Great Britain: Horses and runners compete in cross-country challenge

BBC.com - Full Article

October 18 2025
Jonathan Holmes • Quantock Hills

Two horses have beaten around 100 runners in a 23 mile (37km) race across Somerset's Quantock Hills.

The Man v Horse endurance race, which was first held more than 40 years ago in Powys, Wales, saw the crowd of runners given a head start of only 15 minutes.

Only four competitors have ever beaten a horse in the history of the race, with the last Somerset event ending in a tie between a human and a horse at three hours and 11 minutes...

Read more here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1wlqp4v500o

South Africa: Letaba riders shine at Limpopo endurance championships

Citizen.co.za - Full Article

Riders from across Limpopo tested stamina and skill at the Endurance Championships, with Letaba riders excelling across categories.

October 5, 2025
Sharon Makhongele

HOEDSPRUIT – The Letaba Endurance Club hosted a memorable edition of the Limpopo Endurance Championships this past weekend at The Ranch Prestige Equestrian Centre, a venue renowned for its world-class facilities and breathtaking natural surroundings.

The event drew riders from across the province, all eager to test their stamina, horsemanship, and the unbreakable bond between horse and rider.

The carefully designed routes offered a mix of diverse terrain, challenging hills, flowing tracks, and open stretches, pushing competitors to their limits while showcasing the beauty of endurance riding. Each stride was a testament to preparation, perseverance, and the spirit of partnership that defines the sport.

The championships delivered outstanding performances by Letaba Endurance Club riders across multiple categories:...

Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/letaba-herald/sports-news/2025/10/05/riders-shine-in-champs/

Young Aussie endurance riders shine in Buftea

Image by Amanda Kettlewell

EquestrianLife.com.au - Full Article

Young Australian riders Poppy Kettlewell and Eadie McWilliam impressed at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Buftea, Romania, finishing inside the top 15 against a world-class field over 120km.

Equestrian Life
Published 30 Sep 2025

Buftea, Romania witnessed history on 20 September 2025 as the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors reached its dramatic conclusion. Over 120km of testing terrain, 84 young athletes from 26 nations set out with one shared goal: to finish with their horses in good health. By the end of the day, medals were decided not only by time, but by resilience, judgement, and the crucial veterinary inspections that define the sport. For Romania, hosting its first equestrian world Championship was a milestone in itself, while for the athletes aged 14–21 it was the defining moment of their careers so far. Top results for Australian duo

Seventeen-year-old Australian rider Poppy Kettlewell finished an incredible tenth place with her 15-year-old family-bred gelding Oso Irazu. A seasoned campaigner, Irazu has previously represented Great Britain at two Senior World Championships under Rebecca Pinder. Kettlewell, competing in her first championship, was emotional:

“It’s been a dream since I was six, standing on the beach in Normandy and watching the World Championships. To now wear the Australian shirt is a dream come true. Our goal was top 20 but Irazu had a different idea — his decision was final!...”

Read more here:
https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/young-aussie-endurance-riders-shine-in-buftea/

Australia: Hooves of steel, hearts of gold

The Tom Quilty planning committee at Stirling's Crossing Equestrian Complex in Imbil. 317343_01

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article

27/09/2025 Erle Levey

It’s a feeling of accomplishment … having completed a 160km horse ride in a day through the Australian bush.

However, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup is not just about the rider. It’s also knowing that your horse has been allowed to shine, to be the best it can on the day.

In recognition of the growing popularity of horses in the Gympie-Burnett regions, Australia’s premier endurance event returns to the Mary Valley in 2026.

It will be the third time in seven years that the Stirling’s Crossing Endurance Club at Imbil is to have the honour of hosting the event.

As such, it highlights the respect that the governing body, the Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA), holds for the region.

This is a particular honour as it will be the 60th anniversary of the Tom Quilty ride, with up to 300 riders from across Australia expected to participate...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/27-09-2025/hooves-of-steel-hearts-of-gold/

A Golden Show of Unity in Romania

FEI.org - Full Article

Words by Stacey Stearns
Images by EIEV media

Romania was the proud host of the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2025...

A pivotal decision at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2025 in Buftea (ROM) turned into a golden moment for France.

At the vet gate, the French Young Riders were ready to head out on the third loop. Their last teammate’s horse still had minutes left in its rest period. They could have gone ahead – perhaps gained precious ground – but instead they chose to wait. They would leave together, as a team.

It was a quiet act of unity in the moment, but by the end of the day it had become the defining story of the championship. That choice ultimately carried France all the way to Team gold. The joy and surprise on their faces when the result was announced showed just how much it meant.

“They were thinking they would get a medal, but not gold. It was a bit of a surprise, but we were so happy. Success is a team sport,” said Jean-Michel Grimal, Chef d’Equipe for France...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/golden-show-unity-buftea

Bahrain Royal Endurance Team wins Best Horse Condition Award at FEI World Championship

BNA.bh

23 Sep 2025

Bucharest, Sep. 23 (BNA): The Royal Endurance Team won the Best Horse Condition Award for the horse Ermine Dartagnan, ridden by rider Isa Hameed Al Enezi, at the 120 km FEI World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors in Romania.

Coach Ahmed Janahi underlined that winning the Best Horse Health Award crowns the great efforts of the technical and administrative teams.

He said the Royal Endurance Team prioritises horse health and safety, following strict medical and technical standards to ensure the highest care levels. He underscored that this award proves the team focuses not only on winning but also on harmony and care between rider and horse.

He added that the achievement adds to the team's ongoing international success, motivating them to continue working hard for more honours in upcoming events.

This achievement highlights the high level of the riders of the Royal Endurance Team, not only through top positions they attained but also through their exceptional care for the health and fitness of the horses. This professionalism reflects the approach the team follows in all its competitions.

Al Mehairi makes UAE flag fly high at FEI Young Riders and Juniors World Championship

September 23 2025

Rashed Khamis Al Mehairi went one better when winning the UAE a fifth-straight title at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2025 in Buftea, Romania, with a perfectly-calculated ride and a bit of good fortune aboard Shardell Jaeger. Al Mehiari had finished second behind compatriot Rashed Ahmad Al Ketbi in a UAE 1-2 at the previous event at Castelsagrat in France in 2023.

However, this was to be his year. And, he rose to the occasion to once again stamp UAE domination over the Young Rider and Junior division by staying close to the top of the leaderboard and making his bid for glory in the fifth and final loop of the 120 km ride in Buftea, a town located about 20 km northwest of Bucharest.

Keeping close to the top of the leaderboard meant hotly pursuing teammate Essa Abdulla, who seized the lead from Bahrain’s Sultan Al Romaihi during the course of the second loop. Al Mehairi was placed third at the end of the first loop and maintained his position at the end of the second before dropping one spot to fourth during the third loop. He picked up during the fourth loop to climb up to second going into the final loop.

On the other hand, Essa Abdulla remained rooted to the top, but his mount Geste La Majorie being adjudged to having returned with an irregular gait at the vet gates at the end of the race put paid to his hopes of winning. That ceded the advantage and title to Al Mehairi, who was thrilled to have won after his runners-up finish of two years ago. Al Mehairi completed the ride in five hours 33 minutes and 1 second (5:33:01) riding at a pace of 22.79 kph to win ahead of Bahraini pair of Saud Mubarak Salem and Isa Hameed Al Anezi, who finished second and third, respectively. The trio were part of a group of 45 finishers from a starting group of 84.

