Quarantine a key issue in resuming Australia horse imports

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Story

March 26, 2008

by Neil Clarkson

Quarantine issues remain a significant hurdle as New Zealand moves towards resuming imports from Australia.

Horse imports from Australia have been suspended since late August in the wake of the equine influenza outbreak in New South Wales and Queensland.

A massive control effort costing more than $A100 million has eradicated all known cases, but the country must remain free of the disease until at least late this year before it can formally be considered clear of EI.

More...

Spain: Endurance Race to Come Through Jimena

Jimenapulse.wordpress.com

by prospero

Riding and horse fans will be pleased to hear that the III Tierras de Al-Andalus Kaliber Endurance Race is scheduled to come through Jimena on Wednesday, April 2nd on their way to Ronda in one of several stages of the race.

Known in Spanish as raid, this particular race is considered unique in the riding world because of its specifications. Starting in Seville tomorrow, it will end in La Beata on April 5th.

More...

Al Muhairi brothers make it a family affair in 120-km ride

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter

Photo - Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News

Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presents the trophy to Al Muhairi in Abu Dhabi. Adnan Sultan of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (left) and Lara Sawaya of Tasweeq and other winners are also shown.

Abu Dhabi: Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi and his younger brother Thani Al Muhairi finished 1-2 in the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Challenge Two 120-km endurance ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village here on Saturday.

Ali, who is the Racing Manager for Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, had earlier in the season finished behind his younger brother.

Even yesterday, Ali on Garaman Mikado was in second place behind Thani but a fiercely-contested final loop in which two of the UAE's best performers- Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi and Omair Hussain Al Beloushi were also there - left the elder of the siblings crossing the finish line first.

Determined effort

Omair, on Sharahd Sataka, and Yousuf on Estaban were in third and sixth places when they went out on the final loop. Both launched a determined effort on the Al Muhairi brothers and Ali took up the challenge while Thani decided to just keep going at a steady pace.

Ali, Omair and Yousuf were involved in a close battle and with speeds crossing 30km/h for the final loop, Ali managed to finish ahead of Omair with Thani in third and Yousuf in fourth.

However, both Omair and Yousuf's horses failed the final vet check which allowed Thani Mohammad Al Muhairi to finish second behind his elder brother.

Ali Mohammad, who had finished second to his younger brother in Dubai, had finished third in the three-day 240-km ride in Boutheib and finally won on the last day of the UAE's domestic endurance season.

"It was a tough ride and because of the two Al Reef riders, we really had to push hard on the final loop. We are very happy with these results and also on the whole season," said Ali, who is also an endurance horse trainer with yesterday's top two coming from his stables.

Earlier in the morning, a total of 126 horses started in the five-stage 120-km ride which had a total prize money of Dh400,000 and a luxury car on offer for the top riders.

Yesterday's ride was attended by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai ,and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

Results

1. Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi (Garaman Mikado) 4hrs 35mins 38 secs;
2. Thani Mohammad Al Muhairi (Karabil Kaiya Hai) 4:41.52;
3. Mohammad Ahmad Ali Al Subose (Kamel Armor) 4:51.36;
4. Ali Ganem Al Merri (Little Joe Fox) 4:55.21;
5. Abdullah Thani Bin Huzaim (Ro Acuarela) 4:58.09.


[More ...]

Abu Dhabi: Over 100 riders for final event in Al Wathba

Gulfnews.com - Full Story

Abu Dhabi: Friday's Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge 120-km endurance ride has attracted over 100 riders and will bring the curtain down on the 2007-08 endurance season here at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Sponsorship

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said that apart from the 120-km Open ride a Qualifier Ride will also be held.

"There will be a total prize money of...

More...

