British young riders seek gold in desert

Anna Tyzack
27 September, 2005

Endurance GB has announced the young rider team for the World Championships in Bahrain 05

Six experienced young endurance riders will be vying for gold at the FEI World Young Rider Championships in Bahrain (17 December). Endurance GB named the six-strong team following strong performances at the final team selection ride at Sherwood recently.

Four of the horse and rider combinations will journey to Bahrain at the beginning of December in order to start acclimatising their horses to the fierce Middle-Eastern temperatures. The remaining two are already based in Dubai, ensuring their horses are well used to the hot conditions.


?Acclimatisation will be the biggest single difficulty?, says Endurance GB international chairman Maggie Maguire. ?The British-based horses will be used to winter conditions.?


Zara Moon and Philip Hirst have both been selected to represent Britain for a second time. Moon, who is last year's EGB overall champion, will be partnering her International horse Yamavah. Dubai-based Hirst will be riding his mother's Vlaq Khamul.


Anna Williams is another experienced team member, who has represented Britain on two previous occasions. Wiliams will be partnering the eight-year-old H S Saboteur, who completed his first 120km in one day at Cirencester 2005. Alice Beet from Surrey will be partnering Harmatan de Lozere, who she qualified in Dubai last year, and Gemma Parkin, from Derbyshire will be riding Lutandorvici.


Abigail Lockett, from Stafford has been selected with the experienced Delorto Zaranz, who has already competed abroad at Wicklow Hills 1999 and was at the WEG in Jerez in 2002. Winscombe-based Rachel Harvey is reserve with Sarah Ryson's Prince Imperial.


?All the young riders are excellent,? Maguire says. ?They have all had a lot of success.?


Competitors will be required to journey 120km through the desert during the course of one day. ?Consistent cantering in a rhythm is the key to conserving energy,? says Maggie Maguire, ?In this country rides often require lots of stopping and starting but in the desert you can pretty much canter the whole ride?.


Each of the riders has completed at least one 120km endurance ride since November last year and are accustomed to pacing distances according to the physical build of their horse and the terrain and weather conditions.


They will all use heart monitors to check the conditions of their horse throughout the course of the Championship ride and will be required to present their horse to the vet at various set intervals to be checked as fit to continue.


?It is a considerable test,? Maguire explains, ?It is all about doing it within the capabilities of the horse?.


The team will be given advice by team vet Adam Driver who has spent the last two winters in Dubai and who understands the conditions and the impact they have on foreign horses.

US: ULCERGARD? and GASTROGARD?

US Equestrain Federation
September 23, 2005
Merial's ULCERGARD™ and GASTROGARD® Named

"Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Products of the USEF"

Lexington, KY— Merial, a world leader in animal healthcare, has
joined the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as its newest
corporate partner. Though the partnership may be new, USEF athletes
and veterinarians have depended on Merial for years, as its trusted
products have long been used by USEF team horses as they travel to
events both nationally and internationally.

Through this partnership, we are pleased to announce that ULCERGARD™
and GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) from Merial, have become the "Official
Equine Stomach Ulcer Products of the USEF". These products will be
made available to all USEF team horses to prevent stomach ulcers that
are often associated with the stresses that come from confinement,
training, travel, and competition.

"As a longtime supporter of the USEF and their equestrian teams, we
are pleased to make our partnership official," said Jeannine Courser,
Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. "As a company
dedicated to the health and well being of animals, we share a mutual
commitment to maintaining a horse's health and keeping horses ulcer-
free so that they have the stomach to perform at their best."

Merial offers the only two products on the market that are proven to
prevent and treat stomach ulcers in horses. Available through
veterinarians, ULCERGARD allows horse owners to proactively prevent
stomach ulcers whenever their horse is exposed to stressful
situations such as training, travel and competition, while GASTROGARD
treats stomach ulcers and allows horses to continue training and
competing while the ulcers heal.

For more information on Merial's equine ulcer products, visit
www.ULCERGARD.com or www.GASTROGARD.com.

MEDALS at Endurance European Championships 1985 to 2005

MEDALS at Endurance European Championships 1985 to 2005

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Karen Rhodes has 12 Shahzada Endurance Ride completions

This year was the 25th anniversary of the "Shahzada" a 400k Endurance Marathon, held each year at St.Albans near Wiseman's Ferry, this ultimate test of endurance riding is run over a 400 k course of 80k's a day for five days.
This year as for the last three, the McDonald valley was gripped by drought making for beautiful sunny days, however it was very dry, dusty and hard underfoot. The course varying from flat hard gravel roads, to climbs up and down steep rocky tracks and some lovely sandy trails along the ridges through national parks and private property.

