Orfeo Des Iviers - Belgian Arabian Horse of the Year: WAHO Trophy

April 4 2011

Every year, the WAHO (World Arabian Horse Organization) honors an arabian horse in every country by awarding the WAHO TROPHY.

Often in Belgium, as the association is mainly managed by breeders from the show ring, it is a show horse which is awarded. But the mentality is slowly changing in Belgium, leading the board of the Belgian Studbook to award the trophy to a sport horse.
So this year the WAHO Trophy went to ORFEO DES IVIERS, a horse who had a very long career in endurance (4 World Championchips, 2 European Championships) and won several international races.

Chaque année l'organisation mondiale du pur sang arabe, la WAHO, met à l'honneur un cheval arabe dans chaque pays en lui décernant le "WAHO TROPHY".

Souvent en Belgique, puisque l'organisation est principalement gérée par des éleveurs actifs dans le monde du show, c'est un cheval reconnu pour sa beauté qui est nominé et reçoit le titre belge. Mais il faut reconnaître que la mentalité commence à changer dans le milieu du pur sang arabe. La versatilité du cheval arabe est reconnue, est louée dans les écrits des organisations telles que la WAHO et l'ECAHO, mais dans la réalité ce sont encore les caractéristiques de beauté de l'arabe dit 'de show' qui dominent.

Story and photos on Orfeo des Iviers here:
http://merritravels.endurance.net/2010/09/mon-amour.html

Belgium: April 30-May 1 Mont Le Soie Update

April 27
There will be more than 70 horses at the start of the various qualifications rides (from 30 to 80km), including a dutch armada which will get the taste of the hilly Ardennes. We can also expect a couple of dozen horse on the novice 20km ride. So all in all a good week-end for the Belgian endurance. Follow this link for the CEN entries

April 24
The list of starters is now available (follow this link.) There will be eighty couples competing on the various races during the week-end. This is the first time that Mont Le Soie will be welcoming as many as participants. The weather forecast are favorable : there will be sunshine and clouds with normally no showers.

April 15
It announces a very good level of participation, both on Saturday then Sunday. A dozen small Dutch, German five or six, eight French, a British armada will test the waters and the hilly eastern Belgium.

ATRM, the French company for the timing of peak endurance races, will be there to manage the race and give us as usual flash rankings, timed to the second table redéparts, etc..

And last but not least, the commentator appointed Herve Guesdon we will enjoy his dynamism and his insightful comments.

The configuration of the loops has not changed from previous years.

For more information see:
http://www.endurance-belgium.com/navigation/index.htm and
http://endurance.net/international/Belgium/2011MontLeSoie/

Great Britain: World Class Start and Potential Squad set off for Belgium

EnduranceGB.co.uk

26th April 2011

Andrea Baker, Chef d'Equipe for the World Class Start and Potential Squad has reported that all horses and riders are fit and well and will meet at Dover on Tuesday 26th April to begin their Team trip to Mont Le Soie in Belgium. The ride is to take place on Saturday, 30th April 2011.

The Team comprises:
Andrea Champ - Druimghigha Luxor
Lyndsey Comben - Radwhan
Fiona Griffiths - Dear Kate,
Sue Higgins - Aberllywds Another Rose,
Annie Ings - Alpha

Also travelling with the Team are those members of the Potential Squad
looking to add to their FEI qualifications and support the Team:
Rachel Atkinson - Vanash,
Claire Bruce - Ah Diba,
Lesley-Ann Parker - Velvet Echo,
Sue Rich - Czako and
Young Rider Louise Rich - Cziko.

We wish them all the best for a safe and successful trip.

100km ride set for Bahrain local stables

Gulf-daily-news.com

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) will be holding a 100-kilometre endurance ride for Bahrain's local stables on Friday.

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman and Breef president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa announced the event yesterday. It is set to take place at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Shaikh Khalid made the decision to hold the ride based on the applications from several owners of local stables.

