Greener Pastures: High Winds Jedi - May 1983-October 2011

Arabianhorseworld.com

by Genie Stewart-Spears

Larry and Valerie Kanavy, of Fort Valley, Virginia, are mourning the loss of their 1998 World Champion endurance horse, 28-year-old High Winds Jedi (Tut El Sakkara x RAF Silver Sonnet) who died on October 29. Valerie Kanavy had just returned from earning the individual Bronze Medal at the Pan American Endurance Championship to find her beloved World Champion gelding breathing his final breaths.

Jedi competed in many top AERC and FEI endurance competitions between the years of 1994-2000. Of his 58 starts in AERC competitions, he won 20 and earned 10 Best Condition awards. Valerie said her most thrilling ride of a lifetime was when she and Jedi won the 1998 World Championship in Dubai. This ride is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest international equine event ever held.

“It was tremendously satisfying because it had the largest representation of competitors that was or ever has been from throughout the world,” she said. “There were 50-some countries and nearly 180 starters. To be able to compete with such caliber and numbers of competitors was a real thrill.”

Kanavy acquired Jedi when he was 14 years old, after he had had a short career as a racehorse, been schooled in dressage, and then raced in endurance. About Jedi, who once appeared on “The Today Show with Katie Couric,” Kanavy says, “His earlier training in dressage taught him balance and flexibility. As a result he was so responsive, so push-button easy to ride...."

Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/library/2011/11/waterhole/index.html

AHA Youth of the Year headed to the UAE for World Championship

Arabianhorses.org

November 22 2011

Aurora, CO (November 22, 2011) – Kelsey Kimbler, the AHA 2010 Youth of the Year, heads to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates next month to help represent the United States in the Young Rider World Endurance Championship.

"The opportunity to represent my country and the great sport of endurance riding is incredible," says Kimbler. "It has been my dream to get to compete in this championship."

Riders, ages 14-21, met certain qualifications with their horses for a chance to be part of team USA. Kimbler, a 2011 high school graduate, is ranked second in the country among those who applied for the team.

In addition to being a full-time biology major at Northern State University in her hometown of Aberdeen, S.D., Kimbler has an impressive list of accomplishments, most recently being selected as both the United States Equestrian Federation's (USEF) 2010 Junior Equestrian of the Year and Youth Sportsman Charter Overall winner. At the 2010 North American Young Rider Endurance Championship Kimbler was a team silver medalist. Kimbler earned an individual gold medal and team bronze at the 2009 Championship. In 2006 and 2008 Kimbler was honored with the American Endurance Ride Conference Junior National 100 mile award, by completing more 100 mile rides than any other junior in North America.

Australia: Riding royalty at Red Range

Static.Lifeislocal.com.au - Full Article

BEN LONERGAN
24 Nov, 2011 03:25 PM
The Red Range Sports Ground was graced with the presence of one of the biggest stars the sport of endurance riding has to offer on the weekend.

Four time Australian champion and 10 time national rider of the year, Margaret “Meg” Wade was in town for the Red Range Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) annual event.

Meg was undoubtedly one of the top endurance riders in Australia and throughout the world before a tragic accident cut short her competitive career two years ago.

While riding in an event in Tumbarumba during Easter in 2009, Meg fell from her horse only 10km from the finish line and as a result suffered traumatic brain injuries.

She was placed in an induced coma for three weeks and lost around three months worth of her memory.

Meg was kept in hospital for almost a year, so her condition could be monitored as well as to start her rehabilitation.

For the next year, she had to travel from her home just south of the NSW border to Albury two nights a week for rehabilitation.

But her persistence and commitment to rehabilitation eventually paid off and she had her first post accident horse ride in November 2010...