South Africa: AMI DE WET CHALLENGE

PO Box 3583, Pinegowrie, 2123
Tel (011) 380-3780
Fax 086 616 8495
E-mail: mprwoods@mweb.co.za


RIDE REPORT: 9 FEBRUARY 2008
AMI DE WET CHALLENGE

It is indeed a pleasure to submit the following as a report on the first of our rides held at Bosparadys Farm, the 6th annual ride presented by our club.

In my view and in the view of everybody that I spoke to the ride was a tremendous success. Johannie Geldenhuys summed it up best when she described the ride as one which 'we almost got fully right".

I do agree that there was certain aspects which require fixing up but these issues have been identified and will be sorted out prior to the next ride.

The ride would never have taken place without the hard work as also donations from various individuals and it is necessary to thank everybody concerned at this point.

I want to first and foremost thank the owner of the farm, Mr William Khoury for the tremendous work he put in to construct the magnificent ride base from which we hosted the ride.

A very big thank you must go out to all the members of the club committee who nearly broke their backs working on the horse kampies, on the ride base and out on the course.

We must also thank the committee of the Bakubung ba RATHEO qua Molete Communial Property Association for allowing us to make use of their beautiful land which borders Bosparadys for purposes of the ride.

A further very big thank you must also go out to our sponsors. In this regard we thank Suzette Ferreira of our Club who is the Creative Director of Annique Beauty Products. Thank you Suzette for once again coming to the party and providing superb gifts.

We then have our members whom I regularly tap for donations. I would like to once again thank Monique Woods, Antony Ball, Oscar Lockwood, Danie Ferreira, Pieter Burger, Hurbey and Johannie Geldenhuys, Nick van Rooyen and Johan Nel and Kobus Lombard as also a number of other donors who are not endurance riders for their very generous contributions to the Club again this year. It is sincerely appreciated and really helps us out every year financially. Tjaart de Wet also obtained a wonderful sponsored gift of imported sunglasses for which we are grateful.

A big thank you must also go out to all our officials who worked very hard on the ride. Leon de Wit as Ride Master once again prepared a very thorough evaluation and delivered sound advice. Alan Spreadborough and Graham Pickett were terrific with regards to the timekeeping. Dr Marc Walton our Club Vet, once again put together a highly professional team of veterinary surgeons in the form of Dr Paul van Dam, Dr Franza Keizer, Dr Hertjie and Dr Leslie van Niekerk, Dr Lisa du Plessis and Dr Clint Austin. A big thank you must go out to all these fabulous vets who over the years have grown into firm friends of the Club (indeed members) and whose treatment of the riders and horses are sincerely appreciated, and was of the highest calibre.

I would also like to mention good friends of ours - the Doywers of Platorand.
We would like them to know how grateful we are in the Club to them in that they have always supported our rides in big numbers and we really appreciate the effort put in by Juanita and van Dyn in this regard. It is always a pleasure to welcome them, their family and friends and club members to our rides.

A wonderful sponsor in the form of Abdullah bin Huzain, a trainer at Nad Alsheba Endurance Stable, one of Shaik Mohommed’s stables in Dubai donated R22 000,00 in prizes for the 80km and 120km Standard Weight Divisions.

I also wish to thank Monique Woods who as we all know is very passionate about Best Condition and she has for many years sponsored the Best Conditioned horse category prize. This year she once again donated R5 000,00 for Best Conditioned Horse of the Ride which was split between the 80 and 120kms rides Natasha Herbst and Johannie Geldenhuys were the individual winners in this regard. Notwithstanding that it was our first ride from this ride base I once again reiterate that I am of the view that it was a great ride.

