Biltmore: The Course

EnduranceWorld.net
Angie McGhee


Let's talk about the trail at Biltmore. First thing in the morning you head out in the direction of the "Big House". The trails are often carriage trails so they're wide enough for a jeep. They are not particularly steep though they do have climbs. As starts go this will be one of the less hair raising ones. It's nice because the road has plenty of dips and turns that keep all of the horses except the ones just in front of yours out of sight avoiding that "radar lock" on the horse 1/2 mile ahead runaway situation. These roads were built for the sake of having roads, not to get somewhere, so there are many turns and they take the gradual course of ascent and descent. These roads are also used by jumpers and you'll often look up ahead only to see a large timber jump appearing to block your path but when you get there there is always a "go around". >whew<

There is one sizable climb on this loop but for the most part the altitude changes at Biltmore are more like running up and down two or three flights of stairs all day than climbing up the Empire State Building and back down. After going through the woods you emerge near one of the, honest to goodness "charming" estate caretakers cottages. If you're lucky they may even have a water trough out at the road for you. One of the water troughs comes complete with a pen full of cows right beside it and they find endurance horses fascinating. They especially love to stare until a horse finally risks dropping his nose for a drink, then they explode in every direction...every year it's the same. They love that trick. You have one of your first asphalt crossings and may ride the verge of the road at times on this loop. I cringe every time our 200 horses hit these groomed shoulders but I guess they know what they're in for when they let us on the place.

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Coverage Site

The trip to La Baule

Pamela Burton
May 7


Though sunny today, it is still cool here on the Atlantic Coast of
France, with a stiff breeze. If the weather is like this tomorrow,
the day of the ride, it should make for excellent riding conditions.

Friday afternoon - on to the Vet-In...I had to to pass on the
fresh oysters they were serving in the press room (lack of time) and
head to the trot -out paddock, which happens to be a nearrby lovely
park among the surrounding houses, I immediately run into Dr. Dane
Frazier from the US. He was extremely genial as is his habit, and
very complimentary of his treatment by the highly organized,
Organizing Committee. Dr. Frazier is here as one of the 9
veterinarians from as many countries, as a line vet...he said,
"his favorite job".

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Coverage Site

[RC] Time to start talkin' bout Biltmore

Ridecame: 06May04
Angie McGhee


WOW! 81 starters in the 100. That's HUGE!!! I'll be heading up to Biltmore EARLY Friday morning and will be posting back to you guys any way we find to get it here. I've got my whole family lined up to work Friday and between Bill photographing, me with the tape recorder, laptop, pen and pencil and cell phone and Bonnie & Josie acting as runners (drivers) to hopefully take my disk to the nearest internet access. The mountains are steep and close in at Biltmore so John may be hearing a whole lot of "Can you hear me NOW?"

I've entered 11 rides on the Biltmore course and have 9 completions. Kaboot got thumps back in 97 after I tried some old non-endurance electrolytes (was running 4th at the 40 mile mark), then pulled "rider option" in 02 the year that it rained so hard the night before that they dropped the 100 down to 80 and it rained buckets all day. My horse was good at 40 miles but the trail and conditions weren't so I decided to option out when the nominated horses did. I've top tenned twice in the 50, and completed 3 100's...the fastest in 13:27. So, there's my resume' for commentary. I may not be the person to ask how to win the ride, but I've got a pretty good idea how to get through it and what the challenges are. Since I'm having to be an "at home" armchair commentator right now, I just thought I'd describe what it's like if you're a first timer. If you're looking for commentary on this year's entries that'll be coming later.

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Coverage Site

La Baule: Starters List

EnduranceWorld.net


The starters list for the 2004 LaBaule CEIO*** event provides an opportunity to review the endurance teams from 5 countries as well as the depth of the endurance community in France. There will be 47 starters from 8 countries. We will see the teams from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, and the UAE compete for team honors.

The event is also a part of the honeymoon for the newly betrothed His Highness Shiekh Mohammad Rashid Al Maktoum and Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of the United Arab Emirates and Jordan respectively. Competing in a 160km endurance race on one's honeymoon is certainly one of the marks of enthusiastic endurance family.