Read more here:
http://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/news/local/sport/equestrian/riding-royalty-at-red-range/2369734.aspx

Abu Dhabi: 200 ready for National Day cup endurance horseride

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

* By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
* Published: 16:00 November 25, 2011

Around 200 riders have confirmed their entries for Saturday's prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba

Abu Dhabi Around 200 riders have confirmed their entries for Saturday's prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The National Day Cup, which has a 15-year history, is a CEI two-star event and will be run over 120km, with almost all the top riders in the UAE to be joined by some international riders.

The defending champion is Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi, who won last year on Marlicia Walter. The Al Reef Stables rider also went on to win the HH President's Cup ride over 160km and is expected to be among the favourites today, along with the likes of Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi.

This year's European Open champion, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri from Al Wathba Stables, will also be in with a good chance.

Significance

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said: "With the UAE marking its 40th year, the event holds a lot of significance to the riders and officials.

"A total prize fund of Dh300,000 and a car for the winner of the ride will be on offer. We expect the number of starters to exceed 200 but a final figure will be known after the pre-ride veterinary check."

First of a series of equestrian events

Lara Sawaya of Tasweeq said: "This is just the first of a series of equestrian events to mark the UAE National Day. The National Day Cup will be followed by another prestigious ride for ladies and we will give details of that event soon.

Today's ride was due to start at 6.30am and will be run in five different loops of 33km, 27km, 24km, 20km and 16km.

Ali Al Mulla, Chairman of Areej Al Ameerat, who are one of the sponsors, said: "For us it is a source of great pride to be involved in this prestigious ride. We have seen this ride develop into one of the most popular events on the UAE endurance calendar and being a sport involved with the UAE's past, we are delighted to support it."

Great Britain: The tale of the horse who got stuck in the mud

Cambridgefirst.co.uk - Full Article

By Hugh Morris Wednesday, November 23, 2011

BARNEY, a 24-year-old endurance race horse, may be fit for his age but was still left exhausted after a two-hour struggle stuck in the mud.

The gelding had slipped into the River Cam near Church Street, Great Shelford, early on Tuesday morning. His owner, Dr Jane Greatorex, awoke expecting to find three horses in the field but there were only two, despite all the gates being shut.

She called for Barney and he neighed back.

“In 25 years we have never had a horse fall in the river. It’s quite slippery on the banks so he must have just fallen. He was right in up to his shoulders,” she said.

“I borrowed some waders and went in to try and encourage him out and managed to get him to the spot he was eventually rescued from.

“It was quite scary. He had obviously been trying to get out as he was exhausted.”

When Cambridgeshire Fire And Rescue Service’s two appliances and a rescue vehicle arrived at the scene, four of the firefighters got into the water with the horse but he was too heavy to lift and had sunk into the mud...

Read more here:
http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/the_tale_of_the_horse_who_got_stuck_in_the_mud_1_1135000

Europe: Young Horses Championship Moved

Endurance-belgium.com

November 20 2011

Compiègne had announced its forfeit for the organisation of the Young Horses Championship to be held at the same time as the World Championship in Euston Park. Compiègne had launched this event in 2002 and year after year it became an inescapable event in endurance.

Babolna (located at the State Stud breeding Shagya arabs) has just received the right to organize this championship. It will take place on 18-19 August 2012.

Abu Dhabi: Entries for YRJ Championship

November 20 2011

Representatives from 33 countries will participate in the 120-km FEI Young Riders & Juniors World Endurance Championship on December 10, 2011 at the Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Entry list can be seen here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2011WECYRJ/

Australia: Back in the Saddle

ABC.net.au - See Video

Posted November 20, 2011 14:44:00

In the world of endurance riding one event stands above all the others, the 160 kilometre Tom Quilty. Amongst the nearly 200 riders in this year's field was one of the sport's superstars, former world number one and four time Quilty winner, Meg Wade. This year though she rode just five kilometres - keeping a promise to herself that she wouldn't let a near fatal horse fall keep her out of the saddle or away from her favourite event.
Pip Courtney

See video here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-20/back-in-the-saddle/3682640?section=sport

Great Britain: World Class Start and Potential Squad and Young Riders Training and Assessment Weekend

Endurancegb.co.uk

15th November 2011

Bury Farm near Luton, Beds once again welcomed us to their equestrian village and hosted our event.

