Sultan's Cup Endurance Challege: Sabaruddin nicks it

28 Nov 2006
ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD

IT was first time lucky for Nik Sabaruddin and his mount As Shiffa Kassan who won the the 160km Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge 2006 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu, on Sunday.


The 53-year-old former Navy officer and his 14-year-old Arabian pure-bred, who were representing Kelantan's D'Bali Stable, won with a time of 12:38:43s to beat 22 rivals and pocket the RM10,000 winner?s cheque.

As Shiffa Kassan was also voted as the best conditioned horse in the category which came with a RM2,000 bonus.

Second place went to Datuk Abdullah Taib and his horse Blue Moon who clocked 12:49:45s, while Faizal Ismail, astride Azreal, finished third in 12:53:26.

The second and third place finishers took home RM8,000 and RM6,000 respectively. Fourth was Norlaily Buniyamin who took home RM4,000.

Other riders in the category included the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

In the 80km event, Paul Jeffrey and his mount Jakim Zane won in a time of 05:32:35s from Amal Nadiah Tajuddin astride Rayyan who clocked 29:45s.

Third place went to Stephanie Teeter (Jakim Murphy) while Nazalisamri Nasaah (Nagawangsa) finished fourth. A total of 120 riders competed in the two-day event.

Equestrian Endurance at Asian Games

Equestrian endurance at Asian Games (Reuters)

29 November 2006

Factbox on the equestrian endurance event, which will feature for the first time at the Asian Games in Doha between Dec. 1 and 15:

WHAT IS THE ENDURANCE EVENT?

· Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous form of horse racing which tests the speed and endurance of a horse. It involves racing at controlled speeds over distances of many tens of kilometres. During the 15th Asian Games, the endurance course will cover 120 km.

· A good endurance horse is characterised by balanced body structure, relatively light weight and a strong back. Any breed can compete but Arabians, endowed with natural stamina, generally dominate at the top levels. Most importantly, the horse?s temperament must suit the rider.
HISTORY

· Wendell Robie, an American breeder of Arabian horses, is credited as the pioneer of the modern sport of endurance riding. In 1955, he founded the founded the Western States Trail Ride, a 160-km, one-day ride from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California, via an old Pony Express route.

· Endurance was a demonstration sport at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and was recognised as an official discipline by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) in 1983. The sport makes it Asian Games debut in Doha.
RULES

· An endurance ride is a competition against the clock. The horse that finishes the course in the shortest time wins. The winning team is the one with the best time after adding the classifications of the three highest placed competitors.

· Horses must be at least six years old to qualify. Competitions are held in phases, with no phase longer than 40 km. When the condition of a horse is assessed at the end of each phase, its heart rate must be no higher than 64 beats per minute.

· FEI guidelines state that the course should not contain more than 10 percent of hard surface roads intended for vehicular traffic. Also, the most demanding part of the course should not be near the finish.

Sources: Reuters; Doha Asian Games Web site (www.doha-2006.com); FEI (www.horsesport.org)
[Khaleej Times]

UAE: Al Bloushi completes hat-trick of wins

Dubai: Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi from the Al Reef Stables registered a hat-trick of wins for the all-conquering stables here yesterday.

Yousuf, the UAE's top trainer and third-best rider on points, and Al Reef Stables, last season's top stables which belongs to Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, scored their third straight win of the current UAE season.

Yousuf, who trained the winning horses in the Boudthib Junior Ride and the First Gulf Bank Challenge ride in Al Wathba last week, emerged as winner with a superb display of riding in the Dubai Equestrian Club's 120-km ride yesterday.

[More ...]

Successful Completion of 2006 Sultan's Cup in Malaysia

UAE: Endurance season gets under

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Dubai: The Dubai Equestrian Club's endurance season, which kicks off today at the Dubai International Endurance City, will also feature an innovative addition - Dubai Endurance Challenge for whole the season.

Announcing details at a press conference, Saeed Humaid Al Tayer, Vice President of the Dubai Equestrian Club, said today's inaugural ride sponsored by Dubai World will carry a total prize money of Dh700,000.

Meanwhile, the Dubai Endurance Challenge unveiled yesterday, is also worth Dh700,000 and will take into account all FEI rides staged at the Dubai International Endurance City for the 2006-2007 season.

During the season Riders, Trainers, Horses and Stables will earn points depending on their finishing position in the selected rides.

At the end of the season the highest point scorers will be crowned the Dubai Endurance Challenge Champion Rider, Trainer, Horse and Stable respectively.

Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, Chairman, Dubai World, who is also a top rider, said, "Support for any equestrian sport comes naturally to us in the UAE. This is particularly so when it comes to events featuring Arab Purebred horses. These noble animals are a part of our cultural identity. Dubai World is especially proud to be sponsoring the opening race in this year's Endurance calendar and we look forward to enjoying the show."

Saeed Humaid Al Tayer said, "We value the support of each of our sponsors who help to make each of the races a reality. The sport is closely linked to the culture and heritage of the people of the United Arab Emirates and we invite everyone to attend the races at the Dubai International Endurance City to enjoy the spectacle that is Endurance racing."

Meanwhile, Al Reef Stables will be looking to complete a hat-trick in today's 120-km CEI Three Star ride.

They won the first two rides of the season held in Abu Dhabi and will be strongly represented in today's 100-plus line-up of starters.
Gulf News

Shaikha Madiya Leading the way

Young Shaikha Madiya bint Hasher Al Maktoum has many achievements to her credit. She proudly wears the mantle of the rich sports legacy of the ruling Maktoum family, is an accomplished horse rider and a fitness enthusiast as well. She speaks to Sue Steven in an exclusive interview.

