2013 Brazilian Championships

31 August 2013

Maria Vitoria Liberal Lins won the 28th CEI 3* 160-km Brazilian National Championship at Fazenda Olhos D'Agua, Caetanópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 31 August 2013. Riding RSC Burbara, the duo completed the course in first place, 6 seconds ahead of Rafael Sabino Salvador, riding SM La Turca. Third place Newton Lins Filho riding Quick Girl HEB crossed the finish line 4 seconds later.
The winners averaged 19.21 km/h. There were 18 starters and 7 finishers. SM La Turca won Best Condition.

In the CEI 2* 120-km Championship, Leonardo de Carvalho Barbosa finished first riding Ayalla HNP, who also received the Best Condition award. Averaging 19.3 km/h, the pair finished 4 minutes ahead of second place Thiago Freitas Martins and RSC Natacha. Pedro Godinho riding La Barca Endurance finished 3rd, with Jose Carlos Alves riding Falbalah do Bom Viver in 4th. Five of 14 starters completed the race.

For complete results, see:
http://www.endurance.net/international/Brazil/2013BrazilNationalChampionships/

World Championship Young Horses at La Garda, Italy

Horsereporter.com

On September 28, the World Championships for Young Horses will take place along the scenic shores of Lake Garda and the breathtaking landscape of Parco Giardino Sigurta' in Valeggio sul Mincio. This is the the first time this event will be held in Italy.

Team UAE make a clean sweep to clinch Endurance Cup honours in Italy

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

Kelly Ann Clarke / 1 September 2013

Team UAE reigned victorious on Saturday at the Horse Country Endurance Cup held in Sardinia, Italy – a first for the autonomous Italian region – with Dubai-based horses and riders snapping up the top three places of the tough 120-km race.

With competitors from the UAE, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and Algeria all vying for the top spot, it was the strength and agility of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai’s; horses that proved winner worthy.

Crossing the finishing line first at 14.08pm – nine and a half minutes ahead of the runner up and just over six hours after setting off – was Saeed Mohammed Khalifa Al Mehairi from MRM Stables in Dubai. Wearing the number 15 jersey and riding Qaid Larzac, Al Mehairi had a tense wait to confirm his winning position as the vets checked over the horse, but as the thumbs up were given, the rider and his team erupted into cheers and began throwing water over each other in celebration...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=/data/sportstalk/2013/September/sportstalk_September1.xml§ion=sportstalk

Epic ride through the Americas close to completion

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Aug 30, 2013

A German adventurer is crossing the Alaskan wilderness on horseback, nearing the end of one of the most remarkable equestrian journeys in history. His epic trip began nearly 20 years earlier in Patagonia, near the southern tip of South America.

Guenter Wamser is currently out of contact, but is almost certainly nearing the end of his epic journey, during which he has covered more than 25,000 kilometers (15,535 miles).

In 1994, Guenter, an airplane mechanic by trade, set out from Patagonia on horseback with the intention or riding north to the top of Alaska...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/08/30/epic-ride-americas-close-completion/#axzz2dSp7gJWL

Australia: Alwyn's Life in the Saddle

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

Johanna Leggatt | August 28, 2013

AWLYN Torenbeek "doesn't do anything in life that doesn't give him a natural high".

That's the words of the retired stockman and rodeo champion.

From rough riding horses in rodeo tournaments in his late teens to competing in endurance horse rides in his late 70s, Alwyn has always ripped off a fair chunk of life.

Such is the strength of the stories at his disposal, Alwyn finally relented to friends’ requests and shared his ups and downs with author David Gilchrist, in the newly released memoir Life in the Saddle.

“You have got to want to get out of bed every day when it is still dark to feed the horses,” he says.

“You have to want to live. It is no different from when you are riding a big bad horse that wants you off it, the thing is, you have to want to stay on.”

Alwyn has always wanted to stay on the horse, and as the wild and talented teen discovered, was pretty good at it, too.

He grew up mustering cattle on his parents’ property at Myella in Kokotunga, south-west of Rockhampton in Queensland, before leaving to work as a “taker” on a nearby station in his teens...

Read more here:
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/08/28/580793_country-living.html

Endurance Team Great Britain Announced for the FEI European Endurance Championships

Endurancegb.co.uk

5th August 2013
Holdsworth PR and Marketing report that Endurance GB has announced the team of horses and riders that will represent Great Britain at the FEI European Endurance Championships 2013

Link to Team Profiles

The riders in alphabetical order are:

· Beccy Broughton-Booker from Nottinghamshire riding Mr & Mrs T Broughton’s Tawmarsh Muharram
· Carrie-Ann Dark from Wiltshire riding her own Vavavoom
· Emma Finnie from Abu Dhabi Riding Al Wathba Stables’ Baraka Farid or Djella D’Enfer
· Annette Masterson from Staffordshire riding her own El Sabio or Millenium Chorus

Chairman of selectors, Di Latham said, on behalf of the selectors and management team, “This year’s team is a combination of new and experienced members. This is a perfect mix for the European Championships in preparation for the World Equestrian Games next year”.