Last weekend saw the Autumn assessment and training weekend for the combined squads of the WCSPS and the YRs.

Bury Farm near Luton, Beds once again welcomed us to their equestrian village and hosted our event. All of the facilities that we could possibly need including 4 indoor arenas and permanent indoor stabling for all of the squads horses, meant that once again both of the squads could enjoy the facilities and get together.

On Saturday, both squads had individual guidance and assessments from their individual team vets, farriers, and physios along with riding and trot-up practise. Crews were also included in the trot-up training and given guidance on what is required of them next season.

In the afternoon both squads came together for some talks including, Lorna Edgar from Baileys horse feeds and Alison Northroyd and Dan Gorton from Anglia Ruskin University on the science they need our help with to provide research on the fitness and nutritional requirements for the Endurance Rider. Lots of our riders have now signed up to assist with research which will include visits and assessments at the university along with assesments at competitions. It is hope from this, that they will be able to provide the firm facts on what we need to optimise our performances as riders.

Two WCSPS riders then talked about their experiences so far, Lindsey Comben on completing her first 160k ride and Gill Brown on her experiences crewing for Catriona Moon at the Florac European Champs.

A super Buffet dinner was arranged by Bury Farm caterers for all in the evening.

Sunday morning was workshops and team building sessions, as well as overviews by the team Chef’s as to what we plan for next season.

Sunday lunchtime saw all departing until the next training in Feb 2012.


World Class Start and Potential Squad 2011/2012

The following combinations put their horses forward for assessment at this weekend, and will be preparing now for next season under the guidance of the World Class Squad MT.


Start level Riders – Preparing for 2* rides UK and Europe

Gill Brown – Nougat Du Villard
Laura Short – Bey Shebaan
Harrier Hammond – Natida Rahmoon
Rebecca Kinnarney – Seren Capella
Anna Kidd – Espace
Selena Webb – Dolivier
Fiona Griffiths – Oliver/ Dear kate
Jane Greatorex – Trust me Too
Claire Wertheimer – Marouk du Caprice
Rachael Stendall – Tuleeka


Potential Level Riders - Min of 2 x 2* rides completed working towards Elite

Jo Malcolm – Rasslan
Lindsey Comben – Radhwan

We look forward to welcoming them and those riders both start and potential who where not able to attend this weekend, to the next Squad training weekend at Bury Farm on 18th-19th Feb 2012.

Andrea Baker
Chef D’equipe

India: Second horse endurance today

Saturday, 19 November 2011 11:03
Indian Sports News

Chandigarh: The 2nd All-India Horse Endurance Championship will be organised by the Punjab Horse Sports and Breeders Society (PHSBS) at Kaler Bhaini village in Patiala district on November 19.

Sumrinder Sira, president of the PHSBS, in a press release today, said the race would cover 40 km, divided into two rounds of 20 km each. The prize money had been doubled to Rs 1 lakh this year, while the second and third prizes would be of Rs 51,000 and Rs 21,000, respectively.

Sira said the average speed of the winning horses in the 40-km national endurance run was around 16 km per hour, whereas during the previous Punjab endurance meet held in April, the winner delivered a speed of 18.38 km per hour and that too by indigenous breed against high standard of performances generally attributed to other established horse breeds, especially the Army stock, which have dominated the endurance rides in the recent past.

The Tribune

South Africa: De Kock battles to have equine export ban lifted

Racingpost.com - Full Article

By Michael Clower 12:09PM 18 NOV 2011

South Africa: Trainer Mike de Kock and Racing South Africa boss Peter Gibson have enlisted the support of the South African government in a bid to have the equine export ban lifted and, in particular, to be allowed to fly horses direct to Dubai.