Shaikha Madiya bint Hasher Al Maktoum, the niece of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is at ease in the place she loves most ? the Maktoum stable, located 37 kilometres from Dubai. Not forgetting her roots, she has a very modern outlook to life and is at ease talking to Weekend. A very down-to-earth person, she is comfortable wearing blue jeans, a white full sleeve shirt with the colours of the UAE flag on one of the sleeves and a cap with 77, her lucky number, embroidered on it. She sits on a wooden bench outside one of the buildings with her two dogs, Lily and Stinky who keep a close watch on her.

Shaikha Madiya is a very strong advocate of fitness and exercise. She has endorsed The Middle East Fitness Summit ? MEFIT06, scheduled to take place in Hall 4 at the Dubai World Trade Centre from November 27-29. The summit is part of Sportex, the largest sports, fitness and leisure show in the Middle East.

?Women have to make fitness a part of their daily routine. There is a dire need for education in health and fitness. I feel the Fitness Summit is a very relevant initiative to address a lot of topics, concerns and myths associated with health and fitness,? she says, as she urges women in the UAE to be conscious of their physical well-being.

?RPM and Bodycombat are my favourites,? the Shaikha adds without hesitation.

RPM, part of the Les Mills programme, is the indoor cycling workout where you ride to the rhythm of powerful music. You take on the terrain with an inspiring coach who leads the team through hills, flats, mountain peaks, time trials, and interval training. ?You can discover your athlete within ? sweat and burn to reach your endorphin high. You can cycle for 45 minutes or 60 minutes,? she says.

Bodycombat, on the other hand, is the empowering cardio workout where you are totally unleashed. This fiercely energetic programme is inspired by martial arts and draws from a wide array of disciplines such as karate, boxing, taekwondo, tai chi and muay thai. Supported by driving music and powerful role model instructors, you can strike, punch, kick and kata your way through calories to superior cardio fitness.

Shaikha Madiya practises what she preaches. She herself is very particular about her fitness routine on a daily basis especially running and jogging. She is up at 4.30am in the morning and by 5.30am is training her horses. In the afternoon, at 2.30pm, she again takes them out and trains them for endurance.

The Shaikha does not hide her passion for horses. She is very vocal about it. ?Initially my family was worried that I would get hurt while riding. So I started being involved in this sport only after I completed 16 years. I learnt at my uncle?s stable. He supports me and helped me train for endurance.?

She speaks out of experience: ?If you are a horse person you will know the language of the horses. You can talk to them and play with them. You have to change their mind to endure the sport. If they hate what they are doing, they will not do it well.?
She welcomes national women to participate in the sport. ?My stables are open to national women who would like to pursue the sport, ride and learn,? she says.

Horse breaking, sometimes called starting or gentling, refers to the process used by humans to get horses to let themselves be ridden or harnessed. Before such a learning process is accomplished, a horse will normally reject attempts to ride it. Once it has accepted basic handling by humans, additional forms of training can be used to teach the horse any number of specialised skills.

Presently Shaikha Madiya has 49 horses in her stable that were brought from the US. ?They have to get used to the ground and to the heat. It is a slow, step-by-step process,? she adds.

How long does it take to train a horse? She says, ?Every horse is different and so the time of training also differs. Some horses even get injured during training. You have to win them over and by two years break them, which means put the saddle and bridle on them. They learn to have human contact as the rider sits on it. Endurance training takes place after the horse completes five years.?

While training horses, the trainer is learning as well. Shaikha Madiya has firsthand experience of taking care of her horses. ?Experience is invaluable. Every time you ride, you learn something new from the horse. It has been 10 years since I started, and I am still learning,? she admits, frankly.


Shaikha Madiya could be compared to a horse whisperer, a horse trainer who adopts a sympathetic view of the motives, needs, and desires of the horse. She admits that she loves the challenge to rehabilitate horses that have become vicious and difficult.

?I love crazy horses as you have to fix them. I take the horses to different race courses like Nae Al Sheba. They enjoy the experience. She uses GPRS that specifies the location and even has an instrument to monitor her heart rate.

How is endurance racing different in the UAE? In the UAE, it is speed that matters, the Shaikha says. The ground is just flat, not hard. In the US, the ground is hard, so one can?t go fast. If you do, you get hurt. In the US, each race is different as the terrain is different like mountains, hills and flat areas.

She advises national women to join some kind of sport. ?If not every day, find time for at least three times a week for physical activity. It is good for your body and mind.?

Shaikha Madiya hails from a family of six children, four girls and two boys. Her sister is in the volleyball team of Al Wasl while her brother loves shooting. ?I love challenges, horses, fitness, everything,? she says.

In future, she would like to be a fitness instructor and help other local women. She strongly believes that a healthy body will have a healthy mind and raising awareness about nutrition is paramount. ?I teach my niece to eat in a healthy way. As a result, she refuses junk food now,? Shaikha Madiya says with pride.
When asked where she gets her energy from, she says that she sleeps early and gets up early. Shaikha Madiya strongly believes in the ?early to bed, early to rise philosophy,? that supports her fitness initiatives.

Khaleej Times Article

Spotlight will be on Majid and Hazza

Published: 18/11/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)

By M Satya Narayan, Staff Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan are part of a nearly 100-strong line-up for today's 120-km First Gulf Bank Challenge endurance ride.

The 120-km ride is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Other top riders in the five-stage ride which gets off to a 6am start include Shaikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Shaikha Madiya Hasher Mana Al Maktoum.

