Future of Olympic equestrian sport under threat

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Kate Green, H&H reporter in Hong Kong

THE president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has warned that the status of equestrian sports within the Olympic movement is precarious.

Princess Haya told H&H that despite the undoubtedly great sport and brilliant organisation of Hong Kong, there is no guarantee that horse sports can survive in the Olympics beyond 2012 — or even get that far — and could follow sports such as cricket and polo out of the Olympic door.

"The FEI has a huge fight to even get to 2012," explained Princess Haya, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the FEI's first elected president.

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Oman: Bashar emerges champion in 80-km endurance race

Omantribune.com

Muscat: As many as 17 riders participated in the first equestrian event organised by the Omani Equestrian Federation this season in Al Askharah. The 80-km race, which was divided into four stages, was held under the auspices of HE Hamed Bin Amor Al Kasbi, member of the Shura Council for the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali.

The horse Bashar with its rider Ali Bin Yousef Al Balushi, managed to finish the race in 5.39 hours. While the horse Makhawi with its rider Mohammed Bin Eisa Al Balushi finished the race in 5.43 hours and came second, the horse Hadir with its rider Mohammed Bin Habib Al Blaushi finished the race in 6.15 hours and came third.

The horse Zaim, with its rider Abdullah Ghulam Al Balushi came fourth and the horse Mazouna with its rider Hamad Bin Ali Al Balushi came
fifth.

On the sidelines of the race, a number of horse performances with 40 horses were also staged before dignitaries and equestrian races fans.

At the end of the race, the chief guest gave away awards to the winners. Mohammed Bin Eisa Al Fairouz, Chairman of the Omani Equestrian Federation also presented a memento to the chief guest.

Vet Preparations in Progress for World Equestrian Games

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: Erin Ryder, TheHorse.com News Editor
August 26 2008, Article # 12440

While the attention of most equine enthusiasts was turned to Hong Kong for the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, preparations were well under way for the next major international equine competition: the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

The World Equestrian Games are the championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and are held every four years. The 2010 Games at the Kentucky Horse Park mark the first time the event will be held outside of Europe, and it's also the first Games to include all eight disciplines at a single site.

With just two years to go, many of the plans to keep both the competing and local horses healthy are in their final stages.

Kent Allen, DVM, is serving as WEG's veterinary coordinator. Allen brings years of experience to the job, having served as the team veterinarian for the U.S. Equestrian Team and as vice-chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee. Allen was the veterinary coordinator for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and was the foreign veterinary delegate for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

But nothing he's done rivals the scale of the upcoming WEG. "An Olympics is a small horse show compared to this," Allen said...

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Malaysia: 2008 WEC nominated entry list

36 countries (Federations) have filed their list of nominated entries, which is a 'long' list of riders and horses selected based upon eligibility and preference. The final competition squads which will travel to Malaysia for the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship will be selected (by their respective countries) from the nominated entry list with a maximum of 6 squad members per country. Malaysia, as the host nation, will be allowed to field a squad of 12 riders.

36 countries in total have submitted Nominated Entry Lists. 24 countries are participating with a Team (3 or more entries). 12 countries are participating with Individuals. The maxium riders participating will be 150.

Full listing of nominated entries

Riders brave camels and cold

REG BURTON
28/08/2008 4:00:00 AM

AT 6.30am with the temperature at 9 degrees and a stiff breeze blowing, 11 resilient riders and their hardy camels set off in the inaugural Australian camel endurance race, the Sheikh Zayed Camel Endurance Race.

The 120km race was run over two days around a 7km circuit on the banks and in the bed of the Flinders River, Hughenden.

John Richardson, Emerald took the major prize just 12 minutes ahead of his nephew, Rowan Richardson, with veteran camel trainer Glenda Sutton, Darwin, taking third.

The race carried prize money of $50,000 donated by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, ruler of Abu Dabbi and Sheikh of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Named in honour of the founder of the UAE, the current sheikh’s father, it is the feature event of the Arid Lands Festival.

It is not unusual that a western community like Hughenden would stage an Arid Lands Festival. What is unusual is that the idea came from the UAE.

Organiser and president of the Arid Lands Festival committee, Paddy McHugh, said the idea was suggested to him by a vet who was working for Sheikh Zayed.

The vet suggested that a festival in Australia incorporating a major camel endurance race may be a good idea.

Mr McHugh had been on one of several trips to the UAE delivering Australian camels to that Arab state and on his return decided to pursue the idea.

Sixteen months later the inaugural Arid Lands Endurance race for camels in Australia took off.

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Tuanku Mizan Wins Pahang-PENN 100km Endurance Challenge 2008

Bernama.com

August 24, 2008 16:47 PM

KUANTAN, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin emerged champion at the Pahang-PENN 100km Endurance Challenge which ended at the Cherating here Sunday.

Tuanku Mizan astride Magna Thor took 8 hours 17 minutes and 49 seconds to finish ahead of the other riders in the gruelling race.

Asri Abd Aziz came in second in 8'17:55s while Datuk Mohd Shuaib Ishak was third in 8'21:14s.

Shamsuddin Ab Roni won the 60km category in 4'42:51s with Yusnar Yusup (4'42:52s) and Mohd Azhar Ariffin (4'59:33s) were second and third respectively.

In the 20km category, M. Syafiq Hakimi was first in 1'40:01s followed by Datuk Mokhtar Haron (1'40:02s) and Rosli Endut (1'40:03s).

His Majesty's team, Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable also won the team category in the 100km endurance while Magna Thor was named the best horse.

-- BERNAMA

Tuanku Mizan Competes In Pahang-Penn Endurance Challenge 2008

Malaysia.news.yahoo.com

Bernama - Sunday, August 24

KUANTAN, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin together with 76 participants began the inaugural Pahang-Penn Endurance Challenge 2008 at Pantai Cherating near here this evening.

In the competition that began at 4pm, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was astride horse 'Magna Thor' and wore a jersey with the number '101'

Tuanku Mizan who represents the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES) team is up against two other teams, Darul Iman Endurance Team (DIET) and Bunga Raya, in the 100km category race.

The competition, in which each team has four members, is expected to take 12 hours and 30 minutes and Tuanku Mizan is expected to finish at 6am tomorrow.

The 60km category is participated by six teams which are Ar-Raudah, Presco Endurance, PDRM C, Kiara A, Bunga Cempaka and Island Horses.

KING-ENDURANCE 2 (LAST) KUANTAN

Teams Kiara C, Kiara B, Kiara D, RTES, Presco Endurance, PDRM A and PDRM B are in the 20km category race.

The 60km race is expected to take 10 hours and the 20km race three hours and 30 minutes. The competition is attended by about 1,000 spectators to watch the beginning of the races as well as to have an outing with their families.

--BERNAMA