Malaysia WEC: USA to select Team

Endurance.Net
September 9, 2008

Twelve horse and rider teams have gathered in Florida for the final selection of the squad to represent the United States (United States Equestrian Federation - USEF) in the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship in Malaysia, November 6-9. Of these 12 horse and rider pairs, 6 will be selected to travel to Malaysia and 3 alternates will be named.

Friday September 12, is the first day of a 3 day evaluation session designed to determine which horses are the fittest and which riders and crews are the most capable and prepared for the ultimate international endurance challenge. All US hopefuls will begin the session with meetings and discussion Friday evening, introducing the staff to the riders and explaining the itinerary for the weekend.

Saturday morning will begin with a physical evaluation of each of the horses to determine base levels of metabolic and physical fitness. All will then participate in a 40 mile controlled demonstration 'competition'. Riders will be released in stages, 2 at a time, and will traverse the 40 mile course in 10 mile increments at pre-determined speeds, beginning at 10mph, and increasing speed in each consecutive phase, not to exceed 15mph. Ambient conditions will factor into the speed determinations. After each 10 mile phase, a veterinary check will be staged to evaluate the horse's condition.

In addition to the horse's evaluation, riders and crews will be expected to perform at peak efficiency and this will also factor in to the final selection. The full 'team' of horse, rider and crew will be on site for the demonstration ride, and will be expected to demonstrate efficiency and competency. At the World Championship level, a good crew can make a huge difference in the ability to minimize recovery time, cool and care for the horse during holds, trouble shoot, and prepare horse and rider for the next phase. Minutes can be shaved off of final ride times in this way, and minutes can often make the difference between medal winning performances.

Conditions in Florida will be as close as possible to what the US team will experience in Malaysia. The session is being held at the Black Prong Equestrian Center near Ocala, in north-central Florida. The trails in this area are flat and sandy. Heat and humidity will still be relatively high and according to Vonita Bowers, USEF Endurance Director, USEF feels that this will be an ideal test to determine which horses and riders are best suited to compete in Malaysia.

Becky Hart, 3-time World Endurance Champion, is the USEF Chef d'Equipe and has been coaching the USEF team since she was appointed to the position several months prior. Becky is aware of the unique challenges facing US riders in Malaysia and the need to prepare and acclimate both horse and rider.

"Horses going to Malaysia, for the most part, will have proven their ability in humid conditions. We have two west coast horses, one lives in a micro-climate of high humidity, the other is training in a neoprene neck sweat and wool rump rug in 104 degree weather. He wears his winter blanket at all times.

"The horses will be tested at the final training session over a 40 mile fast-paced course in Florida. Blood will be taken every 10 miles to compare fitness to the prior training session and to see where the horses are now in fitness. The horses will stay in Florida until they ship out, wearing their blankets to reduce hair coat growth as much as possible."

The USEF selection committee (Fred Clusky, Tom Johnson, Linda Howard, Jim Wiseman and Kathy Downs) will determine the final 6 horse and rider pairs to represent the United States. Also contributing to the selection will be USEF Chef d'Equipe and 'coach' Becky Hart and the USEF 3-member veterinary panel of Jim Bryant DVM, Tom Timmons DVM and Duncan Peters DVM.

Sunday, day 3 of the Florida session, all 12 horses will once again stand for a veterinary evaluation, similar to a Best Condition judging. Sunday evening the final selection will be made and the 6 member traveling squad and 3 alternates will be announced.

In 2010 the United States will host the World Endurance Championship as part of the World Equestrian Games. While USEF is determined to ship the best possible squad to Malaysia for the 2008 Championship, they are keeping their sites on the 2010 goal as well.

According to Becky, "We are just setting out on a new program for world competition and to develop a TEAM. Malaysia will be a test to gauge how we are doing. It takes time to develop a team, especially among independent endurance riders. How would you like someone telling you what pace to ride and with whom? Yet that is what our riders must do if we are to have any kind of team strategy. Winning for individual glory is not the goal. A rider may need to sacrifice an individual gold medal so the team can have a solid finish. This is what we are asking our best riders on their best horses
to do. Wait 'til the WEG in Kentucky. By then we should really have this team thing down."

With just 4 weeks left before shipping, the United States is now focused on choosing the best possible team to compete in Malaysia. Hopefully the efforts of the USEF staff and the hard work and focus of the riders will pay off with a medal performance in Malaysia.

