Abu Dhabi: FEI Young Riders & Juniors World Endurance Championship CEI**** 120 km

The FEI Young Riders & Juniors World Endurance Championship CEI**** 120 km will be held on Saturday December 10, 2011, at the Emirates International Endurance Village
Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Vet Gates:

Phase 1 - 21 km - hold of 30 minutes
Phase 2 - 28 km - hold of 30 minutes
Phase 3 - 24 km - hold of 40 minutes
Phase 4 - 20 km - hold of 40 minutes
Phase 5 - 16 km

Heart Rates: Maximum pulse at Vet Gates - 64 bpm within 20 minutes. At final exams, maximum pulse of 64 within 30 minutes.

Vetting in: December 9 10 AM

France: Breeding Festival in Morlaix and Dinner-Sale

20 October 2011

Brittany is among the best area for endurance horses breeding with nearly 400 Arabs and part Arab mares covered each year. A lot of winners come from this place such as: Kergof, vice champion of France in 2010 of 160 km, Lubiana deCoat Frity, third Florac 2009 and second 160 km in 2010, Major Armor Pertre winner of 120 km in 2010 and 2011 champion of France on 120 km., Mario de Plouvorn, champion of France 2010 on 160 km. And 6 of the 17 horses selected on the ‘’long list’’ for the European Championships come from this area.

Moreover, on the 16 first horses of the European Championship of Florac, 4 horses are born in Brittany.

ACA Bretagne Endurance Association is the group of Brittany endurance horse breeders and Arabian breeders. With a hundred members, it is now the first regional association.

They have the pleasure to invite you to the second annual Endurance Horse Festival to take place in Morlaix (Langolvas Exhibition Centre) 18, 19 & 20 November 2011.

Program: On Friday, November 18 at 8 p.m. : Dinner on sales on reservation, Presentation of 40 horses selected according to genetics and to performance.

Origins represented in 2010 : Akim, Arques Perspex, Dormane, Fadasir, Fakir de Domenjoi, Tauqui el Masan.

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November: horse shows, competitions and interregional presentations of young endurance horses.

We are at your disposal to organize and facilitate your arrival in Brittany.

Please feel free to contact us: acabretagne@gmail.com

Program on internet :
http://www.aca-bretagne.com/Stockage/2011-11-18_Programme_Morlaix_-_anglais.pdf

Other information on this website :
http://www.aca-bretagne.com/English/Pagegarde/Acabretagneeng.htm

Bahrain: Glanders Strikes Again

Gulfweeklyworldwide.com - Full Article

By Anasuya Kesavan
Posted On » October 19 - 25, 2011 (Volume:10 / Issue 42)

Glanders, the equine disease which has devastated the kingdom’s equestrian community and looked close to being eradicated from the kingdom’s shores, has reared its ugly head again.

Two horses from the Dilmun Stables in Saar have tested positive to the killer bacterial infection and the results are awaited on the condition of a third pony following an inconclusive finding.

The movement ban on horses across the island has been extended for another four months and the endurance horse riding competition planned as part of the GCC Games’ eleven disciplines was swiftly withdrawn from the Bahrain 11 programme of events which have been reduced to 10.

Whilst there are conflicting reports over the numbers of horses and ponies destroyed after testing positive to glanders, officials state ‘more than 70’ horses have had to be put down since the outbreak in early 2010.

Over the summer it appeared that the battle against glanders was being won, after three rounds of testing involving every horse and pony on the island came through as ‘negative’ ... until just a few weeks ago.

Experts say that testing in the immediate area will have to continue and the chances are that Bahrain will not be officially declared ‘glanders free’ for at least another 14 months because international authorities demand a six-month period of grace after all retests have returned negative ... provided no new cases are discovered in the meantime.

The disease, caused by the highly-infectious bacterium burkholderia mallei, occurs primarily in horses and can stay dormant from three weeks to eight months, or in rare cases even longer.