The race will start at 5pm and it will feature four stages. The opening stage will be 30 kilometres in distance, followed by another 30km second stage. The third will be over 25km, while the fourth and final leg will cover just 15km.

The mandatory veterinary examinations for all participating horses will be held on race day from 3pm.

Shaikh Khalid said he is certain the race will be a tightly contested affair, with the large number of riders expected to participate. He wished the participants the very best in the ride, which he assured will be organised to the best abilities of Breef.

Australia: 2011 NSW State Championships at St Albans on 11th and 12th June

AERA.asn.au

The beginning of your quest for THE BIG THREE awarded by the NSW ERA

There will never be a better place to do a 160km ride than St Albans at the NSW State Ride……

There was a fantastic success rate at the Forgotten Valley Classic there two years ago. Experience the fabulous tracks and scenery that all us Shahzada tragics know so well and qualify for the Quilty (if you need to) in South Australia in September, another part of the Big Three. All you have to do is complete Shahzada in August after completing the State Ride in June and you and your horse are off to South Australia for the opportunity to achieve The Big Three.

This photo shows Katrina Bodewes and her horse Booramby Silver Elk who achieved the Big Three in 2010.

Lots of tears at the presentation this year, such a supreme effort and fantastic bond of horse and rider…….

come and give it a go!

India: Horse Sports would get affiliation by POA

:unjabnewsline.com

Punjab Newsline Network
Sunday, 24 April 2011
By Gagandeep Ahuja

Indigenous horses surpass the other horses

PATIALA : Horse sports will get the recognition by Punjab Olympics association as well IOA. Rajya Sabha M.P and Punjab Olympics association Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who was here at Village Fathepur of the First Endurance Meet of 30 km ride, to gave away the prizes to the winners.

Speaking on the occasion the president of Punjab Olympics association Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said that Horse Sports would get affiliation by POA and case would be forwarded to Indian Olympics association. After getting affiliation this sport would be played at national level as well as and other international games, he added.

Dhindsa, who is Rajya Sabha MP and Secretary General of Shiromani Akali Dal, also said that he will ask Punjab government to introduced Horse Sport in the schools sports curriculum.

Recalling the importance of Horses in Sikh history he said that Horses were promoted by Sixth Guru Guru Hargobuind Sahib Ji and Tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He said that the tenth Guru also introduced horse sports by introducing Hola Mohalla at Anandpur Sahib...

Read more here:
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/horse-sports-would-get-affiliation-poa-dhindsa/30599

India: Endurance race rides desi horse power, betters national record

Timesofindia.com

Parvesh sharma, TNN | Apr 25, 2011

PATIALA: To gauge the real horse power of our locally-bred horses, Fatehpur village of Patiala district was the place to be this Sunday. The mounts proved their worth in the first ever 30km endurance race in Punjab and, if the organizers are to be believed, they ran much faster than the ones in national races.

Members of Horse Sports and Breeder Society of Punjab (HSBSP) and the event organizers claimed that the steed which ran the fastest clocked the speed of 18.38km per hour, the next covered 18km per hour and the third 17.50km per hour. The national standard for endurance events is 16km per hour.

Bhola, the horse of Sahib Parminder Singh from Jalandhar district, won the first position and a cash prize of Rs 21,000. The second prize went to Kiranjit Singh's horse – a cash prize of Rs 11,000. "I love my horse as I would my
child. When I came to know about the event, I immediately called up the organizers as I didn't want to miss this opportunity. The government should also organize such events more often," said Sahib Parminder.

Some experts were surprised to see the pulse rate of all three leading horses as normal, that too even after running the first round of 15km. "Normally, the pulse increases after running such a long distance," said an expert. "But, the normal pulse rate points towards the power of Punjabi horses," he added. "We knew that our horses are the best... we have war horses. But the first ever event has now brought it on record that our horses are stronger than all others across the country, as they ran faster than those in the national standard of endurance of 16km per hour," said Kamalvir Singh Dhindsa, a member of HSBSP.

