Horses are stars in Humboldt

Casey Allen

Did you know that Humboldt County is home to some of the biggest sports stars in the world? It's true and those stars are horses. The sport in this case is called endurance riding. It is a timed, long distance event where horse and rider travel anywhere from 25 to 100 miles in one day. It is not really called a race although riders do sometimes race each other the last few miles to the finish. There is also no 'winner'. The first place rider got just that, first place. This is because the sports motto is ?to finish is to win.? The most coveted prize in endurance riding is the ?best condition? award. This is decided by the ride veterinarians who evaluate the horses before, during and after the ride. The combination of the vet score, finish position, and weight of the rider and tack contribute to who will be awarded ?best condition.? Only the top 10 finishers can qualify for best condition judging. Most riders are only concerned with finishing the ride without mishap or injury to horse or rider. Awards for accumulated distance over a ride season are given and recognition for outstanding careers are rewarded.

Humboldt County's local endurance riding club, Redwood Empire Endurance Riders (REER) is sanctioned by the national American Endurance Riders Conference (AERC). AERC records ride statistics and make the rules. REER hosts 4 local rides each year. One on the Chalk Rock Ranch in Bridgeville. Two in Redwood National Park staging at Orick and one at Cuneo Creek in the Redwoods State Park, west of Weott. There are also scores of rides through out the western region and across the nation. You can see the whole ride schedule and more at http://www.aerc.org/.

The stars of this sport are the Arabian horses who dominate over all other breeds. Although all equine breeds and mules compete in endurance, the Arabians ability to work hard and recover quickly keys their dominance. All endurance horses are well cared for and well conditioned where training miles easily exceed competition miles.

A typical ride begins with participants camping with their horses the night before the ride. Horses take their pre ride vet check, receive their vet score card, and get a number painted on their butt. Riders attend the ride meeting and receive their course map and instructions. Then everyone tries to get some sleep amid all the ride camp sounds of horses snorting, stomping, and whinnying. The rhythmic munching of grass hay can be hypnotic and put you to sleep.

Before light the next morning, as the first riders stir, you can hear the whole camp awaken. The horses are talking, usually in response to a fresh flake of hay. Riders greet each other in nervous whispers as they prepare their gear. They try to eat but not too much drink. They don't want to stop on the trail.

The start of the ride is a pre-determined time and those who are competitive start on time but take it slow, it will be a long day. Most of the riders start at their leisure and it may take 20 minutes for everyone to leave.

In a typical 50 mile ride the first vet check could be around the 12 mile mark with the lunch stop and vet check at 25 miles. Another vet check after lunch and on to the finish back at camp. After a final vet evaluation is passed, horse and rider win a completion certificate. The top ten riders show their horses for ?best condition? and awards are given out after a hearty dinner.

Horse and rider are required to start their timed break after the horse meets pulse criteria of, usually, 60 beats per minute at each vet check. Horses that go too fast can actually lose time trying to calm down. Good riders guide their mounts at a pace that eats trail at a relaxed rate, arriving at the vet check meeting the pulse criteria.

Vets evaluate each horse and their ability to continue. They look for injuries, lameness, and metabolic problems like dehydration and colic. If the veterinarian deems a horse unfit to continue, for the safety and well being of the horse, it is pulled from the ride and gets a trailer ride back to camp.

Riders must be able to take care of themselves and their horses out on the trail. Some loops can be 25 miles long and a long way from help. Riders always help each other on the trail but lot can go wrong besides throwing a shoe or taking a stumble or fall. There are snakes, bears, and even mountain lions. Bees are good for spicing up a ride.

When everything is right, horse and rider become one, both wanting the same goal. It is a wonderful, almost powerful feeling and the bond developed between horse and rider during all those training miles is full of emotion.

Humboldt County is home to some big stars in endurance riding, like Joyce and Dennis Sousa. Joyce has over 16,500 career miles and seventy 100 mile starts completing 60. Her horse, Jim Bob, was recently inducted into the AERC Hall of Fame. Dennis has over 11,000 miles and thirty 100 mile starts completing 25. Both were invited to compete in the United Arab Emirates and the ancestral home of the Arab horse.

