Belgian Rider Returns to Idaho for Arabian Nights

Belgian rider Leonard Leisens vows "I will return!"

Leisens will be competing in Oreana, Idaho again this summer, representing Belgium at the 2004 Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights CEI***. Leisens is no stranger to the Idaho desert, having ridden the Owyhee trails of Idaho on three previous occasions. His accomplishments include 4th place at the 2003 CEI*** Pacific South (Oreana, Idaho) ride on Great Santini, and several successful rides at the Owyhee Canyonlands multiday ride.

But Leisens, a top ranked FEI rider, still remembers the day when he lost a top ten finish on Jaziret Bey Musc, as he pursued two top women riders through the Idaho desert badlands, only to find that they had taken the wrong trail... "I thought that the trail might be wrong, and I kept racing to catch them and ask them - but they were going very very fast!". Now Leisens will return to the desert and try his luck again, vowing to keep his focus and redeem his reputation.

On August 28, Leisens and other riders from around the world will be gathering in Idaho to test their skills and keep their cool at the Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights 100 mile, CEI*** Endurance event.

Western Australia: Child Rider Shines

Child rider shines
Tuesday, 3 August 2004

RIDING 80 kilometres in an endurance ride on a horse doesn't bother Jessica McKeown ? it's carrying her saddle after the ride that is the hard part.

"Sometimes, people offer to carry it for me, and I always let them," said Jessica.

At 10 years old, Jessica is the youngest qualified endurance rider in Western Australia, and is in the top 10 in National points scores in Australia.

"Jess can ride as well as any adult, and she understands her horse," said her trainer and father, Alistair.

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USA: Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights

International Equestrians arrive in Idaho for 100 Mile Desert
OREANA, IDAHO

United Arab Emirates lends a hand Supporting Endurance Riding world-wide

Endurance riders from 5 continents will be participating in the Abu Dhabi Arabian Nights Endurance Ride located for the first time in Southwest Idaho on August 28, 2004. Top equestrians from United Arab Emirates (UAE), Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Canada and the United States will begin to arrive in mid-August at the Owyhee ranch of John and Steph Teeter, hosts and organizers, to compete against each other, and against the elements.

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Canada:National Championship CEI*** 100 Mile

SPRUCEWOODS -
Thana Dharmarajah
BRANDONSUN
Friday, July 31 2004

Young Arab rider has horse racing in his blood

Armed with a 23-member crew of security personnel, horse trainers, a physiotherapist, a veterinarian and a physician, His Highness Sheikh Khalid Al Nahyan is set to deal with any surprises as he rides his horse through rough terrain.

"It's something traditional," said the 17-year-old from the United Arab Emirates about riding horses. "You know, when your dad and your grandparents own horses, it is natural."

In the history of the Arab world, horses have been bred for centuries and used for hunting and fighting.

Al Nahyan was one of 100 riders from across North America to saddle up his horse for the four-day Canadian/Arabian Horse Association National Endurance Championships at Sprucewoods Provincial Park, located 80 kilometres southeast of Brandon.

Twenty-two riders took part in yesterday's 24-hour endurance race spanning 165 kilometres.
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Home on the Ranch - Endurance riding keeps Grass Valley man right where he wants to be

Escaping the single file of commuting cars speeding through southwest Nevada County, he pulls out of line and to a stop. Throwing open the driver's side door, he hops out to open the gate - a ritual made necessary by the livestock on the opposite side.

Back behind the wheel again, he drives on through, before braking to tend the gate once more. Then, with a strong squeeze of the hand, a quick click of the latch and a drop of the heavy chain, Frank Smith locks it all out.

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One day, 100 miles - Area riders saddle up for golden anniversary of epic endurance ride

by Brian Hamilton

Talk about your horsepower.

Two hundred and fifty people are expected hop into the saddle for this weekend's golden anniversary of the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile, one-day ride from Truckee to Auburn.

Many of those who will be at the start, won't be at the finish. In recent years, not even 50 percent of the field have reached the final destination in time to earn a coveted finisher's belt buckle.

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Tevis Story: Endurance riding making comeback

Endurance riding making comeback

MONTAGUE - Yvonne Underwood discovered Endurance Riding 25 years ago through a friend.

If the idea of a sport that requires you to prepare for months in advance, building up yourself and your horses' strength and abilities steadily, involving lots of traveling, entrance fees and medical inspections with the final culmination being a physical token that says 'I did it' then Endurance Riding could very well be for you.

This sport began 50 years ago with a simple bet. In 1955 the attitude among horse enthusiasts was that modern horses were not as strong and resilient as the horses during the pony express days. A small group of men decided to test that idea and proposed a challenge to have a ride from through the Sierra Nevadas from just north of Squaw Valley, a parcel of land now named Robie Park, to Auburn, California, a 100 mile distance. The terrain includes steep hills, rocky surfaces, single tracks (narrow trails), creeks, a swinging suspension bridge and a crossing of the American River.

Six men began the challenge and five finished. This was the beginning of what is now known as the Tevis Cup ride.

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