South African horses going to Dubai have tobe quarantined in Europe en route but outbreaks of African Horse Sickness earlier this year resulted in Brussels imposing an automatic two-year ban on horses from South Africa.

This means that de Kock and other South African trainers are unable to send their local stars for the Dubai carnival.

President Zuma raised the matter in Dubai earlier this week with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed, who is Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

The South African government has agreed to prioritise the problem of horse exports to the UAE and Zuma was joined on the state visit by the South African Equine Trade Council...

Read more here:
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/mike-de-kock-south-africa-de-kock-battles-to-have-export-ban-lifted/949264/international/

New Zealand: Junior pair make NZ team

Times-age.co.nz - Full Article

Gary Caffell gary.caffell@age.co.nz | Friday, November 18, 2011 16:00

Wairarapa Endurance Club provides two members of the four-strong New Zealand team for the 2011 FEI world junior endurance championships to be held at Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on December 10.

Emma Mason and Tessa Duess are part of a squad which, for the first time, will take their own horses with them to compete in what is certain to be a hotly-contested event.

They will face a course which takes in a gruelling 120km in temperatures and over terrain completely foreign to them.

Duess, 21, and her mount Aspen Hills Santa Ana were selected after a very successful 2010-11 season.

They were the only combination to complete back-to-back 160km rides in both the North Island and national championships held in Karatau.

A meritorious eighth in the senior division at the North Island champs was followed by a third placing in the young rider division at the nationals.

Aspen Hills Santa Ana was bred by Tessa's mother Gabrielle Duess, who passed away last year and was a huge influence on her daughter's endurance riding career...

Read more here:
http://www.times-age.co.nz/news/junior-pair-make-nz-team/1178117/

Record interest in hosting 2018 World Equestrian Games

Insidethegames.biz - Full Article

Thursday, 17 November 2011
1

By Duncan Mackay

November 17 - A record eight countries have put themselves forward to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games, it has been announced.

Australia, Austria, Canada, Hungary, Morocco, Russia, Sweden and the United States all submitted official expressions of interest by the time the deadline set by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) expired at midnight on Tuesday (November 15).

"It also shows the value of the review that the FEI has commissioned of the bidding process for the FEI World Equestrian Games and FEI European Championships, which is aimed at raising the profile of these events and their associated revenues by creating a competitive, well structured and transparent bid process," said Ingmar de Vos, the secretary general of the FEI.

The event includes eight of the FEI's ten disciplines: combined driving, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, paraequestrianism, reining, show jumping, and vaulting.

A decision will be announced after the FEI Spring Bureau meeting in early 2013 as the third and final phase in the new bidding process that the FEI has put in place for the FEI World Equestrian Games and FEI European Championships...

Read more here:
http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/equestrian/14911-record-interest-in-hosting-2018-world-equestrian-games

Penn State student horseman headed for United Arab Emirates event

Live.psu.edu

Friday, November 11, 2011

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- During a time when most students are stressing over finals, Penn State junior Steven Hay will be heading to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

On Dec. 10, Hay will have the honor of competing in the Young Rider World Endurance Championship as part of the United States team. "I'm so excited," he said. "It's definitely nerve-wracking, but it's a big deal."

Riders, ages 14-21, were required to submit applications to compete. In choosing the team, a selection committee looked at the riders' records, their horses' records, how well and fast they've competed, and other criteria.

The 21-year-old Port Matilda native is ranked second in the country amongst those who applied for the event in the Middle East.

In addition to being a full-time student, the Environmental Resource Management major in the College of Agricultural Sciences has an impressive list of accomplishments, including two team gold medals as the 2010 and 2011 North American Champion and two individual bronze medals from the 2010 and 2011 North American Junior Young Riders Championships.

He also placed eighth out of 79 riders in the Biltmore 50-mile event in 2010, and fifth overall at the Biltmore 75-mile event in 2011.

