FEI President Presents 150-day Report to FEI Bureau

On the occasion of the FEI Bureau meeting taking place in Dubai on 17 and 18 November, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein delivered her 150 days-in-office Report. Its objective was to present the progress made against the FEI PresidentÂ?s election Manifesto and its translation into policy and tangible benefits.

The Report covered the six pillars of the Manifesto

Significant developments have been achieved in many areas.

This is an interim news release which represents the general course the FEI is taking. A more detailed release on the various items presented to the Bureau will be published after the meeting.

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Horse centre gallops ahead

CONSTRUCTION work on the new Scottish National Equestrian Centre at Oatridge by Ecclesmachan is expected to be completed by December 15.
And early in the new year, on a date still to be confirmed, a free open day will be held to allow clubs, groups and individual riders to try the best facilities in Scotland for themselves.
SNEC director Carson Jones said: "We've had tremendous support from equestrians all over Scotland since the inception of the project so, in part, the open day will be our way of saying thanks to them.
"It will also give us an early opportunity to test our booking system and our organisation, but most importantly, it will allow riders to come in and see for themselves just how good ? and how big ? the centre actually is."
Carson and his team have drawn up a programme of international events for the £3.5 million facility. However, they are just as keen to finalise the regular, day-to-day use of the centre, including the new pro wax surface, installed by Andrew Bowen and endorsed by some of the UK's top riders.
Mondays have been earmarked for open schooling sessions, for as little as £10 a head; Tuesdays will be for dog training; Wednesdays for unaffiliated showjumping; Thursdays for Pony Clubs and members; and Fridays possibly for unaffilated dressage.
Events already lined up for 2007 include a major Scottish Equestrian Association event in January; a visit by former Pat Parelli trainer Bruce Logan from Texas in February; British Vaulting's international team selection in March; the Pony Club annual conference and Scottish Spring Show in April; Welsh Pony Society Show in May; Oatridge Horse Trials in June; western riding show in July; British Show Pony Society event in August; and an FEI Endurance 2 Star event in September.
Carson added: "These events are just a taste of what's to come. The calendar is filling up rapidly with equestrian and non-equestrian events.
"We're also lining up a lot of club competitions and as more SEA members realise that they can hire the facilities for as little as £510 for the day, we expect many more. As if that isn't enough, we're also planning a gala opening event. You could say the Scottish National Equestrian Centre is off and running!"
To register for a trial schooling session, call centre events manager Richard Negus on 01506 864800.

editorial@journalandgazette.co.uk
17 November 2006
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Madiya pleased with strides made in health for UAE women

(photo:Regi Varghese/Gulf News -
Shaikha Madiya Bint Hasher Al Maktoum with her horse Jad Al Khar in Dubai. )

By Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The captain of the UAE women's endurance team is pleased with the drastic changes taking place in the world of women's fitness since the past few years.

"It's really amazing to see so many health and fitness clubs and programmes exclusively dedicated for women in the UAE," stated Shaikha Madiya Bint Hasher Al Maktoum in an exclusive interview with Gulf News.

"A few years back there were maybe a few health clubs or absolutely nothing for women here. But this is no longer the case as so many new clubs and facilities have come up exclusively with the modern-day woman in mind," Shaikha Madiya stated.

As the captain of the UAE women's endurance squad, Shaikha Madiya has lent her support for Mefit06 - the Middle East Health and Fitness Summit scheduled to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 27-29.

"I believe in staying healthy, and the best way to do so is to participate in sports," Shaikha Madiya said. The Middle East Health and Fitness Summit will be held alongside Sportex 2006.

"I used to be overweight. But I saw the importance of keeping healthy and got involved with certain fitness programmes which have helped me reduce weight and stay focused on my endurance riding," Shaikha Madiya stated.

Mefit06 has invited prominent fitness personalities including Malcolm Geluk, Kerry Hill, Steve Renata, Rob Richards and Susan Tolj.

"The conception for fitness especially among women has changed quite a bit in the past two of three years. This is for the best, and I feel it will get much better in the near future," Shaikha Madiya observed.

"There are so many themed fitness programmes keeping women in mind," she added.

Being in a physically demanding sport like endurance riding, the UAE skipper knows she has to keep to a high level of fitness. This starts very early in the day with rising time fixed for 4am every day.