The following were the results:


CATEGORY 105KMS

First Place: Zuan Pelser of Platurand on Arkab Valjean

2nd CATEGORY: 120KMS – STANDARD WEIGHT

First Place: Johannie Geldenhuys on Phuka Connae-sa of Mogale
Second Place: Zuber Master of Ottersdaal on El Sajyaa
Third Place: Leonie van Niewenhuizen of Platurand on Jaybee Morrat

3rd CATEGORY: 120KMS – LIGHT WEIGHT

First Place: Nelson Mavundla on Rassie of Mogale

4TH CATEGORY: 120KMS – JUNIOR

First Place: Ronel van Niewenhuysen of Platurand on Jauhar Amal
Second Place: Louise Kolbee of Platurand on Arkab Akrab

5th CATEGORY: 81.7 KMS HEAVY WEIGHT

First Place: Antony Ball of Mogale
Second Place: T. Eloff
Third Place: J. Kasselman of Ottersdaal
Fourth Place: Arnie Dietrich of Mogale

Ami de Wet Snr and Honourary Mogale Member and in whose honour we ride this race came 10th

6th CATEGORY: 81.7kms STANDARD WEIGHT

First Place: Natasha Herbst of Mogale
Second Place: Nancy Gombalt of Mogale
Third Place: Susan Wilhelm of Premier
Fourth Place: Bernise Binet of Mogale
Fifth Place: Inika Thirion

7TH CATEGORY: 81.7KMS LIGHT WEIGHT

First Place: Jannie Engelbrecht of Mogale
Second Place: K. Lockwood of Mogale
Third Place: Jana Fick

8TH CATEGORY: 81.7kms JUNIORS

First Place: Annake van Heerden
Second Place: Georgina Lockwood of Mogale
Third Place: Ilinza Benning
Fourth Place: Zuan Rademan
Fifth Place: Stephanie Lockwood of Mogale
Sixth Place: Sarie Scheepers of Mogale

9TH CATEGORY: 81.7kms CHILD RIDERS

First Place: Elisa Venter

There seem to be a lot of trap leer riders and to my surprise not enough Mogale Members. Please take note and support your club at its rides. It is very important that you partake. There were shortcomings in the form of administration, start/finish line etc. but these have been identified and will be worked on and rectified by the time the next ride comes around.

Keep in touch with ride results and interesting titbits during the year and remember to visit our website: www.mogaleclub.co.za for regular updates and info.

The aspect that I receive the most compliments of during the ride was on the course. In this regard a very special thank you must go out to Hurbey and Johannie Geldenhuys. I believe that between the two of them, with a little help from other people, they have designed the finest endurance course in the country. Many days, not hours, were put into this by Hurrbey and Johannie and on behalf of all the Club Members and indeed every other ERASA member who had the honour to ride this course, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to them for this wonderful, imaginative, superb, testing course which I am told by every rider I spoke to was an absolute delight to ride.

I would also like to take this opportunity to state we have a number of new members and their ride numbers are as follows:

Anthony Botes-----------TM5904
Wilma Botes-------------TM5905
Billy Botes-------------TM5906
Zannie du Preez---------TM5505
Wilma Martindale--------TM2522
Stafford Robinson-------TM3831
Janie Engelbrecht-------TM4994
Cindy Nel---------------TM5856
Wendy Smallman----------TM5163
Ryno Verster------------TM3958
Pieter van Heerden------TM3226
Dirk Pretorius----------TM5977
Len Nel-----------------TM5978

I wish all of our members the best of luck for the rest of the season and sincerely hope that all your horses come through unscathed.

Lekker ry,
Tony

Australia's horse industry open for international trade

Horsetalk.co.nz

March 20, 2008

Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Andy Carroll has extended an open invitation to international trading partners following the announcement that the country is provisionally free of equine influenza (EI).

"I invite our trading partners to visit and see first hand our success in eradicating equine influenza and ongoing surveillance," Dr Carroll said.

"I'm pleased to say several international markets have already re-opened their doors to Australian horse exports.

"The open invitation allows international trading representatives to satisfy themselves that Australian horses are in top health and fit for export.

"International trade is crucial to Australia's horse industry and authorities will be working closely with industry representatives and trading partners to re-open important markets.

"We should be proud of the eradication result. Australia has well established arrangements to deal with disease outbreaks and EI presented the largest ever test of these arrangements."