With the competition approaching, Hay is looking for sponsors and donations to cover the expenses of the trip while making sure his horse is in tip-top shape. "I'm just working on fine tuning now, preparing for the sandy conditions of Abu Dhabi. The climate difference will be the hardest part, especially in comparison to the December weather here."

Having competed at local and national levels for years, Hay hopes to keep pushing his boundaries. "It's a cool way to step up into another level of competition," he said. "My goal is to move up to international riding."

His passion for horses started at a young age. By the age of six, Hay was riding and taking lessons. Over the next couple of years, he took part in local horse shows and events, but he became bored. When he was 12, Hay started to compete in trail riding and distance riding after hearing about it through a neighbor.

His interest in trail riding eventually led to endurance riding on courses that are 50 to 75 miles long. "It's pretty challenging, but I think it's worth it," he said. "Competing is my passion. To date, I have completed 2,850 miles of endurance riding."

Local horse a Pan Am Games hero

Wins silver medal against world-class competitors; ends U.S. slump
By TINA REED, Staff Writer
Published 11/16/11
HometownAnnapolis.com - Read Full Story

photo by Paul W. Gillespie — The Capital West River’s John Crandell III and his horse Heraldic won the silver medal in a nearly 75-mile endurance race this fall at the 2011 Pan Am Games. Man and horse were honored by the Maryland Department of Agriculture Tuesday.
Call it the marathon of horse racing.

Anne Arundel County Arabian gelding Heraldic and his trainer and rider John Crandell III were honored yesterday by state officials after winning an individual and a team silver medal in a nearly 75-mile endurance race at the Pan Am Games in Chile last month.

The Pan Am Games are one of the largest international sporting events outside the Olympics.

In 2006, Heraldic became the only horse to ever win the Triple Crown of endurance riding. Standing just more than 15 hands tall, the bay has a competitive personality, Crandell said.

He's aloof. Focused.

"He doesn't particularly care about being anyone's pet," Crandell said. "He wants to get down to business."

Back in 2008, Heraldic injured his stifle - the equivalent of the human knee - to the point that trainers weren't sure he'd even live, let alone compete again.

"It was a huge retraining," he said. "But we know he's a one-in-a-million superathlete. I've been around thousands of horses and never had one this athletically consistent."

The Crandell family is known for its marine construction firm, E.A. and J.O. Crandell Inc. in Annapolis, and operates the Long Run Farms Stable in West River. John Crandell Jr. grew up riding horses, but it wasn't until the 1970s that the family began to seriously breed and train them, his son said.

In a statement, Erin Pittman, vice chairwoman of the Maryland Horse Industry Board, called Heraldic "a world-class athlete who has (overcome) injuries that would have retired most other horse."

The Maryland Horse Industry Board presented its "Touch of Class" Award to Crandell and the Triple Crown Arabian. Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a proclamation declaring yesterday "Heraldic and Crandell Family Day."

Crandell said the endurance races, which cover from 50 to 100 miles, are entirely different than much shorter events. The Pan Am Games race was across rough, mountainous terrain, he said.

"Even though it's a race, it's not the least bit reckless," he said. Since only the rider knows the course and how long the course is, he has to pace himself and his mount appropriately.

Endurance racing of horses really allows humans to learn better ways to manage horses and keep them healthy, Crandell said. "It's a bonus for me that it happens to be fun and exciting as well," he said.

Crandell said he'd paced Heraldic to hang back with other horses on the U.S. team. But in the final 7 miles, the horse and rider picked up the pace against a team from Uruguay.

The teams were neck and neck.

With only a mile to go, Heraldic tripped while running about 35 miles per hour. "All of a sudden, there's no horse beneath me," Crandell said. "I landed on my feet running."

It knocked the wind out of the horse and skinned Crandell's knee. But both horse and rider were otherwise uninjured, Crandell said. Crandell climbed back on Heraldic's back and the two finished the race.