Strict measures were introduced across Bahrain following the first outbreak and popular show jumping events were cancelled. At the time the Dilmun Stables introduced some of the most stringent measures in the kingdom in an attempt to keep the facilities free of the disease.

However, the stable team’s best efforts were in vain after two horses tested positive last month and were subsequently put down.

The blood samples were sent to the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai – one of the only two authorised laboratories in the world certified by the Office International des Epizooties – World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris for testing glanders.

Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director of CVRL, said: “In Bahrain we have tested 4,000 horses and donkeys twice. The third round of testing was coming to an end when sadly the two horses tested positive...

Read more here:
http://www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com/articles.aspx?articleid=27710

Spain: Horses Shortlisted for World Junior Ride 2011 in Abu Dhabi

El Raid Blog

October 17 2011

The National Coach of Raid forwards the list of horses shortlisted for the World Abu Dhabi 2011.
This is the note of the Spanish Equestrian Federation.

"Raid: Screening for the Junior World in Abu Dhabi .

CALL FIRST TEST OF COMPETING ABU-DHABI 2011

National Coach of The Raid, Quico Yebra, has called for the following horses for physical testing and veterinary planned for the selection of Junior horses and riders who will represent Spain in the World Championship in Abu Dhabi, the month of December:

USHAMIR BEN PRIZ
LUCERO MIKI
YEP EMBAUCADORA
VODKA / AMAL
TRA XENA DE ROSE
TRA CLICA

The test consists of long stretches of galloping speed set for a period of time.

They took blood samples from horses and can carry out checks on riders through urine samples.

will be required to provide a list of medicines are, where appropriate, taking by riders with medical firm, and provide the veterinarian with the selection list of products that could have provided the horse during the last days.

Quico Yebra
National Coach "

Greetings from Gabriel.

Chile: Foreign Teams Have Arrived for Pan American Championship

16 October 2011
by Hans Buckel

Everything is almost ready in Santo Domingo Chile .All the foreign teams have arrived and some of the local team Chile were arriving today .The organization has done a great job to look for all the details to have a great event.Usa ,uruguay and brasil have brougth very strong teams altough chile has the advantage to race at home.

The track will  be very technical,with 2 loops very hilly and 3 loops very flat. Temperature and humidity won t be a problem the day of the race.

Photos by Hans Buckel here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/Chile/2011PanAm/

Australia: Success at NSW State Champs Endurance

Articlesbase.com - Full Story

October 10 2011

Congratulations to Bridi Rice and Pocket Full of Posies with a successful completion at the NSW State Championship Endurance Ride where they completed their first160km... in the rain!

The diminutive pair were almost swimming as they crossed the last river in pitch black and pouring rain. They were the last pair through before the crossing was deemed unsafe and closed.

The conditions were appalling, I drowned 3 coats over the 20 hours I was on duty, one of them a well-oiled drizabone. I lifted a Keiffer saddle that had no dye left in the panels and must have weighed at least 15 kilos! Riders commented it was the first ride they had ever come in having gained weight instead of lost it!
Ads by Google

Rosie didn't acquire any injuries but I was on hand for her arrival back into camp at every check, where a big concern was keeping a wet pony warm while she rested in the cold, wet conditions...

Read more here:
http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/success-at-nsw-state-champs-endurance-5290598.html

Australia: Riding for a Cause

Merredinmercury.com.au - Full Article and photos

12 Oct, 2011 10:47 AM
LAST Thursday afternoon, people on the streets of Merredin may have noticed a group of people riding their horses along Barrack Street.

The horse riders were on day six of their endurance horse ride from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie to raise funds for cancer research, education and support services for the WA Cancer Council.

Holly Bongers, Larissa Cooney, Bessie Traylen and Maddison King are all young members of the Wooroloo Horse and Pony Club who jumped at the chance ride along the pipeline for a good cause.

The girls aged 14 and 15 aim to raise $25,000 during their 14-day trek to Kalgoorlie called ‘Kalgoorlie or Bust’.