The 12 nominated entries for United States:

Kathy Brunjes & Theatric
Cecilia Butler-stasiuk & Djb Sombeiul
Johnt Crandell & Hh Saba Shams
Cheryl Dell & Reason To Believe
Lisa Green & Lr Amana Tabi
Ann Hall & Bogus Thunder
Valerie Kanavy, Valerie & Flash Flame
Valerie Kanavy & King Ali Gold
Heather Reynolds & Cal Flaming Emit
Margeret M. Sleeper & Syrocco Reveille
Margeret Sleeper & Shyrocco Troilus
Janice Worthington & Golden Lightning

Malaysia: Final List Of 12 Riders For WEC To Be Announced On Oct 1

Bernama.com.my

September 08, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama)-- The names of 12 riders who will represent the country in the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) World Endurance Championship to be staged at the Lembah Bidong, Setiu in Terengganu will be announced on October 1.

The National Sports Institute (ISN) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said 16 riders have qualified for the prestigious event, scheduled from Nov 6 to 9 but only 12 will be selected.

"All 16 will undergo centralised training from Oct 15 to beef up their team spirit, physical and mental strength," Dr Ramlan told reporters here Monday.

Ramlan added that the Selection Committee has set a number of criterias for the riders as well as their horses to ensure that they will be in the right condition for the gruelling race.

"In addition to horses that riders already have, we have also bought 13 horses from overseas at a cost of about RM2 million," he said.

Dr Ramlan said the horses which arrived early this month are to be quarantined for a period of four weeks before exposing them to the local conditions and weather.

The Malaysian team competing in the 160km race will be spearheaded by non other than the country's number one sportsman, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

So far 26 countries have confirmed their participation and from the total, 24 countries will compete in the team event and 12 in the individual event.

The list of riders who have qualified for the FEI World Endurance Championship on merit are Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ghani, Datuk Shuib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Mohd Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Mohd Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri Muhamad, Muhammad Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Md Rino Abd Rani, Abdul Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Muhammad Firdaus Hamid and Md Aizie Ismail.

-- BERNAMA

Australia: Tom Quilty Cup on horizon for Fleming

The Inverell Times

9/09/2008 9:32:00 AM

LOCAL endurance rider Clare Fleming and her grey Arab gelding Mangueira Moksha have been chosen in the 2008 team to represent the Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) at the Nanango Tom Quilty Cup.

Fleming received the email notification that her application had been successful late last week.

And she said she was thrilled to have been selected.

On being chosen as a team member, Clare's Quilty nomination fee will be paid for by QERA.

She will also receive a pair of Qera team jodhpurs', a Qera team T-shirt and a Qera team saddle cloth for her horse all in Queensland colors.

On the day of the Quilty, Clare will proudly dress in this outfit and her horse will use the saddle cloth provided.

Jade Vergis, Angela Hawks, and Mitchell Teuwsen are the other three team members, with Gayle Holmes as the reserve.

The Tom Quilty Story began in 1966, when 26 riders rode the first Tom Quilty 100 mile endurance ride on a course west of Sydney in the Hawkesbury area.

The ride was the brainchild of R M Williams.

The idea - ride your horse 100 miles in one day. - no mean feat!

R M had convinced his friend Tom Quilty, a Kimberly cattleman and renowned horseman, to donate $1000 to make a gold cup.

This cup is known as Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

It is a perpetual trophy and it is on permanent display in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach.

Each year a field, often upwards of 250 riders, lines up to ride the 160 km of the Quilty course.

Only a handful of elite equine athletes are ever in contention to win the prestigious Gold Cup.

For most it is simply the challenge, complete the ride and win one of the famous silver buckles and achieve the motto of the sport - 'To Complete is to Win'

This year, Fleming and Moksha will join the line up of riders at Nanango in Queensland to endeavour for a completion and a Quilty buckle in this grueling 160km event and a QERA Team win for Queensland.

New Zealand: Hundreds expected for endurance champs

Wairapa-Times Age
09.09.2008
By Gary Caffell

The Wairarapa Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Club will host the national endurance championships at the Whareama Domain on Easter weekend, April 11 to 13, next year.

Entries are expected to run into the hundreds for the event which can be likened to a cross-country mega-marathon for horses with the longest "race" covering 160kms and taking at least 10 hours to complete.

Wairarapa club president Shane Dougan says Whareama offers ideal conditions for endurance riding with flat to rolling country allowing for some faster stretches but also enough hills to provide an excellent test of stamina.

He said organising the logistics for accommodating, feeding, watering and co-ordinating so many people and horses would be a huge task, and one only made possible by the generosity and support of the Whareama community.

Endurance rides are held in several loops of up to 40km each, and horses must pass rigorous vet checks for any signs of fatigue or injury after each loop before being allowed to continue.