Karen Fredrickson and her world class crew, husband Duane, like multi-day rides ( five 50 mile rides in five days). She completed two XP rides. One follows the pony express path, cross country, from Kansas City, Missouri to Sacramento.

Ted and Joan Ruprecht have over 27,000 endurance miles between them. Joan at 75 years old riding a 25 year old Arabian mare placed 5th at last years Redwood Ride II 50 mile ride. I was working the finish line when Joan and her horse crossed. She dismounted, handed me the reins, and said she was dizzy. ?Weeeeee? she cried as if enjoying a roller coaster. She was just fine and I can only wish to be that tough.

Many local riders have completed the toughest endurance ride in the world called the Tevis Cup, a one day, 100 mile ride across the Sierra Range from Truckee to Auburn, Calif. Wow!

Look for more in the coming months on endurance riding, the riders and of course, the horses.

For more information and how to join REER go to the web site www.redwoodendurance.org or contact Elaine Kerrigan at 707-443-0215 orfahim@humboldt1.com. See you down the trail.

Riders pass French test

BAHRAINI riders Yousef Taher, Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and Khalid Al Ruwaihi made a successful appearance at the Plesidy Endurance Race in France.

Being among 35 top class riders from France and the UK, the Bahraini trio managed to complete the race which was over 130 kms with Taher finishing ninth overall, Shaikh Daij 10th and Al Ruwaihi 11th.

Raed Mahmood and world junior champion Fahad Ismail, were unable to complete the race with both riders forced to withdraw with one stage remaining.

Team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan said the race was part of their preparations for the upcoming World Championship which takes place in Germany on August 24.

The event comprised four stages with the first stage covering 32 kms, 33 kms for the second, 40 kms for the third and 25 kms for the fourth.

Hassan confirmed that the Bahraini riders were not aiming to win a place on the podium and their strategy was to keep a limited speed in each stage to maintain the health condition of their horses and pass the veterinary examination.

"The team produced good performance at the race and their French coach Ivon was concentrating on the physical and psychological preparation of his riders," said Hassan.

Standard

Commenting on the standard of the race, Hassan said it featured gruelling competition specially in the third stage during which many riders, including Mahmood and Ismail, were unable to continue due to the rough turf conditions.

"This race was the first for our riders since the season was over two months ago. So we are quite satisfied with the individual results, taking into consideration the level of the other riders who were in the fray," added Hassan.

"We decided to participate in this event as the race course here is very much similar to the course in Aachen in Germany which will host the world championship." Hassan confirmed that the team will continue their preparations for the Germany event by taking part in other races in the next two months under the captaincy of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

US: WEG Nominees Give Strong Performances

First US CEI*** Observation Trial At Owyhee 100
By Jennifer Nice
Jennifer Niehaus of Cloverdale, CA, edged out a field of 36 riders to win the CEI*** 100-mile endurance event held in Oreana, Idaho, on Saturday, May 20. Riding her nominated horse Cheyenne XII, Niehaus finished in a ride time of 9:49:39, averaging 16.31 kph (10.14 mph) over the course.

Crossing the finish line with Niehaus was Suzanne Hedgecock aboard AA Montego, who posted a ride time one second slower than Niehaus?s. Hedgecock also hopes to earn a place on the U.S. Endurance Team to compete at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany this August.

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CEO Named to Lead 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky

World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Pkwy Lexington, KY 40511,
www.feigames2010.org

Long-time International Sports Event Executive Chosen

(Lexington, KY) ? John P. (Jack) Kelly has been hired as the Chief Executive Officer of the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., the entity in charge of putting on the 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky, the world equestrian championships.

Kelly, 60, currently is both the secretary-general of USA Baseball and the CEO of the Space City Sports Commission in Houston.

?I?m very enthusiastic about again having the opportunity to lead a major international sporting event, particularly one like the 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky where so much infrastructure, excitement and support for the event already exists,? said Jack Kelly. ?When the FEI awarded the Games to the Kentucky bid team, they did so with high expectations. I?m confident that we can meet and exceed these expectations and bring great credit to Kentucky.?