On day six, they left Kellerberrin for Merredin and they were half way there having already raised $12,500.

However, this was no easy task; the girls have had 12 months of physical endurance and mental training in preparation for the event and were starting to feel the strain and exhaustion during their stopover in Merredin.

Every day the girls wake up at 4.45am to feed their horses, go back to sleep, then wake up again to have their breakfast at 6am before they hit the road at 6.30am.

The girls are usually on the road for about five hours before they stop to rest for the day.

About 20 people, including friends and family of the girls, have come along for the pipeline ride by driving in support vehicles.

Holly Bongers said she decided to participate in the fundraising event because her grandfather suffered from cancer and all the other girls had been close to cancer at some stage in their 14 years.

It was then decided to make something that they love to do and turn it into a fundraiser for the WA Cancer Council.

Kylie Martin, a good friend and mentor to the girls has also come on board...

Read more here:
http://www.merredinmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/riding-for-a-cause/2321758.aspx

Australia: Endurance achiever Dean Walkom's ultimate reward

Portstephensexaminer.com.au

BY DANIEL MILLS
12 Oct, 2011 01:00 AM
SOME five years of endurance training between horse and human will reap the ultimate reward for Woodville's Dean Walkom.

The long-distance horserider, who competes in some of the most gruelling rides in the country, has trained his horse to carry him incredible distances in the sport known as long distance endurance horseriding.

Dean and his equine companion, Santa Pasa Zaraq, of Arabian breed, will receive the prestigious "Big three Award" next year.

The award recognises that the horse and his rider have competed in and successfully finished the NSW state championships, Shazdada 400km marathon and the Tom Quilty National Championships within the space of a year.

Both championship events consist of a 160km journey from start to finish while the marathon is a 400km trek spread over five days.

Dean most recently completed the Tom Quilty ride over the October long-weekend.

"The horse pulled up really well," Dean said.

"He just powered on to the finish."

The horse, at 12, is at the peak age for long-distance endurance riding and will now have a three month spell.

The task of competing in these rides took Dean five years, in which he broke in his own horse and trained it over 40, 80 and 120 km distances.

Malaysia: Thai Wipawan Wins Sultan Mizan Cup CEI 2* Endurance Challenge

Setiu, 9 October 2011 – Coming in first place at the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011, Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Thailand rode home with USD20,000 in her pocket and an AmaSwiss watch worth USD17,200 on her wrist. Wipawan astride Mulawa Angelus completed the 120 km track in 6:17:43 with an average speed of 19.06 km per hour.

Next to finished in good condition was M. Marlon and Mohammad Fuad Hashim from the State of Terengganu Endurance Team (STET) who clock a time of 6:29:17 riding at an average speed of 18.5 km per hour. He received a tidy sum of USD14,000 as the second place winner. In third place was Zelma Lotter from South Africa riding for TMKN Equestrian on board Nashaar, who won USD10,000 after having completed in a time of 7:02:35 with an average speed of 17.04 km per hour.

Completing the ride in 7:38:30 on Shardell Gazalan, Warit Khuntarhporn from Thailand rode into fourth place at an average speed of 15.7 km per hour. Mohd Sulaiman Muda of Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable mounted on Jakim Murphy came in fifth, clocking 8:15:15 and an average speed of 14.54 km per hour. Warit and Sulaiman received prizemoney of USD6,000 and USD4,000 respectively.

The much coveted Best Conditioned Horse Award went to M. Marlon ridden by second place winner Mohammad Fuad Hashim, who won additional prizemoney of USD6,000.

The prizemoney for the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup has been doubled that of last year. The Honourable Dato’ Seri Hj Ahmad Said, Chief Minister of Terengganu presented prizes to the fifth, fourth, third and second place winners while His Majesty, the King of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin did the honours for the Champion of 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup as well as the winner of the Best Conditioned Horse Award.

The Honourable Chief Minister of Terengganu said, “Our vision is to make the Sultan Mizan Cup the region’s premier event and Terengganu the regional hub for the sport of endurance.”