The longer events begin in the middle of the night to avoid having to race in the heat of the day, and often riders don't finish until late the following day.

Not surprisingly, it takes years of training to develop an endurance horse to peak performance and the sport is considered the ultimate test of strength, fitness and stamina & for both horses and riders.

Some overseas competitors could be amongst the starters next Easter with the defending champion in the 160km race being Wairarapa's very own Jenny Champion.

She and her horse Freckles came with a late burst to win the title in the South Island

last year.
[More ...]

Malaysia WEC: Norlaily plans to seal her spot

By : Janet Singh

FIFTEEN men and one woman rider have been shortlisted to train for the World Endurance Championships (WEC) in Terengganu on Nov 6-9.
But four will be dropped after centralised training, and the gutsy Norlaily Buniyamin (pic) does not want to be one of them.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is also among those who have qualified for the WEC, and he has registered Pascha Larzac and Moonlight Pharaoh as his mounts.

"I have a good feeling that I will be able to make the final cut as my horse has been in terrific form this year," said Norlaily, who is more at home when astride her mount, Jessie James riding 160 kilometres under torturing conditions.

So, when it came to getting ready for yesterday's press conference, she found out she had no make-up available.

"I had to rush out and buy lipstick and powder for this function, and my mum gave me an earful," said Norlaily.
Which is just as well because there is no special category in the WEC, and she will be competing against rugged men from all over the world on equally tough horses. "Jessie James is from Australia and has been in Malaysia for the past five years, and we finished second in the Royal Kelantan Endurance (in August)," said Norlaily with a touch of pride.

"I believe the WEC will be better suited for 'local' horses as opposed to horses which have to be flown in and then get them to acclimatise."

National Sports Institute director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz said: "In June this year, only five riders had qualified and we were worried on how to get seven more into the WEC.

"And so, it was a nice surprise when 11 more qualified via various races. Now we will have to trim the squad to meet the quota allotted."

The training squad: Datuk Kamaruddin Ghani, Datuk Shuaib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri, Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Rino Rani, Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Firdaus Hamid, Azizie Ismail.
[More ...]

Malaysia: King to lead nation at world meet

Nst.com

by AJITPAL SINGH

THE Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (pic) will lead the Malaysian team in the 160km World Endurance Championships, and as hosts, will be looking to make an impact in the team event at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu on Nov 6-9.

Among others expected to be picked are veteran rider Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ganai and Mohd Shuaib Ishak, who together with Tuanku Mizan, are the top local qualifies after having earned four Certificate of Capability (COC) to qualify two horses each in the world meet.

In total, 16 local riders made the event's qualification cut but only 12 will be selected by the National Sports Institute (NSI) today at a function to be attended by Tuanku Mizan in Kuala Lumpur.

A total of 36 countries, including Malaysia, will be competing.

NSI director-general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz hopes the Malaysian riders will be in their best form for the event. "Tuanku Mizan is one of the best riders we have in the squad. For several months now, he has been undergoing serious physical and mental training for the event," said Ramlan recently.
He said the Malaysian squad have a strong chance to make an impression. "It will be quite tough to challenge the overseas riders in the individual category but there's a chance in the team event," he said.

"The local riders will also start the race with an advantage as they know the course well."

Among the top international riders competing are current World No 1 endurace rider Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain, France's Jean Daniel Aiello and John Crandell of the US.

World championship Quispamsis man preparing for global race in Malaysia

World championship Quispamsis man preparing for global race in Malaysia


Telegraph Journal

photo: Bob Gielen of Norton and his horse, FC Galaxy, are training for a unique sporting event later this year. Gielen wil ride FC Galaxy at the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia in November.

NORTON - Bob Gielen extends his right arm as he approaches FC Galaxy, an 11-year-old Arabian gelding.Seconds later, the 58-year-old Quispamsis man is cheek-to-cheek with his horse. There's a special bond that develops from the miles they've logged and the places they've been over the years.

Gielen will ride Galaxy in the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia, where competitors from nearly 40 countries will compete in the 100-mile race on Nov. 8.

Galaxy appears up to the task. His caramel coat is like velvet wrinkled by rippling muscles and veins. His ears are pointed straight up as if he enjoys the praise coming from his owner and rider.

"You need a special horse to do 100 miles,'' Gielen said. "A lot of them will do 50 miles and then they'll quit. You need one that will keep going.

"I have another horse that is probably more athletic than Galaxy, but Galaxy has the drive and the desire to finish. You need both.''

And some serious strength helps, too. Gielen trains Galaxy on the rugged, rolling hills of Norton.