Team Chef d’Equipe, Annabelle Scofield said, “It is very exciting to have new blood in the team. Each one of the members brings their own knowledge and experience. Emma has competed extensively in endurance and showjumping in Abu Dhabi, Carri-Ann comes to the senior team off the back of a Young Rider medal in 2012, Annette was a member of the 2012 World Endurance Championships team and Beccy is very experienced at senior level. We are expecting all the riders and crew to pull together really well”.

Chairman of EGB’s International Committee, Emma Miller, said, “This is a strong team of committed and hardworking riders. We are confident they will rise to the challenge in the Czech Republic”.

The FEI CEI 4* European Endurance Championships takes place 12 - 15 September, at Most in the North West of the Czech Republic; the riders will compete over a course of 160km in distance.

There will be a live twitter feed throughout the day of the Championships @enduranceGB, #Egbeuros. For further information about the sport of endurance riding visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.

For more information about the British equestrian team go to www.equestrianteamgbr.co.uk.

France: Test Summary Test of 2014 WEG in Normandy

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

August 24 2013
[google translation]

One of the more Raid International Judges requested by the Committee Organizers important evidence in the international calendar, Fernando Carrillo, has made a summary of this test Test, preparatory Raid World 2014 to be held by the Norman lands in France next year 2014.

Sure that these views of a lover Judge Raid and expert in the field, have your weight within the Organizing Committee to make a good World Cup and that everything runs through the trails CRAVED of participants and assists ( how good and important work done in Equestrian Endurance test), and for much the public, which will likely resort to an event of such importance and resonance within the Raid World.

This is written by Fernando:

"Many friends have called me to know how was the test event for WEG 2014 and asked me to make a summary.

No professional is a summary only say the things that caught my attention.

The first thing people and people of Normandy, very kind and willing to WEG 2014 raid that goes well or yes.

And I am referring to several things, first, there are few since they cross paths huge farms and roads intersect and in each farm-road crossing two volunteers of the organization that become cops when national wagons.

I think there were more than 200 volunteers. I did not count but they were everywhere.

Countless have reaped corn farms for the tour passes by, making broad ways in which fit more than 5 horses at par. Victorian mansions, have opened their farm for horses passing by, even in some spend almost next to the front door.

Going through the villages is amazing, in this day, public holiday in France, people in some places, set up tables with food and drink and there were applauding every rider or group of riders passed.

Nothing to say about the gallop along the beaches, one with the Mont St. Michel in the background, each think or imagine what you want, but I will tell you is not to be missed. Cool!

The mountain route without hills but with up and down but also with flat stages. The sandy soil in many places, you have to run with head, especially if it's hot, it did the day before and had a very high temperature with high humidity.
The very large vet gate and next year it will be even more like the enclosure of blocks, which occupy part of what was the vet gate this year.

The assists very well marked and very large sites, the route well marked and signposted and also, again, volunteers fluorescent overalls and stop signs all over the place. Health, medical and ambulance assistance and one in every other fixed with two mobile hospitals vet gate.

I think it has all the ingredients to be a success, considering also that the Secretariat and the organization is run by one of the most experienced Organizing Committees in organizing European Championships as that of Compiegne.

I think I do not forget anything, perhaps only downside the distance to other events or equestrian disciplines, we will be slightly apart, but hopefully not for that, we are forgotten.

I attached some photos for you to see with your eyes what I have told you. "

Thanks Fernando for your contribution to our discipline riding is increasingly important and competitive.

Greetings from Gabriel.

Spain: Shortlist for the European Championships in Most (Czech Republic)

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

[google translate]

In the page of the Spanish Equestrian Federation give us the list of names of those who will binomials of the five pairs selected to attend the Senior European Championship in Most, Czech Republic Raid.

This is the note of the Federation:

List of names for the Senior European Championships RAID MOST, Czech Republic.

After a first round of tests conducted in recent weeks, the 10 riders who have entered the list of names for MOST of which will the final list of 5, is:

María Álvarez Pontón con NOBBY
Jaume Punti Dachs con QURAN EL ULM
Laia Muixi Crusellas con FLYNG TORNADE
Bernat Casals Fores con DZSAMILA P
Florentino Pereira Suarez con AGENTE 67
Ingrid Valls Vazquez con FLETXA D’OR
Ibon Alberdi Sánchez con ABANDO AB BAKAR
Maria Uriarte Cañellas con RUFO
Angel Soy Coll con FOR-XINXETA
Javier Cervera Sanchez-Arnedo con STRAWBLADE

Next week will start the end of selection tests that define the final team that will travel to the European Championships representing Spain.

