah, MSO and Alice ARO rode up to a rock in the middle of nowhere and promptly discovered it was a camel catching up on its beauty sleep. By the time these riders return to the former lives, they will have accumulated a plethora of visual memories to sustain them for a lifetime...

More stories, photos, videos here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-3-gazelles-and-camels-and-spas-oh-my/

Friday, August 04, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 2: Are we there yet?

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
4th August 2023

Day 2 is when the reality of this race tends to sink in. The adrenaline has worn down a bit and the nerves have settled, but there are still a lot of miles to go. These riders are tough bunch though, and to even make it to the start line takes immense preparation and skill, not to mention a bit of bravado and disregard for comfort.

Day 2 saw a lot of unscheduled dismounts, a few lost horses, some more epic camping tales, and the field beginning to separate between the hard core racers vs the adventure seekers...

More at:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/day-2-are-we-there-yet/

Thursday, August 03, 2023

Mongol Derby 2023 Day 1: The Journey Begins

Equestrianists.com - Full Story

Outlaw Kate
3rd August 2023

The 2023 edition of the Mongol Derby kicked off under cloudy and cool skies; perfect riding weather for these 42 intrepid international riders who have come to the steppe hoping to make their mark.

As the riders lined up for the kickoff to this 10-day adventure, the feisty horses had their own ideas about what constitutes a good time, causing a few spills and thrills which added spice to an already charged atmosphere at the start line. Just a taste of what is to come over the next 10 days as these riders will change horses at each of the 28 horse stations: no two rides will be the same which is about as close to a certainty as we can get in this race...

More stories, photos, videos at:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2023-day-1-the-journey-begins/

Wednesday, August 02, 2023

Follow the 2023 Mongol Derby Live

Equestrianists.com

Tom Morgan
ShariThompsonPhoto1.jpg 2nd August 2023

Riders from 13 countries across the globe are mounting their horses at the start line right now. And you can follow the adventure unfold live right here on our website and socials without even getting chaffed. So make yourself a cup of tea, hit the button below, and watch our brave riders tackle the longest and toughest horse race in the world.

Follow Live

This year we’re making daily video shorts to sum up the days action, a bit like this one from yesterdays pre race training...

See all the videos

And much more! At: https://equestrianists.com/

Tuesday, August 01, 2023

The 2023 Mongol Derby is almost upon us

Equestrianists.com

Tom Morgan
30th July 2023

The thundering hooves of brave Equestrianists from across the globe will soon resonate through the vast Mongolian steppes as the 12th Edition of the Mongol Derby is about to kick off. This awe-inspiring event brings together horse riders from eleven different countries, all eager to challenge themselves in the Guinness Book of World Records’ ‘World’s Longest and Toughest Horse Race.’ With a spirit of adventure and camaraderie, they are prepared to push the boundaries of endurance and skill in this ultimate test of horsemanship.

Returning Champions and New Hopefuls

Among this year’s contenders, we welcome back familiar faces and newcomers alike. Trinity Nelzen, following in her father’s footsteps, ventures to honor his memory after he triumphed in the Mongol Derby a decade ago. Her determination and heritage add an emotional touch to the already thrilling race. Notably, Phoebe de Raeve and Bianca Farmas-Griffith, seasoned riders who participated in the 2022 edition, are back for a second try at conquering the Mongolian wilderness. Their previous experience will undoubtedly aid them, but the unpredictable nature of the Derby keeps them on their toes...

More at:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/the-2023-mongol-derby-is-almost-upon-us/

Australia: Winton to Longreach Endurance Ride revived for first run since 1988

ABC.net.au - Full Article and videos

ABC Western Qld/ By Victoria Pengilley and Heidi Sheehan
Posted Sun 30 Jul 2023

The midnight, late-July air is dry and crisp as 32 people mount their horses and ride off under the cover of darkness.

The skilled horsemen and women are embarking on one of the toughest rides in the country — a relentless, 220-kilometre journey from Winton to Longreach.

The start of the endurance ride was once signalled by a shotgun when it took place 40 years ago.

Now it's a gentle "off you go" from the chief steward that sends riders on their way into the barren landscape...

Read more here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-31/winton-longreach-endurance-ride-revived-1988/102666028

An ‘indomitable will’ and great love for his sport: farewell to top Irish horse aged 29

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article Eleanor Jones 26 October, 2024 The owner of the top endurance horse J St Jake has paid tribute to hi...