The horse weighs close to 900 pounds and carries about 200 pounds with the saddle. The 5-foot-10 Gielen weighs about 165 pounds, but he's not always applying direct pressure to the horse.

"He's carrying over 20 per cent of his body weight,'' Gielen said. "They're quite amazing beasts to actually be able to do that.''

Galaxy has owned Gielen for nearly six years. The ex-racehorse was bred in Texas and raced in Delaware.

"He was on the circuit for about two years and I bought him as a five-year-old,'' Gielen said. "He won a few races but he wasn't fast enough for that. Then it becomes a problem. When they retire race horses, quite often they don't make really good quiet saddle horses for people.

"This has been a second career for him and he's good at it. I don't know where he would have ended up. He probably wouldn't have made it as somebody's pet horse, because he is a handful and he came with a lot of fears.

"Even the first year I had him, he would always move away from you. He was afraid of everything. Now, it's amazing how much trust he has in what we do. He'll still let me know if he's not happy about something, but he's much calmer than he was when I first brought him home.''

Despite the physical demands, the 100-mile race is organized to keep horses healthy. There are several different phases that serve as rest stops.

Veterinarians are on hand to make sure that each horse's heart rate goes down to 64 beats per minute at each stop. Once that happens, the horses go into a hold of 40 minutes before continuing the race. As the race goes on, hold times increase to 50 minutes and an hour.

Gielen and Galaxy have done several 100-milers. Their best showing was in June in Montana, where the tandem finished with a time of 11 hours and 24 minutes.

"It's very comparable to a marathon,'' Gielen said. "After they've been out there for a few hours, it becomes kind of a mental thing for them. They're either happy to keep going or they might just say 'That's enough.' ''

Gielen takes comfort in knowing horses were born to run.

"If (Galaxy) grabs the bit and takes off, it's about all you can do to get him stopped again,'' the rider said. "That will happen at the beginning of the ride if there's a lot of activity around. He gets wound up just like any other horse.

"Because he's an ex-racehorse, I think they have a lot of that (excitement) bred into them. They want to run and they want to be first. It's also part of their instinct. As herd animals, the herd was their safety. The last guy gets eaten, so you never want to be last.

"They're flight animals. If you come up to them, they're natural reaction is to move away. They don't normally attack, so their nature is to flee. A good flight instinct is what is left over from their evolution, but it also makes them jumpy when you're on them.''

Gielen believes Galaxy's racing background is an asset in the endurance rides.

"If there's another horse in sight, he wants to catch up to it. Conversely, if there's one coming up from behind, he doesn't want to get passed. You can hear him flicking his ears back trying to tell me someone is coming and that it's time to pick up the pace.

"A lot of people don't realize this, but in some places in the U.S. and Canada, they race Arabian horses the same as they do thoroughbred horses. They typically go over a mile, a little bit longer than the thoroughbred racers do. They're not as fast as thoroughbreds, because they don't have the long legs to get going, but they do race Arabs and that's what these guys were bred for.''

It's Gielen's job to harness all that horsepower.

"The rider's job is to pace the horse,'' he said. "We're supposed to be the brains of the operation. When they head out for a ride, they don't necessarily know that they're going to do 100 miles. It's our job as riders to hold them back initially and encourage them when they feel tired.

"I think the best feeling of accomplishment is being able to get your horse through the ride. At the end of the ride, your horse isn't supposed to be completely spent. He's supposed to look as if he's finished 100 miles, but he's also supposed to look like he could still do some more. It's a real team effort.''

Gielen came to New Brunswick from Edmonton in 1977. He operated a nursery in Norton before going into a semi-retirement to become a substitute teacher.

When he's not in the classroom, he's riding while also trying to stay fit himself. In endurance racing, it's not uncommon for the rider to get off the horse and hoof it himself for a few miles.

"Quite often, if there's a steep hill, I'll get off and walk up the hill beside him,'' said Gielen, pointing out that endurance riders wear running shoes. "Sometimes, I run down the hills, too, just to give him a break. I used to run a lot more, but my knees are not real good anymore, so I don't run as much as I used to.

"Some (riders) run probably run five or six miles out of the 100 miles. It also helps your own knees just to get off the horse's back for a while. The better rider you are, the easier you are on the horse's back and the less work he has to do.''

Whether on the flat plains or tough terrain, Gielen finds peace in his sport.

"If I have an hour or two to myself, I can go and ride the horse and forget about everything else in the world. There's an old saying that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man, and it's true.''

[More ...]

Australia: World's highest ranked rider coming to ride in Tom Quilty

August 2008

Margaret "Meg" Wade is currently highest ranking endurance rider in the world – July 2008 and a Tom Quilty Gold Cup Champion.

