Australia: Country music star joins Quilty endurance lineup

Australia's renowned Tom Quilty endurance ride will this year host 150 horses and riders including two from the US - as well as the one of the country's up-and-coming country music stars.

Dean Johnston is on his way to Nashville, Tennessee to perform at the famous annual Fan Fair, but on the way will stop off to perform at the Quilty, at Nanango on September 18, and will also entertain guests at the closing night dinner on Sunday September 21 at the Nanango Cultural Centre.
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Malaysia WEC: Havens Horsefeed 'Official Supplier' World Endurance Championship Terangganu

Press release
August 2008

The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 (www.malaysia-wec.com) will be held in Malaysia from November 6 – 9th. The WEC 2008 will be staged at the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) in Lembah Bidong, 25km north of Kuala Terengganu on the South Chinese Sea. In total 150 riders from 36 countries will compete at the bi-annual WEC, that was held earlier in Aachen (2006) and Dubai (2004).

The WEC 2008-Organising Committee has named HAVENS Horsefeed from the Netherlands ( www.horsefeed.nl) as "Official Horsefeed" of the WEC 2008.

As part of the agreement, Havens will supply all horsefeed for all participating horses; from arrival on October 13th (start quarantine) untill departure of the horses after November 10th. All feeds will meet the highest quality standards and will be specially tested on absence of any prohibited substances in the Equestrian Labs in Newmarket (UK).

"We are proud to have found a strong european partner, that also provides guarantees as to quality and non-doping conformity”, says Azrin Zuhdi, Director and Organising Secretary of WEC 2008 OC. “Moreover, the presence of Havens in more than 55 countries in Europe, Middle East and Asia will add to the international image of the 2008 WEC."

Havens feeds are produced in the Netherlands by a family-owned company (since 1845) in 5th generation. Considered in Europe as the "Mercedes" of horsefeed, Havens has also been supplier of several Olympic Games (Barcelona, Sydney, Athens, Beijing) as well as the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Germany. All feeds are produced in the same factory which guarantees the same worldwide quality.

Havens has been present in the Asia since 2005; in Malaysia it is represented by Tallahesse Equestrian Supplies ( www.tallahesse.com ) from KL.

Australia: Levy on horse owners moves step closer

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

September 4, 2008

A plan to levy Australian horse owners for eradication efforts in any future disease outbreaks has passed its first parliamentary hurdle.

The legislation setting up the framework for the levy passed in the lower house yesterday and is bound for the Senate.

The amount of the levy remains unknown. It will be set in consultation with the horse industry.

The levy proposal was attacked by opposition MPs, who argued it was inequitable, with many unregistered horses unlikely to be subject to the levy. Opponents argued that the levy would place an unfair share of the responsibility on recreational horse owners.

The levy proposal is likely to go before a Senate committee.

The Australian Horse Industry Council said a decision to put the matter before a Senate committee would provide further opportunity for industry consultation on the merits of the current proposal.

But it added: "It might also further delay protection of the horse industry should there be an emergency disease outbreak while this examination process is under way."

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Kiwi endurance riders place in South Africa

September 1, 2008

A team of New Zealand endurance riders has performed well in South Africa, at a ride in Dullstroon last month.

Kirsten Deuss placed second in the 123.5km ride on Arkab Aqrab, finishing in a time of 10 hours, six minutes and nine seconds, behind the winner in 10:40:05. Teresa Birkett was fifth (Moolmanshoek Maximus, 11:16:20), and Nadine Barker finished sixth (Tuarec Jamill, 11:40:42) of the six riders to finish. Tony Masters vetted out, along with four other riders. The team finished second of three teams.

The team's next start was to be a tri-nations event in Namibia, with teams from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana also competing. Gaewyn Churchill was to replace Tony Masters on the team.

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New Zealand: Endurance pays off

Stuff.co.nz - Full Story

By DENISE GUNN - Feilding Herald | Tuesday, 02 September 2008

Clocking up the miles has paid off for Mangaweka endurance rider Andrea Smith and her 9-year-old anglo arab gelding Sierra Nevada, as the pair have earned qualification for the World Endurance Championships in Malaysia.

The championships are held every two years and are considered one of the toughest horse endurance races, covering a distance of 160km.

Although this is the first time a major World Endurance championship has been held in tropical weather, it is scheduled to coincide with the monsoon season in November to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.

Up to 150 riders from 43 countries are expected to compete in the event, starting on November 7.

Several veterinarians will be present and horses are thoroughly checked before the race starts. Vet checks continue at intervals throughout the ride and again after horses and riders cross the finish line.

The horse's heart rate must not exceed 64 beats a minute within a 30-minute recovery time.

Mrs Smith will head to Auckland with her horse and the other two members of the New Zealand team in early October.

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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.