Riders from the Al Reef Stables, the champion stable of last season will be looking to add to their triumph in the junior ride last week.

Other consistent performers in the fray are last year's top domestic rider Marzooq Salem Al Merri, Yousuf Ahmad Al Bloushi, Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Abdullah Khamis Ali Saeed and Spain's Jesus Manuel Berna.

A strong team of riders from Uruguay along with riders from India, Pakistan, Australia, Great Britain, France Saudi Arabia, Canada, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are also in the fray.



[article website]

Drought cause tough ride conditions

photo: EQUAL AT FINISH: Pat Dickinson (left) and Noble Navaar Crystal Rose and John Symons and Worobil Baringa who crossed the line together at Sofala on Sunday.

Mudgee News: Friday, 17 November 2006

Mudgee riders had mixed results when the participated in the 30th Sofala Endurance Ride last Sunday.

The 52 riders in the 80klm main ride started off in daylight at 5.30am without the need for torches and headlamps but some of the Mudgee contingent made a late start after they missed their wake up call.

Word is kangaroos caused havoc in the camp overnight and kept them awake and by the time the alarm went off they we sound asleep.

Riders appreciated a well marked track and the humid conditions that developed as the day wore on were tempered by colder conditions with good clud cover.

The course was testing, however, with many climbs and descents on the mountain made difficult where it was rocky while the drought conditions ensured conditions were hard underfoot.

The conditions may have proved too much for Gloria Mills and her mount Glendos Sabodie as they had to withdraw at Wattle Flat when making the return stage of the first leg.

Mills, who has had a super year with her horse and will be the Mudgee club's top middleweight for the year despite Sunday's setback, said she withdrew because she felt the horse wasn 't travelling well.

Those Mudgee riders who did have a good result were Bernice King (Noble Navaar Destiny), Pat Dickinson (Nobla Navaar Crystal Rose and Paddy Smith (Shata) who were all successful in the long ride.

Daphne Phillips enjoyed the return to endurance of her former ride winner Crown Crest Phantom whom she steered around the training ride.

Wendy McLehose (Bruwenic Raina Girl) enjoyed the training ride with her eight year old son Nicholas (Bruwenic Strawberry) who was in his first ride.

Nicholas was so excited at finishing the ride that he was talking of another ride next week.

Another debut rider was Virginia King (Kalentish Tips) who enjoyed her initial endurance experience.

Woody Pilley (Mystery) had a flock of junior riders in tow for the event in his sons Justin (Box Hill Breaker) and Blake (Meroo Downs Dolly) and was also accompanied by the boys' friend Seaton Croake (Reggie) making the ride an enjoyable family event. All these riders completed the 30 klms training ride, which had 33 participants.

In the overall result four riders crossed the line in an equal fastest time of 4 hours 29 minutes.

They were Kate Pilley of Windeyer riding Pancho who was first in lightweight; Jamie Mollema of Bathurst riding Billywillinga Rocky who was first junior and Jennifer Gilbertson of Webbs Creek who shared first middleweight.

Fittest horse in the catchweight (a combination of lightweight and junior divisions) division was Pancho.

The ride was a great success with organisers especially pleased with the number of junior and first time riders taking part a boost for the future of the sport.
Website article

FEI President Presents 150-day Report to FEI Bureau

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

The Report covered the six pillars of the Manifesto

Significant developments have been achieved in many areas.

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

Full Article

Horse centre gallops ahead

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

editorial@journalandgazette.co.uk
17 November 2006
website article

Madiya pleased with strides made in health for UAE women

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

By Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Six Questions to FEI Secretary General Michael Stone

Malaysia: Riders out to defy the odds

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

By LOGANATH VELLOO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

website

Al Faresi wins Heritage Club Cup

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

website - full article

Shaikh Nasser races to victory

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

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

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

[More ...]

Gulf News: Junior Ride to kick start season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

UAE Endurance Season: Moving on

By M. Satya Narayan, Staff Report


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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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Bahrain: Endurance event set for off

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

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

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

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

Thrilling sprint finish to endurance ride

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

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

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

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

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

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

The training riders followed just after daybreak.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For the fourth year not one horse required invasive treatment.

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

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

His time of 4hr 18min was a record.

Wayne was presented with the perpetual Winners Cup at presentation.

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

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

First heavyweight rider: Selwyn Nix (Dunbar Mahadik).

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

First junior rider: Breonie McLennon (Desert Sand).

First lightweight rider: Terri Anderson (Ashwind).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Highest Mileage Horse?

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


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

Bahrain - Rider's Tribute to the Nation

By MANDEEP SINGH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US: Santa Fe Race receives AERC Sanctioning

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

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

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

Official Web Site

Brazilian Championship Results

CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO DE ENDURO EQUESTRE 2006

RESULTADOS 2006

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


Cavalos Novos
85 km

Limitada

Equipes
Results

Pulau Duyong the place to be this monsoon

5 Oct 2006
Rosli Zakaria

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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US: AERC Championship Lure

Endurance rider logs thousands of miles

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

mary katherine creel
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FEI holds borrower responsible in doping case

Elizabeth Peplow

5 October, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Malaysia: Strong foreign contingent for Sultan's Cup

29 Sep 2006
ZAINUDDIN MUHAMMAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Australia: Top Riders Return

By DON MAHONEY
Friday, 29 September 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AROUND THE WORLD IN 30 YEARS

The internationally known, prestigious endurance race, "Les Deux Jours de Montcuq" is embarking on its 30th year of existence. During those 30 years the founder, Pierre Passemard traveled around the world observing and participating in other endurance races, gaining a lot of experience and contacts (including in Australia in the 80 th). This enabled him to be able to bring together, here in the South West of France, international riders of the highest caliber, forging it into one of the preeminent races of its kind.