The event’s presentation ceremony was attended by Khalifa Thani bin Aboud Al Falasi, Board Member of Dubai Racing Club; Ahmed Rashid Al Kaabi, Acting General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club and Chief d’Equipe of the UAE Team.

Five riders represented the UAE at the event, with the rest of the Emirates contingent comprising groups, trainers and administrative staff. Al Mehairi’s victory was a fifth consecutive title for the UAE and its eighth overall in the history of the championship.

Praising the efforts of the team, Sheikh Rashed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Equestrian Club, thanked the UAE leadership — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, for their unwavering support that has propelled the nation to global prominence in the sport.

He emphasised that the UAE’s victory at the FEI Endurance Championship for Young Horses highlighted the team’s exceptional skill, determination, and horsemanship. He added that the achievement not only reinforced the UAE’s dominance but also set a new benchmark of excellence for the international endurance community.

Acting General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club and Chief d’Equipe of the UAE Team, Al Kaabi added: “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum for their unwavering support and inspiring leadership. Their vision has propelled the UAE to become a true powerhouse in endurance, inspiring generations to excel. The UAE Team showed remarkable courage, unity, and determination throughout the championship, and this victory is a testament to their hard work. I couldn’t be prouder.”

On the sidelines of the ceremony, Khalifa bin Abboud presented commemorative shields from the Dubai Equestrian Club to Hubert Stefan, President of Ilfov County Council in Romania, and Gheorghe Pistol, Mayor of Buftea, Romania, in the presence of Marilena Mladen, President of the Romanian Equestrian Federation.

The FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors is an event established by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) to cultivate and recognise talent in the next generation.

About Dubai Equestrian Club

Established in 2002 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Equestrian Club is a world leader in the sport of endurance riding and a pioneer when it comes to organising competitions in the United Arab Emirates at its purpose-built, state-of-the-art Dubai International Endurance City. Its annual calendar is headlined by two globally-renowned events: the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival and Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival.

Career-defining moments for young Endurance athletes in Buftea

Inside.FEI.org - Full Article

21 September 2025
Author: Bella Fricker

Buftea, Romania witnessed history on 20 September 2025 as the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors reached its dramatic conclusion. Over 120km of testing terrain, 84 young athletes from 26 nations set out with one shared goal: to finish with their horses in good health. By the end of the day, medals were decided not only by time, but by resilience, judgement, and the crucial veterinary inspections that define the sport. For Romania, hosting its first equestrian world Championship was a milestone in itself, while for the athletes aged 14–21 it was the defining moment of their careers so far.

Individual Podium

Gold went to 20-year-old Rashed Mohamed Atiq Khamis AlMehairi (UAE) riding the 10-year-old stallion Shardell Jaeger. Already an individual silver medallist at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2023 in Castelsagrat (FRA) with Castlebar Cadabra, AlMehairi this time went one better to secure the ultimate accolade.

After his win, Rashed said: “This is my last year as a Young Rider, and my advice to the younger athletes is that nothing is impossible – if you have a goal, focus on it, and take something new from every training session and every ride. In the end, I only ever compete against myself.”

UAE teammates — including reigning World Champion Rashed Ahmad Seghayer Alktebi, Essa Abdulla Essa Ali Abdulla, and Ali Abdulla Ali Bin Zayed AlFalasi — also crossed the line within minutes of each other but were eliminated at the final veterinary inspection, removing the UAE from team contention...

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/career-defining-moments-young-endurance-athletes-buftea

U.S. Endurance Team Finishes Seventh Overall at 2025 FEI Endurance World Championship for Juniors and Young Riders in Romania

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 9/21/2025

Buftea, Romania - The U.S. Endurance Team saw four horse-and-athlete combinations cross the finish line after the 120km ride to finish in seventh overall at the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders hosted by the Shagya Sports Club Association in Buftea, Romania. The athletes and their horses were supported by their dedicated crew members, Interim Chef d’Equipe Heather Reynolds, Team Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi, and Team Leader Nicole Zerbee.

“The championship went smoothly for us this year,” said Interim Chef d’Equipe Heather Reynolds, “All of our athletes and their horses were well prepared and worked very well together as a unified team. I’m super happy with our results and very proud of all of them. It was especially great having a complete team [finish the race with a minimum of three combinations.]”

The highest placing American combination to finish after five successful loops was AnnaMaria Clarke (Davis, W.Va.) and Southern Justice, who is known in the barn as “Roo,” a 2012 Arabian gelding (PA Gazsi x PA Ecolina) owned by Valerie Kanavy and Dessia Miller. The pair finished in 23rd place individually out of a large and highly competitive international field. The pair completed the race with a total ride time of 6:43:57.

“I’m beyond proud of Roo,” said Clarke of her teammate, “I’m very happy with our race at the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders! [Roo] gave me 110%, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in him or outcome.”

The course for the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders covered 120 km, with five loops varying in distance from 20.5 km to 31 km ( 75 miles total), across grass, fields, agricultural roads, and forest terrain in the picturesque suburban village of Buftea, located just outside of the country’s capital city of Bucharest. At the conclusion of each loop, the horses were inspected and checked by the official competition veterinarians to ensure peak physical condition, including heart rate and gait, followed by a mandatory rest period to eat, drink, and recover before returning to the course to complete the next loop.

Vanessa Erickson (Rocklin, Calif.) and Leno, a 2016 Arabian gelding (Dahess x Ta Dance WithTheStar) owned by Samantha Ellis, Jax Beloberk (Loomis, Calif.) and Highh Treason, a 2011 Arabian gelding (Tomanchie x Ecstatika) owned by Katie Beloberk, and Lila Reeder (Loomis, Calif.) and Cricket MHF, a 2017 Arabian gelding (Jolly By Golly x Awesome Zell MHF) owned by Bethany Reeder individually finished in 40th, 41st, and 42nd respectively.

Results

More at:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/us-endurance-team-finishes-seventh-overall-at

Bahrain Royal Endurance Team wins silver and bronze at FEI World Championship

BNA.bh

21 Sep 2025

Bucharest, Sep. 21 (BNA): The organising committee of the FEI World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors held the official awarding ceremony for the top three winners of the 120-kilometer race in Romania, in a festive atmosphere attended by participating team delegations and officials of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports.

Riders of the Royal Endurance Team were awarded, as Saud Mubarak Sabt received the silver medal for finishing second place, while his teammate Isa Al Enezi won the bronze medal for securing third place. First place went to Emirati rider Rashid Mohammed.

The Royal Endurance Team riders expressed their gratitude to His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, and Captain of the Royal Endurance Team, for his constant support, which contributed to achieving these positive results.

Saud Sabt expressed his happiness at securing second place, noting that the achievement was the result of teamwork and the continuous support of the team, which motivates them to aim for greater accomplishments in future competitions.