Meg’s record includes three Tom Quilty wins, nine M/Wt Points National Rider of the Year and she has completed 62 endurance rides over 160 kms each time.

Meg and her husband Chris Gates run three properties on the border of Victoria and New South Wales. They live in the homestead on “Dingley Maze” in the Upper Murray Valley at Burrowye, 95km east of Albury/Wodonga.

Castlebar Endurance stud is famous in Australia and overseas for its breeding of Arabian and Arab derivative horses. Castlebar’s major client base is the Middle East.

While Meg loves breeding horses and riding (August 2nd 2008 she competed in the Canadian championships flying home in time to head for Victoria to ride the following weekend), she has another passion, thanks to noted Australian aviator Dick Smith. He introduced her to flying, helicopters in particular and after 12 months of training at Heliflite, Bankstown she received her wings. Four years later she has just taken ownership of her second helicopter, a Robertson 44.

Meg was born and bred on the land and has been riding since she was old enough to walk.
Her mother, Betty Wade now retired and living in Canberra, grew up in Broken Hill and passed on her love of horses to Meg.

Meg’s husband Chris Gates grew up in Nyngan in western NSW and was a member of
the local pony club. This was when he first heard of the famous Tom Quilty endurance ride, the largest of its type in the world. “We all wondered why riding one hundred miles in a day on the same horse was such a big deal, as we had ridden many miles in the bush out to Pony Club camps and mustering cattle” he said. This was back in 1966. “After all that was only riding from Nyngan to Dubbo.”

But that was on flat land, and in a leisurely manner. “When we first did the Quilty held in the Colo valley, north west of Sydney, up and down hills and through rough terrain, we realised just what a challenge it is,” Chris said.

Meg has her name emblazed on the Tom Quilty Gold Cup three times. This year she aims for a fourth.

The Tom Quilty Gold Cup will be held 19th, 20th, 21st September 2008 Nanango Queensland Australia

World championship Quispamsis man preparing for global race in Malaysia

Telegraph Journal

photo: Bob Gielen of Norton and his horse, FC Galaxy, are training for a unique sporting event later this year. Gielen wil ride FC Galaxy at the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia in November.

NORTON - Bob Gielen extends his right arm as he approaches FC Galaxy, an 11-year-old Arabian gelding.Seconds later, the 58-year-old Quispamsis man is cheek-to-cheek with his horse. There's a special bond that develops from the miles they've logged and the places they've been over the years.

Gielen will ride Galaxy in the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia, where competitors from nearly 40 countries will compete in the 100-mile race on Nov. 8.

Galaxy appears up to the task. His caramel coat is like velvet wrinkled by rippling muscles and veins. His ears are pointed straight up as if he enjoys the praise coming from his owner and rider.

"You need a special horse to do 100 miles,'' Gielen said. "A lot of them will do 50 miles and then they'll quit. You need one that will keep going.

"I have another horse that is probably more athletic than Galaxy, but Galaxy has the drive and the desire to finish. You need both.''

And some serious strength helps, too. Gielen trains Galaxy on the rugged, rolling hills of Norton.

The horse weighs close to 900 pounds and carries about 200 pounds with the saddle. The 5-foot-10 Gielen weighs about 165 pounds, but he's not always applying direct pressure to the horse.

"He's carrying over 20 per cent of his body weight,'' Gielen said. "They're quite amazing beasts to actually be able to do that.''

Galaxy has owned Gielen for nearly six years. The ex-racehorse was bred in Texas and raced in Delaware.

"He was on the circuit for about two years and I bought him as a five-year-old,'' Gielen said. "He won a few races but he wasn't fast enough for that. Then it becomes a problem. When they retire race horses, quite often they don't make really good quiet saddle horses for people.

"This has been a second career for him and he's good at it. I don't know where he would have ended up. He probably wouldn't have made it as somebody's pet horse, because he is a handful and he came with a lot of fears.

"Even the first year I had him, he would always move away from you. He was afraid of everything. Now, it's amazing how much trust he has in what we do. He'll still let me know if he's not happy about something, but he's much calmer than he was when I first brought him home.''

Despite the physical demands, the 100-mile race is organized to keep horses healthy. There are several different phases that serve as rest stops.

Veterinarians are on hand to make sure that each horse's heart rate goes down to 64 beats per minute at each stop. Once that happens, the horses go into a hold of 40 minutes before continuing the race. As the race goes on, hold times increase to 50 minutes and an hour.