While many races have come and gone over the years, historically "Les Deux Jours de Montcuq is one of the oldest sustaining endurance races in the world. With few alterations, the course has remained the same, mapped over some of the most outstanding, unspoiled, rugged countryside of France relentlessly challenging some of the finest riders from all over the globe.

With this in mind, the officials of the "Deux Jours de Montcuq" wish to invite you to enter the premier classic endurance race of France, to compete with some of the world's best riders and horses in the beautifully unique venue of the "Quercy Blanc" on the 30th anniversary of its running.

Website

Auborn CA to Host Endurance Street Party

The City of Auburn and the Endurance Capital Committee is planning another gala Street Party in Old Town Auburn on Saturday evening, October 7th, 2006.
Mark you calendars now and get ready for a fun filled evening featuring -

* Grand recap of the season with a Multi-Media Show
* Row of Champions with Poster Signing - includes at least 25 local endurance athletes
* Salute to a local hero's 25th finish of the WS100 - Tim Tweitmeyer!
and to Hal Hall's 25 Tevis Cup Ride finishes - maybe 26 by then.
* Salute to the WS Trail Force Crew who keep the trails in great shape for all to enjoy
* Raffle with great prizes
* Endurance Supply Vendors
* Endurance Sports Bar
* Endurance Games for the kids
* Food booths

Bring the family and enjoy another evening reflecting on the awesome feats performed in our own fabulous "backyard".
See you there,
Shannon Weil and the Endurance Capital Committee
(530) 885-5599 sweil@foothill.net

Canada: Local equestrians take gold in Quebec

Horse that was expected to die defies odds to come back as champion
Tim Murphy, New Hamburg
New Hamburg Photo
TIM MURPHY, INDEPENDENT STAFF

Tom Paleczny and Steve Bond recently rode Raemes Magiciann to gold medal wins a few weeks ago. Magiciann is considered to be a bit of a miracle horse.



(Sep 20, 2006)

Rather than ride his horse, Steve Bond sometimes chooses to chase after it.

Bond was recently in Quebec with his parents Lesley and Tom Paleczny, competing in the Northwind Challenge Canadian Championships.

The team brought home gold in both the 20-mile ride and tie, and the 50-mile endurance race.

"We have to be fit too," said Bond, sitting down in his family's equestrian centre on Puddicombe Road.

A ride and tie isn't a new event, but is a relatively unknown event outside of equestrian circles.

Two humans and one horse make up a team -- in this case, Bond and friend Eric Schmidt, along with 13-year-old Anglo-Arab breed Raemes Magiciann.

In this case, the course was 20 miles along. In a mass start, horses line up with one rider, and one person on foot. The first rider takes off ahead on the trail and ties the horse to a tree. That rider then takes off on foot, while the other teammate catches up, hops on the horse and continues to ride.

This leap frog practice continues until the end of the course, and the fastest team wins.

"Endurance racing is quite a popular sport right now," said Tom Paleczny.

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Australia: Big Woodstock weekend for the endurance riders

Wednesday, 20 September 2006

The course is set, the firewood cut and the arrows are being dusted off as the Lachlan Endurance Rider Club prepares to host its annual programme of endurance riding at the Woodstock Showground on the weekend of 23rd and 24th September.

Riders are expected from all around the State, with many horses coming to do a final hit out before the State Championships the following weekend at Wyndyer, near Mudgee. Many of the local identities will also be taking part with Alan & Erika Lindsay, Annette Bailey, Nikki Tucker, Robin Gossip, Di Cameron, Erica Allan, Louise Baker, just to name a few who will be enjoying their home turf.

Scheduled is an 80km ride which will cover two legs, the first being 50km and the 2nd 30kms. The 40km training ride will travel over the majority of the 1st Leg of the 80km ride with a very enjoyable 20km social ride planned for those wanting to have a taste of the sport.

Horses for the 80km and 40km rides will be vetted on Saturday commencing at 1pm with the actual rides commencing on Sunday morning at 5.30am and 6.00am consecutively.

Entries for the social ride are being taken either on Saturday or, to make things a little easier for those wanting to participate in this ride, also on Sunday morning commencing at 8am to 9am with the ride starting at 9.30am.

Once again, the Cowra Cadet Corp will be catering a two course dinner for $10 on Saturday night and will also be manning some of the many gates around the course, which will take in local farming and grazing properties, as well as historic stock routes in the Woodstock district.

Due to the difficulties the town is experiencing at the moment, the Club is subsidising all prizes for the winners, with the exception of Cowra & Holmwood Wreckers who continue to be great supporters of the Club. If business houses in Cowra are interested in supporting this wonderful institution that continues in the District, don't hesitate to contact the Ride Secretary, Helen Brown on 63450107.

Helen is also the contact to nominate for any of the above rides or for any information regarding the weekend.

Cowra Guardian

Adequan® to Go the Distance with AERC

Equestrian News Release
AUBURN, Ca.?The American Endurance Conference (AERC) is proud to announce Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as its new Platinum Sponsor and AERC National Mileage Sponsor.

?Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the makers of Adequan® (POLYSULFATED GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN), is honored to be the ?Official Joint Therapy? of AERC,? said Allyn Mann, Senior Manager of the Animal Health Division of Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ?We are excited to support a group of riders and owners who understand the importance of maintaining healthy, functioning joints. Any time you plan to ride a horse 50 or 100 miles, their legs take a beating. Adequan® helps to keep their joints healthy so they can participate in these rides.?

AERC President and veteran endurance rider Stagg Newmann, who uses Adequan® on his own competition horses as part of their routine joint therapy, is delighted with the partnership. ?Given what we ask of our horses over years and miles of competition, they deserve the best care we can provide, including the best joint therapy.?

Adequan® restores synovial lubrication to facilitate joint movement by inducing a rapid, significant increase of synovial hyaluronic acid within 24 hours of intramuscular injection. Adequan® decreases inflammation of the synovial membrane, relieves pain caused by the swelling and inflammation associated with joint disease, inhibits harmful enzymes that attack the synovial fluid and cartilage and helps restore the natural balanced ?wear and repair? cycle within the joint.

?Endurance riding is an extreme test for our equines, and therefore they require the utmost care and conditioning to be successful,? said AERC spokesperson Randy Eiland. ?AERC is proud that we put our horse?s welfare above all else, making Adequan® the perfect sponsor for AERC. The proper use of Adequan® not only protects our horses? joints from naturally occurring wear and repair, it also allows these great animals to compete, be active and lead productive lives well into what we used to consider old age. I can?t think of a more appropriate fit than Adequan® and AERC.?

Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has developed an animated CD that takes the viewer on a journey through the joint of a horse. It helps the viewer understand how a healthy joint functions, what happens when damage occurs, and the various FDA-approved treatment options and how well they work to improve the health of the joint. To obtain a copy of the CD, call (800) 972-9247, or view it at http://www.adequan.com.

2006 Virginia City 100 Results

joint winners:
Tom Johnson - AM Sands of Time (BC)
Kassandra DiMaggio - Bucks Mt Wind Prince (Geronimo)

Leslie Spitzer - JAC Eagle Cap (half arab pinto - yay!)
Gloria Vanderford - not sure - a Rushcreek horse?
Jr Hailey Daemler (sp?) - chestnut horse
Sandy Holder - Star
Tony Benendetti - Fargo
Gordon Westergard - Gulastras Knight (stallion!)
Kristan Flynn - OT Altatu RSI


tied 10th:
Catfish Daniels - Romey (sp?)
Melody Wong - KC

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Netherlands Takes Gold in Zebah na Morave!!

Carmen Romaer on Fadila R Take Gold

by Endurance.Net





Carmen Romaer held of a strong challenge by Carlo Di Battisa of Itally and Jean Daniel Aiello of France to capture Gold at the 2006 European Endurance Championship for Young Riders held today in Zebah. A field of 57 riders from across Europe competed in the 120km event which features a field of highly competative young endurance riders!

Detailed Results

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CZ Arab (Endurance) Breeders Festival

http://www.mikyfarm.wz.cz/

In conjunction with the YR/J championship, they are hosting a breeders show. Simuliar to what was done at Compienge in France.

jt

Scottish Endurance Championship

EQUINE ace Alison Nisbet and her Highland pony Dunedin Victor are proving distance is no object when it comes to endurance riding.
For Vic, as she calls him, won the top pony award at the Scottish Endurance Riding Championships at Yetholm in the Borders recently.

At the Scottish championships, both Vic and Alison returned with a haul of
trophies for novice horse, novice rider (it was Alison's first season of competitive
riding), best Highland pony in both 48km classes, best Highland pony overall and they were also in the winning Lothians Novice Team
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Scottish Endurance Riding Club

EU Open Championship for YR/J - Zabreh na Morave (CZE)

On behalf of the Fédération Equestre Internationale, it is my pleasure to
welcome you to the 2006 FEI Endurance European Championship for Young
Riders. The Czech Republic, known for its unique horse racing atmosphere
in the picturesque town of Pardubice, can now add a new fixture to their
events Calendar, as Zabreh Na Morave hosts their first ever FEI Endurance
event.
As the Czech tradition ?The Ride of the Kings?, one of Europe?s oldest folk
customs, has persevered since 1808 ? I hope this Championship provides
many long lasting memories for the surrounding community, the equestrian
family and Czech sport in general.
I am particularly pleased to welcome the young generation of horse-men
and women entering our noble sport. These Championships will no doubt
become an unforgettable experience for many of them and it is my sincere
hope that it inspires and makes them feel part of the international
equestrian family.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to the
Organising Committee, the generous support of the sponsors and dedication
of the volunteers for their professionalism and enthusiasm. It is my sincere
hope that this wonderful event will inspire all participants and spectators to
feel part of the international equestrian family.
Lastly, I wish the riders and their mounts a very successful championship
and the spectators an enjoyable time.

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein
FEI President

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RSA: Saldanha CEI*** Interprovencial Challenge

Willa Botland riding Koringkloof Deena are first to finish at the 2006 Saldanha CEI***160km event held at the South African Military Academy in Saldanah Bay South Africa. This year's Saldanha event is the first time that the Inter Province Challenge has also provided FEI divisions.

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AU: Lachlan endurance riders success at the Shahzada 400m marathon

Lachlan endurance riders success at the Shahzada 400m marathon
Monday, 4 September 2006

Always a huge effort is required to complete this ride successfully to the veterinary team's satisfaction on Friday afternoon after riding 80kms per day for 5 successive days over some of the roughest country that one would dare to take a horse through.

The Lachlan club only had 3 entries in the 400kms event this year, with all three successful, with the rest of the field success rate of 60% this was a very good result.