The event this year was held from 22nd - 26th August, although riders and horses start to gather at the village of St Albans from the Wednesday before to allow the horses time to settle in and recoup from their sometimes long float trip and riders time to relax and socialize before the marathon begins. This year there were eight competitors from Queensland, one from South Australia and two from Victoria, from a total of 60 entries, 16 riders were attempting Shahzada for the first time.

This year the Lachlan Endurance Riders Club had three riders pre-nominated for the event, however unfortunately Petrina Besedic's mare injured herself two weeks before so only Robyn Gossip from Tallwood riding her Arab gelding "Sudan" and Karen Rhodes from Woodstock riding her Stock Horse X Arab gelding " Shadow" started, with Robyn withdrawing after 240ks as the rigors of the course took their toll.

Karen and Shadow who have developed a special relationship over the last five years continued to successfully complete the course, being one of only fourteen to do so.

This was Karen's twelfth successful Shahzada completion from thirteen attempts and Shadow's fourth completion from four attempts. Karen's previous successes were seven from eight attempts riding her home breed Australian Stock Horse mare "Karrana Kelly" and her first attempt and successful completion back in 1993 was riding the Stock Horse gelding "Barry's Buzz" owned by local Woodstock identity Barry Blinman.

I asked Karen why she keeps going back to compete in the Shahzada each year and her reply was, "because it reassures me that I am still capable, Shahzada is a personal challenge that I enjoy, it is a true test of horsemanship, not just a race and there is a lot of satisfaction in having a horse that listens to you and is kind to you." "A good endurance horse has to have legs of steel and a heart of gold"

"Besides Shahzada is a great social week, with my sister Anne and Brother in-law Steve coming down from Queensland to compete each year and our friends and relatives who live in Sydney and Gosford usually drive down to visit us. We also enjoy the company of the alternating members of the Lachlan Club who come each year, as well as catching up with many friends and acquaintances from the endurance fraternity at large"

Lachlan Endurance Riders were well represented in the three day training ride which attracted 50 entries, it was 40 ks a day for the three days Tuesday to Friday. Petrina Besedic riding her paint stallion "DAVELYNN RAPT IN BLACK", Matt Thuaux riding his Arab X Stockhorse "ALOHA MINGARA", Ray Rhodes riding his new Stock Horse gelding "CHARLIE", Annette Bailey riding her Arab gelding "ROSEMONT PATHFINDER" and Andrew Bailey riding his new Arab gelding "ALOHA ZELUS"

Unfortunately Matt and Andrew both had lameness problems on the second day and didn't get to finish, however Annette, Petrina and Ray rode their young horses around for successful completions.

Horse breeding farm of the Abu Dhabi royal family imports semen of Brazilian stallion

The semen of the horse RSC El Deb Haran, property of the businessman Claudio Bagarolli, will be exported to the United Arab Emirates for reproduction. The buyer is the horse-breeding farm Wrsan Stables. The sale was settled after the participation of the animal, an Arab thoroughbred, at the World Endurance Championship, which took place in the Emirates in January.

Press Release

RSC El Deb Haran in the Dubai desert, in January this year: successful in Brazil and abroad
Isaura Daniel*

RSC El Deb Haran in the Dubai desert, in January this year: successful in Brazil and abroad

São Paulo - The semen of the Brazilian horse RSC El Deb Haran will be exported to the United Arab Emirates. The horse-breeding farm Wrsan Stables, located in Abu Dhabi and property of the emirate's royal family, will import the semen of the horse, an Arab thoroughbred stallion, for reproduction. According to the horse's proprietor, the Brazilian businessman Claudio Bagarolli, the shipment should be made up to the month of October.

RSC is 13 years old and is part of the horse-breeding farm Rancho Santa Cândida, in the city of Campinas, in the interior of the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo. The animal was the Brazilian equestrian endurance champion in 1999 and has competed twice outside Brazil. The first in the World Equestrian Games, in 2002, where the animal won the title for Best Stallion and Best Brazilian Team. This second prize means it was the first horse to finish the test amongst the six Brazilian horses competing.

RCS's second competition abroad was at the World Endurance Championship, in January this year, in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The animal was once again the Best Stallion and Best Brazilian Team. It was in this competition that the Abu Dhabi farm was interested by the horse. "They wanted to buy the horse," explains Bagarolli. The businessman didn't accept selling the animal, but settled the semen sale.

