Omani riders make history

For the first time, Oman will be among countries taking part in the finals of the ‘World Cup of Endurance’ in Malaysia in November. The historic achievement comes after riders of Royal Cavalry passed the distant phases of the French Rambuillet Race. This race qualifies contestants for the World Cup of Endurance. Sami Said Al Balushi who skilfully rode the mare ‘Luwana’ and Mohmood Marhoon Alfori, riding the mare ‘Khalifat’ passed the six race phases with unmatched success. The total distance of the phases is 160km. Well-known riders and horses of the endurance world took part in the French race.

Mexico: Endurance Orieantal, Puebla 2008

ENDURANCE ORIENTAL, PUEBLA 2008
Club Hípico de Teziutlán, Pue. y El Comité Mexicano de Endurance Ecuestre
Invita a su competencia anual de endurance del Estado de Puebla


Invitación a todos los amantes del caballo

Fecha: Sábado 12 y Domingo 13 de Julio de 2008
Lugar: Hotel Hacienda de Santiago Texmelucan
categorías:

40 km,
60 km, y
Ruta de 20 km para promoción
Premios:

A los tres primeros lugares de cada categoría y a los mejores caballos on mejor condición física.
Actividades:

Sábado 10 de Julio: Junta informativa, registro de jinetes, revisi´n de la ruta e inspección veterinaria.

Domingo 13 de Julio: Competencia y entrega de Premios y reconocimientos.
Contactos:

Ricardo Galán
ricardo.galan64@gmail.com
cel. 231-329-0083

Mauricio Orozco
mau_orozco@hotmail.com
cel. 231-108-2765

Hotel Hacienda Texmelucan
cel 222-323-8310

Comité Mexicano de Endurance Ecuestre

Habrá actividades dentro de la Hacienda para toda la familia.




Australia: Sheik gambles on WA horse 'super breed'

photo:TYCOON'S VISION: Members of the Mulan community repair fences in preparation for catching an Arab oil billionaire's 'super breed' horses near Lake Gregory.

Glenn Cordingley

June 14, 2008 06:00pm

A HORSE-MAD oil sheik billionaire has started flying wild mares and stallions from remote WA to Dubai to create a "super breed" of endurance racehorse.
Thirteen of the animals have arrived at plush stables in the United Arab Emirates from Lake Gregory, south of Halls Creek in the Kimberley.

The deputy ruler of Dubai, Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, sent his personal Australian veterinarian Alan Post to hand-pick them for breeding and racing.

He was alerted to their plight by a website _ www.wildhorseskimberley.com _ run by Broome woman Libby Lovegrove.

Mr Post said the horses, previously regarded as pests and sold for pet food at $20 a head, could spark a stampede of orders from other cashed-up Gulf stables if they did well.

"The boss hasn't seen this lot yet (from Australia) because he's away, but if he likes them he will send us back for more," Mr Post told The Sunday Times from Dubai.

They will initially be used for the popular sport of endurance racing, covering distances of between 120km to 160km.

"They are thoroughbred types with a dash of Arab with good strong hearts, something which is probably genetic and passed on from original bloodlines," Mr Post said.

"We will start racing them this year and when the females are retired, we will start a breeding program."

He said the sport was "massive" in Dubai because sheiks could compete.

"They don't have to be expert riders or be the weights of jockeys," he said.

"It's something they can do themselves and their children can do as part of something they are passionate about."

The tycoon owns thousands of horses and spends much of his time in England for big-ticket racing events.

Ms Lovegrove, an ardent animal rights campaigner, said it was a potential breakthrough after three years of hard work.

"This is wonderful news that could guarantee the future of the horses and provide a form of revenue for the three Aboriginal communities around Lake Gregory," she said.

"Hopefully, if the sheik is happy with them he'll take more and thus prove the value of these horses."

Ms Lovegrove started her website after visiting the area with Margaret River equine veterinarian Sheila Greenwell.

Her research has indicated that many of the horses are descendants of thoroughbred Arab horses, taken to the Balgo and Kalumburu missions by priests looking to breed and sell them in the 1930s.

Some were used as stock horses on cattle stations, but were released into the wild when replaced by motorcycles and helicopters.

"Today, these beautiful horses (palominos, buckskins, chestnuts and paints) roam the wild gorges, rainforests and parklands of the northern Kimberley," Ms Lovegrove said.

The Paruku (Lake Gregory) indigenous protected area is a wetland of national and international importance, covering about 270,000ha in the northern Great Sandy Desert.

Perth Now - full article

Old Dominion: Race will test horses, riders

NVDaily.com - full article

photo: Ronald Miller of Jerome jogs his horse, Olympia, in a vet check Friday afternoon to qualify for today's Old Dominion endurance race. photo-Rich Cooley/Daily

By Sally Voth -- Daily Staff Writer

ORKNEY SPRINGS — A few dozen riders are expected to set off at dawn this morning for what could be 24 hours in the saddle.