Riders who completed the Sultan Mizan Cup International Endurance Challenge successfully each received an award of USD6,000 and a buckle, a tradition of the sport of endurance. They were Nik Sabarudin Nik Daud, Mohd Nizan Muda, Muhamad Adhwa Embong, Syarifuddin Shamsul Anuar, Mohd Halim Abd Rahim and Mohd Afendi Mohd Rafi.

His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin riding RTES Smith, a 9-year-old gelding, was among the 53 Malaysian riders from teams across Malaysia. The other riders were from Australia, Chile, Slovakia, France, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Ian Williams, FEI Director of Endurance said, “I witnessed yet another superb competition. The ride was very tough for both the riders and horses. I must say it is a world-class event. The officials and support crew did a fantastic job. It is not easy to run an endurance ride in conditions like you have in Terengganu.

“The FEI really looks forward to the further development of the sport in Malaysia, particularly development of youth.”

Williams also remarked that the facilities at Terengganu International Endurance Park are first-class and that it is one of the top three endurance villages in the world.

Jointly organised by the Terengganu State Government and the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup was held from 7-9 October at the Terengganu International Endurance Park.

Sponsors of the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011 include Sime Darby Berhad, Norlan United & Carriage Sdn Bhd, AmaSwiss, Public Bank Berhad, Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd, Mitavite Asia Sdn Bhd and Ari Usaha Murni Sdn Bhd.

Horses and Riders Head to Chile for 2011 Pan American Endurance Championship

By USEF - ALL DISCIPLINE - Posted October 11, 2011

Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation has named the following horse/rider combinations for the 2011 Pan American Endurance Championship being held in Santo Domingo, Chile, October 22, 2011.

The following horse/rider combinations will represent the U.S. at the Pan American Championship (listed in ranked order):

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Breed/Age/Sex/Owner

John Crandell III/49/West River, MD/Heraldic/Arabian/13/Gelding/John Crandell JR
Meg Sleeper/43/Frenchtown, NJ/Syrocco Cadence/Arabian/8/Mare/Meg Sleeper
Deborah Reich/51/Croton on Hudson, NY/Pandor/Arabian/12/Gelding/Deborah Reich
Melody Blittersdorf/51/Jeffersonville, VT/Synthetic/Arabian/11/Gelding/Melody Blittersdorf
Valerie Kanavy/65 /Fort Valley, VA/Spectacular Gold/Arabian/9/Gelding/Valerie Kanavy
Cheryl Van Deusen/52/New Smyrna, FL/Moro Amado/Arabian/8/Gelding/Miguel Pavlovsky

Running over a 120km course, riders will race for both Team and Individual medals.

Two members of the Silver medal winning U.S. team from the 2009 Pan American Endurance Championship in Uruguay will once again represent the U.S., Kanavy and Van Deusen. Kanavy, who finished sixth individually in 2009 will ride her own Spectacular Gold, a 9-year-old Arabian gelding who has raced to top ten finishes both in the U.S. and abroad. Van Deusen will ride Moro Amado, owned by Argentinian endurance competitor Miguel Pavlovsky.

The U.S. will also be represented by two members of the U.S. team from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), Reich and Sleeper. Reich, the only U.S. rider to complete the WEG course, will ride her new partner Pandor. The 12-year-old Arabian gelding has finished in the top 10 in all CEI outings in the last three years. Sleeper will ride her homebred mare, Syrocco Cadence, an eight-year-old Arabian. The pair most recently finished second at the Asheville CEI3* 160km.

Crandell and Heraldic, a 13-year-old Arabian gelding, are veteran partners having been the first pair in history to win the endurance "Triple Crown" crossing the finish line first at the Old Dominion 100, Tevis and the AERC Championship 100 in 2006. In 2010, the pair took two legs of the "Triple Crown" winning at the Old Dominion 100 and at Tevis. This will be Crandell's second time representing the U.S., having ridden on the U.S. team at the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship in Malaysia.