Kelly is also the founder and CEO of Event Partners, Inc., a broad-based sports consulting and event management and advisory company. Since 1995, the company has worked with more than 100 clients on all aspects of major event bidding, site selection, planning, operations, marketing, funding and management.



?I think Jack is the perfect fit for what the 2010 FEI GamesTM need,? said World Games 2010 Foundation Chairman Jim Host. ?With the equine expertise that we have in the United States Equestrian Federation and the Kentucky Horse Park, the political backing of both the city of Lexington and the state of Kentucky and the talents of all of our foundation members, Jack?s talents will help make these games a complete success.?



In addition, Kelly served from 1990 ? 1996 as both the president of Turner Broadcasting?s Goodwill Games, Inc., and the director of all Turner international sports efforts, overseeing all aspects of the $100 million-plus enterprise, including managing all national and city relationships, conducting television negotiations, maximizing television syndication as well as creating a worldwide merchandising and licensing program.



Through Event Partners, Kelly also has served such clients as the Olympic bid and major event efforts of multiple U.S. and international cities and countries, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the 1996 Paralympic Games, 14 U.S. national sports governing bodies, Disney?s Wide World of Sports, five U.S. states and more than 100 municipal clients.



From 2000 ? 2002, Jack also served as the CEO of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA), the national trade group for the business of bowling ? a period of time which saw the BPAA reach record levels of membership, sponsorship/fundraising and trade show participation.



Prior to his sports management roles, Kelly spent 16 years as a successful corporate executive serving as an officer of two Top 50 U.S. corporations (Tenneco Inc. and the American General Corporation). He has also served as a president of two separate U.S. Olympic Festivals in Houston (1986) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (1990). In addition, he was the co-chair of the U.S. Olympic Committee?s International Games Review Committee, a member of the 1994 World Cup Site Selection Committee and several USOC site selection committees.



?It is very exciting to think about not only representing the State of Kentucky with this event but also the United States,? said Kelly. ?It is important for our national standing in the international sports and sports business community for the U.S. to successfully host major events like the 2010 FEI GamesTM and we will be up to the challenge.?



Kelly?s complete resume is available upon request. A photo is attached.



The FEI Games, known as the World Equestrian Games through 2006, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The FEI Games have never been held outside of Europe nor have they ever all been held together at a single site; both firsts that the Kentucky Horse Park will achieve. The 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Aachen, Germany and run from August 20 to September 3. Approximately 800 athletes and 875 horses are expected to compete there. The 2010 FEI GamesTM in Kentucky is expected to sell more than 500,000 tickets and have an economic impact of more than $150 million.

###



The World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established to oversee the production of the 2010 FEI Games? in Kentucky, The World Equestrian Championships. The 2010 FEI Games? in Kentucky will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington from September 20 ? October 3, and will consist of the eight equine disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the international governing body of all equestrian sport: show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting, endurance, and para-equestrian.



Chris Gilligan
Executive Director for Communications
Kentucky Commerce Cabinet
500 Mero Street (24th floor)
Frankfort, KY. 40601
(O) 502-564-4270 ext. 168
(C) 502-330-4967
(E) Chris.Gilligan@ky.gov

WEG Endurance Team Hopefuls Prepare to Demonstrate their Abilities

By Jennifer Nice

With the 2006 World Equestrian Games just three months away, the top endurance riders in the U.S. are preparing to demonstrate their abilities in the hopes of earning a place on the U.S. Endurance Team. In order to be considered, each rider must compete at one of three FEI***/AERC dual-sanctioned 100-mile rides scheduled for May 20 in Oreana, ID; May 27 in Grand Island, MI; and June 11 in Ashland, MT. Members of the National Selection Committee will be present at each event to evaluate the competitors? performances.