Close to 10,000 properties in Australia were infected and all horses are now recovered.

"Active surveillance has not found any new infected horses since December," Dr Carroll said.

"We are now working towards securing international recognition as being free from equine influenza. To satisfy World Animal Health Organization requirements, Australia will be maintaining our highly effective surveillance system so we can continue to prove that we remain free from equine influenza."

More...

Australia: Victoria's First Endurance Ride Post-Influenza

Press Release
Tonimbuk Gold Cup Inc

Melbourne, Victoria, 14/3/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Person: Helen Ward
Company Name: Tonimbuk Gold Cup Inc

Telephone: 0438 59 4285

Email: hiward@bigpond.com

Victorian endurance riders give course the thumbs up

Riders and organisers have hailed Victoria's first endurance ride following Australia's crippling equine influenza outbreak a raging success largely due to the fantastic course.

The 80 km ride which forms part of the 2009 Tom Quilty course commenced at Yarrabubba Reserve, Nar Nar Goon (about 1 hour south east of Melbourne) and traversed roads and tracks throughout the picturesque countryside of the Bunyip State Park and surrounds.

Without exception, riders gave the course the thumbs up. Equal first in the middleweight division, Meg Wade from Castlebar Arabian Endurance Horses rated the track as great. "Much of the course passed through bush providing cover and shade for horses and riders. It was well marked, checkpoints well placed and good under foot," she said.

Jennifer Green from Flying Circus Endurance Horses agreed. "The course was horse and rider friendly. It provided a variety of terrain, it was safe with wide trails and all weather surfaces under foot."

Event organiser, Lissy Verity was delighted with the response and turnout. "It was a great start to the 2008 endurance riding season. Over 50 riders competed. They were given the choice to compete in the 80 km or 40 km ride and it worked out at about 50/50," she said. "There were several first timers which was great to see, but the vast majority of entries were from experienced riders just keen to get back into it.

Crossing the line first in the Lightweight Division with line honors was Belinda Kolek riding Colhaven Zaheera (4hrs.26min), second was Amily Daw on China Doll (4hrs.44min) and third was Shandal Bengtsson riding Kedarona Kliche (5hrs.34min). Amily also took out the Best Conditioned award.

Meg Wade on Castlebar Balik and James Sheehan riding Woodbourne Edmund took out the Middleweight Division in equal first place completing the course in 4hrs.28 min. Asher Batty on Tierview Maverick placed third in 4hrs.44min.

The Heavyweight Division saw Ken Bradley on Phoenix Park Epona placed first (5hrs.02), Martin Mizzi riding Sutket Farm Damareef second (5hrs.20min) and Carl Adamson on Bowzatus third (5hrs.40min).

Budding 12 year old endurance rider Nikita VerspannDonk stole the show. "On her first 40 km ride she rode the whole way bareback," said Ms Verity. Not surprisingly Nikita received the Tonimbuk Gold Cup Inc Encouragement award.

The majority or horses vetted through despite the hot, dry conditions on the day; a testament to the courage, ability and stamina of the horses, the majority of which were Arabian, and the skill and strategy of the rider.

"Many used this event as a training ride following the recent layoff," said seasoned endurance rider, Bob Punicki from Brieema Endurance Arabians. "The course was not to hard and not to easy. It provided an opportunity for horses that were not 100 per cent fit to compete on a good course that offered variety, was good under foot with minimum bitumen and plenty of shade."

There was a really good vibe at this ride according to Jennifer Green. "Everyone seemed delighted to be back doing what we love, whether that be riding, strapping, TPRing, vetting or doing one of the other 101 tasks essential for a successful ride," she said. "It was so good to catch up with everyone after such a long lay off, to just stand around talking horse with old friends and new ones too."

It was then time to head home and reflect, not only on the results but also on the entire experience. And in particular on our wonderful horses whose stamina, beauty and character are unequalled.