"I have a couple of personal favourite fitness programmes like the RPM and body compact. These help me and complement my sports activities," she stated.

"As a sportswoman, my challenge would be to convince women to keep healthy. I am speaking from personal experience. If one is healthy, then one is also happy.

"Healthy living is so crucial to our general state of happiness," Shaikha Madiya said.

"I will attend the Mefit06 exhibition and endorse it," she added.
Gulf News Article

Six Questions to FEI Secretary General Michael Stone

Malaysia: Riders out to defy the odds

(photo: SULTAN MIZAN: The Terengganu Sultan will be competing in the endurance event a few days before taking office as the country's 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Dec 13)

By LOGANATH VELLOO

THE National Sports Council (NSC) have not rated the equestrian team as medal prospects in the Doha Asian Games.

But this will not stop the 16-member squad from aiming to secure medals for the third consecutive Asiad.

The dressage team (silver) and Quzier Ambak (bronze in the individual showjumping) returned with medals from Bangkok in 1998 while the showjumping team cantered to the bronze at the Busan Games in 2002.

In Doha, the charge for honours will be led by Qabil Ambak, one of three members of the squad with two Asian Games medals in their name. The others are his elder brother, Quzier, and Syed Omar Al-Mohdzar.

Qabil is also on a personal mission to do well in Doha to make up for his miserable outing in Busan.

Despite securing a bronze in the showjumping team event, the 2001 National Sportsman of the Year would rather forget his Busan exploits.

His problems started when his mount, Camelias, was denied entry by the South Korean authorities after failing a medical test.

And Qabil was injured while training at the competition venue. He was thrown off and stepped on by his replacement horse, Humphreys.

The injury affected Qabil's medal hopes in the individual events and also forced him to relinquish his duties as the country's flag bearer during the opening ceremony.

"At the last Asian Games, everything went wrong even before I landed in Busan.

"This time, I am more aware of the situations that might occur and will take the necessary precautions," said Qabil from his training base in Belgium.

"I will be competing in four events in Doha ? the dressage and showjumping individual and team events. Having won a silver and a bronze, I have now set my sights on the gold."

He admitted that it would take a herculean effort from the Malaysian riders to make the podium in Qatar.

"With horses, a lot of factors, including the conditions during the day of the competition, will determine our chances to win," he said.

"I hope everything goes well for Malaysia and that the equestrian competition is run in a fair and friendly manner in Doha."

It has not been all smooth sailing for Qabil in his preparations for Doha.

His two favourite horses, Camelias and Opium Metado, died in June and August respectively.

This has forced him to rely on a new mount, Parvina.

"It was hard to lose two of my best partners as I had years of partnership with them," he said.

"I just got Parvina at the beginning of the year and I am working hard to bond with her.

"I am glad that despite the short period of time, my new partnership seems to be going well."

Qabil also admitted that the short acclimatisation period for the horses could turn out to be a problem for Malaysia's chances in the competitions.

There had been plans to send the horses to Doha earlier but the idea was scrapped due to the high maintenance costs involved.

"My horses will leave from Europe on Nov 27 and there is only a week to acclimatise before the competition starts," he said.

"It would be tough as the current climate in Europe is much colder than the Middle East.

"It might affect some horses but I hope they can manage the temperature change well."

Also in the squad is Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who will be competing at the Asian Games a few days before taking office as the country's 13th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Dec 13.

The Terengganu Sultan is one of six Malaysian riders for the endurance events together with Shamsudin Roni, Mohd Izry Razali, Mohd Rino Rani, Norlaily Buniyamin and Rahmat Azman.

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Al Faresi wins Heritage Club Cup

M. Satya Narayan
Gulf News
(photo: Winners of the Emirates Heritage Club Cup, Rashed Salem Mohammad Al Faresi and Naser Khamis Ali Saeed at the Bou Thib endurance village in Abu Dhabi.)
Abu Dhabi: Sixteen-year-old Rashed Salem Mohammad Al Faresi won the Emirates Heritage Club Cup 100-km endurance ride for juniors to give Al Reef Stables the perfect start to the new season.

Al Reef, who emerged the leading stable last season along with leading trainer Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi combined in Rashed Salem's success as the young rider chalked out his first career win after learning the hard way last season.