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EnduranceWorld.net Coverage

Biltmore: Starters List

EnduranceWorld.net
by John Teeter

The tentative starters list for the 2004 Biltmore Estate Challenge is available. There are 81 starters in the AERC Open 100, 45 FEI CEI***(100M) starters, 117 AERC Open 50, and 3 CEI**(50M) starters. The weather is changing from wet/cool to clear/hot (humid??) for Saturday with thunder storms forecast for Sunday.

All 10 USEF National Endurance Team members will be riding in the 100, although not all in the FEI division. Riders from 8 countries will be taking the Challenge.

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Starters List

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EnduranceWorld.net Coverage Site

Endurance Stars of France: Persik

Persik, foundation sire: 1969-2001
by Pamela Burton - EnduranceWorld.net


Persik, who stood in France from 1975 until 2001, is considered by many to be one of the best producers of endurance horses, able to pass his numerous good qualities to his famous get. These include endurance greats, Kid, Loustik, Makonia, Tex, Outlaw Persik, Varoussa, Dynamik, SyI?ne of Dr?mme, Melfenik, and Krempolis, to name a few.

Persik was imported from the Russian racing stud, Piaygiorsk, at Tiersk, by Jean Cougul along with two mares. In 1972, equestrian tourism was on the rise in the south of France, and riders and park rangers needed horses. According to historians, the stallion Persik, was a stand-out. The 15.3 h, grey was from the Skowronek line, with Nasseen on the paternal side and Arax on the maternal side. Dikarka, great-grandmother to Persik, is the mother of famous Padron in the USA.

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France: Pierre Cazes - The Heart of French Endurance

Pamela Burton
30Apr04

Born in 1950, married with 2 children -
A veterinarian, Pierre Cazes has been in charge of the Selection process for the French National Endurance team since 1991. He was named National trainer in 1994 and continues in that position to this day.

Under his leadership, French riders have accumulated 26 medals for European and World Championships, 9 of which were Gold medals. These medals include:

1992, Barcelona, Team Gold, Silver Individual

1994, The Hague, Team Gold / Silver & Bronze Individual

5 horses in the first 6 places

1997 Rome, Championship of Europe ? 5 top placces and Team Gold

2000 Compiegne, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Individual

2002 Jerez, Team Gold, Bronze Individual

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2004 La Baule CEIO*** Coverage


In a training course in 1998, these were some of his points of recommendation, in translation, of course, for choosing the endurance horse.

“For the endurance horse, one is not necessarily looking for the traditional gates as in more structured disciplines. You do not need a trot with action or a rounded and collected gallop, which use too much energy. The good paces of endurance are horizontal, relaxed and slow. We can see these paces develop the more the horse is worked. However, if it is the horses’ natural inclination to be collected in it’s gates, it will be difficult to dissuade the horse from his natural inclination. As far as cardiac, a powerful horse has a good recovery. Certain horses have this naturally but it is primarily a question of work and one cannot give measurable criterion on a horse that is not in condition. There will be some indices of the cardiac quality of recovery only after the first months of work. The heart rate at rest is not a good index. As far as the mental aspect of the horse, champions are relaxed and educated and work well with their riders, but they may not be horses that may be ridden by everyone. They all have a great force of character and each one has its characteristic of behavior, its small touch of madness.

Much can be found out by observing the arrivals from a race. No horse is perfect, and even the best have their weak points. The significant thing is to know your horse and to be able to manage the weak points as well as possible. When one buys a horse for endurance, the surest solution is obviously to look at its record in endurance. It should be known that the best horses were bought by chance before they were ever run for reasons as simple as color or looks, or because nobody wanted it, or the stockbreeder sold it in a batch. Finally let us not forget the genetic references: certain lines prove to be stable in their quality for the endurance.”



A la prochaine fois, Pamela








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Brazil: Santa Catarina CEI***/**/* - 8 May

Cidinha Franzão and John Teeter
30 Apr 04

EnduranceBrazil and EnduranceWorld.net will provide coverage of the CEI***/**/* (thanks mainly to the efforts of Cidinha and EnduranceBrazil!!). We hope to introduce the endurance riders of the world to this unique venue - 7' above sea level with Heat and Humidity - a true test of endurance riding!

Our coverage starts today and will continue through next week. Enjoy!!!

johnt and Cidinha!!