Although the organizers had received many requests, only 27 horses were allowed to participate. Out of these, eight were disqualified after the first round of 15km.

"The endurance levels, globally, are usually of 40, 60, 80 and 120km. But we chose 30 (km) because it was our first event and also because of the heat factor. The success of this maiden event has really encouraged us and we plan to organize another one this October. We just want due respect for our horses," said Dhindsa.

The event started early, around 5.30am, and concluded at 8.30am. However, it was watched by hundreds of enthusiastic villagers, who had started converging at site from 4am.

Manileau CEI** 120 km Spanish Young Rider Championship

23 April 2011

52 horses and riders were entered in the April 23rd Spanish Young Rider Championships in Manileu (Barcelona), Spain.

Winner was Maria Ledesma riding Ushamir ben Priz, in 6:07.41, at 19.58 km/h. Second place went to Oier Etxenike riding Foque de Quijas, in 6:21.57, at 18.85 km/h. Third was Ane Baseta riding Alabama, in 6:22.38, at 18.82 km/h.

31 pairs completed the ride.

Australia: Mudgee endurance riders take major placings at Tooraweenah

Mudgeeguardian.com.au - Full Article

ALEX BOYD
22 Apr, 2011

Mudgee Endurance riders made all the major placings at the 80 kilometre endurance ride at Tooraweenah on April 10.

The event was well attended with 61 entries in the 80km ride and 45 entries in the 40km trainer.

Bernice King was awarded the encouragement award after she finished the 80 kilometres ride even though she had suffered a dismount earlier in the race.

Mette Sutton won the 80km ride after she finished in five hours, 15 minutes with her horse Vuldar the Magician as well as being awarded open fittest horse.

Gloria Mills was first highweight finishing in five hours and 39 minutes with her horse Glendos Sabodice also taking the fittest horse award for catchweight.

Paddy Smith was the first heavyweight and Justin Pilley was first junior as well as first across the line.

India: First ever 30km race to test Punjab horses

Timesofindia.com

April 22 2011

CHANDIGARH: In what is being seen as a revival of old times when horse riding was a passion in Punjab, horse lovers and breeders in the state have got together to organize, for the first time, a 30 km endurance race of indigenous and thoroughbred horses in Fatehpur village in Patiala district on Sunday.

Punjab bloodline horses are being encouraged and riders from across the country are expected. "Horse keeping comes naturally to the people of Punjab and has been for centuries, a way of life. The sport of horse riding is deemed to be a natural attraction and deserves to be given a new meaning in the modern day context," said Kamalbir Singh Dhindsa, a prominent horse breeder and equestrian promoter. Promoters of the event, who have got together under the banner of Horse Sports and Breeder Society of Punjab and are not supported by any ernment organization, have pooled in about Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh each to organize the endurance race. Col Sarpartap Singh, equestrian judge at international events and a prominent horse breeder in Punjab said, "Endurance rides are races over a trail of distance. We have chosen a varied and challenging terrain."

Sumrinder Singh Sira, a horse breeder and also faculty in department of business management, Punjabi University said, "This endurance meet will help breeders to improve their stock and encourage them. That is why we have not kept any entry fee, boarding and lodging is free for participants." About 60 riders from across the region will exhibit the strength of their horses besides riding skills. The distance of 30 kms will be extended to 40 kms, 60 kms and 80 kms in second endurance meet that Horse Sport and Breeders Society is mulling of organizing in October.

Bahrain: Royal victory!

Gulf-daily-news.com

Sunday, April 17, 2011

ROYAL Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Salem Sabt emerged champions in the season-ending 120-km Endurance Horseride Championship for the Crown Prince Cup, reports RAMI HULAYYEL. Shaikh Nasser proved too strong to win the 29-rider senior ride while Salem Sabt finished on top in the junior event, which saw 20 riders in the fray.

The final endurance event of the season, which took place at the Bahrain International Village in Sakhir, ended on an exciting note with Shaikh Nasser winning it by a narrow margin.