Isa Al Enezi highlighted the challenges of the race, stressing that despite the difficulty, the team delivered strong performances. He emphasised that this achievement would serve as an incentive ahead of upcoming championships.

The championship witnessed the participation of 84 riders from various countries, where the Royal Team excelled over top competitors from France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Switzerland, Poland, and Tunisia.

Bahrain Royal Team riders shine in Romania

GDNonline.com

Sun, 21 Sep 2025

ENDURANCE HORSERACING – BAHRAIN’S Royal Endurance Team had two of their members climb the podium yesterday in the 120-kilometre ride of the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors 2025, which took place in Buftea, Romania.

Saud Mubarak Sabt secured second place while teammate Issa Hameed Al Anezi came third at the end of a race that was characterised by strong competition and excitement until the final stage.

The Bahraini pair finished behind Emirati rider Rashid Mohammed, who took first place.

Royal Stables and Royal Endurance Team director general Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan expressed his great appreciation for the team’s achievements in the championship.

“Our riders presented a high technical level and were able to translate their efforts from the preparation phase into positive results on the ground,” said Dr Hassan.

“Achieving second and third place is the result of integrated teamwork and a step that enhances our future ambitions to continue to compete strongly for advanced positions in upcoming championships.”

Dr Hassan added that these results came thanks to the great support of His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman, and Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

UAE rider Rashid Al Muhairi wins Endurance World Championship for Juniors in Romania

WAM.ae

September 20, 2025

BUFTEA, Romania, 20th September, 2025 (WAM) -- The UAE achieved another milestone in equestrian sport as rider Rashid Mohammed Al Muhairi clinched the title of the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors over a distance of 120 kilometers, held today in Buftea, Romania, under the supervision of the International Equestrian Federation, with participants from 28 countries.

Al Muhairi secured first place in the individual category for the first time, completing the race in 5:33:01 hours. His victory delivered the UAE’s fifth consecutive title and its eighth overall in the history of the championship.

Bahrain’s Saud Mubarak finished second with a time of 5:34:25 hours, while compatriot Isa Al Anzi came in third with a time of 5:36:31 hours.

In the team competition, France claimed first place, followed by Spain in second, while Italy finished third.

Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team set for world championship

GDNOnline.com - Full Article

Sat, 20 Sep 2025

ENDURANCE HORSERACING – BAHRAIN’S Royal Endurance Team has completed all preparations for its participation in the 120-kilometre ride at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors, which is taking place in Buftea, Romania, with wide participation from the world’s elite riders.

The kingdom’s representatives participated in a veterinary examination held at the championship village, reflecting the high level of preparedness for the international event. The horses were also numbered and the riders were weighed.

The Royal Endurance Team will be represented in the championship by their riders Jaber Badr Jafar, Faisal Hamid Al Enezi, Issa Hamid Al Enezi, Shaikh Ahmed bin Salman Al Khalifa, Sultan Abdulaziz Al Rumaihi, and Saud Mubarak Sabt...

Read more here:
https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1363534/Royal-Endurance-Team-set-for-world-championship

U.S. Athletes and Horses Set for 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders

The U.S. Endurance Team at the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders (©Nicole Zerbee)

USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 9/19/2025

Buftea, Romania – Five U.S. athlete-and-horse combinations have been accepted at the first horse inspection for the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders hosted by the Shagya Sports Club Association in Buftea, Romania. The team is supported by their dedicated crew members, Interim Chef d’Equipe Heather Reynolds, Team Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi, and Team Leader Nicole Zerbee.

The Championships officially opened on Thursday evening, September 18, with a welcoming ceremony that brought together athletes from across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. The U.S. athletes and their horses passed the pre-ride horse inspection on Friday, September 19, and will move forward to competition, which begins on Saturday.

The following athlete-and-horse combinations were accepted:

• Jax Beloberk (Loomis, Calif.) and Highh Treason, a 2011 Arabian gelding (Tomanchie x Ecstatika) owned by Katie Beloberk

• AnnaMaria Clarke (Davis, W.Va.) and Southern Justice, a 2012 Arabian gelding (PA Gazsi x PA Ecolina) owned by Valerie Kanavy and Dessia Miller

• Vanessa Erickson (Rocklin, Calif.) and Leno, a 2016 Arabian gelding (Dahess x Ta Dance WithTheStar) owned by Samantha Ellis

• Uma Kraskin (Deland, Fla.) and Maggies Nchanted Pipi, a 2011 Arabian mare (FSF Dakaros Enchanter x Whizlin Comets Maggie) owned by Evelyn Baig

• Lila Reeder (Loomis, Calif.) and Cricket MHF, a 2017 Arabian gelding (Jolly By Golly x Awesome Zell MHF) owned by Bethany Reeder

The course for the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championships for Juniors and Young Riders will cover 120 km (~74 miles) across grass, fields, agricultural roads, and forest terrain. Horses must cross the finish line in a maximum time of 20:07:30 to be classified. Designed to test stamina, skill, and partnership, the course requires athletes to balance pace with precision while maintaining their horse’s health, as verified by rigorous veterinary checks at each phase.

Competition Information

Competition officially begins Saturday, September 20, at 6:45am GMT+3 and will conclude with the Prize Giving and Closing Ceremony on Sunday, September 21, at 12:00 p.m. GMT+3/5:00 a.m. EST.

More at https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/us-athletes-horses-set-for-2025-fei

Australians line up for FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors

Australians Poppy Kettlewell and OSO Irazu will line up for the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors. Image by Sarah Sullivan Photography.

EquestrianLife.com.au - Full Article

Equestrian Life
Published 18 Sep 2025

Australia may not travel with the numbers of Europe or the Gulf nations when it comes to endurance riding, but their athletes carry stories of grit and ambition. Seventeen-year-old Poppy Kettlewell, riding the rising 15-year-old Australian-bred grey gelding OSO Irazu, will make her first championship start at this year’s event.

Poppy is joined by 17-year-old Eadie McWilliam and another 15-year-old Australian-bred grey gelding, Larntainey Silver Treasure – a partnership that finished inside the top 20 at the last FEI Endurance World Championship. Larntainey Silver Treasure is by Silver Conquest out of Abrock Gemma and is owned by Australians Penny and Peter Toft...

Read more here:
https://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/australians-line-up-for-fei-endurance-world-championship-for-young-riders-juniors/

Australia's Poppy Kettlewell: From pony club loops to the world stage

Photo Credit: Amanda Kettlewell

Inside.FEI.org - Full Story

17 September 2025
Author: Bella Fricker

When 18-year-old Poppy Kettlewell canters out of the start line at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Buftea (ROM), on 20 September 2025, it will mark the realisation of a dream she has carried since she was a little girl. Riding the 15-year-old homebred gelding OSO Irazu, Poppy will represent Australia at her first ever Championship - a remarkable milestone in a journey that has already spanned thousands of kilometres, countless hours in the saddle, and an unwavering passion for Endurance.

Early beginnings on a white pony

Endurance has been woven into Poppy’s life from the start. Her very first taste of the sport came in 2015, at just eight years old, when she rode a 5km on her little white pony, Cherry, who, remarkably, is still happy on a farm at the age of 35. Two years later, she tackled her first qualifier, an 80km on her paint pony Jess. That ride, Poppy recalls, “really sparked my love for the sport.”