Coming in just about four minutes behind the first-place finisher, they took the silver medal. That's an incredibly close finish for a 75-mile race, Crandell said.

The U.S. team took the silver medal as well. Heraldic will compete next for the U.S. team in the World Endurance Championship in England in 2012, which will be held simultaneously with the Olympics.

"It's a tremendously big deal. The United States is in a decade-long slump after being at the top for years," Crandell said. "It was exciting to see America back in the game and in a big way."

Canada: Bromont bids to host 2018 World Equestrian Games

Sherbrookerecord.com

November 16, 2011
By
Jesse Feith

Bromont has achieved the first step in a long process as their bid to host the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) has officially been approved. Administered by the International Equestrianism Federation (IEF), the WEG are the major international championships for equestrianism that could bring a great amount of tourism to the small Quebec town.

Similar to the Olympics, they are held every four years, on alternate years than the Summer Olympic Games, and are considered a major tourism attraction for whichever town or city gets to hold them as they bring in fans from all over the world.
The event began in 1990 in Stockholm, Sweden as a way to bring together all ten of the individual disciplines that held separate championships at different times, in different locations around the world while all being governed by the IEF.
With the WEG system in place, all of these events now occur at one place and time, similar to the Olympics, and the riders and horses must go through a rigorous selection process to partake in the games as each country sends their best teams that have distinguished themselves the most through competitions during the time between each WEG.

Since 1990, the WEG has gradually expanded the number of competitions and disciplines that are a part of the event and as of 2010, eight disciplines are now showcased: combined driving, dressage, endurance riding, eventing, para-equestrianism, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, with 57 countries being represented by 800 people and their horses.

Bromont will have a lot of work to do over the next few years if they are to host the event.

Horse honored for winning the triple crown you probably have never heard of

ABC News - Go here for Video and article, Heraldic and John Crandel

For many endurance athletes, the marathon or the Ironman in Hawaii rank as the pinnacle achievement; the ultimate sacrifice and accomplishment in endurance.

Now, imagine running four marathons (104.8 miles) or running nearly the entire length of an Ironman. That is exactly what one horse has done, several in one day times, to claim the top prizes in horse endurance races around the world.

Heraldic and his rider John Crandell are pretty friends since they spend 10 hours or so and a hundred miles together. They do endurance racing; a marathon for man and horse over long distance. So long, in fact, the horse is checked several times during a race to make sure he can continue. And surprisingly, this isn't something foreign to a horse.

"Their niche in the world is for this," explain John Crandell. "They can cover long distances in a short amount of time to migrate for survival."

And Heraldic may be the best in the world at endurance racing. Heraldic was the only horse to win the triple crown for endurance racing in 2006.

"In the 50 years of endurance racing, no one has had the same horse win the triple crown and we did it together," says Crandell. "Nobody has ever don that."

No only does the horse have to be share, but the rider does as well. The jockey has to be in the saddle for 100 or more miles.

However, in 2008 Heraldic suffered a life threatening injury to his back leg. What could equate to a professional football player blowing his knee out. And injury like that could end any horse's chances at the U.S. Triple Crown, which features The Preakness. However, Heraldic recovered and came back strong. He and John just took the silver medal in an endurance race in China.

To imagine how far that race was, imagine climbing on board a horse in Annapolis and racing all the way to the beach in just over 6 hours.

"It's all about doing these series of marathons and getting a perfect 'A' from the veterinarian to continue," says Crandell.

John and Heraldic will lead the U.S. team in the World Endurance Championships in England next summer. The championships will be held simultaneously with the 2012 Olympics in London.

Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/anne_arundel_county_/horse-honored-for-winning-the-triple-crown-you-probably-have-never-heard-of#ixzz1dtwTk8qQ

New Zealand: Breeding to Kahuna Tiki Donated for Junior/Young Rider World Championship Fundraiser

November 8 2011

Ian and Tanya Stevenson of Pin Oaks Farm in North Canterbury, NZ, has donated a breeding to Kahuna Tiki (Juan De Shawn out of Bint Karita Ku, by Kontiki) to raise money for the Junior/Young Rider Team that will represent New Zealand competing in the Abu Dhabi World Junior Endurance Championships to be held on December 10 2011 in the UAE. For more information, contact Tanya at iantanya @ xtra.co.nz

Belgium: Junior & Young Rider Squad Announced for Championship in Abu Dhabi

Endurance-belgium.com

November 15 2011
[google translation]

A beautiful trip in perspective and a unique experience for our young riders who will represent Belgium in the World Championship endurance in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The world championships in the deserts of the Gulf are not new.

It all started in 1998 by Dubai and the senior championship. No one had previously made his endurance horse travel by plane. The six Belgian remember the terrible cold that prevailed in Belgium the day before departure to Frankfurt and stress that prevailed in the Belgian delegation.

Dubai organized a second world championship in 2005.

Then, still in 2005, the Bahrain which hosted the young riders. All this interspersed with various interests of the Belgian riders President's Cup (Abu Dhabi) or other events in Dubai.

After the last training gallop on the green axis, Peter Arnold has communicated its selection.

A great team, so the heads stay cool, can boldly defend his chances. It will have much to do in the event that, although the Committee pleaded endurance and worked-it is hoped that the specifications have been respected in the field, to make the course more technical, should run full blast.

Our representatives:

- Isabeau Anciaux et Maeva
- Elisabeth Hardy et Khersicot
- Morgane Boulanger et Luxor
- Raphael Van Cauter et Kadiloah

West River Horse and Trainer Take Silver Medal in Pan Am Games in Chile

http://edgewater.patch.com/articles/west-river-horse-and-trainer-take-silver-medal-in-pan-am-games-in-chile
By Mitchelle Stephenson

While humans and horses have worked together for a couple of thousand years, and competitions involving humans and horses have been around for several hundred years, a sport called "endurance racing" is relatively new. It is basically a single-day ride of anywhere between 50 and 100 miles.

In the U.S., the "Tevis Cup" is one of the best known endurance rides. It follows the Western States Trail and was organized in 1955 by riders on the west coast. It is the premiere event in endurance racing in the United States.

For now though, an East Coast horse stands at the top of the field. Heraldic, an Arabian horse from West River's Long Run Farms stable just took home the silver medal at the Pan Am games. The endurance race was a 75-mile trek along the craggy shore of Chile in South America.

See Patch video: The horse and his trainer, John Crandell III were honored on Tuesday with a citation from Gov. Martin O'Malley and the "Touch of Class" award from the Maryland Horse Industry Board.

Heraldic and Crandell were at the top of their game in 2006, when they won the "triple crown" of endurance racing—the Tevis Cup, the Old Dominion 100 and the AERC Championship.

Then Heraldic was injured in a non-training incident. He was sidelined for two years. During part of that time, the horse could have no weight-bearing on his hind leg because of the injury to his stifle (the joint comparable to a human knee). For some horses, it might have been a career-ending, or even life-ending injury.

This year's Pan Am games ride for Heraldic was an astonishing comeback for the 13-year-old gelding.

"This is a magnificent horse and a magnificent family that has made great achievements on the international stage," Maryland Horse Industry Board vice chair Erin Pittman said at the awards ceremony in Annapolis."Heraldic is a world-class athlete who has overcome injuries that would have retired most other horses, and the Crandells are a family that have dedicated themselves to excellence in the equine industry."

The Pan Am games were held in October, but the horse was quarantined for seven days upon returning to the U.S.

Next up for the duo are training runs in the mountains and possibly a run for the U.S. Team in the World Endurance Championship in England in 2012. This event is held simultaneous to the 2012 Olympic games.