Rashed Salem rode Glenleigh Saphire to victory in the four-stage 100km event and it was on the same horse that he had finished third last season but failed to clear the final vet check.
After 26 started in the season's first competitive event, Rashed Salem in fact finished second, almost six minutes behind Sultan Ahmad Al Bloushi. But the latter seemed to have pushed his horse Elphyn Shuvara a little bit too hard and it failed the final vet check.

But Rashed Salem's horse cleared the vet check and finally the fact that he paced his horse well seemed to have got him the desired success.

Both Sultan and Rashed had been battling as leaders over the first three stages of 30km, 30kms and 24kms. Going into the final stage it was Rashed who started off first, followed by another Al Reef rider Naser Khamis Ali Saeed with Sultan Ahmad about five minutes behind the leader in third place.

Sultan, however picked up pace and finished ahead of the Al Reef duo but the effort seemed to take its toll on the horse's condition.

Naser Khamis Ali Saeed on Talisman Tobis finished second to make it a 1-2 finish for Al Reef while Britain's Kimberley Dean finished third. "Last season I was disqualified after finishing third on the same horse so I was a little more careful on the final loop," said Rashed Salem.

"The weather was good in the morning but during the final loop it was a bit testing. But my horse stayed in good shape," said the first-time winner. Trainer Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi said he was thrilled to start with a win. "We had a good season and I hope to do well again this season," said the man who looks after the Al Ain operations of Al Reef.

"I have about 40 horses and some of them should go on to do well," said Yousuf.

In the 44-km Federation Qualifier, 32 riders including Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan qualified while in the 80-km event, 14 riders met the qualification parameters laid down by the Federation.

website - full article

Shaikh Nasser races to victory

Gulf Daily News
SHAIKH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa was crowned champion of the 100-km Season Opening Endurance Horseride Championship, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Rising rider Abdulla Al Khatri won the junior division title which was also over 100 kms after some stiff competition from top entrants from Bahrain and the GCC.

Both the senior and junior races were divided into four stages with 30 kms each for the first two stages. The third stage was over 25 kms while the fourth and final sector consisted of 15 kms.

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Gulf News: Junior Ride to kick start season

Published: 11/11/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)
Staff Report

Abu Dhabi: The Emirates Heritage Club Cup for Juniors will kick start the UAE's competitive endurance season here today at the Bouthib Endurance Village in Al Khatem, Abu Dhabi.

Though a couple of Qualifier rides and a Ladies ride have already been held by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, today's 100-km event is the first of the FEI rides with a CEI Two Star rating.

Two Qualifier rides, one over 80 kms and the other over 44kms, will also be run today. All three rides are jointly organised by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation and the Emirates Heritage Club.

Over 30 youngsters have already confirmed their participation in the 100-km, CEI Two-Star ride, which will get off to a mass start at 5.30am. The ride will be run in four loops of 30, 30, 24 and 16 km respectively.

Among those in the fray are Shaikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qasimi, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Qasimi, Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Shaikh Majid Bin Saud Al Mulla, Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha, Mansour Suhail Al Kuwaiti, Saeed Almur Saeed Bin Helweh, Hussain Ali Mohammad Yousuf Marzouqi.

Several other riders to take part in the ride are Ahmad Salem Ali Sultan Al Subaisi, Omair Hussain Abdullah Al Bloushi, Ahmad Ali Abdullah Jamoh Al Yahyaei, Mohammad Khamis Al Wali Al Naqbi, Sultan Ahmad Al Bloushi, Dahi Abdullah Khamis Al Dahi.

The Qualifier rides, which are held at regular intervals by the Federation, help in the horses and riders qualifying themselves for rides of longer distances and tougher parameters.

All the three rides are held under the patronage of Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Emirates Heritage Club.

Apart from this endurance venue, competitive rides will also be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba and the Dubai Endurance City in Seih Assalam.
(Gulf News)

UAE Endurance Season: Moving on

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Report


(photo:Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, emerged joint winners at the National Day Cup Endurance ride in Dubai Endurance City last year.)



His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Al Reef Stables will once again aim to dominate the domestic endurance season, which starts Saturday.

Shaikh Mohammad emerged as the top owner with a total of 5,840 points during the 2005-06 season, while Al Reef Stables, which sent out most of the winners, emerged as the leading endurance stable.

Ro Fabiola of Al Wathba Stables garnered the maximum points to finish as the top horse of last season while the top rider was Marzooq Salem Al Merri with 999 points.

Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi had a great season when he emerged as the top individual trainer representing Al Reef Stables while also finishing second in the rider's category.

Today's opening ride and two other qualifier rides are being held at Bouthib Endurance Stables and the season will soon enter the big stage when some of the top riders from all over the world come here to compete.

The UAE has over the last few years been a major training ground for some of the top riders who prepare for both their own national as well as continental and world championships.

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Bahrain: Endurance event set for off

SEVENTY-FOUR riders from Bahrain and the GCC are set for the Season Opening Endurance Horseride Championship scheduled for today at 4.30pm at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president and event patron Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa will lead 43 riders in the senior race which will be over 100-km.

The race will be divided into four stages with 30-km each for the first two stages. The third stage is over 25-km, while 15km is set for the final stage.

There will be another race for juniors which is over 100km with 18 riders in the fray. There will also be two warm-up races over 60km and 85km. The warm up races will be organised to qualify young and adult riders who are new to this sport.
Gulf Daily News

Thrilling sprint finish to endurance ride

MORE than 100 riders, their family and spectators gathered at Green Valley farm recently for the final endurance ride event of the year.

This was the fourth year at this ride base and once again it proved popular.

On the Saturday afternoon 11 horse and rider combinations set off on the 10km social ride.

Bob Watters, Rosie Long, Stacey Walls, Jack Fryer, Sarah Dickens, and Stephanie Kramer were local riders who enjoyed the scenic track through private property.

It was a successful event with 100 per cent of the riders passing the final veterinary check, and being awarded certificates of completion at presentation.

A large field of horses and riders started out in the dark the following morning armed with torches for the first 50km leg of the endurance ride.

The training riders followed just after daybreak.

The weather was perfect with a chill in the air and overcast skies prevailing throughout much of the day.

The track went through joining private properties and Mt Toppa State Forest.

The track covered varied terrain with some hills to climb, creeks to cross and flat country to canter over.

Riders seemed to enjoy the ride through the local countryside, appreciating the well-marked and slashed track.

There was an 89 per cent completion rate in the 40km training ride. The only local rider was Suzanne McLachlan, who successfully rode a dark bay pony gelding known as Pipin.

Young Simon Blackly from Uralla, riding Steel The Thunder, was awarded the training ride encouragement award donated by Campbell Brothers Inverell.

The riders did a fantastic job looking after their horses, with an 81 per cent completion score in the 80km endurance ride an improvement on last year).

For the fourth year not one horse required invasive treatment.

It was a thrilling end to the 80km endurance ride with four riders galloping into base, all aiming to be the winner.

Wayne McKinnon, crossed the finish line by a nose, only to collapse and fall from his horse onto the ground. His body had cramped up from the strain of the ride.

His time of 4hr 18min was a record.

Wayne was presented with the perpetual Winners Cup at presentation.

Other results ? first middleweight rider: Wayne McKinnon (riding Dunbar Lexus).

Best conditioned middleweight horse award: Tami Parnell (Genet Zac).

First heavyweight rider: Selwyn Nix (Dunbar Mahadik).

Best conditioned heavyweight horse award: John Davidson (Heatherbrook Knight Rider).

First junior rider: Breonie McLennon (Desert Sand).

First lightweight rider: Terri Anderson (Ashwind).

Best conditioned lightweight horse award: Angela Hawks (Sikis Keeper).

Special mention to young Stacey Walls, of Inverell, who completed her first 80km endurance ride.

Helena South, also from Inverell, started the ride, but, unfortunately, her mare vetted out as lame during the ride.

Each best conditioned horse received a horse rug sponsored by the New England Credit Union, while the first three placegetters in each division were presented with towels sponsored by Harris Seeds, Inverell.

Best managed novice horse in the 80km endurance ride was Shardell Shahbarnah, ridden by an international rider from Japan, Sachiko Murai.

The horse's owner was pleased to receive the bags of horse feed donated by Gilgai Rural Supplies.

Helen South won the Baker's Barn local rider draw, while Jenny Annetts was runner-up for the bag of feed donated by Landmark, Inverell.

Terri Anderson's Arabian mare won a free service to the stallion River Oak Fame, owned by John and Sue Bell, of Coolatai.