Gielen and Galaxy have done several 100-milers. Their best showing was in June in Montana, where the tandem finished with a time of 11 hours and 24 minutes.

"It's very comparable to a marathon,'' Gielen said. "After they've been out there for a few hours, it becomes kind of a mental thing for them. They're either happy to keep going or they might just say 'That's enough.' ''

Gielen takes comfort in knowing horses were born to run.

"If (Galaxy) grabs the bit and takes off, it's about all you can do to get him stopped again,'' the rider said. "That will happen at the beginning of the ride if there's a lot of activity around. He gets wound up just like any other horse.

"Because he's an ex-racehorse, I think they have a lot of that (excitement) bred into them. They want to run and they want to be first. It's also part of their instinct. As herd animals, the herd was their safety. The last guy gets eaten, so you never want to be last.

"They're flight animals. If you come up to them, they're natural reaction is to move away. They don't normally attack, so their nature is to flee. A good flight instinct is what is left over from their evolution, but it also makes them jumpy when you're on them.''

Gielen believes Galaxy's racing background is an asset in the endurance rides.

"If there's another horse in sight, he wants to catch up to it. Conversely, if there's one coming up from behind, he doesn't want to get passed. You can hear him flicking his ears back trying to tell me someone is coming and that it's time to pick up the pace.

"A lot of people don't realize this, but in some places in the U.S. and Canada, they race Arabian horses the same as they do thoroughbred horses. They typically go over a mile, a little bit longer than the thoroughbred racers do. They're not as fast as thoroughbreds, because they don't have the long legs to get going, but they do race Arabs and that's what these guys were bred for.''

It's Gielen's job to harness all that horsepower.

"The rider's job is to pace the horse,'' he said. "We're supposed to be the brains of the operation. When they head out for a ride, they don't necessarily know that they're going to do 100 miles. It's our job as riders to hold them back initially and encourage them when they feel tired.

"I think the best feeling of accomplishment is being able to get your horse through the ride. At the end of the ride, your horse isn't supposed to be completely spent. He's supposed to look as if he's finished 100 miles, but he's also supposed to look like he could still do some more. It's a real team effort.''

Gielen came to New Brunswick from Edmonton in 1977. He operated a nursery in Norton before going into a semi-retirement to become a substitute teacher.

When he's not in the classroom, he's riding while also trying to stay fit himself. In endurance racing, it's not uncommon for the rider to get off the horse and hoof it himself for a few miles.

"Quite often, if there's a steep hill, I'll get off and walk up the hill beside him,'' said Gielen, pointing out that endurance riders wear running shoes. "Sometimes, I run down the hills, too, just to give him a break. I used to run a lot more, but my knees are not real good anymore, so I don't run as much as I used to.

"Some (riders) run probably run five or six miles out of the 100 miles. It also helps your own knees just to get off the horse's back for a while. The better rider you are, the easier you are on the horse's back and the less work he has to do.''

Whether on the flat plains or tough terrain, Gielen finds peace in his sport.

"If I have an hour or two to myself, I can go and ride the horse and forget about everything else in the world. There's an old saying that the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man, and it's true.''

[More ...]

Britain: Your Horse Masterson Method video star crowned National Endurance Champion

Yourhorse.co.uk - Full Article

By Amanda Stevenson

04 September 2008

Barnowl, the equine star of Your Horse's Masterson Method web videos has been crowned National Endurance Champion. The nine-year-old Arab X Argentinian Polo Pony was ridden to victory in the 100-mile Cirencester Park Ride by his owner and breeder Sally Hall, just a week after the filming of Barnowl's treatments by Jim Masterson in June this year.

Jim Masterson commented: "Barnowl is a handsome and fit horse and when treated was without any serious issues other than some of the usual tension in the poll, neck and shoulders that we often find in competition horses. While doing the bodywork I do remember that he was somewhat suspicious and didn't really feel that he needed us messing with him. But horses that compete on his level need the same attention as human athletes, and we didn't take "no" for an answer.

"He turned out to be a pretty good star both in the video and as an athlete!"

The Cirencester Park Ride hosts three FEI CEI 3* classes over 160 km (100 mile) and 120 km (75 mile) routes. Ride conditions were extremely difficult after heavy rain the night before the major classes left deep mud in many places on the route. The humidity also took its toll on many competitors in the 160 km (100 mile) race.

The winner was Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoun from the UAE, who rode an average speed of 14.68 kph, while Sally and Barnowl were the first British combination home, earning them the title of British Champions.

More...

Australia: Country music star joins Quilty endurance lineup

Australia's renowned Tom Quilty endurance ride will this year host 150 horses and riders including two from the US - as well as the one of the country's up-and-coming country music stars.