They are part of the annual Old Dominion 100 Mile Endurance Ride, which will loop from Orkney Springs to Wardensville, W.Va., and back. Scores more will be taking part in 25- and 55-mile rides.

On Friday afternoon, an open space along Happy Valley Road had been turned into a large encampment of trailers, tractors, trucks, horses, riders and veterinarians.

As of Friday afternoon, 32 of the 167 riders were signed up for the 100-mile portion of the Old Dominion Endurance Ride. The remainder will take part in one of the shorter rides.

For the first time in the ride's history, dating back to the mid-1970s, the race starts in Orkney Springs, on land owned by Bryce Resort, ride manager Joe Selden said. Previously, horses and riders set off from Leesburg and, more recently, Front Royal.

"We outgrew the national 4-H Center in Front Royal," Selden said. "There just wasn't room for this many trailers and trucks and people and horses."

One of the members of Old Dominion Endurance Rides Inc. is an Orkney Springs resident, he said.

"He suggested that we look around here because the trails were so nice," Selden said.

The club likes the spot of its base camp so much, it's negotiating a lease with Bryce Resort, he said.

Riders have up to 24 hours to complete the 100-mile route, which has veterinary stops about every 12 miles, Selden said.

"We don't want injured horses," he said. "We don't want horses getting sick because it's a lot of work."

While "it's not like everybody galloping hell-bent for leather down the trail," until the final half-mile, it definitely is a race, Selden said.

"It's a speed contest," he said. "The speed itself is one horse, one rider competing against the trail. The motto of the sport is 'to finish is to win.' You don't have to be the first to feel good. It's a competition against the clock and against the trail."

Those riding 100 miles are setting out this morning at 5:30 a.m., followed by those going 55 miles at 7 a.m. and the 25-milers an hour later.

Competitors have come from every eastern state, Selden said, and two are from Canada. Shrine Mont is providing the participants' food.

Selden said the rides are open to any equine — and he does mean any — age 5 or older.

"We have horses, we have mules, and one year we had a zebra," he said.

Generally, about 40 percent of riders who start the 100 miles finish, Selden said.

His wife, Nancy Smart, is the other ride manager. While she's not riding in this race, she's done the endurance ride in the past.

"It's enormously thrilling, and you get going on such endorphins that you think you're Wonder Woman and can do anything," Smart said. "The horses are very well-conditioned to do this. It's a hard sport, and it takes an enormous amount of dedication and work on the part of the rider and the horse."

Head veterinarian Dennis Seymore, from northeast Texas, has been working endurance races for 22 years. Vets will regularly check the horses for lameness and metabolic problems, Seymore said.

"I think it's a great sport," he said. "You can meet people from all over the United States, lot of camaraderie."

Angelique Miller and her husband, Ronald, of Jerome, are riding the 25-mile course.

"I enjoy the sport," she said. "I enjoy seeing the trails. They take really good care of their horses in this sport."

Mrs. Miller encouraged her husband to sign up for the ride.

"She made me," he laughed.

* Contact Sally Voth at svoth@nvdaily.com

Malaysia: Edaran Endurance Classic 2008

Edaran Endurance Classic Draws 150 Participants

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11
(Bernama)

About 150 participants have confirmed participation in the Edaran Endurance Classic (EEC) 2008 at the International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Terengganu on June 26.

The participants for the three-day event are from Australia, France, New Zealand, Russia, Italy, Bahrain and Brazil.

The tournament's organising committee chairman, Datuk Abdul Hamid Mustapha said Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin would also participate in the EEC.

"Tuanku Mizan will participate in the 160km ride, which is his favourite event," he told reporters here.

He said the EEC would feature four individual and team events in the 160km, 120km, 80km and 40 km ride.

Abdul Hamid said the main events would be the 160km ride which gave riders the opportunity to obtain their Certificate of Competitiveness (COC) for the World Endurance Championship (WEC) to be held on Nov 9, at the same place.

"The organising of this year's EEC is part of the preparation for the WEC 2008 which Malaysia is hosting for the first time," he added.

The WEC is held every four years.

Abdul Hamid said so far, only five Malaysians, including Tuanku Mizan, were eligible to participate in the WEC.

The others are Datuk Kamaruddin Ab. Ghani, Abdul Halil Alihan, Mohd Shuaib Ishak and Rosdan Mohd Nor.

Bernama.com

Mosti/Baja De Piboul Capture Rambouillet

2008 Raid Yvelines Bhrain Cup AMA Elite GP

Laurent Mosti and Baja de Piboul

First to Finish

Complete Coverage

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Van Wijk and Latino Capture Dutch Championship!

Jannet Van Wijk on Latino of The Netherlands race to the finish of the 2008 Dutch National Championship 160km Race moments ahead of Michaela Kosel on Black Shetan of Germany. Ms Van Wijk and Latino are the Champions of the Day, followed in completion by a trio of German riders.

The beautiful weather and excellent venue provided a suitable context for this very competitive championship event!

[Full Coverage on www.enduranceEurope.net]