Shaikh Nasser, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president and chief of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, completed the challenging 120-km ride on Mystic Traveler.

Shaikh Nasser clocked five hours, 42 minutes and 12 seconds with an average speed of 21.040 kmph.

The Royal Endurance team dominated the show, winning the next two places. Noureddin Kaddouri, riding Kalharabi Katar, timed 5:53:14 to clinch second place with an average speed of 21.035kmph.

Third place was also won by the Royal Endurance team through Jaffar Mirza on Danon Jabeen. Mirza, who took the lead in the early stages, could finish third in 5:42:16.

Fahad Ismail (5:49:04) of Al Khalidiya Stables claimed fourth position, followed by Raed Mahmood (5:01:59) in fifth place, Isa Al Doseri (5:14:57) of Al Shawamekh Stables sixth and Al Reem Stable's Mohamed Al Shaikh (5:28:40) seventh.

Bag Singh (5:54:14) of Al Montasir Stable was eighth, ahead of Nakhat Singh (6:01:22), also of Montasir Stable, while Manar Rashid (6:05:58) of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rounded off the top 10. Manar was the first lady rider to complete the event.

Junior

In the junior ride, Al Asayel Stable rider Sabt steered Ge Lady to victory in five hours, 33 minutes and 12 second after a close battle with another Al Asayel Stable rider Mohammed Al Khatry. Fahad Helal (5:44:30) was third on Al Jared.

Ali Baqer (5:49:20) of Hawar Stable was fourth, followed by Ali Al Abdulla (5:33:03), Saud Al Hadhrami (5:33:31), Mohammed Al Khatri (6:06:52), Faisal Al Manea (6:12:09) and Mohamed Al Subai (6:14:43), all of Al Asayel Stable.

An additional 85-km qualifying ride was held on the occasion, with seven riders in the fray. It was won by Abdulla Al Qoad, riding Kintamani Kebir, who clocked three hours, 49 minutes and 36 seconds.

He was followed by Hamad Al Marri (4:52:06) of Royal Endurance Team in second place with Al Shawamek Stable rider Abdulla Al Dosseri (5:29:14) third.

His Majesty the King's Personal Representative Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa honoured the top three riders in each event.

Shaikh Khalid thanked Durrat Al Bahrain, especially its board chairman Abdulhakeem Al Khayyat, for sponsoring this prestigious event.

Photos by Osama Mohammed can be seen here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ridecamp/HRHTheCrownPrinceCupEnduranceRIdeChampionshipFEICEI120Km41511?pli=1#

India: Majestic Marwari beats enchanting English

Mydigitalfc.com - Full Article

By Yana Bey Apr 14 2011

A beautiful grey stallion, Pratham, ridden by Thakhat Singh, beat British thoroughbreds in National Endurance event

Amid the momentous happen­ings in the world of adventure sport this February, a land­mark event in the little-known and cl­ose-knit circle of Indian equestrian sp­orts was eclipsed. For the first time, in the National Endurance champ­ion­ship, a Marwari horse beat English th­oroug­hbreds to win the 100-km event.

Endurance events are long-distance riding events that test the physical and mental stamina of both horse and rider. There are 40-km, 60-km, 80-km, 100-km and 120-km events. The last two, being very taxing, see the fewest number of participants.

This year, just four horses took part in the National Endurance 100-km event — held in Jodhpur on February 27. Two were English thoroughbreds but the other two were sons of the soil - beautiful specimens of the Marwari, the horse native to the region. All the four were from Jodhpur with both Marwaris belonging to the All-India Marwari Horse Society.

The winner was a beautiful grey stallion, Pratham...

Read more here:
http://www.mydigitalfc.com/sporting-life/majestic-marwari-beats-enchanting-english-453

Bahrain: Fitting finale for endurance event

Gulf-daily-news.com

Thursday, April 14, 2011

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation is organising the season-ending Endurance Horseride Championships of the season tomorrow.