Dean Johnston is on his way to Nashville, Tennessee to perform at the famous annual Fan Fair, but on the way will stop off to perform at the Quilty, at Nanango on September 18, and will also entertain guests at the closing night dinner on Sunday September 21 at the Nanango Cultural Centre.
[More ...]

Malaysia WEC: Havens Horsefeed 'Official Supplier' World Endurance Championship Terangganu

Press release
August 2008

The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 (www.malaysia-wec.com) will be held in Malaysia from November 6 – 9th. The WEC 2008 will be staged at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, 25km north of Kuala Terengganu on the South Chinese Sea. In total 150 riders from 36 countries will compete at the bi-annual WEC, that was held earlier in Aachen (2006) and Dubai (2004).

The WEC 2008-Organising Committee has named HAVENS Horsefeed from the Netherlands ( www.horsefeed.nl) as "Official Horsefeed" of the WEC 2008.

As part of the agreement, Havens will supply all horsefeed for all participating horses; from arrival on October 13th (start quarantine) untill departure of the horses after November 10th. All feeds will meet the highest quality standards and will be specially tested on absence of any prohibited substances in the Equestrian Labs in Newmarket (UK).

"We are proud to have found a strong european partner, that also provides guarantees as to quality and non-doping conformity”, says Azrin Zuhdi, Director and Organising Secretary of WEC 2008 OC. “Moreover, the presence of Havens in more than 55 countries in Europe, Middle East and Asia will add to the international image of the 2008 WEC."

Havens feeds are produced in the Netherlands by a family-owned company (since 1845) in 5th generation. Considered in Europe as the "Mercedes" of horsefeed, Havens has also been supplier of several Olympic Games (Barcelona, Sydney, Athens, Beijing) as well as the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Germany. All feeds are produced in the same factory which guarantees the same worldwide quality.

Havens has been present in the Asia since 2005; in Malaysia it is represented by Tallahesse Equestrian Supplies ( www.tallahesse.com ) from KL.

Australia: Levy on horse owners moves step closer

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

September 4, 2008

A plan to levy Australian horse owners for eradication efforts in any future disease outbreaks has passed its first parliamentary hurdle.

The legislation setting up the framework for the levy passed in the lower house yesterday and is bound for the Senate.

The amount of the levy remains unknown. It will be set in consultation with the horse industry.

The levy proposal was attacked by opposition MPs, who argued it was inequitable, with many unregistered horses unlikely to be subject to the levy. Opponents argued that the levy would place an unfair share of the responsibility on recreational horse owners.

The levy proposal is likely to go before a Senate committee.

The Australian Horse Industry Council said a decision to put the matter before a Senate committee would provide further opportunity for industry consultation on the merits of the current proposal.

But it added: "It might also further delay protection of the horse industry should there be an emergency disease outbreak while this examination process is under way."

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Kiwi endurance riders place in South Africa

September 1, 2008

A team of New Zealand endurance riders has performed well in South Africa, at a ride in Dullstroon last month.

Kirsten Deuss placed second in the 123.5km ride on Arkab Aqrab, finishing in a time of 10 hours, six minutes and nine seconds, behind the winner in 10:40:05. Teresa Birkett was fifth (Moolmanshoek Maximus, 11:16:20), and Nadine Barker finished sixth (Tuarec Jamill, 11:40:42) of the six riders to finish. Tony Masters vetted out, along with four other riders. The team finished second of three teams.

The team's next start was to be a tri-nations event in Namibia, with teams from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana also competing. Gaewyn Churchill was to replace Tony Masters on the team.

[More ...]

New Zealand: Endurance pays off

Stuff.co.nz - Full Story

By DENISE GUNN - Feilding Herald | Tuesday, 02 September 2008

Clocking up the miles has paid off for Mangaweka endurance rider Andrea Smith and her 9-year-old anglo arab gelding Sierra Nevada, as the pair have earned qualification for the World Endurance Championships in Malaysia.

The championships are held every two years and are considered one of the toughest horse endurance races, covering a distance of 160km.

Although this is the first time a major World Endurance championship has been held in tropical weather, it is scheduled to coincide with the monsoon season in November to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.

Up to 150 riders from 43 countries are expected to compete in the event, starting on November 7.

Several veterinarians will be present and horses are thoroughly checked before the race starts. Vet checks continue at intervals throughout the ride and again after horses and riders cross the finish line.

The horse's heart rate must not exceed 64 beats a minute within a 30-minute recovery time.

Mrs Smith will head to Auckland with her horse and the other two members of the New Zealand team in early October.