Karen Rhodes made it buckle no. 13 of her 14 starts, a very consistent completer with her horse "Shadow". Karen will have to front up again next year now as the record no. of buckles earned by any rider is 14, and it would be great to see another local on top of the completion lists.

Local horse "Kintamani Fosta" remains at the top of the horse buckle list with 10 out of 11 successes even though he has not competed in this ride since 1998 as he is now 27 years young.

Alan Lindsay made a return after 8 years to the tracks of St.Albans riding his homebred "Kintamani Charisma" over the 400kms to earn his 8th buckle, accompanying his daughter Erika riding "Kinitamani Silver Motif" for her first attempt at the Marathon distance. Both Erika and Motif coped easily with the day to day workload with youth on their side and great support from mum and dad. Interestingly, both the sires of Charisma and Motif completed Shahzada many years ago.

Shahzada was a grey Arab stallion, foaled in 1913 at Mr H.C. Stephens' stud in England. Shahzada's sire Mootrub, was purchased by General John Hills in India soon after he arrived from Arabia. He won races in India and numerous championships and prizes in the U.K. Shahzada's dam Ruth Kesia (descended from the desert bred mare Kesia), was acquired from the Gomassa tribe of the Sabaa Anazeh by Major Robert Upton. The mares from the tribe were noted for their fine free-trotting action.

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Official Shahzadra Results Pages

WEC Closing Ceremonies

I stood in this very arena 14 days ago at the sunrise of this 5th FEI World Equestrian Games and I shared with you my hopes and dreams that this global celebration of the horse would provide a platform for a new dawn for the horse world and you have proved us right even beyond our wildest dreams, and expectations.

Your welcome has been seen by this generation of horsemen and women and will be recorded in the chapters of equestrian history.

I say to you on behalf of all those who have basked in the warmth of your hospitality "Wir lieben Aachen".

You have been able to provide the substance and platform to make these Games possible, and I know that you will join me in saying that it is the athletes who have given it the breath of life and moulded its soul. Their performances in the arenas and their statesman like behaviour outside the arenas have been an example to all.

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Bahrain: Shaikha Najla finishes 8th

Gulf Daily News
BAHRAIN's top female rider Shaikha Najla bint Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa clinched an eighth-place finish at the French Combian Endurance Race near Paris. Shaikha Najla, who took part in the Watford Race last month in the UK, competed in this 119-km race with top riders from Europe such as Jack Peugeot and Fillip Tuma, and managed to complete the event among the top 10. The young Bahraini rider said she was pleased over her performance and result at the race during which more than 100 riders were in the fray.

"The race was very important for me to gain more experience and confidence ahead of the new season which starts after the summer break," said Shaikha Najla.

"I encountered some hard times during the race due to the tough surface and the stiff competition among most of the participants who are well experienced. I am really looking forward to take part in further races in the near future," she said.

Shaikha Najla was accompanied by her father Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Shaikh Ahmed bin Saqer Al Khalifa and other delegation officials.

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NZ: Eketahuna rider toast of equestrian champs

Wairarapa Times-Age
23.08.2006

Eketahuna horseman Shane Dougan was the toast of the New Zealand team and his horse the centre of overseas attention after the combination finished eighth in the endurance race at the World Equestrian Games in Germany yesterday.

Dougan, and his 10-year-old Arabian stallion Vigar Riffal produced New Zealand's best endurance result at a World Games on the way to overtaking a dozen other combinations in an extra quick final loop in the 160km event.

Dougan averaged 41km/h in the final of the six loops after finishing the first in 70th place of the 159 starters.

"He could have gone quicker," Dougan said.

"There was plenty left in the tank, he's a great little horse."
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EnduranceNet Coverage

FEI: President Haya Focuses on the Future

FEI PRESIDENT?S PRESS CONFERENCE
Speech by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan
2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen
27 August 2006

I will concentrate today on the FEI as an organisation, as I believe from discussions over the last few days that this is the area that you would be interested in and I will outline clear deliverables and the approach.

As a result I will speak less about horses than perhaps I would like ? but that is because it goes without saying that they are the reason that we are here ? and their partners are those we, the FEI, ultimately are here to celebrate and serve.

My own experiences as an athlete mean that this is never far from my mind ? my experience of this at grass roots level and my many friends in the sport mean that I am privileged to be able to keep my fingers on this pulse ? and I am aware, as true friends are, of what they are critical of in the organisation. My vision for them is similar to that of the IOC ? "for the athletes by the athletes". I hope that by the end of my tenure as President, I will not only have created an organisation that walks this road hand in hand with them, but also that we will have created through them a future generation equipped to run and serve the horse world by allowing them open entry into the ranks of the organisation, and give them the tools in addition to those of their field to do this with complete professionalism.

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Festival Modail d'Endurance: Compienge

From: "David-specialized saddles"


Eighty four horses vetted in the Young horse 119k world Championship today at Compiegne France.The grounds became crowded compared to preceding days as the entrants and crews arrived for the climaxing event here

Everyone gathered in the big dining tent to sample the finest buffet I have ever enjoyed with more variety of food and desserts than I knew existed. All prepared by a staff of top notch chefs and complete with ample bottles of wine on each table.

During the vetting in a thunder storm interrupted things for about twenty minutes.the ground is wet but the footing is sand over clay and the mud isn't deep and footing will be good, and speeds are expected to be fast. The quality an depth of talent was evident in the team 160 k championship with 15 horses finishing under ten hours.Start is 7am,
===============

KIDSON LORNA of GBR took the lead and held it to take a seven minute lead in the first 30K loop averaging 17.5 k per hour.