The event is for the trophy of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, and covers a total distance of 120km. It features rides for senior and junior riders.

This ride, to be held at night, will take place at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir with prominent Bahraini riders from various stables from across the kingdom expected to take part.

Among the top riders in the fray is Royal Endurance captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who steered Musical Gully Pizzecato last year to victory, lifting the prestigious Crown Prince Cup following a dominant performance in the 120-km ride.

Shaikh Nasser, the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports president and chief of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, will be joined by Breef's president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and some of Bahrain's elite riders.

Breef's Endurance Committee chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa said the final ride of the year promises to feature stiff competition among participants.

Shaikh Faisal extended his appreciation to the Crown Prince for patronising the ride and for his continued support to the federation's programmes and activities.

The endurance committee chief expressed gratitude to Durrat Al Bahrain for sponsoring tomorrow's ride, and expressed hope that this co-operation would continue in future competitions.

Shaikh Faisal also praised the efforts of the organising committee to make sure the event is a great success.

Meanwhile, the organising committee has approved technical issues concerning the ride, which will be divided into five stages.

The first stage will be over 30km and is covered with red flags, to be followed by another 30km stage with blue flags.

Green flags will cover the third stage, which is over 25km, to be followed by the fourth which is over 20km, covered in yellow flags. The fifth and last stage will be over 15km with white flags.

It was also confirmed that the senior ride will begin at 4pm while the junior section is set to start at 4.15pm. The prize-distribution ceremony is due to begin at 11.30pm.

The veterinary and ground jury committees have been named. Ghalib Al Alawi will head the ground jury committee, which also has Abdulsamad Al Busta, Ali Ghuloom, Mahdi Al Kelaiti and Fahad Al Rumaihi, all of Bahrain, besides foreign judge Haider Al Zubi of Jordan.

Other veterinarians are Bahrain's Abbas Al Haiki, Farida Abdulrazzaq, Abdularhman Abulshouk and Abu Obaida Sabeel besides Melo Caonabo of the Dominican Republic.

The event is being sponsored by Durrat Al Bahrain, who signed an agreement with the organising committee at a special function yesterday.

It was attended by CEO of Durrat Al Bahrain Jassim Al Jowder besides Breef member Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa as well as other federation officials.

Australia: 2011 Barossa Ranges Tom Quilty Gold Cup

April 11 2011

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Barossa Ranges Tom Quilty Gold Cup, which begins at midnight on Friday September 30th 2011 and continue through Saturday October 1st.

The event will provide a challenging event for participants on a new course.  There will be an away check point and riders will experience changing terrain as the course traverses Mt Crawford State forest, vineyards and pastures.  The second and potentially most challenging leg will be through pine forests, then onto private land owned by the Ross family (by kind permission). 

The ride base will be at Mt Pleasant which hosts annually a large agricultural show in addition to many livestock and horse events.  One of the best scenic routes in our State runs through Mount Pleasant linking Adelaide with the Barossa via the rich pastoral lands, forestry and the wine areas of Springton and Eden Valley close to Mt. Pleasant. 

Land was first purchased for forestry at Mount Crawford in 1909. Plantings commenced in 1914; two species of eucalypts (Narrow-leaved Ironbark and South Australian Blue gum) and two species of pine (Radiata and Maritime pine) which creates a fantastic horse riding environment.  The current reserve area is in the region of 12,000 hectares. 

Nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2011 Quilty. Please note you must prenominate a horse and pay the $100 deposit to book a camp site. Camp requests will NOT be accepted without a pre-nomination. You may change horse details later if necessary. Forms need to be downloaded from the website and sent with a cheque made out to SA Tom Quilty Inc to our Treasurer, Sue Arwen, at 6 Amundsen Dve, Ingle Farm, SA

Camp Sites
All enquiries to our Camp Manager Tony Van Eck on 08 85387280 or 0414406580.
Camp forms must accompany your pre nomination form to the Treasurer. If you have a gooseneck and only 1 horse you may need to book 2 sites to have enough room. Extra cars will have to be parked off the showgrounds. Powered sites are limited. If we run out we will let you know in time to arrange a generator.

