Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Tribute to Becky Hart: Champion Endurance Athlete and Equestrian Educator

Bob Langrish photo

USEF.org

As an athlete, coach, and leader in the sport, Becky Hart had a profound impact on endurance riding in the U.S. and around the world. Hart passed away on February 28, 2025, at age 71.

During her competitive career, Hart (San Juan Bautista, Calif.) was a dominant force in the sport, highlighted by her winning a remarkable three individual FEI Endurance World Championships in a row in 1988, 1990, and 1992. She won these titles with R.O. Grand Sultan, the Arabian gelding who was later inducted into the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) Hall of Fame. With “Rio,” Hart also helped the U.S. win FEI Endurance World Championship team silver medals in 1986 and 1992. Her incredible achievements led to her being named AHSA Equestrian of the Year in 1990. To this day, the Becky Grand Hart Trophy is awarded annually by US Equestrian to Equestrian of the Year finalists from international non-Olympic sports.

Hart also had a phenomenal record in national endurance rides, including two wins in the Western States Trail Ride, better known as the Tevis Cup. She was the AERC National Champion twice and was inducted into the AERC Hall of Fame in 1992.

With her record as one of the sport’s most accomplished athletes and her longtime experience as a riding instructor and coach, Hart was a natural choice to help lead the U.S. Endurance Teams on the international stage. She served as Chef d’Equipe for many years, including for several FEI World Championships in the 2000s.

While Hart’s involvement in elite endurance was an undeniable asset to the sport in the U.S., her love of horses and talent for teaching reached far beyond her high-profile positions. She was a certified Centered Riding instructor and shared her expertise teaching riding and horsemanship to all levels, from brand-new beginners to advanced equestrians, at her home base in California. The enthusiasm she brought to her students came from her own lifelong experience as a lover of all things equine; her earliest equestrian experiences were riding lessons, Pony Club, and local horse shows in all disciplines beginning at age 6.

US Equestrian extends heartfelt condolences to Hart’s family, friends, and the endurance community. The Federation is grateful for her lifetime of contributions to the sport.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Magma Aviation and Intradco Global team up to transport 34 endurance horses

AirCargoWeek.com - Full Article

March 10, 2025

Magma Aviation, the innovative air cargo solutions company, and Intradco Global, the leading horse transportation air charter specialist, have successfully transported 34 endurance horses from Liège (Belgium) to AlUla (Saudi Arabia) for the AlFursan Endurance Cup. Held in AlUla, in the heart of the desert, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, this prestigious event offers the highest prize money in the sport and showcases the pinnacle of endurance riding. Both companies demonstrated their expertise in equine logistics and dedication to animal welfare throughout this operation.

Endurance horses are extremely valuable and clients’ expectations for such transportation are always based on the highest standards. The companies transporting racehorses must ensure the best service and care to guarantee all goes smoothly. The client, ordering endurance horses transportation from Magma Aviation and Intradco Global, was highly pleased with the level of service, from the first encounter to the safe arrival of the horses...

Read more here:
https://aircargoweek.com/magma-aviation-and-intradco-global-team-up-to-transport-34-endurance-horses/

Tuesday, March 04, 2025

New Zealand: Horse prevails in Central Otago's Only Fools and Horses race

RNZ.co.nz

3 March 2025
Joe Shaw
joe.shaw@rnz.co.nz

Four legs have - unsurprisingly - triumphed over two in the inaugural Only Fools and Horses race in Central Otago at the weekend.

The race started as an idea tossed around at the pub, but on Saturday more than 50 runners and 26 horses and riders tackled the 40-kilometre race through the rugged terrain of Maniototo.

Jorja James and her horse Ruby were victorious with a time of about two hours and 50 minutes.

But James praised the runners for their efforts as they remained snapping at the heels - or should that be hoofs - of their four-legged competitors.

"The runners did really well. I was actually so impressed by the runners - I could not run 40 kilometres any day," James said...

Read more here:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/543576/horse-prevails-in-central-otago-s-only-fools-and-horses-race

Tribute to Becky Hart: Champion Endurance Athlete and Equestrian Educator

Bob Langrish photo USEF.org As an athlete, coach, and leader in the sport, Becky Hart had a profound impact on endurance riding in the U...