USA: USEF Announces Rider/Horse Combinations to Compete at HH President’s Cup CEI*** Endurance Competition

USEF Release

February 06 2008

By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY -The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) recently received an invitation to name three of our best Rider/Horse Combinations as candidates for participation in the H. H. The President’s Cup 160km Endurance Competition scheduled for February 16, 2008 in Abu Dhabi. The annual event brings together some of the world’s most competitive Endurance riders and horses. The Rider/Horse combinations recommended by the USEF and invited by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club are:

Name/Age/Hometown/Horse/Age/Breed/Sex/Owner

Kathy Brunjes/54/Bethel, ME/Theatric/10/Arabian/G/Rider

John Crandell III/45/Star Tannery, VA/H H Saba Shams/9/Arabian/G/Ann Crandell

Steve Rojek/62/South Woodstock, VT/Seyvilla Triproof/12/Arabian/G/Stephen and Dinah Rojek

The alternate combination is:

Ann Hall/51/Auburn, CA/Bogus Thunder/15/Arabian/G/Rider

For more information about the USEF and/or the sport of Endurance contact Endurance contact Vonita Bowers at vbowers@usef.org.

India: Britain wins gold and silver in endurance first for India - Feb 6 2008

Image by Caroline Moorey

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full story

Sophie Montagne, H&H endurance editor

A British endurance team took gold in Rajasthan's inaugural 50km International Invitational Endurance Championship on 28 January, the first of its kind in India.

Britain's Lesley-Ann Parker took individual gold and Fiona Griffiths silver, with Caroline Moorey and Bryony Dickins making up the rest of the team that fought off competition from France, Sri Lanka and India.

Lesley-Ann and Fiona led from the start...

More...

Endurance Britain helps Buckinghamshire rescue horses - Feb 5 2008

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full story

Endurance GB, the governing body for the sport of endurance riding in Great Britain, has donated £1000 to Redwings Horse Sanctuary to support the work that the charity is doing treating horses rescued from Spindles Farm in Amersham.

Following the biggest rescue operation ever mounted by combined charities...

More...

FEI Announces WEC Nominated and Definite Entries

Please Note: Revision on previous post regarding WEC Nominated and Definited Entry dates

FEI Press:

2008 FEI World Endurance Championship: Terengganu (MAS), 6-9 November 2008 05/02/2008

World titles will be up for renewal and grabs this year as the 12th FEI World Endurance Championship edge their way closer. Indeed, from 6 to 9 November 2008, Terengganu in Malaysia will be host to defending, aspiring and future World champions.

The nominated entry date and definite entry dates for the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship to be held from 6-9 November in Terengganu (MAS) are:

Nominated Entry: 21 August

Definite Entry: 1 October

These dates have been chosen in order to acknowledge combinations that have performed at the highest level over these last two years (FEI World Equestrian Games and FEI European Championships) and to also comply with the required time frame for quarantine issues into Malaysia.

And yet it seems it was only yesterday that Miguel Vila Urbach clenched the first Spanish individual World Endurance gold at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen with record attendance – while the French convincingly took team gold amid torrential rains and abundant smiles…

Australia: Clare's top of the class

Invernell Times
05 February 2008 - 9:54AM

Local high school teacher Clare Fleming has reached the top in the Queensland Endurance Riders Association pointscore for 2007.

Clare scored 36 points.

This ranked her as Queensland's most successful Lightweight Endurance Rider.

The next competitor, Karen Hamelink, scored 31.5 points.

Without a grey Arab gelding known as Mangueira Moksha and a dark bay mare known as Birramalee Queen of Hearts, Clare’s success would not have been possible.

Together, these two horses clocked up around 1000 kilometres doing competitive endurance rides last year.

Clare rides competitively, and usually finishes in the top five placegetters of a ride.

In 2007, she won the Lake Manchester Ride, the Spring Mountain Ride, the Bungawalbyn Forest Ride and the Eden Creek Ride.

Endurance riding originated in the United States , where cavalry horses where tested for strength over long distances, and came to Australia in around 1966.

It is the fastest growing equestrian sport in the world. It is hugely prestigious in the Middle East , where sheiks spend up big to enjoy the privilege of racing and riding their own horses.

Recently, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, hosted the world’s most valuable endurance race.

While Australia does not allow prize money, there are special awards for placegetters.

Clare emphasised that while endurance rides are a race, her main goal is to complete the ride with a sound, healthy horse.

In fact the motto of the Australian Endurance Riders Association is: "to complete is to win ".

UAE: Endurance ride for ladies to be held on Friday

Gulf News article
By M. Satya Narayan Staff Reporter
Published: February 04, 2008, 23:31

Photo: Sorouh Salem Juma Al Ketbi (left) President of Al Asayel Endurance village Organising committee and Lara Sawaya of Tasweeq announce the Endurance Ride at Al Asayel Endurance Village at Le Royal Meridien hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi: The Second Round of the Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Challenge endurance ride for ladies will be held on Friday and will be followed by two endurance courses for FEI judges at the Al Asayel Endurance Village (AAEV) in Sweihan, Abu Dhabi.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Salem Al Ketbi, AAEV Organising Committee President said Friday's event is expected to provide some exciting fare as the tussle for overall champion enters a crucial phase.

Friday's 100-km ride will get off to a mass start at 6.30am and the ride will be run in four loops of 30kms, 30kms, 24kms and 16kms. Two Qualifier rides will also be held on the same day.

"We have 14 lady riders from the 31 who started who will be looking to garner some more points in the three-round Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Challenge," he said.

Explaining the challenge, Lara Sawaya, Managing Director of Tasweeq, said "Winners of each round will gain 130 points apart from the first prize money of Dh 30,000.

Additionally, 50 Bonus Points for a rider completing all three Rounds of the Challenge and 100 Bonus Points for a rider that completes all three Rounds of the Challenge with the same horse will be awarded," Sawaya said.

"Another 45, 30 and 15 points respectively for the top three best conditioned horses will also be added while a Dh 10,000 award for the Best Conditioned Horse winner of each round is also on offer," she said.

The Al Asayel Endurance Village in association with the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation will also be holding two FEI Courses for Endurance Judges, the first time in the world it is being held only for women, announced Sawaya.

Ian Williams, Director of FEI Endurance will be conducting the courses.

"We have 14 lady riders from the 31 who started who will be looking to garner some more points in the three-round Challenge..."

USA: USEF to appoint Becky Hart as Endurance Chef d'Equip

Endurance.Net
February 4

The USEF High Performance Endurance committee has recommended Becky Hart as Endurance Chef' D Equipe for the USA. Pending final approval by the USEF Executive Committee, Ms. Hart will be at the helm of the International Endurance program. With sights on a USA medal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games which will be held in Kentucky, USA, Ms. Hart will be coaching USEF National Team Riders, and will be involved in developing an effective Endurance program for the USEF.

Becky Hart and RO Grand Sultan were among the USA's top performing horse and rider pairs, winning 3 consecutive Gold Medals at the 1988, 1990 and 1992 World Endurance Championships. Ms. Hart has been training winning endurance horses during the past decade as well as teaching equitation to riders.

Ms. Hart will be travelling to the UAE in February, as Chef d'Equipe for the USA riders that will be competing in the 2008 HH The President of UAE Endurance Cup. Steve Rojek riding Finch, John Crandell III riding HH Saba Shams (Sonny) the 2007 Tevis Cup winner, and Kathy Brunjes riding Theatric will be representing the USA in this classic desert challenge.