Rounding out the U.S. team is Blittersdorf and Synthetic. Partners since 2003, Blittersdorf and Synthetic began competing in CEI events in 2008 and have consistently finished in the top 10.

Malaysia: Terengganu To Enhance Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Challenge Next Year

Bernama.com.my

October 9 2011

SETIU, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The state government will ensure the Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Challenge 2012 will be a more exciting affair offering bigger prize money next year to attract more local and foreign riders.

State Youth and Sports committee chairman Rozi Mamat said that more international riders would be invited to participate in the tournament next year.

"Therefore, we will enhance the tournament to be more exciting and better in future. The state had set aside a bigger allocation for prizes this year," he told reporters after the Sultan Mizan Cup Endurance Challenge 2011 prize-giving ceremony here Sunday.

Also present was the World Endurance Equestrian Championship (FEI) director Ian Williams.

Williams said that the challenge could be expanded across Asia since Terengganu has a strategic venue that was suitable for high-level tournaments.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia: Thai Rider Wins Sultan Mizan Cup 2011

Bernama.com

October 9 2011

SETIU (Terengganu), Oct 9 (Bernama) -- Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Thailand rode home first to pocket RM63,000 cash and an AmaSwiss watch worth RM54,000 at the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011.

He completed the 120km track astride Mulawa Angelus in 6:17:43 with an average speed of 19.06km per hour. This is the third time Wipawan, 35, has competed in the endurance challenge formerly known as the Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge.

Mohammad Fuad Hashim from the State of Terengganu Endurance Team (STET), riding M Marlon, finished next on 6:29:17, and received RM44,000 as the second-placed winner.

M Marlon won the Best Conditioned Horse Award, and for that, Mohd Fuad received an additional prize money of RM18,000.

In third place was Zelma Lotter on board Nashaar, winning RM32,000 after having completed in a time of 7:02:35.

Completing the ride on 7:38:30 astride Shardell Galazan, Warit Khuntarhporn rode in fourth while Mohd Sulaiman Muda on Jakim Murphy came in fifth, clocking 8:15:15. The fourth prize winner took home RM19,000 and fifth, RM13,000.

A total of 11 riders who completed the 120km race were awarded a sum of RM6,000 and a buckle, a tradition of the sport of endurance.

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, riding RTES Smith, a nine year-old gelding, was among the 53 Malaysian riders from teams across Malaysia.

The other riders were from France, Australia, Slovakia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said were present at the prize-giving ceremony today.

Jointly organised by the Terengganu government and the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011 was held from Friday to today at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong here.

-- BERNAMA

Australia: Will Rewarded

Dailyadvertiser.com.au - Full Article

SIMON BRUNSDON
08 Oct, 2011 01:00 AM

WHEN most school students were spending the holidays playing video games and hanging with their friends, Wagga's Courtney Lewis was competing for a national title.

The 14-year-old Mater Dei Catholic College student made the marathon two-day road trip to South Australia's Barossa Ranges to compete in the prestigious Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The cup is the national championships for endurance horse riding and brings together hundreds of Australia's best riders.

Created by famous Australian horseman Tom Quilty in 1966, the Gold Cup is now known as the largest professional endurance ride in the southern hemisphere.

It was Lewis's first time travelling to South Australia to compete, and she ended up running third in the junior division on horse Kyang Mister Personality.

The pair was one of just nine to finish the 160-kilometre endurance ride in their division, and Lewis returned home to Wagga with one of the coveted buckles she went over there to claim. She says while the trip took a lot of effort and organising, she loved the experience and was stoked with the result.

"The trip itself was really long, it took us two days to get over there," Lewis said yesterday while enjoying the last of her school holidays...

Read more here:
http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/other/will-rewarded/2317231.aspx

Reynolds wins third Tevis Cup

Auburn Journal
Auburn teenager Shackelford second
By Todd Mordhorst Auburn Journal

The route was different, but the results were quite familiar for Jeremy Reynolds at the Tevis Cup endurance ride Saturday.