According to United States Equestrian Federation®?s Director of Endurance Programs, Mary Lutz, there are approximately 49 riders scheduled to compete at one of the three observation trials, including members of the current National Training Squad and former World Endurance Champion Valerie Kanavy and former Pan American Endurance Champion Heather Reynolds. Riders who have been nominated on more than one horse must compete at one observation ride with each horse.

Chef d? Equipe Tom Johnson of Loomis, CA, said the he doesn?t expect the nominated horses to be ?peaked? for the observation trials, but should still be building up toward the World Equestrian Games. ?I expect the successful riders to ride strong and smart, and to finish within a reasonable distance of the winning horse but not necessarily win,? Johnson said. ?The top horses will make it look easy by finishing strong and looking good while doing it.?

Following the final observation trial, the National Team of 12 horse/rider combinations plus six ranked alternates will be selected by the National Selection Committee. ?Those riders will then attend one of two training events,? said Johnson. ?Locations of the events will be selected based on their location in order to minimize how far they have to haul. Riders will complete a test ride of 30 to 50 miles.?

The final team will be selected based on several factors, which include but are not limited to the horse?s fitness and soundness and the rider?s ability to ride to instructions. Johnson added, ?The goal of the selection process is to finish strong in Aachen. The observation trials are a step in that direction.?

The team of riders selected to represent the United States in the endurance competition at the World Equestrian Games will be named by mid-July and will depart for Aachen, Germany, the first week of August. The 100-mile world endurance championship will be held August 21.

The United States Equestrian Federation® is the Governing Body of U.S. endurance competition at the international level. The American Endurance Ride Conference is the National Affiliate of endurance in the U.S. and governs the sport at the national level. For more information about the U.S. Endurance Team and the 2006 selection process, contact USEF Director of Endurance Programs Mary Lutz at mlutz@usef.org, or by phone at (908) 326-1155.

2006 Edaran Classic Hard, Challenging, Rewarding

Kuang, Selangor, 8 May 200

Defending Champion Shamsudin Ronin Rides Away Again With The Top Place in the Edaran Endurance Classic 2006

Riders at the Edaran Endurance Classic 2006 braved the pelting rain and the cold as they took off on the FEI-CEI 3 Star 120 KM and the 80KM Rides which started at 10pm and 12 midnight respectively on 6 May and finished yesterday morning at ar-Raudhah Equine Centre.

Shamsudin who was the only rider out of 11 participants to complete the challenging and tough CEI 3 Star 120KM ride, finished with a total riding time of 10 hours 56 minutes 24 seconds at an average speed of 10.98KM/hr.


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HRH Princess Haya of Jordan is Elected President at the 2006 FEI General Assembly, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Equestrian Mag: Equestrian News Release

Kuala Lumpur, MY, May 1, 2006 ? Some 95 member nations congregated in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to attend the 2006 General Assembly of the International Equestrian Federation. A number of others were represented by proxy. This is the highest number of National Federations to ever participate, and 82 out of 138 voted to elect HRH Princess Haya of Jordan to succeed HRH Doña Pilar de Borbón as the new President of the FEI. She?s the 13th president and the third woman to take over the reins, beating out a determined challenge from FEI First Vice President Freddy Serpieri who conceded with 52 votes following the second ballot. HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark was eliminated somewhat surprisingly after the first ballot having received just 16 votes.

Following 12 years in office, HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón decided to step down and new candidates were required to make themselves known to the FEI by last November. As Princess Haya later commented: ?There were many people who thought I was too young for the job, but I think I?ve aged five years in the past five months!? As per the FEI Statutes, in order to be elected a Presidential candidate must receive two thirds of the valid votes cast in the first or second (secret) ballot. If a third ballot is necessary the candidate must receive an overall majority (50% plus one) of all valid votes cast.

Each of the three candidates for President of the FEI were invited to make a presentation to the General Assembly by way of a manifesto, highlighting their personal achievements to date, personal strengths and, perhaps most importantly for the voting members, their goals if elected.