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Future of Olympic equestrian sport under threat

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Kate Green, H&H reporter in Hong Kong

THE president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has warned that the status of equestrian sports within the Olympic movement is precarious.

Princess Haya told H&H that despite the undoubtedly great sport and brilliant organisation of Hong Kong, there is no guarantee that horse sports can survive in the Olympics beyond 2012 — or even get that far — and could follow sports such as cricket and polo out of the Olympic door.

"The FEI has a huge fight to even get to 2012," explained Princess Haya, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the FEI's first elected president.

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Oman: Bashar emerges champion in 80-km endurance race

Omantribune.com

Muscat: As many as 17 riders participated in the first equestrian event organised by the Omani Equestrian Federation this season in Al Askharah. The 80-km race, which was divided into four stages, was held under the auspices of HE Hamed Bin Amor Al Kasbi, member of the Shura Council for the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali.

The horse Bashar with its rider Ali Bin Yousef Al Balushi, managed to finish the race in 5.39 hours. While the horse Makhawi with its rider Mohammed Bin Eisa Al Balushi finished the race in 5.43 hours and came second, the horse Hadir with its rider Mohammed Bin Habib Al Blaushi finished the race in 6.15 hours and came third.

The horse Zaim, with its rider Abdullah Ghulam Al Balushi came fourth and the horse Mazouna with its rider Hamad Bin Ali Al Balushi came
fifth.

On the sidelines of the race, a number of horse performances with 40 horses were also staged before dignitaries and equestrian races fans.

At the end of the race, the chief guest gave away awards to the winners. Mohammed Bin Eisa Al Fairouz, Chairman of the Omani Equestrian Federation also presented a memento to the chief guest.

Vet Preparations in Progress for World Equestrian Games

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Erin Ryder, TheHorse.com News Editor
August 26 2008, Article # 12440

While the attention of most equine enthusiasts was turned to Hong Kong for the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, preparations were well under way for the next major international equine competition: the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The World Equestrian Games are the championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and are held every four years. The 2010 Games at the Kentucky Horse Park mark the first time the event will be held outside of Europe, and it's also the first Games to include all eight disciplines at a single site.

With just two years to go, many of the plans to keep both the competing and local horses healthy are in their final stages.

Kent Allen, DVM, is serving as WEG's veterinary coordinator. Allen brings years of experience to the job, having served as the team veterinarian for the U.S. Equestrian Team and as vice-chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee. Allen was the veterinary coordinator for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and was the foreign veterinary delegate for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

But nothing he's done rivals the scale of the upcoming WEG. "An Olympics is a small horse show compared to this," Allen said...

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Malaysia: 2008 WEC nominated entry list

36 countries (Federations) have filed their list of nominated entries, which is a 'long' list of riders and horses selected based upon eligibility and preference. The final competition squads which will travel to Malaysia for the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship will be selected (by their respective countries) from the nominated entry list with a maximum of 6 squad members per country. Malaysia, as the host nation, will be allowed to field a squad of 12 riders.

36 countries in total have submitted Nominated Entry Lists. 24 countries are participating with a Team (3 or more entries). 12 countries are participating with Individuals. The maxium riders participating will be 150.

Full listing of nominated entries

Riders brave camels and cold

REG BURTON
28/08/2008 4:00:00 AM

AT 6.30am with the temperature at 9 degrees and a stiff breeze blowing, 11 resilient riders and their hardy camels set off in the inaugural Australian camel endurance race, the Sheikh Zayed Camel Endurance Race.

The 120km race was run over two days around a 7km circuit on the banks and in the bed of the Flinders River, Hughenden.

John Richardson, Emerald took the major prize just 12 minutes ahead of his nephew, Rowan Richardson, with veteran camel trainer Glenda Sutton, Darwin, taking third.

The race carried prize money of $50,000 donated by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, ruler of Abu Dabbi and Sheikh of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Named in honour of the founder of the UAE, the current sheikh’s father, it is the feature event of the Arid Lands Festival.

It is not unusual that a western community like Hughenden would stage an Arid Lands Festival. What is unusual is that the idea came from the UAE.

Organiser and president of the Arid Lands Festival committee, Paddy McHugh, said the idea was suggested to him by a vet who was working for Sheikh Zayed.

The vet suggested that a festival in Australia incorporating a major camel endurance race may be a good idea.

Mr McHugh had been on one of several trips to the UAE delivering Australian camels to that Arab state and on his return decided to pursue the idea.

Sixteen months later the inaugural Arid Lands Endurance race for camels in Australia took off.

full article