The endurance horse trainer from San Jose rode to his third Tevis Cup Saturday evening. He completed the re-routed ride in 9 hours, 31 minutes, accounting for the two hours of required rest time.

The ride began in Auburn for the first time after heavy snow high in the Sierra left much of the trail too dangerous for the horses to navigate. Tevis Cup was postponed from its usual July start because of the unusually deep snow pack in the Sierra that lingered through the summer.

Reynolds won atop 7-year-old Riverwatch after winning Tevis in 2004 and 2007 on CV Eli.

“Today was a blast,” Reynolds said. “We had a good plan and we stuck to it. I knew I had a lot of horse left at the end. It was a fun day.”

Reynolds rode with 19-year-old Rachel Shackelford at the front of the field for much of the day before pulling ahead for good about 12 miles from the finish.

Shackelford finished second, wearing a broad smile as she rode into McCann Stadium and tearing up at the finish. The Placer High graduate and Lincoln resident rode BR Cody del Sol, a 17-year-old Arab who completed his final endurance ride in style.

“I had a great start and he knows the trail really well so once his nose was headed toward Auburn he knew what to do,” Shackelford said. “I’ve been riding him since I was 5. It was a big moment for us (at the finish) because I knew this was his last ride.”

Reynolds imparted some of his riding knowledge to Shackelford as they rode Saturday. The two met when Rachel was just 9 at the Fort Shelbourne Endurance Ride and they’ve ridden together several times since then. Shackelford was happy to be able to pick up some tips on her to the impressive result.

“He’s a good family friend and he was giving me some pointers along the way,” she said. “We had a great time.”

Reynolds said he was impressed by Shackelford’s maturity. She slowed down late in the race, sensing her horse’s fatigue.

“She put the horse first and I admire her for that – especially because she’s such a young rider,” Reynolds said.

Saturday’s victory was the latest and most prestigious in a series of impressive results for Reynolds, whose wife Heather is also a former Tevis winner. Reynolds has won rides each of the last three weeks, including the North American Endurance Team Championship in Plumas County.

Dennis Summers of Gifford, Wash. rode in just before 8 p.m. Saturday night to claim third place. Dayna Weary, from Prescott, Ariz., placed fourth, followed closely by Garrett Ford of Durango, Colo., and Scottsdale, Ariz. resident Clydea Hastie.

Riders have 24 hours to complete the ride and earn a coveted Tevis Cup completion buckle. The top 10 finishers are eligible for the prestigious Haggin Cup, which is awarded to the horse judged most fit to continue riding at the finish.

The Tevis Cup and Haggin Cup will be awarded today at the Gold Country Fairgrounds. There will be a barbecue at 1 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony at 2 p.m.

See Monday’s Journal for results of the Haggin Cup judging.

Full article, Auburn Journal

Australia: Determination wins for Oxford Falls rider

Manly-daily.whereilive.com.au - Full Article

6 Oct 11 @ 02:30pm by Andrew Priestley

HE was told it couldn’t be done, but Cherry Cummins and her horse Winter showed all doubters when they completed a 400km endurance ride, coming fourth in their weight division.

Ms Cummins, 21, and Winter took part in the Shahzada, a five-day ride around St Albans in northwest Sydney.

The Oxford Falls pair rode for up to nine hours every day of the Shahzada, billed by organisers as the longest annually held endurance riding event in the world.

She was told by her riding colleagues the event would be impossible for Winter, since the 12-year-old gelding has a clubfoot and was difficult to motivate.

“It felt so good because I was always told the horse couldn’t do it,” she said. “He finished the hardest ride in the world.”

The ride involved Ms Cummins and Winter being up at 3am every day for the ride, held at the end of August, riding along “the most ridiculous terrain” on bush tracks and, at times, over boulders...