The trajectory was steep. At only 10 years old, she completed her first 160km on the horse of every child’s dreams, OSO Nicholas. “He taught me so much and naturally led us to take on the 160km challenge together,” Poppy says. “I had a real passion for Endurance riding and had watched many other team members complete these rides. Both my mum and the team knew it was my turn, and I was motivated by the excitement of the challenge and the opportunity to learn and grow alongside Nicholas...”

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/poppy-kettlewell-pony-club-loops-world-stage

Team UAE set for FEI Young Riders and Juniors World Championship title defence

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

The UAE claimed the top two spots on the podium at the last event at Castelsagrat in France in 2023, with Rashed Ahmad Al Ketbi expertly steering Hadeer to victory

Published: Tue 16 Sept 2025, 6:13 PM
By: Khaleej Times Staff

Team UAE will be represented by five riders at the event.. Photo: UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation

One of the sport’s most formidable contenders, the UAE will bid to defend their individual title and look to claim the team’s honours at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2025 in Buftea, Romania, on September 20.

The UAE claimed the top two spots on the podium at the last event at Castelsagrat in France in 2023, with Rashed Ahmad Al Ketbi expertly steering Hadeer to victory ahead of compatriot Rashed Mohammed Al Mehairi. Team UAE will be represented by five riders.

Defending champion Rashed Ahmad Al Ketbi will once again lead the charge. He will be joined by Essa Abdulla, Ali Abdulla Al Falasi, Rashed Mohamed Atiq Almehairi, and Majid Jamal Almheiri, completing a strong five-rider lineup for the national team...

Read more here:
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/sports/horse-racing/team-uae-set-for-fei-young-riders-and-juniors-world-championship-title-defence?_refresh=true

Home Soil, Big Dreams: Ana Iarina Cosma is Ready for Buftea

FEI.org - Full Story

09 September 2025
Stacey Stearns

The young rider looks ahead to representing Romania on Endurance’s world stage...

Early on the morning of 20 September, athletes and horses will set off on the 120km course of the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors in Buftea (ROM).

It marks a milestone for Romania as the first major FEI Endurance event the country has hosted, and for Ana Iarina Cosma, one of the young riders on the Romanian team, it represents the culmination of a dream several years in the making.

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity, especially because, since I heard the news, I worked really hard to be able to compete in the World Championship at home,” said Ana, who turns 18 years old just days after the event.

“I’ve been to Buftea multiple times for national competitions, and I’m glad to see our country has the chance to host an event of this magnitude.”

Ana is preparing for the biggest moment of her career so far as she lines up alongside the best young riders in the world. Fresh from a top 25 finish at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2025 in Jullianges (FRA), she is eager to showcase both her own progress and Romania’s growing strength in Endurance...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/home-soil-big-dreams-ana-iarina-cosma-ready-buftea

Great Britain: Iconic equestrian event set to take place in Builth Wells

CountryTimes.co.uk - Full Article

7th September 2025
By Josh Price

A historic equestrian event is set to take place in Builth Wells.

The British Horse Feeds Dragon Festival of Endurance, a staple on the endurance riding calendar since 1977, is preparing for its annual event.

Held on the last weekend of September, the festival will take place in the picturesque surroundings of Builth Wells, Mid Wales, beginning at the Royal Welsh Showground.

This venue, renowned for its excellent facilities, is a favourite among riders, providing stabling for horses and a host of amenities for riders and their support teams.

The festival, affectionately known as the Red Dragon, is considered one of the UK's iconic endurance rides...

Read more here:
https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/25444066.iconic-equestrian-event-set-take-place-builth-wells/

This is what it’s like to win the ‘world’s toughest horse race’ through Mongolia

Michael Pollard was one of the four winners of the 2025 Mongol Derby (Kathy Gabriel)

Ca.News.yahoo.com - Full Article

Annabel Grossman
Fri, August 22, 2025

When riding across the Mongolian steppe, one mistake can mean game over. This mistake can be anything, from losing a piece of kit to your horse stumbling in a marmot hole while navigating the vast stretches of open landscape.

The wilds of Mongolia are beautiful but unforgiving, as 45 riders discovered earlier this month when they competed in the “world’s toughest horse race”.

The Mongol Derby is not for the faint-hearted, with riders crossing 1,000km (620 miles) of rugged terrain on semi-wild horses, relying on their survival skills, horsemanship and pure grit to reach the finish line.

Out here on the steppe (the wide open plains that characterise this land), the competitors live among local herders, often staying in ger, traditional Mongolian tents, with families. The riders change their mounts every 20 miles at morin urtuu (horse stations) and must deliver the animals in good health at every stage.

Throughout the race (this year, competitors took between eight and 10 days to complete the course), riders found themselves cantering through wide-open valleys, navigating mountain passes, crossing rushing rivers, and traversing rolling dunes.

Speaking to The Independent two days into the race, competitor Anna Boden described the toll this takes on the body and the level of endurance needed.

“Physically, it’s significantly harder than anything I’ve ever done before,” she said. “You’re riding 12-hour days, and because you have a fresh horse each leg, you can ride quite fast – that is really tough on your body...”

Read more here:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/win-world-toughest-horse-race-103011641.html

Great Britain: Success Stories from the International Thetford Endurance Rides

August 16 2025

Thetford Endurance was held for the first time under new organisers Anna Bridges and Lauren Hirst, showcasing a CEI3 160km, CEI3 140km, and the National 160km, attended by riders from the UK and around the world.

Here are some of the success stories from the weekend.

Barnsley Rider Triumphs in Epic 100-Mile Endurance Challenge After 39-Year Wait

Surrey’s Alice Ingram Completes 160km International Endurance Race – Just 6 Months After Giving Birth

British riders shine at Thetford Endurance 2025

Lancashire Rider Shines with 2nd Place in International Endurance Race

Emma achieves lifelong goal in endurance ride

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad wins Rushford Endurance 120 km race in UK

BNA.bh - Full Article

17 Aug 2025

London, Aug. 17 (BNA): His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs and Captain of the Royal Endurance Team, won the Rushford Endurance 120 km race held in the United Kingdom.

The race was attended by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee; and His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Vice President of the Supreme Council for Environment, Deputy Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, and member of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad won first place after successfully completing the four stages of the race amid wide participation from riders...

Read more here:
https://www.bna.bh/en/HHShaikhNasserbinHamadwinsRushfordEndurance120kmraceinUK.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDm%2BsBglZXQNQWZZLrjCqzo8%3D

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 10 – Third time lucky

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
14th August 2025

Day 10 of the 2025 Mongol Derby has drawn to a close, as our remaining superstar riders made it home after 1,000km of thrills and spills out on the steppe to join the party at finish camp. We couldn’t be more proud of them. These riders have faced extreme physical and mental adversity over the last 10 days, and they’ve come out fighting. What a Derby it’s been, and what a finish they gave us: a decent helping of drama right down to the last.