Although recent winners of championship rides have nearly always come from mid pack with a seriss of negative splits to take the lead late, she's going against conventional wisdom, the very strong field of french horses, and has held on thru the second vet gate.

From the confident look in her eye and the look of her horse she just might pull it off.

Over Twenty horses are within ten minutes of the leader at this point following the second vet check so as they say, its anyones race.

===============
In an exciting climax,nine riders left the final vet gate 3, within six minutes of each other, all at a hand gallop.

Stephanie Arnal of France riding a modest size grey Stallion was in first,followed by Romua Theisman of Belgium who was a large man on a large chestnut.

The finish was on a turf course in front of hundreds of spectators. it was Jean Frances of France who romped into view with hammer down, followed closely by Stephanie Arnal, finishing in 6:18 having run the last loop of 21kilometers in an average of 24 k per hour and 18;5 k for the day. it would be another 10 minutes before 3rd place Romua Theisman crossed the line for third.

All watched the carefully scrutinized trots for completion and Jean had to retrot before the jury of vets gave the thumbs up to a roar of the crowd.

What a race, great photos to follow.

Hi from France,
Sephanne Arrnal riiding Liana el Baraka, the second place horse, took the Best Condition. It seems her horse was a mare, not a stallion, as I previously reported.

your correspondent in France
David kaden


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CAN: North Wind Canadian Championships

Kristen Howard and her horse Amy are ready to embark on a 160-kilometre trip during the North Wind Canadian Championships

By Cory Smith
Woodstock Centinel-Review

As Kristen Howard rode her horse up a switchback in Indiana, the picturesque surroundings took her breath away.
Beneath her was a valley laced with red bud and dogwood trees, cloaked in fog as the sun peeked out along the horizon. It was the kind of moment Howard and her 12-year-old Arabian mare Amy have shared numerous times as they travel the continent, but one they never get tired of.
For the Woodstock-area native, it?s the best part of being an endurance horse racer.
"It was neat because it was such a rush going up, and as we came down it was like we were descending into the fog," Howard said. ?Anything from the hilltop I like. It?s very scenic.
"You feel like, ?Oh my god, I?m so glad I?m alive.? It really rejuvenates you."
Howard will need to be every bit refreshed as she prepares to take Amy on the longest journey of their lives - the North Wind Canadian Championships, a 100-mile endurance race that, if finished, will take over half a day to complete.
"Amy has her way of doing things and she?s quite sensitive," Howard said of the prize-winning horse she purchased as a filly from a woman in Arthur. "If you don?t know how to ride her, she won?t do it for you, but once you learn, she?ll do anything."
Unlike harness or thoroughbred racing, the sport of endurance racing is more about slow and steady than winning the race, although Howard or any of her fellow riders wouldn?t have a problem with finishing first.
Beautifully wooded trails, vivid valleys and rocky streams replace the track, while the only sure bet is that the riders aren?t in it for the money.
The Competitive Trail Riding Association?s motto of 'to finish is to win' encapsulates perfectly the laid back approach of the sport.
"You spend so much time with your horse and you get a connection like no other," Howard said. "You know if anything is wrong and you just sense it. You get to see parts of the country and the U.S. on the back of a horse. I see a lot of places that I wouldn?t normally see."

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Spain and France Claim First Medals at 2006 WEG; Spain?s Ubach Takes Gold; America?s Top Rider Finishes 15th

By Brian Sosby

Long before the sun rose over the first day of competition at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, a flurry of activity was going on as the stage was set for the first medal decisions made in the equestrian discipline of endurance. The consensus is that today’s championship served as the biggest in the sport’s interesting development and history, and the fact that temperatures didn’t make it much past the mid-60 degree range were a blessing to those who had feared that the heat that Germany saw weeks ago might wreak havoc in a sport where weather conditions can send the placings into a scramble.

Crews, horses, riders, inspectors and a contingency of blurry-eyed spectators woke up the proverbial rooster. Riders and their mounts took off under a dark rose-colored early morning sky just outside the Main Stadium near the start of the cross-country course. The 100-mile route saw them traverse a mix of terrain and territory through three countries – Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. The teams took off en masse at 6 a.m.

At the end of the long haul, it was 34-year-old Spaniard Miguel Vila Ubach and the eight-year-old Arabian gelding, Hungares, to cross the finish line first in a time of 09:12:27. Over the nine-plus hour ride, Ubach and Hungares averaged a pace of 10.8 miles per hour (or 17.38 kilometers per hour). He steadily climbed the rankings over the course, always leaving something in the tank, from a first gate finish of 47th to 33rd to 21st to 16th to 8th to his final victory.

Throwing his helmet into the air just after clearing the line, his expressions and tears told the whole story. Prior to his win today in Aachen, Ubach was listed at #86 on the FEI World Ranking of endurance riders.

In April 2006, Ubach won the CEI Three-Star Cordoba ride in his home country. He acknowledged that his competition today was tough, saying, “I knew all the best riders in the world were here from the U.A.E. and France.” An enthusiastic and appreciative crowd cheered and clapped as the pairing claimed their place as the first World Champion to be crowned at the 2006 WEG. “I can’t believe it,” he said in a downpour while still standing on the victory field.

For France, who was favored going into the competition, it was a double-medal haul after the rain-soaked challenge. French teammates Virginie Atger and her eight-year-old Arabian gelding Kangoo d’Aurabelle took the Silver medal while her compatriot Elodie Le Labourier and the 16-year-old Arabian gelding Sangho Limousian brought a Bronze-medal finish.