The KFC Family Feasts volunteer vouchers were handed to Stacy Whiteman and Nicholas McGrath.

The State of Origin teams event proved to be popular this year.

The Girls and Gavin team of four riders were successful in being awarded the perpetual clock trophy.

Jenny Annetts, Tami Parnell, Sasha Laws King and Gavin Groth teamed up to achieve a winning average ride time of 4hr 41min.

The After Thoughts were runners-up. Helen South, Pip Lillyman, Dean Chamberlain and Alan Standfield received a family feast voucher from KFC, Inverell.
[original story]

Highest Mileage Horse?

Tulip, owned by Les Carr, is about to break the AERC record for highest mileage horse, ever. Last week at the Grand Canyon XP Tulip reached 18,065 miles!


Trilby Peterson's horse Lad currently holds the AERC mileage record at 18,215 recorded miles. Both Lad and Trilby have been inducted into AERC's Hall of Fame.

Bahrain - Rider's Tribute to the Nation

By MANDEEP SINGH

A PATRIOTIC Bahraini father is to stage his own national tribute, with a marathon horse-ride from Oman to Bahrain. Bapco security officer Khalid Abdullah Hussain will first travel to Muscat by road along with his horse.

He will start his journey on the Omani National Day on November 18 and arrive home for Bahrain's National Day on December 16.

Mr Hussain, a keen rider, last year accomplished a 43-day bicycle ride all over the GCC, to "create a one-family spirit".

"I have the full support and backing of Bapco chairman Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa," he told the GDN yesterday, as he went around Seef area astride his horse, sporting the Bahraini and Omani flags.

"I am happy that I am doing this as a mark of honour and respect to Oman and Bahrain, which have close historical and family ties dating back to more than 100 years."

He said his road trip to Muscat had been taken care of by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

"I have been provided with a custom-built transport that will carry my horse across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, en route to Oman."

Mr Hussain is married, with two daughters, aged nine and 11 and a six-year-old son.

He said he plans to 'do something' to honour Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa next year and then go on to represent Bahrain in the International Show for the Arabian Horse, Muscat, in 2010.

Mr Hussain said General Organisation for Youth and Sports president Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa had been instrumental in encouraging him to undertake his latest mission.

"I am doing it for the glory of Bahrain and Oman and as a contribution towards the close links between the two countries," he said.
(Link)

US: Santa Fe Race receives AERC Sanctioning

Sante Fe ride, to be held in September of 2007, will be a 13 day event with 10 days of riding. Starting in Sante Fe, New Mexico and completing in Independence,

The endurance race will begin in Santa Fe, and, 800 miles and 13-dusty days later, will come to an end in Independence, Mo. The path will mirror that of the Santa Fe Trail, a pathway that ran from Franklin, Mo., to Santa Fe from 1821-1880. The race route will traverse country that reaches as high as a mountainous 7,721 feet to a low of a flat plain 931 feet.

What happens in between is anyone's guess as elevation isn't the only thing expected to rise and fall...

Official Web Site

Brazilian Championship Results

CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO DE ENDURO EQUESTRE 2006

RESULTADOS 2006

CEI*** 160 km
CEI*** 120 km


Cavalos Novos
85 km

Limitada

Equipes
Results

Pulau Duyong the place to be this monsoon

5 Oct 2006
Rosli Zakaria

KUALA TERENGGANU: With several major events lined up, the monsoon season will no longer be a time to stay indoors.

Pulau Duyong will be buzzing with activity when the Monsoon Cup is held there from Nov 29 to Dec 4.

Since last year, the world-class sailing tournament has been a major tourist draw, and the strong winds and rough seas are just right for an exciting race.

This year?s event is going to be even bigger, with more prize money on offer.

Locals can also expect to do roaring business as they have been given additional space to ply their trade in Pulau Duyong.

"The Monsoon Cup is just one of the events which will be held during the monsoon season," Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh told the New Straits Times.

"There will be several other events to make the people enjoy walking in the rain. For the petty traders, the wet season will bring them even more business.

"The fishermen and farmers should also think of activities that will generate income. They could promote homestay programmes during this period.

"It is not the Songkran water festival (in Thailand), but our wet spell is definitely wetter than Songkran.

"We want the people to work and have fun all year long, and not just for the first eight months," he said.

Another major event lined up is the Sultan?s Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge, which will be held over two days from Nov 25.