EnduranceWorld.net Coverage Site

EnduranceBrazil Coverage Site

Malaysia to host Endurance International: July 2004

Malaysia has invited 21 countries to send one rider each to a CIE* 60 km International Endurance Ride to be held on borrowed horses, at Melingsung Beach, Papar, Sabah, on 17th July 2004. The event is titled CEI* 60 km – (Borrowed Horses) Chief Minister’s International Endurance Ride 2004.
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Edaran Endurance Classic ,120km CEI**:Riders and Horses profile

Malaysia: Edaran Endurance Classic 120 km. CEI**

posted by Nik Isahak Abdullah

Everyone in endurance are gearing up their training and
conditioning of themselves and their mounts for this very much awaited event
in the endurance calender.
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La Baule: Spotlight on Jack Begaud

By Pamela Burton
EnduranceWorld.net


Jack Begaud is one of the ongoing French endurance stars.

Begaud has been an integral part of the "coming of age" of endurance in France and Europe. On the race scene as a veterinarian since 1982, Begaud quickly decided he had to be in the middle of the competition and not on the fringe. In 1984 Begaud began his endurance rise with LOUSTIC, whom he rode to the Championship of France in 1989 and 1990,
and to a Silver Medal Team World Championship in Barcleona in 1992.

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The 2004 Biltmore Estate Challenge

Biltmore Estate Challenge Event Coverage
Angie McGhee/John Teeter



The 2004 Biltmore Estate Challenge will take place on 8 May. This year, the Biltmore will have CEI***/**, Open AERC (100 & 50), and also host the Region 12 IAHA 100 Mile Championship. The event will again be hosted on the grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Ashville North Carolina. Ride Manager Anne Ayala and the Biltmore staff wil host an expected 180 endurance competitors during the 3 day event.

Angie McGhee, having ridden 11 previous Biltmore Challenges, will provide first hand reports from Asheville. We look forward to providing timely information on Saturday as the rides progress as well as background information on the Estate and the riders competing at this years event.

This years Biltmore is also the first of 3 USEF National Endurance Team Training Events. (The other two will be Fort Howes on June 13th and the Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights ride on August 28th). All 10 USEF National Endurance Team Members will be attending these events, riding where/when practical and helping when not. The Biltmore will provide a suitably competitive venue for the first of these tests.

EnduranceWorld.net will provide before, during, and after the ride coverage of this years Biltmore. We wish all participants, organizers, volunteers, and especially Anne the best of luck for this years challenge.

More to come at the ride coverage site:

http://www.enduranceworld.net/events/2004biltmore/

John Teeter (and Angie - although she didn't get to proof-read this....:)

Intercontinental newsletter: 08/04

Intercontinental Newsletter
News & Messages
8/04

In this letter you’ll find:

• Message from Maciek Kacprzyk, Poland
  
• News from the FEI Endurance Committee - Important
  
• Message from Sergio Tommasi: Answer to Ian William’s letter (15th April 2004)
  
• Message from Sergio Tommasi: The History of Endurance in Italy
  

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Ultramarathons -- on horseback

Ultramarathons -- on horseback: "Ultramarathons -- on horseback
Teens attracted to the challenge of long distance
By JENNIFER LANGSTON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
STANWOOD -- On her first 100-mile horseback riding race, Jessica Anderson hallucinated, seeing elongated, droopy cows on the side of the trail.
On her second, she found herself lost in the California desert -- in the wee morning hours, with her partner's leg full of cactus thorns and a shrieking cold wind that blew away the glow sticks lighting their path.
It is at times like these that the competitive 16-year-old wonders why she loves this sport, which appeals to the ultramarathoners of horseback riding."

[More...]

La Baule: The Competitors

La Baule: The Competitors
Pamela Burton


Winner of the 1st La Baule, CEIO in 2003, Sh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum of the UAE has been a consistent top finisher in European and Middle Eastern endurance rides since he began competition in 1999. Now 23, he was just 19 when he rode to 7th place at the WEC in Compiegne, France, in 2000 on DIANGO, one of two UAE riders to finish in the top 10 in that event. His 2003 Competition Record includes:

The UAE, with 3 riders in the top 10 World Rankings, will have competition from the French, who will send some of their best riders including Anita David, Sunny Demedy, Jean-Philippe Frances, Emilie Lambert, Barbara Lissarague, Cecile Milleto and Virginie Simon.