First to appear on the horizon between the finish line flags this morning was Bianca Farmas-Griffith (BFG). She’d left HS28 this morning with the other 5 riders sharing their last night out on the steppe together. All were mounted up and raring to go at 7AM, but waved goodbye to HS28 with a hint of sadness: this would be their final morning of packing up their sleeping bags and picking their steed...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-10-third-time-lucky/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 9 – Homeward bound

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
12th August 2025

While the battle for first place in the 2025 Mongol Derby may have been decided yesterday, Day 9 saw a whopping 19 more of our intrepid riders make it home to finish camp to complete the adventure of a lifetime. While 13 of those riders were still riding for a competitive placing, we were mighty proud to welcome 6 of our Adventure Class riders across the line too. Some were even reunited with family and friends for whom following along at home wasn’t enough. There were tears, there was signing, there were bear hugs and emotional reunions. Welcome home, legends. Time to party...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-9-homeward-bound/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 8 – Better together

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
11th August 2025

Eight days after thundering across the 2025 Mongol Derby start line, four exceptional equestrianists have come full circle to boomerang back to finish camp. Having fought tooth and nail for the crown over the last 1,000km of high speed chasing across the steppe, they eventually elected to prioritise camaraderie over competition and crossed the line together. Behold, our 2025 Mongol Derby Joint Champions: Brit Anna Boden (ABO), American Michael Pollard (MPO) and brothers in arms from the UAE Eisa Al Khayari (EAK) and Khalifa Al Hamed (KAH). An extraordinary end to an even more extraordinary Derby. Congratulations are in order, as they celebrate at start camp tonight with a long-awaited shower, some clean clothes and a cold beer. Cheers to you, champs...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-8-better-together/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 7 – Comeback kings

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
10th August 2025

Just when we thought the 2025 Mongol Derby couldn’t possibly get any more enthralling, Day 7 arrived on the scene to really crank up the drama. The weather may finally have broken to give our riders a break from the punishing heat, but the tension keeps on building. The slim glimmer of a lead eked out over his nearest rivals by Khalifa Al Hamed (KAH) yesterday has been swiftly extinguished, as he takes up residence this evening at HS25 along with three other indomitable jockeys. Anna Boden (ABO) and Michael Pollard (MPO) have teamed up to smash out a phenomenal day’s riding with some lucky draws just when they needed them, while Eisa Al Khayari (EAK) has ridden like a man possessed to – astonishingly – claw himself back up to share the lead from a 3 hour penalty. KAH, on the other hand, has been riding against the tide. All four will now line up to battle it out over the remaining four legs of the Derby course to (most likely – let’s not count any chickens) determine the victor of the 2025 Mongol Derby. Hold on to your hats, folks. This sprint finish is going right down to the wire...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-7-comeback-kings/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 6 – Riding solo

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
9th August 2025

Could Day 6 of the 2025 Mongol Derby finally have seen one rider open up some daylight between himself and the rest of the field? Up until now, a determined quintet of top class horsemen (including one plucky horsewoman) have been leapfrogging each other by minutes to hand the baton around between them at every station. Trying to keep up with the constant swapsies of the lead has left us majorly dizzy. But it looks like one rider might finally have clinched something of an advantage. Khalifa Al Hamed (KAH) has absolutely flown away from his closest rivals today, to storm through four horse stations riding solo and make it safely into HS22 this evening with just 4 minutes of riding time left to spare. It’s been a masterclass in pacing and astute navigation on another scorcher of a day. He finds himself all alone for the first time, spending the night a full horse station ahead of Anna Boden (ABO) and Michael Pollard (MPO) back at HS21. But, as we’ve seen time and time again over the course of this Derby, no lead is too great to be lost. With 7 more horse stations between KAH and the finish line, can he cling on for glory or will the jockeys behind him come back from the brink? It’s far from a done deal...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-6-riding-solo/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 5 – High five

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
8th August 2025

Horses and riders alike faced another scorcher out on the steppe on Day 5 of the 2025 Mongol Derby, as yesterday’s cooler climes gave way once again to cloudless skies. The heat was back on, and the pressure building. As our five leaders hit the fast, flat and mercifully straight legs between HS14 and HS18, they were thrashing it out to try to give each other the slip and establish a lead. But to no avail. It’s been a tense grapple for dominance, and nobody was ready to blink first. Until, finally, it all became too much for two riders: Dennis Alverson (DAL) and Eisa Al Khayari (EAK) fell victim to vet penalties at HS18 this evening, and will be delayed from riding out tomorrow morning. Michael Pollard (MPO), Anna Boden (ABO) and Khalifa Al Hamed (KAH) are cleared for lift off at 7AM, while DAL and EAK will be serving time behind Derby bars. KAH has a tough call to make overnight: stay loyal to his partner EAK, or go it alone and keep pace with the competition? 7AM on Day 6 could very well be a decisive moment in the showdown for the podium. Set your alarms folks: you don’t want to miss this one...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-5-high-five/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 4 – Arabian knights

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
7th August 2025

As we approach the halfway marker of the 2025 Mongol Derby, the battle for the lead rages on. Odds on the final victor remain too close to call at the close of Day 4, as the riders heading up the field toss the lead around between them like the proverbial hot potato. There’s nothing in it, but one thing’s for sure: last night’s downpour did nothing to dampen our riders’ competitive drive. They continue to eat up the course at a voracious pace, and we find ourselves with some new overnight leaders. Our Emirati endurance pros Eisa Al Khayari (EAK) and Khalifa Al Hamed (KAH) have proven themselves a tough act to follow. They’re now sitting pretty at the head of the field on the way into HS14, camped 3km ahead of their nearest rivals. If they can hit HS14 in the lead tomorrow, they reach a relatively flat, straight section of the course all the way to HS18. The dream racetrack for a pair of seriously experienced jockeys gunning to extend their lead in the Mongol Derby. If they partner with the right equine athletes, could they leave the chasing pack in the dust? It could all come down to luck of the horse draw...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-4-arabian-knights/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 3 – The winds of change

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
6th August 2025

Day 3 of the 2025 Mongol Derby has been one for the books. Barely had our nerves recovered from the rollercoaster ride that was Day 2 before our horde of 45 fearless equestrianists were at it again, causing widespread mayhem on their noble quest for the finish line. As the dust settles on our sparring riders and their battle-hardened mounts, two warriors remain locked in a deadly duel at the head of the race. Kami Bitting (KBI) and Sam Phelps (SPH) have both kept up their blistering pace to make it into HS10 tonight, but a last minute plot twist has blown the rankings wide open. KBI has been left licking her wounds overnight, as a vet penalty incurred on arrival at HS10 keeps her stuck there until 10AM tomorrow morning. SPH now finds himself leading the charge out of HS10 tomorrow bright and early, but will he handle the pressure of soldiering on alone or be swallowed up by the cavalry camping out just a few kilometres behind him?...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-3-the-winds-of-change/

UAE complete hat-trick of Young Horse Endurance World Championship titles

August 4 2025

Riding with unwavering consistency and backed by an incredible team, Saif Al Mazrouei helped the UAE to a third-straight FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses individual honour and a successful defence of the Teams title at Jullianges in France on Saturday.

One of the heavyweights on the distance-riding circuit, the UAE had won the 2023 and 2024 renewals, with Al Mazrouei making sure his calculated ride brought the defending champions a tenth overall success even as he himself claimed a second victory, 10 years after winning for the first time in 2015. 