The event is expected to draw the best horses and riders from all over the world.

It will be the first event of its kind to be held in a tropical climate, and the wet season is expected to make it even more challenging.

A string of events will also be held in late December to usher in the New Year, which is also Visit Malaysia Year.

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US: AERC Championship Lure

Endurance rider logs thousands of miles

In 12 years, Ruth Anne Everett of Hickory has logged thousands of miles from the back of a horse, participating in endurance rides for equestrians throughout the United States.

"I enjoy being outdoors," she said, "and endurance riding has given me the opportunity to see some of the country's most beautiful sights while on horseback."

While Everett's participation in the sport has allowed for scenic rides along equestrian trails in parts of Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky and Virginia, for her, endurance riding is more than a chance to see the sights.

This year alone, Everett has logged 620 miles in 12 different rides. In September, she won first place in the Biltmore Fall Fling, a 55-mile endurance ride held annually to benefit Mountain Hopes, a therapeutic horseback riding program in Mars Hill.

"The Biltmore Fall Fling is a tough course," Everett said. "This year, there were 51 riders to participate, one-third of which were eliminated."

Everett's standing in the sport of endurance riding has enabled her to qualify for the National Championship, an event scheduled for Oct. 22, in Fort Valley, Va.

"It's a sport of strategy," Everett said. "A rider has to condition the horse to go the distance. You have to pace the horse throughout the ride and factor in things like terrain, weather conditions and even distance traveled from home.

"It's much different than racing a horse," she said. "You have to know the horse's limits and his abilities on that particular day."

According to Everett, endurance rides, or races, vary in distance, but are typically 50 or 100 miles. Longer rides can take place throughout the course of the day. As with any race, the horse with the fastest time wins -- but there is a catch.

"There are checkpoints along the way where a vet monitors the horse's heart rate and overall fitness," she said. "The horse has to be declared fit in order to continue."

Riders are eliminated when their horse exhibits lameness or metabolic problems, Everett said.

"I wear a special type of watch to monitor the horse's heart rate throughout the ride," she said. "To pass the vet's check, the horse's heart rate must be at 64 beats per minute. At the end of the ride, the horse must have a heart rate of 64 beats per minute to finish the ride."

Everett's husband, Mike, is also an endurance rider. The couple have four horses quartered at Leatherwood, an equestrian community in Wilkes County, where there is an abundance of mountainous terrain for conditioning their horses.

The equestrian trails at Leatherwood are Everett's favorite to ride, she said. And her horse of choice is a 10-year-old Arabian named Pretty Boy.

In addition to endurance riding, Everett is director for the Western N.C. Early Intervention Program for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, a program that provides services for families with children ages birth to 3 that have been identified with a hearing loss in order to minimize language and communication delay.

Learn more about the sport of endurance riding at www.endurance.net. Catawba Valley People

mary katherine creel
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FEI holds borrower responsible in doping case

Elizabeth Peplow

5 October, 2006

British endurance rider Alice Beet has been received a fine and been banned for three months after a horse she borrowed for a competition tested positive for a banned substance
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has fined British endurance rider Alice Beet and a company owned by Sheikh Mohammed after a failed dope test by an endurance horse. The case is a warning to riders of loaned horses.

Alice, 19, a member of the British young rider squad, has been fined 500 Swiss Francs (£210) and banned for three months by the FEI after the horse she borrowed from Sheikh Mohammed for the World Young Rider Championships in Bahrain last December tested positive for an anti-inflamatory steroid.

Sheikh Mohammed's company, Atlantic Endurance SARL, under whose banner he loaned the horse, Harmatan De Lozere, was fined SFR1,500 (£640).

The FEI's judicial committee accepted the horse was under the exclusive care of Atlantic Endurance SARL's employees until the morning of the event and agreed it was "most likely" the substance entered the horse while in the "owner's" care.

The company "merely stressed no wrongdoing was done by its staff" and provided no explanation for the positive test.

Alice Beet is an experienced international rider, and finished 38th in Bahrain on Harmatan De Lozere. In written evidence, she stressed she had no access to the horse other than to exercise it before the ride.

The committee heard testimony from Britain's chef d'equipe and team vets, and Sheikh Mohammed's trainer Ismail Mohammed, who described Ms Beet as "a sensible and dedicated rider".