Mr. Freddy Serpierie has been Chairman of Geographical Group I and first FEI Vice President since 1997. Greek national champion in jumping at junior and senior level, he won the Balkan Championship in 1973. Greatly involved with sports administration, he was elected President of the first riding club in Greece as well as the Hellenic Equestrian Federation at is foundation in 1990. He remained in this position for 11 years. He chaired the Organizing Committee of the 1994 European Junior Jumping Championship and of CSIO-W Athens for eight years. Mr. Serpieri presided over the International Olympic Academy, the education branch of the International Olympic Committee with its headquarters in Ancient Olympia for four years. He participates in the administration of other sports, such as athletics, yachting and modern pentathlon. From 2000 to 2004 he was second Vice President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee and is still an NOC member.

HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan is the daughter of the late King Hussein of Jordan and wife of HH General Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashin Al Matoum, Crown Prince of Dubai. She has been riding internationally since the age of 13. In 1992 she won the individual bronze show jumping medal at the seventh Pan Arab Games, and the following year was elected Jordan?s ?Athlete of the Year?. Following several years of intense training in Germany and Ireland she qualified for and participated in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and also the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera. HRH Princess Haya is member of the IOC Athletes and Culture and Olympic Education Commissions and President and founder of the International Jordanian Athletes Cultural Association. She is the first Arab and first woman to ever become a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Program.

HRH Princess Benedikte is the younger sister of HM Queen Margarethe II of Denmark. She is the current patron of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, which provides a key link between the breeders and international equestrian sport. A knowledgeable breeder herself, she has bred two approved stallions for Dansk Varmblod (Danish Warmblood). Her daughter Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleberg is an international dressage rider and a member of the Danish National Equestrian Team with a horse bred by HRH Princess Benedikte.

The presentation of Freddy Serpieri focused on leading through experience, highlighting his years as Vice President and the first-hand knowledge of the FEI that this carries. He affirmed his commitment to a modernization process and promised to provide a solution to the restrictions imposed on the global movement of horses. During a period of transition he envisioned, Mr. Serpieri commented that his experience and knowledge of the FEI would be invaluable. He said his candidacy was motivated by his love for equestrian sport and proposed that his nomination be endorsed for the forthcoming four years, after which he planned to retire.

HRH Highness Princess Haya began by saying that the motto of her candidacy was that ?Strength Comes Through Unity?. She continued by saying that her presentation was the result of a comprehensive study of the FEI compared to other sporting bodies and said that there was no reason why the FEI should not be able to reap the rewards that other federations enjoy. Princess Haya said that she had considered each of the top 10 sports in the world in the past 10 years, where did equestrian sport rank and what had made the other federations so successful. There was no doubt, according to Princess Haya?s conclusions, that equestrian sport lags behind the rest of the world, although she felt that success could be achieved in a relatively short time. But how does sport become a business without destroying the inherent traditions? Taking a strategic rather than a tactical view avoided vagaries and she provided six self-imposed targets based on what she felt were the six pillars that supported the FEI: governance, the National Federations, development, welfare, communications and the IOC. All pillars should be viewed with equal importance and must represent the interests of each and every National Federation.

With regard to FEI governance, Princess Haya felt that the essential centerpiece was the modernization process, and while protecting the future, stagnation was the greatest enemy. She insisted that the National Federations must embrace modernization and the perspective that the FEI staff work from an ivory tower should be obliterated.

National Federations: There should be open and transparent debate on issues that affect us all. The reason for courses of action must be communicated so the thought and dialogue processes would be comprehensible to all the National Federations. She also pledged that she would secure sponsorship for a global IT system that would connect all the National Federations during the coming 12 months.

Stating that development involved equal access while achievement and real action required more funds, Princess Haya again pledged to raise ?a great deal of money for this pillar in order to develop the universality? of equestrian sport.

The welfare issue is unique in equestrian sport and Princess Haya reiterated that the FEI required tighter anti-doping rules in order to silence the cynics and increase public endorsement of our sport. ?The rules must be tough but fair.? Transportation and the problems of quarantine also need to be addressed.