Atger and Le Labourier road neck-and-neck to the finish. There was no charge to the end. Instead, each rider crossed it with acknowledgement to the other in a display of sportsmanship.

The Gold medal in the team competition was won by France. The Swiss team finished in Silver-medal position, and the Bronze medal went to Portugal.

The American Effort
Finishing lead among the American contingent was Maine’s Kathryn Downs and her 10-year-old Arabian gelding, Pygmalion. Entering Gate 1 at 50th place, the pair climbed in the rankings over the morning to stand at 20th at Gate 2. They continued their effort, improving their standings by five spots to land at 15th by the time they entered Gate 3. They held their own, slipping down only two placings by Gate 4 and finished their 10:06:27-hour journey at 15th place.

Second spot for Team U.S.A. was filled by New Jersey’s Meg Sleeper, DVM, and her14-year-old half-Arabian gelding Shyrocco Troilus. The pair sat at 68th position after Gate 1 was cleared and jumped an impressive 24 spots upon checking in at Gate 3 to sit at 34th position. They continued their climb, pushing past another 11 riders to come in at 23rd at Gate 4. Final times and results were not available due to computer problems in the main press center.

California’s Jennifer Niehaus and Cheyenne XII, the 14-year-old Arabian gelding, stepped into competition as the first alternate. The pairing cleared Gate 1 in 75th; Gate 2 in 81st; Gate 3 in 75th; and Gate 4 in 69th. Niehaus and Cheyenne XII’s results were also not available due to computer problems in the main press center.

Illinois’ Joseph Mattingley aboard his SA Laribou (an 11-year-old Arabian gelding) made it as far as Gate 4 before being eliminated due to lameness. The pair had put in a respectable effort crossing Gate 1 at 78th; Gate 2 at 83rd; and Gate 3 at 70th. Their elimination left only four American riders in the running.

American Christoph Schork from Utah, who rode his eight-year-old Arabian gelding, Taj Rai Hasan, was pulled at the last vet check. Across the day, Schork and Taj Rai Hasan sat at 64th place at Gate 1 and 74th at Gate 2. From that point, the pair pushed forward, jumping 34 places to come into Gate 3 at 40th position, but they slid back a bit in the standings to land at 57th leaving Gate 4.

Team U.S.A. Chef d’Equipe and former WEG Endurance Champion Valerie Kanavy lent her extensive experience and advice to the U.S. team. One point of advice she shared with the riders just prior to the start of the ride…”Don’t get kicked.” The start of the race resembled a packed charge of Bedouin riders taking off.

More Than Just A Race
In the sport of endurance, horse-and-rider combinations face not only the extreme distances, but a series of what are known as vet gates – mandatory stops on the race where the riders dismount and the horses are checked by a veterinary crew. The condition of the horse is paramount in continuing along the long distance course, and it is at the vet gates where the horses are held for inspection. Among the many criteria checked at the vet gate are the horse’s heart rate, temperature and other metabolic factors, as well as general condition and soundness. Riders approach the predetermined vet gates and dismount, allowing the horses to access water and nourishment, plus it allows the riders to replenish their own needs. The findings of the veterinarians are recorded on the vet cards (including the riders’ arrival and departure times). A horse may be declared lame and may be withdrawn from the competition.

At the World Championships, individual and team medals are presented. A single horse-and-rider’s time is used to determine the individual champion. The team championship is decided based on the combined times of three predetermined “team score” members.

Two vet gates were established along the ride, with teams crossing them more than once. Vet Gate 1 was situated at Dreilanderpunkt (where horses were inspected after loops 1-4) and Vet Gate 2 Soers (for loops 5-6).

Endurance was officially welcomed under the umbrella of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and recognized as an international horse sport. Centuries ago, Bedouin tribes placed bets on endurance-type races. Just over a century ago, German and Austrian military officers held similar races between Vienna and Berlin. Today, endurance has seen an explosion of interest with numbers growing impressively in the United States.

For complete time listings and all endurance scores, visit http://www.endurance.net/2006wec/results/index.html

WEC: Horse's injury derails N.J. rider's hopes at worlds

BY NANCY JAFFER
For the Star-Ledger

AACHEN, Germany -- After a 100-mile ride that ended in the rain and mud, Meg Sleeper's faith in her horse and herself paid off as she completed the endurance championship at the World Equestrian Games under difficult conditions.

If only U.S. team officials had expressed the same faith in the Hunterdon County woman and her mount, America would have had a placing in the event. But they decided Sleeper should ride her home-bred Shyrocco Troilusas as an individual competitor, rather than as part of the team, after the half-Arabian gelding bruised his hoof a few days ago.

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WEC: Spanish rider takes endurance gold at Aachen

Abigail Butcher
Horse & Hound
Spaniard Miguel Vila Ubach made history yesterday when he was crowned king of endurance at the Aachen 2006 World Equestrian Games.

A damp but lively crowd cheered the triumphant rider, on the grey Arab Hungares as he cantered alone into the main stadium at Aachen, minutes before second and third-placed French riders Virginie Atger and Elodie Le Labourier appeared together. He had taken the lead a few kilometres before the finish.

The 32-year-old rider was part of the silver-medal winning Spanish endurance team at the Hague (1994) but this was the first time the country has taken gold.

?I knew we were good but I don't believe I'm here today,? Miguel declared at the press conference that followed his arrival. ?I was a European Champion back in 1999 and I've been dreaming for another title ever since but I'd never have thought it would be this one.?

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