But the panel found it was for the rider as the "person responsible" (PR) to prove there had not been a deliberate attempt to affect the performance of the horse and that Ms Beet had failed to do so.

The panel concluded: "This case highlights the difficulty of cases in which the rider is not the owner of the horse. This is becoming increasingly problematic in view of the relatively high number of such cases that have been submitted to the FEI judicial committee, most commonly in endurance riding."

The panel ruled it would be unfair for riders of borrowed horses to be let off, "otherwise blame may always be transferred to third parties".

The panel stressed riders must ensure borrowed horses were free from prohibited substances. It suggested riders obtain written statements from owners agreeing to take full responsibility if banned substances are found and seek blood tests.

Ms Beet, in written evidence to the panel, said: "I have learned from this experience and in the future, I will take hands-on control of the diet and security for any horse I have agreed to ride."

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Malaysia: Strong foreign contingent for Sultan's Cup

29 Sep 2006
ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD

THE Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge, scheduled for Nov 25- 26 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, is expected to attract more than 100 competitors.

Tournament organising chairman Datuk Hamzah Muhammad said endurance riders from countries such as Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea and Brunei will compete.

He said the competition, sanctioned by the the Federation Equestre International, made its debut at the same venue last year with 115 riders competing in the 10km, 26km, 30km, 40km, 8km and 120km race categories.

"This time, there will only be 80km and 160km challenge categories to be contested while the 26 and 40km races will only be offered to local novices.

"The main event in which the best of riders will take part in is the 160km race.

"This gruelling event will take about 21 hours to complete," he said.

"Most of our riders will be competing in the 26km, 40km and 80km races as they have to complete the shorter range course before qualifying for the main event which is the 160km course.

"We need a large number of local riders to qualify for the 160km race as we will be hosting the World Endurance Championships in 2008," he said.

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Australia: Top Riders Return

By DON MAHONEY
Friday, 29 September 2006

Two of Australia's best endurance riders will be in action when the NSW State Championships return to the popular Windeyer course this weekend.

This year's event is being hosted by the Windeyer Progress Association Endurance Ride Committee.

Committee Secretary/Treasurer Mick O'Hare said yesterday that two riders who have just returned from representating Australia at the World Titles at Arken in Germany were among the 70 nominations for the ride.

"They are Brad Semple, who is one of 10 riders who are coming from Queensland and Jennifer Gilbertson from Wiseman's Ferry who is no stranger to the Windeyer course," O'Hare said.

"Another interesting rider is a former winner of the State title when the ride was held at Windeyer Stuart Hitchcock from East Kurrajong.

"Three local riders have also nominated for this 160 kilometre event.

"Gloria Mills, who warmed up for this event with a win at the inaugural Quirindi ride, along with Kate Pilley and Bernice King will carry local hopes in this major event.

"We are delighted to have such a strong entry for the ride as we were only expecting 50 when we first took on this year's event."

New rules to meet OH & S requirements mean there has to be some changes to the course but O'Hare said these changes will make the event a little easier to organise and should be easier on competitors.

The Windeyer recreation ground will, as usual with Windeyer rides, once again be the base for the ride with riders returning to base after each leg of the cloverleaf course.

"The Windeyer recreation ground is a great spot for spectators to come and keep an eye on preceedings," O'Hare said.

"There are also good vantage points on the public roads along the course but spectators who want to watch from these places are asked not to hamper riders or traffic in these areas.

"Catering for competitors and their support crew and spectators will be available at the base.'

O'Hare said that while the creeks and water holes may have dried up, organisers have arranged for plenty of water for competitors and their steeds to be available throughout the course.

Head vet this year is Kyn Hagan from Kempsey, who will be assisted by Ray Gooley of Mudgee, who has become a legend in this role among the endurance community.

The ride commences at 2am on Sunday morning and riders have 24 hours to complete the course.

The fittest horse test will take place at 8am on Monday morning and presentations to the winners and buckles to those who complete the course will be presented at 10am on Monday.

Sponsors of this year's event are RD Hooper Engineering, Landmark Mudgee, Kelletts Stockfeeds, Price Farm Machinery, Woolprep, Windeyer Hotel, Pat Pilley Earthmoving, McCarroll Motors, Greg's Tyres & Mechanical, Mudgee Rural Supplies and Ian Colley Earthmoving.
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