A total of 82 rider-horse combinations from 25 countries set out to conquer the 120 km event for eight-year-old horses at Hippodrome de Jullianges, which is located at an altitude of 910 metres in a wooded forest commune in the picturesque French countryside 530 kms south of Paris and 131 kms east of Lyon. The high altitude and undulating terrain made the ride a tough proposition for the combinations involved with only 31 pairs eventually completing the four-loop ride.

And it was the UAE that secured the top two spots on the podium, with Al Mazrouei triumphing aboard Bullio Quasillo, the pair recording the fastest time of five hours 33 minutes and 21 seconds (5:33:21), which was 43 secs quicker than the second-placed UAE pairing of Essa Saeed Al Mazrouei and his mount Al Fatina who were home in 5:34:04.

Royal Endurance Team of Bahrain rider Sultan Mayoof Al Romaihi, who partnered Haqtar Du Carrelie, took third place on the podium with a time of 5:40:50.

Saif Al Mazrouei posted the second best time during the 35.5 km first loop and dropped three places to reach fifth during the course of the second loop that spanned the same distance. He picked up the pace during the third loop over 31 kms which allowed him to reclaim second on the leaderboard.

Starting the fourth and final loop over 20 kms, Saif found himself trailing countryman Essa Al Mazrouei by five seconds, but after a solid push and upping up the tempo on Bullio Quasillo by nearly 9 kph, he was able to set a lead of his own and overcame his compatriot comfortably.

The UAE claimed the Team championship as well after Rashed Saeed Al Malhoof claimed fifth place aboard Heracles Feuillee.

Congratulating the team on the success, Sheikh Rashed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Equestrian Club, said: “I would like to congratulate our nation’s great leadership, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, for their relentless support and guidance which has helped the UAE reach great heights in the sport of endurance internationally. 

“Our victory in the FEI Endurance Championship for Young Horses is a testament to the exceptional skill, unwavering dedication and outstanding horsemanship. The UAE Team has always displayed immense grit and unshakable determination in the pursuit of success at the highest level and by winning the championship for the third-straight year we have raised the bar and set a new standard of excellence for the rest to follow."

Ahmed Rashed Al Kaabi, Acting General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club and Chief d’Equipe of the UAE Team, added: “I would like extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum for their incredible backing for endurance and leading the UAE riders by example. They have inspired generations of the youngsters to achieve the best results, which has propelled the UAE forward and turned the country into one of the powerhouses in the sport.

“The UAE Team has worked really hard, and shown great courage and unity to bring glory to the country. Their teamwork truly shone through the entire event and we have earned every bit of this victory. I couldn’t be prouder.”

About Dubai Equestrian Club

Established in 2002 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai Equestrian Club is a world leader in the sport of endurance riding and a pioneer when it comes to organising competitions in the United Arab Emirates at its purpose-built, state-of-the-art Dubai International Endurance City. Its annual calendar is headlined by two globally-renowned events: the HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Festival and Crown Prince of Dubai Endurance Festival.

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 2 – The huntswoman becomes the hunted

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
5th August 2025

The clock has stopped on Day 2 on the 2025 Mongol Derby, and the tension on the steppe has soared along with the mercury. Jockeys at the head of the race have been locked in a fierce battle of wills for poll position coming into Day 3, but it’s Kami Bitting (KBI) who has emerged victorious from the fray. Finding herself roughly halfway between HS6 and HS7 this evening at the close of riding hours, she is bedding down for the night in the most glamorous of steppe establishments: a 5-star goat shed. Over the past two days she has already put on a frankly intimidating display of masterful horsemanship, ruthless efficiency and flawless navigating. Make no mistake, this professional huntswoman has her quarry firmly in her sights: the 2025 Mongol Derby crown.

Impressive her dash for daylight may have been, but she’s by no means out of the woods yet...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-2-the-huntswoman-becomes-the-hunted/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Day 1 – A fork in the road

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
4th August 2025

Day 1 of the 2025 Mongol Derby has drawn to a nail biting close. Since thundering across the start line at around 11AM Mongolian time this morning as a pack of 45 strong, our field has already covered some serious ground to spread out across the steppe. The gauntlet has been well and truly laid down by four early contenders for the lead, the gap between them too close to call. Anna Boden (ABO) and Bertie Siggers (BSI) appear to have formed a dynamic duo, having ridden side by side since shortly out of the start gates on a pair of perfectly matching dark bays to storm up the course. Riding similarly impressive debut days were Sam Phelps (SPH) and Kami Bitting (KBI), who have banded together since riding out of HS2. The quartet had been in the lead pack all day, until a dramatic turn of events at HS2: SPH and KBI turned on their hocks to shoot out of the station back the way they had come straight into the incoming tide of riders behind them, while ABO and BSI rocketed off in the opposite direction. The pairs have each found a hospitable family to accommodate them for their first night out in the wilds of the steppe, but whose navigational nous will give them the edge coming into HS3 tomorrow, and will these nascent partnerships last? It’s all to play for...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-day-1-a-fork-in-the-road/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Pre-Race Training Day 3 – Ready for lift off

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
3rd August 2025

Bootcamp for our intrepid cohort of Mongol Derby 2025 riders has drawn to a close, and we’re delighted to report that all 45 of our contenders have passed with flying colours. Briefings complete, saddlebags packed and one last sleep in an actual bed to go, we are satisfied that they’re as ready as they’ll ever be to strap themselves into the Derby rollercoaster. While a few more riders briefly parted company with their horses today, all are in one piece and currently tucked up asleep, dreaming sweet dreams of imminent Derby glory. A relatively smooth (albeit sweltering) day by Derby standards, even blessed by the timely arrival of two riders’ errant baggage. An auspicious way to wrap up Start Camp, but who will have had all the luck to take an early lead this time tomorrow? Make sure you’re tuned into our socials at 10am(ish) Mongolian time for the moment we’ve all been waiting for: blast off for the 2025 Mongol Derby.

Riders awoke today to another morning of blazing sunshine for their last day of bootcamp. A delight for most, but a rude awakening for some. A few bleary eyed members of the field and crew were last spotted in the early hours of the morning performing a passionate rendition of Ginuwine’s “Pony” and rocking a disco-ball crash helmet after plundering the Start Camp bar. We applaud their appropriate choice of equine-themed anthem for this important rider and crew bonding ritual. A few rejuvenating showers later this morning, and everybody was ready to face the day. On the agenda: a medical briefing, the course run-down and one final test ride complete with fully packed saddlebag...

read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-pre-race-training-day-3-ready-for-take-off/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Pre-Race Training Day 2 – X marks the spot

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
3rd August 2025

Day 2 of Pre-Race Training on the 2025 Mongol Derby dawned bright and sunny, with not a cloud in the endless steppe skies. Our riders leapt out of bed like children on Christmas morning. Today was the day: their long awaited first brush with the mythical Mongolian horse. But Santa had some tricks up his sleeve with these gift horses. While some riders took flight on perfect ponies, others returned back down to earth with a rather hard bump. Bootcamp has well and truly begun, and our riders have had a real taste of what the steppe has in store. With just one more day of training to go before they set off to tackle the longest and toughest horse race in the world, we take a look at how they’ve fared today.