The One-Year Countdown for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy Starts Today

August 23 2013

[CAEN, France] – The one-year countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM 2014 in Normandy began today. In just 365 days, the streets of Caen will overflow with excitement as Normandy opens its doors to 1,000 international competitors, their families, trainers, more than 1,000 horses, 1,200 journalists, and more than 500,000 fans and spectators from 60 countries for 16 days of world championship sport from Aug. 23 until Sept. 7. Alltech, a leader in optimal animal health, nutrition and performance, is the proud title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM 2014 in Normandy, and will make history in France with the largest equestrian event ever held on French soil.
 
“The Games in Normandy hold a special significance for Alltech, touching every aspect of our business, motivating employee engagement, supporting our philanthropic and educational endeavors and establishing solid ties in the Normandy region for years to come,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. “We are proud and delighted to be a part of this one-world event for the second time, having become the event’s first title sponsor through the last edition of the Games in Kentucky in 2010.”
 
As the world population moves closer to a 9 billion apex by 2050, Alltech’s title sponsor status provides a unique opportunity to feature the importance of agriculture to a global audience and to communicate Alltech’s passion for improving efficiency, profitability and sustainability on the farm through natural nutrition and scientific innovation.
 
The greatness associated with crowning eight world championships during the Games embodies Alltech values of peak performance and excellence, achievable in humans and animals by natural nutrition.
 
Alltech believes in supporting people where they work and live. The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM in Kentucky produced close to $400 million USD in supplemental tax and tourism revenue for the state. For 2014, Alltech is actively supporting tourism to Normandy. Alltech already led a Kentucky delegation of business leaders to Normandy in 2012. In April of this year, Alltech welcomed 30 of its Alltech Official Games Partners to France from 27 countries. In 2014, for the Games, 40 Alltech Official Games Partners will return, yet with hundreds of their clients and families this time. Alltech will also organize one of its most important annual conferences in Normandy in 2014, gathering more than 500 international dairy and beef farmers in the region during the Games. 
 
Over the course of the next year, Alltech will increase staffing at its newest office in Caen, drawing approximately 100 employees from around the world to support its sponsorship efforts.  In France, Alltech is also expanding its sales force and has invested in a three-year digestive equine research project with the AgroSup Equine Masters Program in Dijon, France.
 
An additional benefit, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM 2014 in Normandy will engage and unify Alltech employees as brand ambassadors.
 
“The title sponsorship is now a part of the company’s DNA, and our brand ambassadors, all 3,000 of our employees, are actively spreading the excitement about the Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM 2014  in Normandy in 128 Alltech countries around the world,” said Catherine Keogh, chief marketing officer at Alltech.
 
“We salute Alltech’s enthusiasm to support Normandy in so many creative ways. Alltech truly lives their values of passion, performance and excellence, going above and beyond in everything they do, which includes promoting  Normandy and the spirit of equestrian sport around the world  to their partners, customers, and employees,” said Laurent Beauvais, president of the 2014 Organizing Committee and president of the region of Lower Normandy.

Press Contacts:

Marcelle C. Rousseau, Equine and Sponsorship PR
mrousseau@alltech.com; + 33 (0) 6 72 39 79 59
Susanna Elliott, Alltech PR
suelliott@alltech.com; +1 859- 473-2696

FNB Namibia Endurance Champs

Namibiasport.com - Full Article

Submitted by editor on Fri, 08/23/2013

The annual FNB Namibia Endurance African Championships will be held in Walvis Bay on Wednesday, August 28.

FNB Namibia has supported this event for the past five years and recently announced a sponsorship of N$50 000 for this year’s event.

Ingrid Goeieman, Manager Sponsorships and Donations at FNB Namibia:

“Apart from the fact that this is a sport event and FNB Namibia is the number one supporter of a variety of sporting codes in Namibia, we also appreciate the fact that this event is about endurance, stamina and a never-give-up- attitude,” she said.

“These are all qualities we admire in our staff as well as clients, ranging from SME owners to big corporate clients and we therefore wholeheartedly support such occasions,” she added.

Zelda von Schauroth of Namibia Endurance said:

“Namibia Endurance hosts their 18th flagship event with an expected record amount of entries. Apart from the four Namibian teams, heavy weight, senior standard weight, no weight and young rider teams, there are also teams from South Africa and Botswana. We expect between 180 and 200 horses to depart before sunrise in very misty conditions on a course lit with blinking lights.”

She went on to say that the course this year was very challenging and interesting with the second loop of the 120km being over the notorious Dune 7, a huge challenge for horse and rider...

Read more here:
http://www.namibiasport.com.na/node/32242

Riding high on State success

Drew Timbs
22nd Aug 2013

photo: Young gun James Coop in the saddle.