Read more here:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/determination-wins/

Australia: Wade returns to Tom Quilty Gold Cup

Weeklytimesnow.com.au

Kim Woods | October 5, 2011

LEGENDARY endurance rider Meg Wade has staged a remarkable comeback from a near fatal injury to ride at the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

Meg, who suffered a brain injury in a horse riding accident almost three years ago, completed a "celebrity" 5km ride at the prestigious event.

Still aided by a walking frame, she completed the ride aboard an Anglo Arab mare called Actress.

She was accompanied by fellow competitor and friend, Ron Males, a winner of 25 Tom Quilty buckles.

Meg was buoyed by her stable rider Kristy Taprell winning this year's 160km Tom Quilty riding Kurrajong Concorde in 10 hours, 10 minutes and 42 seconds.

The Cup was held at Mt Pleasant in South Australia on September 30-October 1 and attracted 193 entries.

Staged in adverse weather conditions, the race resulted in 60 per cent of competitors completing the course.

Meg is the only person to win the Tom Quilty a record four times, and was ten times awarded Australian Endurance Rider of the Year.

She suffered a fractured skull in a fall from her horse during a 100km endurance ride at Tumbarumba, in southern NSW, in April 2009.

Meg was airlifted to Canberra in a coma and then spent nine months at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne.

Defying medical opinion she would never ride again, Meg took her first steps aboard a horse at Riding for the Disabled in Melbourne last December.

"I had my first 5km introductory ride in Victoria a few months ago and it was pretty special to be back in the saddle," she said.

"The best thing was I wasn't scared at all.

"I am taking things step by step."

Meg is aiming to complete a 20km introductory ride.

"I am walking now and need to get to the point where I can trot first – it will take time," she said.

Meg runs Castlebar Arabian stud with husband Chris Gates at Burrowye, in the Upper Murray.

Malaysia: 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup Brings Together Sports and Entertainment All In One

The three-day event will kick off on 7 October 2011 at Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP), Lembah Bidong, bringing the public a fun-filling carnival and concert by local artistes

KUALA LUMPUR, October 4 - Sultan Mizan Cup formerly known as Terengganu Sultan Cup Endurance Challenge is a world-class event that has always been more than just a sport of endurance for horse lovers. It brings together sports and entertainment in a single venue catering to people from all walks of life.

This year, Sultan Mizan Cup is back again with more fun-filled activities and a series of entertaining events at the Carnival on 7 to 8 October 2011 that is meant for the whole family. Among the activities scheduled are model horse colouring competition by secondary students, Pony Club Mounted Games Challenge, colouring contests for kids, face painting, coral and marine life exhibition, carriage rides, food and game stalls, street soccer tournament and many others.

The public should be on the lookout at this event for the model horse colouring competition. The horse model made from fibre glass is as big as the real-life horse. The students will have to create a piece of art reflecting the theme of the event – the exquisite and beautiful corals of Terengganu.

The carnival is specially designed for the whole family, and kids will get to enjoy the fun offered by the many activities. Both children and adults will have their share of excitement as they watch Pony Clubbers from Terengganu face-off each other in teams to win the Pony Club Mounted Games Challenge which will be held over 7 and 8 October.

The street soccer tournament, also held over two days, will see footballers under 18 years old competing on Friday, 7 October, and the open category will be on Saturday, 8 October. Winners from both categories will be awarded with cash prizes. Advance registration is required for all those who are interested in joining this fun and healthy tournament.

Set to rock Lembah Bidong with performances by popular artistes such as Faizal Tahir, Hujan, Bunkface, Shiha Mentor5, Black Mentor3, Faizal AF4 and many more. the concert this year is from 8.00 pm to 11.00 pm on 8 October.

The carnival which admission is FREE opens on 7 October from 3.00 pm to 10.00pm and 8 October 2011 from 9.00am to 10.00pm.

Sultan Mizan Cup with its new brand identity is set to cement itself as the most important event in Terengganu and the premier endurance event in the nation. It is being repositioned as a world-class premier endurance event that is important for the region.