But before we let our jockeys anywhere near an actual horse, we thought it best to give them a bit of an education on how to pilot their steeds in vaguely the right direction. While horsemanship talent is obviously a pretty useful skill out on the steppe, navigational nous comes a very close second. Riders in the Derby are completely responsible for navigating themselves between the Horse Stations which make up the checkpoints along the 1,000km Derby course. They must ride from HS1 to HS2 to HS3 and so forth in the correct order until they finally reach the finish line at HS29, but the route they pick between each of those stations is entirely their own problem...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-pre-race-training-day-2-x-marks-the-spot/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Pre-Race Training Day 1 – The red carpet rolls out

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
1st August 2025

All those Derby dreams are finally starting to feel alarmingly real. Our 45 contenders for the 2025 Mongol Derby crown are now safely bedded down for their first evening out on the steppe in Mongol Derby Start Camp. In just three days’ time on Monday 4 August, they’ll be exploding off the start line of the 2025 Mongol Derby. Ahead of them lies a weekend of action-packed Derby bootcamp, led by our crack team of Derby veterans and crew. Start Camp Day 1 may not have involved much more than a lengthy bus ride and rider weigh-in, but a couple of hopefuls are already facing the first challenge to their Derby campaign: the perils of the Ulaanbaatar airport lost luggage system.

Our jockeys rose bright and early this morning, gathering together in Ulaanbaatar to hail their first ride of the Derby: the bus to Start Camp. A good test of the reserves of endurance and patience to be drawn on in the 10 days to come, all passed with flying colours. Photographer Kathy was on hand to document the first moments of their Derby journey. Uta Hesterberg (UHE) reported feeling “excited, nervous, petrified and elated” – a pretty accurate summary of the classic pre-Derby jitters. Our 2022 joint Gaucho Derby champion Anna Boden (ABO) was an exception. Introducing herself rather confidently as “rank: legend”, she leaped on the bus while expressing her hope to minimise the saddle sores this time round...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-pre-race-training-day-1-the-red-carpet-rolls-out/

Mongol Derby 2025 – Rider rollcall

Equestrianists.com - Full Article

Holly Conyers
28th July 2025

Hello, Derby fans. We meet again. At long last, the wait is over. It’s been an agonisingly slow, dreary year since our 2024 Mongol Derby riders galloped across the finish line somewhere in the Mongolian wilds. But never fear: the Derby drought is almost over. In just a week’s time on the 4th of August 2025, the start flag will go down on the 14th official Mongol Derby and we’ll all be saved from existential boredom by another 10 days of Derby thrills and spills.

While the crew are busy scrubbing tack, charging GPS trackers and herding up champion racehorses from across the land, riders are beginning to descend on Ulaanbaatar. Months – if not years – of careful preparation are about to be put to the test in the longest and toughest horse race on the planet. Over 1,000km of self-navigated racing across the untamed Mongolian steppe, atop just marginally more tame horses.

As these intrepid adventurers wing their way to start camp from far flung corners of the globe laden with copious quantities of anti-chafing cream, you may be asking yourself: just what kind of screw must you have loose to take on this monumental equine adventure? We’ve been wondering that ourselves, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to introduce you to the cast of the 2025 Mongol Derby: behold, the riders...

Read more here:
https://equestrianists.com/updates/mongol-derby-2025-rider-rollcall/

FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses ready to test tomorrow’s stars in the hills of Haute-Loire

Inside.FEI.org - Full story

30 July 2025 Author: Bella Fricker

The FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses is set to take place for the first time in the stunning hills of Haute-Loire, France. This prestigious 120-kilometre event will bring together the world’s most promising young horses and their human partners to compete over a course that tests endurance, skill, and partnership. Excitement is building among competitors and spectators alike as they look forward to a memorable championship in this beautiful new setting.

Terrain and Technicality

Athletes will face a technically varied course designed with the development of young horses in mind. “The terrain alternates between hard, rocky tracks, dirt trails and grass paths,” explains Event Director Yves Cuerq (FRA). “Most of the route runs under the canopy of trees, offering welcome shade, and while there are rolling hills to test both horse and rider, there are no overly severe obstacles.”

To protect the young equine athletes, the course has been carefully marked and modified where needed to ensure comfortable conditions for all – equine and human athletes, their teams, and the public. “We’ve worked closely with officials and technical delegates to adjust both the start and finish areas,” Cuerq notes. “Our goal was a track that is sufficiently technical to challenge the competitors, but not so simple that it encourages excessive speeds. Each junction is manned by a security officer, and directional arrows and painted markings will remain in place permanently, thanks to our partners in the local authorities.”

Ground preparation has been meticulous...

Read more here:
https://inside.fei.org/media-updates/fei-endurance-world-championship-young-horses-ready-test-tomorrow%E2%80%99s-stars-hills-haute-loire

Fieldbrook native Jenn Laidlaw heads to Mongolia for ‘longest and toughest horse race on Earth’

Times-Standard.com - Full Article

By Robert Schaulis July 23, 2025

Next month, Humboldt County’s Jenn Laidlaw is slated to be the first Lost Coast local ever to compete in the Mongol Derby.

A 1,000-kilometer (more-than-600-mile) journey across the Mongolian steppe, the Mongol Derby is billed as “the longest and toughest horse race on Earth.” Riders mount semi-feral horses each day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and traverse contours of the country that messengers in the employ of Genghis Khan rode nearly 900 years ago.

“There’s no marked course, no packed lunches, no beds to sleep in,” the event’s website reads. “That’s the whole point. It’s just you, your team of horses and a thousand kilometers of Mongolian wilderness. The course consists of horse stations (morin urtuu in Mongolian) at 35-kilometer intervals where you swap your horse and refuel. You change horses at every station and deliver your mounts to the next in great health. How you navigate between them is where your adventure begins.”

The course-sponsoring organization, the Equestrianists, says it hopes to “deliver the greatest equine adventure in the world: high passes, huge valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland, dunes and of course open steppe.”

It’s a far cry from Fieldbrook, the community just northeast of McKinleyville...

Read more here:
https://www.times-standard.com/2025/07/23/fieldbrook-native-jenn-laidlaw-heads-to-mongolia-for-longest-and-toughest-horse-race-on-earth/

Wyoming Rider embarks on toughest horse race in world

JHNewsandguide.com - Full Article

By Kyle Leverone / Sports Editor Jul 16, 2025

Two years ago Haley Fitzgerald signed up for next month’s Mongol Derby while lying in bed.

She had just experienced a horse riding accident and suffered a number of back, head and leg injuries rendering her non-weight bearing for four months. And in her immoble state she decided that she needed to set a goal to get her mind and body back to full form.

Now, she is 18 days away from setting out on the world’s longest and toughest horse race, traveling across 1,000 kilometers of Mongolia.

Fitzgerald grew up riding horses in Virginia but has been living in Jackson for 11 years. She has eight horses and owns Spruced Plume, a business where she sells accessories made of the byproducts — feathers and hides — of her hunts.