THE Gympie region's horse riding talent continues to thrive after local endurance veteran Ken Moir and up-and-coming rider James Coop recently won the Queensland Endurance Riding Championships.

Winning the middleweight category and junior category respectively, Moir and Coop have a special relationship they formed three years ago.

After showing interest in the sport when he was 12, Coop asked Moir to be his mentor and after some practice on a small pony, the youngster was ready to tackle some of the bigger events.

Only finishing fourth at last year's Queensland Championships, Coop has now stormed to the front of his competition and Moir says the promising 15 year old has a bright future ahead.

"He is showing incredible talent and I'm actually in awe of his impressive race last weekend," Moir said.

"It's one of the fastest 160km I have ever seen in more than 15 years of endurance riding and racing."

Averaging more than 18kmh, Coop led from start to finish which was another incredible feat.

"We headed out together and our game plan was to go out hard and maintain the lead," 61-year-old Moir said.

"On the fourth stage I told James to push on and he did exactly that which is amazing to see such a young rider going so well on his own."

In anticipation for the event, the Gympie duo trained on their horses up to five days a week travelling more than 30km to condition their horses Shian and Cameo Helmzman.

When asked where they get their inspiration, Moir said they can always look up to Alwyn Torenbeek.

"He's the oldest endurance riding going around at the age of 76," he said.

"It's an honour to know him and ride alongside him. He hardly ever misses an endurance ride and has a true passion for it."

The local duo hadn't planned what they are taking on next but whatever it is, they are likely to succeed.
[More ...]

One for the bucket list: Australia’s Quilty ride

Australia's famous Tom Quilty Ride is on the bucket list of endurance riders world-wide. Amanda Rayner looks back at the history of the ride, and forward to its net running as the 2014 Australian National Championships in Western Australia.

One for the bucket list: Australia’s Quilty ride [More ...]

Canada: Young riders on 145-km endurance expedition

Journalpioneer.com - Full Article

Published on August 19, 2013
Eric McCarthy

ALBERTON – Green Cart day in Alberton proved to be the biggest challenge Monday for some of the young riders on the first leg of their 145-kilometre horseback riders. Five Trailblazers with the Handibear Hills Horse Sanctuary Youth Club are using the ride to help fulfill the requirements of their Duke of Edinburgh Challenge Program.

They left St. Felix shortly before 10 a.m. Monday and arrived at the Prince County Exhibition Fair Grounds in Alberton just after 2 p.m., travelling mostly cross-country and on dirt roads where possible. The horses were being stabled at the fairgrounds Monday night and their riders were staying with them.

Today, Tuesday, the group will ride to Port Hill, travelling mostly along Highway 12.

Big transfer trucks are a concern admitted Ashley Crombie, 22, who was riding Image, 15.

“You have to talk to them,” she said of the need to keep their horse calm. “I just say, ‘easy girl...’”

Read more here:
http://www.journalpioneer.com/News/Local/2013-08-19/article-3356823/Young-riders-on-145-kilometer-endurance-expedition/1

Hong Kong Riders Complete WEG Test Ride

Nicky Freud photo

August 19 2013

The latest country to start competing in endurance gave a very good account of themselves at the WEG test ride. There were only two countries to get their two riders home - Holland was one and Hong Kong was the other. Jason Tse and Vivian Cheung, who are more than happy to embrace 'To Finish Is To Win,'  brought their horses home in 24th and 25th positions, having been delighted to have ridden with Meg Sleeper on the fourth loop.

Their horses, Siroco Toul Ar C'hoat and Chazan, are trained in the UK by Richard Allen and Nicky Freud.

Kingwood equestrian rides for U.S. in France

NJ.com - Full Article

By Lillian Shupe/Hunterdon County Democrat
on August 18, 2013 at 2:27 PM, updated August 18, 2013 at 2:28 PM

Dr. Margaret Sleeper of Kingwood Township was one of two riders that represented the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance test event on Friday, Aug. 16. The ride was held at Sartilly in Manche, France.

Sleeper rode Sandra Fretelliere's 10-year-old mare Tikis Twistyr. The pair had moved up from 50th in the first loop to 30th at the end of the third. The horse became lame in the fourth lap and was disqualified.

Sleeper, who was a last-minute substitution, was the highest placed American at the Longines FEI World Endurance Championship a year ago...

Read more here:
http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2013/08/kingwood_equestrian_to_ride_in.html

France: Hamdan wins endurance race

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

18 August 2013

Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, emerged winner of the 130-km preparatory race of the World Endurance Cup 2014 held in Normandy, France, on Friday.

At the end of the race, which was held in four stages, Shaikh Hamdan was crowned the champion amid a storm of applause by spectators who attended the race.

“I dedicate this win to all the young UAE riders and wish them good luck for the World Cup race next year,” said Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationsports/2013/August/nationsports_August114.xml§ion=nationsports