Entertainment
There will be a bar and drinking area on the ride base, open from 4pm to late,
Wednesday to Sunday. Local solo musicians will play in the evenings. Various food stalls will operate from Wednesday through to Sunday. Wednesday night will see a Quilty Gourmet BBQ available on the ride base.

Final Dinner
Tickets are $40 and may be pre booked. Only 200 seats available for a sit down
dinner and band with bar facilities. Book early for a great night and a chance to relive the ride in comfort.

Trade Stalls
Spaces are filling fast. We have Remlap, Dixon Equestrian, Retract-a-fence, Ken Platt Belts, d-lua park sheepskins and others Ring Jean Sims on 0429781004 for info. Fodder and Firewood Fodder is available from Coopers of Mt Torrens who will do daily deliveries. You may pre order with your nomination form. Fires are allowed in drums only. Wood will be available for purchase at the base.

Dogs
We would prefer you left your pets at home but if not, all dogs MUST be on a leash at all times. Loose dogs will be reported to the Council Animal Control Officer
Rubbish/ Horse Manure Chaff bags will be issued to campers as they arrive. Large clearly marked bins will be available for you to empty your bags into on a daily basis. KESAB bins will be around for recycling cans and bottles. Please make the effort to sort your waste and use the correct bins to dispose of it. This is always a problem area for committees to control but with a little thought and care from campers, it could be easy!

Course
Descriptions and altitude diagrams will be on the website soon. Do plenty of hill
training as Legs 2 and 3 will make your horses work. They are not difficult but they
do require you to pace your horse. Step overs are a part of SA Forests. I suggest you set one up and practise at home if you are concerned. We will have one at the ride base for you to do a refresher course!

Merchandise
Pictures are now on the website. There are 2 delivery dates pre ride and a stall will be open at the Ride Base. Please contact Lainie Ray on 0438846741 with queries.

Volunteers
As with any major events volunteers are the unsung heroes. If you would like to come and help we would love to hear from you. Please ring Jean Sims on 0429781004 any time. We will feed and water you during the event and we promise a great time!

Sponsors
We are desperate for buckle sponsors. For only $300 your name will be engraved on a brass plaque attached to the wooden Quilty Buckle stand. This silver buckle is the goal of every Quilty entrant and only presented to successful completions Major Sponsors for places include Nanango Heritage Riders, Tonimbuk, Castlebar, DixonSmith Equestrian, Rapiti Pty, Arabian Horse Society of Australia and Archer Saddleblankets and Rugs. Please check our website if you would like to join this wonderful group of supporters.

Officials
Chief Steward is Tom McCormack No.2 Chief Steward is Dorte Colja
Head Vet is Dr James Vowles from Murray Bridge.
Head Hospital Vet is Dr Bill Harbison
Camp Manager is Tony Van Eck
Course Director is Rod Warren

For more information see http://www.satomquilty.com.au/

or contact Jean Sims at director@satomquilty.com.au

Australia: Shaikh Majid Challenge near Brisbane

April 13 2011

The Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Challenge will be held 16 & 17 April at Toorbul 30 minutes north of Brisbane on forestry trails. Events will include an FEI 1* 80 km, FEI2* 120 km and FEI3* 160 km Open and Youth Events.

This event will be a Trial for the FEI Australian National Championships, and a Qualifier for the World Championships for Youth & Young Rders and the 2010 World Championships.

For more information, see http://www.ozenduranceqinc.com/April---Sheikh-Majid-Challenge.html or contact Ride Secretary Penny Toft at toft@ozenduranceqinc.com  

France: Javier Aliage and Rohf Izmy win CEI* Tartas

Ecuestreonline.com - Full Story

Javier Aliaga, aboard Rohf Izmy was imposed on April 10 in the CEI* Tartas (France), which ranked 27 of the 37 participants, including also the Spanish Íñigo Arrizabalaga (19th with Tbo Guerrero). The Spaniard and the PRA of eight years, winning in November last year the French also CIS * Hasparren, completed the 89 kms with an average speed of 19.85 km / hr.