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~Abu Dhabi~ Arabian Nights 100 CEI***

Ridecamp
27April04


The August 28 100, CEI*** ride in Oreana, has a new name:

~Abu Dhabi~ Arabian Nights

, and a new sponsor '

Emirates International Endurance Village

'.

We're going to make this a fun weekend for all, food-entertainment-goodies, as well as a top notch event. The course was designed for the US Squad in preparation for the 2004(5) WEC in Dubai - so it will be fairly flat and fast.

But* the good news is that if you don't want to race, there will be a full moon - and you can just dawdle along (or hang out in the shade) during the heat of the day, and finish the ride at night, by the light of the moon! You will have 24 hours to complete the course, and there are no cutoff times. We will have some very special turtle awards, and the Owyhee desert is spectacular in the moonlight...


This is an open AERC 100, and an FEI CEI*** ride. I can mail you an entry packet, or you can print off the website:

http://www.endurance.net/oreana/arabiannights/

Steph


p.s. Bill Basham, the Gourmet Chef will be cooking all weekend!

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La Baule 2004

La Baule CEIO*** Event Coverage
Pamela Burton



Premier riders from 12 nations including Australia, Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Italy, and the UAE are expected to arrive for the May 8 Super League endurance ride at La Baule, France.

The endurance venue, which begins at 8:30 AM beach-side in this lovely Atlantic Coastal town, will travel inland through 6 stages and several small villages before returning to the beach for the before-dark expected finale. Sixty riders are expected at this years ride, twice the amount of entrants in 2003, the 1st CEIO at La Baule.

I will be covering the La Baule ride for EnduranceWorld.Net....tough assignment, but someone had to do it. France is very organized in it's Equestrian competitions, more-so than many countries, as it is totally underwritten (read morally and financially) by its National Federation.

EnduranceWorld.Net will explore this lovely coastal area of France and take you along on the competition trails that will travel some of the medieval backroads of Brittany.

This event is the CEIO for France for 2004. The designation is given to one country for one competition per year. In order to obtain this label, the event must be of the highest quality. This top quality event will give endurance riders a venue to further hone their skills, looking forward to the World Endurance Championship in January 2005.

The UAE will surely maintain the challenge to duplicate the individual first place last year of Shk. Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktom, while the French team, who won the first CEIO at La Baule in 2003, will be looking to repeat their Gold Medal win.

The International teams will look forward to two other CEIO events, Newmarket in Great Britain on June 27, and Gubbio, in Italy on September 17-19 in this Competition series .

In France, Endurance is the second largest equestrian discipline by number of licensed participants, after jumping.

In 2003, a crowd estimated at 3,000-4,000 people watched the finish of the competitors, who had begun their ride at 7 am. The 2004 ride will still start at the beach site at low tide at 8:30 am, and will travel through many of small and medieval cities in the area. Some ride modifications have been made to reduce road travel, and the trail is slightly more difficult in technicality as a result.

A la prochaine, Pamela

Event Coverage Site

Intercontinental newsletter: 07/04

Intercontinental Newsletter
NEWS & MESSAGES
07/04

In this letter you’ll find:

• Important Message from Manoj Jalan, India
  
• Canter into Europe”: Central European Endurance Cup 2004
  
• Message from Suzanne Dollinger: Answer to Ian William’s letter (15th April 2004) concerning the message of Sergio Tommasi published in newsletter 06/ 04
  
• Gulf News: Several riders qualified for Senior World Championship 2005
  

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FEI General Assembly. Paris, 16-22 April 2004

FEDERATION EQUESTRE INTERNATIONALE
FEI PRESS NEWS
FEI GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Paris, 16-22 April 2004

A record number of National Federations took part in the 2004 FEI General
Assembly hosted by the French Equestrian Federation. The six days of
meetings (16 through 21 April) were held in a cooperative and friendly
atmosphere.

In connection with the General Assembly, both the Bureau and the Executive
Board met twice. A total of 26 different meetings took place throughout the
week, which represents the highest number of meetings ever organised in the
framework of an FEI General Assembly.

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FEI Endurance: US Federation and FEI Debate

US National Federation and FEI Correspondence
FEI Certificate of Capability, Qualifications, World Rankings, Welfare of the Horse

To National Federations: "As you will be aware, a recent review of the Endurance 4* qualification criteria has shown that the existing wording is not as clear as first thought and may be in need of further consideration and review... "

and [More...]