Early in her equestrian career, she became proficient in English-style riding but has learned more of the Western way since moving to Wyoming. Fitzgerald spends much of her time on horseback hunting big game in the fall and frequently going on multi-day trips with her horses.

In three weeks, she’ll embark on the multi-day trip of her life...

Read more here:
https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/sports/outdoors/rider-embarks-on-toughest-horse-race-in-world/article_1baad5fa-de70-4b46-8470-2a13eca62cb5.html

Australia: Riding into endurance record books

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article

20/07/2025
Erle Levey

We’re not in Kansas anymore … it’s the famous line from The Wizard of OZ in which Dorothy explains to her dog Toto where they have ended up after a tornado transports them from their home in Kansas to the magical land of Oz.

The same could be said of Widgee endurance horse rider and trainer Gayle Holmes.

At Imbil on the weekend Gayle passed the 30,000km mark in her recorded rides with Australian Endurance Riders Association (AERA).

That’s about 10 times the distance from London to Athens. … and three times the distance from Queensland to Kansas – the site of one of her most memorable rides.

Gayle has been riding since 1990 and only four others have achieved the 30,000km milestone in Australia – Meg Wade, Kristie Taprell, Allan Caslick and Jennifer Gilbertson...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/20-07-2025/riding-into-endurance-record-books/

USA Endurance Secures Individual Podium Finish in Junior/Young Rider Championship at 2025 FEI Endurance Pan American Championships

USEF.org

by Isabelle Whiteside/US Equestrian Communications Dept. | Jul 19, 2025, 9:23 AM

Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil - The U.S. Endurance Team successfully finished three horse-and-athlete combinations through the 120km ride at the 2025 FEI Endurance Pan American Championship hosted at Haras Albar, in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The U.S. Endurance Team was led by Team Chef d’Equipe Lisanne Dorion and supported by Team Veterinarian Dr. Olivia Rudolphi, and Team Leader Nicole Zerbee.

“Across varying terrain and excellent conditions, the U.S. athletes performed in line with expectations,” said Lisanne Dorian, USA Endurance Chef d'Equipe.

Avery Betz-Conway (Kingsland, Ga.) finished as the highest placed U.S. combination individually, taking third overall in the Young Rider Championships with her mount Zendaya Rach, a 2015 Arabian mare owned by Rach Stud Agropecuaria. The pair earned the first medal for U.S. Endurance at a Pan American or World Championship since 2011.

The 120km championship trail consisted of four loops, ranging from 20km to 36.5km, featuring undulating terrain across the Brazilian country, designed to challenge both the endurance, stamina, and horsemanship of the competing horse-and-athlete combinations. At the conclusion of each loop, the horses were inspected and checked by the official competition veterinarians to ensure peak physical condition before returning to the rest of the trail.

“Zendaya Rach knew her job all day long and performed like a true professional,” said Betz-Conway. “We have been training together for the last two months and she gave me 200% every step of the way. I’m so grateful for her and the huge support system we had around us. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Heather Davis (The Plains, Va.) and HM Kaiser Tesla, a 2016 Anglo-Arabian gelding owned by Haras Paso Manzanero, finished inside the top ten individually in the Senior Championship, taking ninth place overall, marking their first top ten finish at the championship level. Thomas Rajala (Hillsborough, N.C.) and Valente Heb, a 2009 Arabian gelding owned by Fernando De Mello Mattos Haaland, finished eleventh overall.

See results and more at:
https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/usa-endurance-secures-individual-podium-finish-in

Costanza Laliscia: the young Italian equestrian endurance champion

Sport.quotidiano.net - Full Article

Costanza Laliscia, endurance champion, talks about her passion for horses and the sacrifices she makes for success.

di FRANCESCA MENCACCI
18 giugno 2025

Costanza Laliscia has always collected titles. The list of successes is very long, as is the list of sacrifices made to be at the highest levels. "But I would do it all again, I can't imagine myself without sport", she says. Daughter of art, she inherited from her father Gianluca, world champion in 2005, the passion for horses and endurance, a discipline that requires rigor, effort but that develops great sensitivity. European Endurance Champion in 2019, in 2016, Costanza, at just 16 years old, became the youngest Italian Absolute Champion in the history of equestrian endurance. In total, she has won 10 Italian championships and many top-prestige international competitions in a truly rare list of achievements. Costanza has already worn the jersey of the Italian National Team 10 times and today, at 25 years old, she is the most prominent young woman in the panorama of the discipline, inside and outside Europe. "I was born among horses – she explains – I come from a family where sport is our daily bread, for us it is a lifestyle. Competitions make me feel alive, present, they give me the motivation to work hard every day"...

Read more here:
https://sport.quotidiano.net/altri-sport/costanza-laliscia-la-giovane-campionessa-5b479ebb

Australia: A remarkable life

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article

05/07/2025
Erle Levey

The word legend can often be easily bandied about, but in Bob Sample’s case it reflects what he has done in life – particularly in endurance horse-riding circles.

Yet there is so much more to Bob and his legacy.

It reminds you that through the years you can regularly deal with people, but it is only when you set aside time to really talk with them, and listen, that you discover the full depth of their life.

Even now, in his 80s, Bob has been surprised at how little he knows about the early lives of mates … friendships built up over years in various sporting arenas and careers.

From jackaroo to board chairman, from working with dairy cattle to horses, he has led a full life.

Sitting on the deck at Stirling’s Crossing Endurance Centre at Imbil, Bob and I were watching the riders come in from an event.

There was that far-away look in his eyes as he recalled past rides...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/05-07-2025/a-remarkable-life/

A Golden Bond: How Marijke Visser and Chaitana Became European Champions

FEI.org - Full Story

27 June 2025
Stacey Stearns

How the Dutch athlete rode to glory in Castiglione del Lago...

Marijke Visser and her 13-year-old bay mare, Chaitana des Chaises, did not just win gold at the Zigulì FEI Endurance European Championship 2025 – they earned it stride by stride, through years of relentless dedication, trust and quiet determination.

At Castiglione del Lago (ITA), the Dutch pair etched their names into the history books with a breathtaking performance that captured Individual gold and helped secure a Team bronze for the Netherlands. Forged through long miles, early mornings, and an unshakable bond, their victory was not just a result, but a reward – the culmination of a journey built on loyalty, grit and grace.

“When we reached the last kilometres, I asked Chaitana to take the lead,” Marijke told FEI.org. “She knew it was showtime. I was still trying to control her speed, but she took over the game. Chaitana won the gold for us. She made us so proud”

A shared triumph

That final stretch was the climax of a 160km journey through the rolling Umbrian countryside of Castiglione del Lago (ITA). The pair had remained in the leading pack throughout the six demanding loops. As they floated into the recovery and Vetting Area for their final veterinary inspection, Chaitana’s ears pricked forward as her bright eyes surveyed the scene, and Visser’s wide smile reflected their shared triumph. The moment was marked by hugs and tears as Visser thanked Chaitana, her crew, and everyone who had supported their journey. It was a first-ever championship gold for the Dutch athlete, who had previously won silver medals at the Worlds and Europeans...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/golden-bond-how-marijke-visser-and-chaitana-became-european-champions