Communication perhaps requires the greatest change because ?sponsors and TV are not queuing up!? Princess Haya once again pledged to raise considerable funds to create a ?long-lasting legacy for horse sport? in the wake of success already achieved by Doña Pilar during her presidency.

On the question of the IOC, Princess Haya commented on her deep-rooted involvement with various committees and their ideological goals from which the Olympic movement will grow. She quoted IOC President Jacques Rogge by saying ?the horse is the only amateur left in the Olympic Games.? With regard to the existing Olympic disciplines, Princess Haya categorically denied any rumours that eventing would be sacrificed for the sake of any alternative (i.e. the endurance sport so enjoyed at world-class level by her husband). She also stated that the IOC had supported her candidacy unequivocally.

In conclusion she promised that she would raise 10 million Swiss francs by next year?s FEI General Assembly and would have the equestrian disciplines raised from a Category C to a Category B sport by 2012. ?I have never promised anything I can?t deliver and plan to lead by personal example.?

HRH Princess Benedikte?s presentation revolved around a four-step program with the goal of achieving greater transparency and accountability. ?I believe I can bring a fresh and external perspective to the role. Sometimes in any organization one needs to take a deep breath and to look at a situation with a new pair of eyes. Now is that time.? A rather pregnant pause was followed by an obvious reference to Princess Haya?s youth. ?In time of course we will need a new and younger generation to take over. But we cannot run before we can walk.?

Having prior knowledge of the other candidates manifestos, Princess Benedikte pointedly referred to the old (Freddy Serpieri) and the young (Princess Haya) and said she would satisfactorily bridge that gap with more business thinking and focus less on monetary issues. ?I have heard a lot about money and less about equestrian sport. I have to say that money alone is not the solution for our sport at this time. Over many years as an international fundraiser I know that nothing comes for free. But, as a responsible President of an international federation I could never allow our sport to be sold-out for promises of money! [?] So, where would I like equestrian sport to be in five years time? I would like it to be acknowledged as a sport that is strong, growing and developing under the guidance of not the biggest and richest ­but the smartest international federation. A federation which you and I can feel proud of.?

Despite her extremely articulate presentation and strong arguments for positive change, it was obvious after the first vote that her message did not strike many chords among the FEI federations.

Princess Haya appeared jubilant when Freddy Serpieri conceded following the second ballot and in her acceptance speech said ?I promise to do everything in my power and to work tirelessly to serve the institution and the people who have done me the honor of placing their trust and believe in me. Our beautiful, noble sport is seeped in tradition, history and grace, and I will do all I can to protect and advance it, in all its forms.?

In terms of the plan to raise the promised 10 million Swiss francs over the coming 12 months Princess Haya said; ?The strategy is to find supporters and sponsors of the FEI, and working very closely with the Commercial Department to make that happen.?

Obviously, a great many people will be watching very closely in the coming months to see how the 32-year-old Princess will respond to the pressures and demands of revitalizing a federation that has had more than its fair share of crises over the past decade.

Around 350 delegates representing the National Federations affiliated to the FEI, riders, event organizers, the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), the 2006 Asian Games and 2007 Pan American Games, equestrian media and sponsors convened at the Sunway Lagoon Hotel. It is the first time that an FEI convention of this scope was held in South East Asia.

PhelpsSports.Com Is Coming In August!!

Look for the debut of PhelpsSports.com in late August. PhelpsSports.com, a new and highly innovative subscription equestrian sports website, will offer equestrians and fans of equestrian sports from around the world, a single web address for the latest breaking news of the Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, Eventing and other High Performance disciplines. The website will include up to the minute audio reports, live video interviews and unique features from around the globe, photography, and the creative writing and reporting of some of the finest equestrian journalists in the world.

This report from Jean Llewellyn at the 2006 World Cup Finals in Malaysia is another preview provided by PhelpsSports.com. Look for the debut of this brand new, dynamic and exciting equestrian news website during the World Equestrian Games in August. PhelpsSports.com is going to change the standard of equestrian sports coverage on the Internet and will be your best source for up to the minute video, unique and personal audio interviews and late breaking news of the High Performance disciplines. Stay tuned!