The quantity to be shipped to the Emirates will be used to cover 50 mares. Another ten doses, enough for about ten mares, will be exported to the United States. The shipment will also be made up until the month of October. The semen, which will be transported frozen, has already been collected. The proprietor of the Rancho Santa Cândida farm is waiting only for the bureaucratic part of the transaction to be ready to make the shipment.

Santa Cândida

RSC was breeded by Bagarolli himself, who maintains about 30 horses in his farm. The Rancho Santa Cândida is not open to the public. The businessman has at the place a training centre, but only for his horses.

Currently 18 horses are being trained, preparing for the competitions. The animals start being trained at the age of ten. In the beginning they participate in 20 kilometres races until they reach 160 kilometres, distance stipulated for the world competitions.

RIDERS AND HORSES TEST THEIR METTLE

Published on Friday, August 26th 2005


THE endurance of riders and their horses was put to the test in one of Tynedale?s fastest growing equestrian events.

The Hexhamshire Trophy Ride has been growing in stature since it started six years ago, and this year was no different.

The gruelling 53-mile endurance ride started at Cooks House Farm near Hexhamshire on July 31, and attracted a good entry of 14 horses from as far afield as Sussex and Argyll.

Quickest off the mark was Danielle (Danni) Coulson, with Eyphorias Quest, from Northallerton, who was determined to win and make this race third time lucky.

After the second vet gate, Danni was one second ahead of Rachael Atkinson riding Oakthwaite Zara, from Burnley, Lancashire.

Finally, Danni won the Yorkshire-Lancashire war of the roses tussle after five hours of fast riding with four minutes to spare.

The ride organisers, Janet Lennard, of Hexham, and Viv Knight, of Haltwhistle, cheered home Viv?s daughter Lee-Anne, who was riding Janet?s horse Kavanagh.

It was the horse?s first attempt at this endurance ride distance, and he finished in an excellent eighth place.

Fifty-nine horses and riders took part in competitive classes in the event, which was organised by the Northumberland and Tyneside branch of the Endurance Great Britain Society.

Not only were they able to compete in one of nine different ability course routes, they were also given the opportunity to take part in a 12-mile pleasure ride along beautiful moorland tracks.

The rain and drizzle of the previous three days gave way to dry, cool, ideal riding weather.

The society thanked Ian and Jennifer Dodds, of Cooks House Farm, who provided ample stabling, camping and corralling, with a warm welcome.

Bedmax of Northumberland provided shavings for beds and Northumbrian Water provided three water bowsers at Hexham, Catton and Allendale for keeping the horses cool on the trail.

WCF of Hexham provided buckets for the hard working, and often forgotten, crews of the race riders.

The trophy and prizes of glasses were sponsored and engraved by Border Trails Endurance of Bellingham.

Shaikh Hamdan takes honours

By Our Sports Reporter

27 August 2005

DUBAI - Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum led his Arabian gelding Georgat to a thrilling finish to claim the 160-km European Open Endurance Championship at Campiegne in France on Friday.

Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum aboard Orcara took the third place honours.

The great ride by Shaikh Hamdan enabled him to retain the title for the UAE for the third time in a row following their spectacular performance in Italy in 2001 when he finished along with his brother Shaikh Rashid in a 1-2 in the individual event and claimed the team's title as well.

Meanwhile, General Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minsiter of Defence, claimed the title in Punchestown, Ireland in 2003.

Almost 137 riders, representing 27 countries, lined up under the early rays of the sun at Campiegne for yesterday's ride. British rider Tricia Hurst, riding Vlace Khamul, showed the way and set a good pace of 18.54km/hour, while the winner was in the 28th position at the speed of 14.83 km/hour.

Shakh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was 17th while advancing at the speed of15.4km/hour. The British representative continued to lead during the second phase but at a decreasing speed of 17.72km/hour as Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum began to make ground and increased the pace to16.12km/hour to finish fourth.

By the end of the third loop, the Australian rider Margaret Wade, riding China Poll, appeared from nowhere and hit the front at a steady pace of 15.97 km/hour. Shaikh Majid was fifth and Shaikh Hamdan was seventh at the time.

Wade continued to lead by the end of the fourth and fifth stages. Shaikh Hamdan moved to second, and right on his heels was Shaikh Majid with French rider Geraldine Brault who advanced to fourth position for the first time.

But Shaikh Hamdan, confident of the stamina of his mount, kept a strong pace to beat the Australian contender by a neck as the two riders crossed the finish line.