The CEI 2* Sultan Mizan Cup run over a distance of 120 km with five phases over undulating terrain. The endurance race has a time limit of 12 hours including holding time totalling 210 minutes at the first four vet gates. The first phase is 30 km, second phase is 25 km, third phase is 20 km, fourth phase is 25 km and the fifth and final phase is 20 km.

His Majesty, Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, an endurance aficionado, will be competing at the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup.

More than 60 riders are expected to compete this year for a total prizemoney of USD68,000.00 which has been doubled since last year. The first prize is USD20,000, second is USD14.000, third is USD10,000, fourth is USD6,000 and the fifth prize is USD4,000. The winner of the Best Conditioned Horse will receive prizemoney of USD14,000. Malaysia is fielding the biggest contingent and the other riders are from Argentina, Australia, Chile, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.


For media enquiries, kindly contact:
Ms. Wai-Fai Lo
Head of PR, Asia Promote Ventures
M: 012-209 0068
E: waifailo@asiapromote.net

Noor Nazatul Janah Bt Mahmood
PR & Event Manager, Asia Promote Ventures
M: 012-940 5848
E: nazatul@asiapromote.net

Australia: Kalgoorlie or Bust Endurance Ride - Raising Funds For Cancer Victims

Horsezone.com.au - Full article

Published on Friday, September 30, 2011 in General

Kids who have horses and ponies are usually a little tougher than your average teenager!

The thought of spending more time with their beloved mate, camping out under the stars and bonding with their “best- horse-friend” is irresistible. So when the idea came about for a ride to Kalgoorlie along the Golden Pipeline these four friends jumped at the chance.

Holly Bongers, Larissa Cooney, Bessie Traylen & Maddy King are all members of the Wooroloo Horse and Pony Club, a small club, in the Perth Hills. All the kids have been close to cancer at some stage in their 14 years and it was decided to make something that they love to do, into a fundraiser for the WA Cancer Council.

The girls asked Kylie Martin, a good friend and mentor, to come on board. Kylie is an endurance rider and also has a business in horse massage, Kyanna Equestrian – Healing Hands for Healing Horses.

Kylie is a huge influence on the girls and is extremely supportive of each and every one of them. She is teaching them about caring for an endurance horse, not a pony club horse, and how to rise to the challenge of so many days in the saddle...

read more here:
http://horsezone.com.au/news/kalgoorlie-or-bust-endurance-ride-raising-funds-for-cancer-victims-1685/

Spain: Shortlisted for the 2011 World Junior Championship Ride in Abu Dhabi

El Raid Blog

25 September 2011

From the Spanish Equestrian Federation and on behalf of the National coach Raid, gives a statement with horses shortlisted for the Young Riders World in Abu Dhabi in December. This is the note of the National Coach of Raid:

SCREENING OF YOUTH RIDERS RAID - ABU DHABI WORLD 2011.
RELATED PROVISIONAL OF HORSES COMPETING TO GO TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF YOUNG RIDERS OF ABU DHABI 2011.
PRIZE USHAMIR BEN
LUCERO MIKI
HUMBUG YEP
VODKA O AMAL
XENA ROSE TRA
TRA CLICK
Of the 6 horses the 4 shortlisted will be chosen to represent the Spanish Raid after completing the tests that will convene promptly.

Yebra Quico
National Coach
Madrid September 23, 2011.

Kristie Taprell and Kurrajong Concorde win Tom Quilty

October 3 2011

In a riding time of 10:10.42, Kristie Taprell and Kurrajong Concorde won the S.A> Tom Quilty Gold Cup Barossa Ranges 2011. They were also the Middleweight division winners.

Second place went to Deb Grull riding Lauralyn Notorious. Tied for third place were Akhmed Pshunov riding Tarrangower Crecendo, and Matthew Sample riding Brookleigh Ricardo.

Heavyweight winner was Tony Purton on Beer Street Dimity; Lightweight winner was Erin Lee Krahnen on Kalkadoon Zorro; Junior division winner was James Green on Hirstglen Maybe.

193 riders started.
Complete results will be available here.