The previous day also highlighted in the neighboring country and Ruth Comas Alex Luque, fifth and seventh in the CEI2 * (120 kms.)...

More...

Australia: Real Test of Endurance

Warwickdailynews.com.au - Full Story

Gerard Walsh | 11th April 2011

MARYVALE Endurance Ride winner Tanya Trevarthen wasn't fazed by riding with a torch at 4.30am yesterday. She does it every morning.

While she admits it is easier for horse and rider in daylight, she said her nine-year-old purebred Arabian named Sarandeep was fine trotting along in the dark.

She crossed the line at the same time as lightweight winner Jocelyn Barnes on Trinity but a lightweight can't win overall.

Trevarthen hails from Goombungee and has been competing in endurance riding for 25 years.

“I train with a torch in the morning before I go to work,” she said...

Read more here:
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/story/2011/04/11/real-test-of-endurance-maryvale-horse-riding/

New Zealand: WEG drama leads to new endurance structure

April 9, 2011
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/04/065.shtml

Lessons learned from the issues arising over last year's World Equestrian Games have led to a new structure for the sport of endurance in New Zealand.

wo WEG-selected riders objected to the fact that grooms were assigned to them for the games, rather than being allowed to choose their own. The pair, Sue Reid and Jenny Champion, pulled of the team. It left New Zealand with just three endurance riders.

In a message to endurance riders this week, Equestrian Sports NZ CEO Jim Ellis said it had taken time to move the Endurance High Performance issue forward, "but I hope members will understand that the topic has seen lengthy and detailed debate 'behind the scenes'."

Leadership of the HP Programme will now rest with a small group, rather than a single HP Leader as is the case with ESNZ's other disciplines. "It is believed that this will offer a HP environment more suited to the particular nature of Endurance and the skills, expertise and horsepower needed to compete with the best in the world," Ellis said.

full article at http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/04/065.shtml

Australia: Lancefield rider swaps long hauls for short sprint

Macedon-ranges-leader - full story

8 Apr 11 @ 06:00am by Barry Kennedy

LANCEFIELD endurance horse rider Kim Noble will attend Melbourne Racing Club at Caulfield on Saturday for a different challenge.

Accustomed to overnight cross-country events over 80km and events such as the the sport’s biggest race, the Tom Quilty Cup, Noble is instead focusing on a one-mile sprint.

She will be one of 12 riders in the $20,000 Shadwell Arabian Mile...

read more here:
http://macedon-ranges-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/lancefield-rider-swaps-long-hauls-for-short-sprint/

2011 Fontainebleu Report

Endurance-belgium.com - Full Story

The Grand Parquet, an exceptional venue located at the border of the big nationall forest of Fontainebleau. Not too far from Paris, just 50 km or so to the South. So it's easy for the riders coming from the south but also from the north (especially the Belgians) who can avoid crossing Paris and its horrible traffic jam.

A stadium, several (maybe a dozen) sand arenas (I didn't make count them), a direct access to the forest, a restaurant and a bar, permanent stables... So everything was there in place for a good event.

The organizers have designed a nice course with four different loops with enough variety. Several kind of forests were crossed: pines and leave trees. One especially scenic with huge eroded rocks covered with moss, looking a bit like some places of the Lord of the Rings. The last loop was a bit technical with several (small) hills, but no big deal as the leaders covered it at more than 20 km/h.

At the start of the CEI** there were several very talented (or promising) horses ridden by professional riders (the one living from their sport) like Laurent Mosti, Virginie Atger, Sabrina Arnold ou Jean-Philippe Frances...

Read more here:
http://www.endurance-belgium.com/chroniques/fontainebleau11/fontainebleau11.htm