Malaysia WEC: USA selects squad

by Steph Teeter
Endurance.Net
September 2008

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has made final selection of the six horse and rider pairs to travel to Malaysia for the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship:

Definite Entries:

Kathy Brunjes/ Theatric
John Crandell/ HH Saba Shams
Cheryl Dell/ Reason to Believe
Valerie Kanavy/ Flash Flame
Meg Sleeper/ Syrocco Reveille
Jan Worthington/ Golden Lightning

Ranked Alternates:

Lisa Green/ Amana Tabi
Heather Reynolds/ Cal Flaming Emit
Meg Sleeper/ Shyrocco Troilus

The selection was made at the end of a 3 day trial and evaluation held over the weekend in Florida. All horses were examined by the USEF staff of veterinarians. The performance of the riders and horses over a 40 mile demonstration course was evaluated by USEF staff including an independent selection committee, veterinarians, and Chef d'Equipe Becky Hart. The 40 mile course was run in 4 phases, with speeds of 10, 12, 14 and 15 mph respectively, with holds of 20, 30 and 40 minutes.

According to USEF Endurance director, Vonita Bowers, the trial went very well. "All of the horses that were selected recovered after each phase in 1 to 3 minutes. The horses did very well and we were pleased at the focus and professionalism of all of the riders and crews."

The selected horses and riders, as well as alternates, will now stay in Florida for the next month, prior to traveling to Malaysia. This will give time to train together, as a team, and to develop skills and strategies to improve their chances of winning a medal in Malaysia.

Three of the selected riders, Brunjes, Crandell and Sleeper gained valuable experience at the Sultan's Cup 160km event held last November in Terengganu, the venue for the 2008 WEC. Kanavy, Brunjes, Sleeper and Worthington have all had prior experience competing at World Championships, and Kanavy has won 2 Gold and 1 Silver individual medals.

Kanavy brought 2 horses to the selection trial, King Ali Gold and Flash Flame. While King Ali has out-performed Flash Flame in terms of speed and winning performances, he can also be a challenging horse to ride and difficult to rate. The final selection of Flash Flame was made based on her performance in Florida. Additional consideration was given to her prior experience at International events (a 5th place at the 2005 Pan American Championship in Argentina) and a more even temperament, which made her a better team choice. This year's goal for the USA in Malaysia is a team medal, and riders and horses were selected with that goal in mind.

Bahrain: Season-opening endurance horse race set

Gulf-Daily-News.com

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) will host the first endurance horseride of the season on November 22 at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The federation, under its president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, approved the 2008/09 season calendar at its board of directors meeting. The inaugural race of the new season will be a 90-km qualifying event for young riders seeking experience in endurance races.

The first official race this year will be the National Day Championship set for December 13 and is over 120km. That will be followed by a 12km open race on January 3 next year.

Other events are the Women's Open Championship on January 31, the National Stables Championship on February 7, His Majesty King Hamad Cup on March 7, the Crown Prince Cup race on April 3 and the Season-Ending Championship on May 1.

Meanwhile, the Breef members also discussed the showjumping season and confirmed the schedule of its events. The showjumping season will get underway on November 7 with the Season Starting Championship, to be followed by the National Day Championship on December 19, then the Breef Cup on February 13.

In other competitions, the Arab League round for His Majesty King Hamad Cup will be held from February 19 to 22, the second Breef Cup on March 27 and the Season Ending Championship on March 10 and 11.

The federation also decided to form a marketing committee to promote its programmes and activities. The committee, to be headed by Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, will start looking for sponsors to support the federation this season.

The meeting was also attended by Breef first vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second vice-president Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, general secretary Ghalib Al Alawi, assistant general secretary Dr Khalid Hassan, public relations head Faisal Al Ajmi and members Tawfeeq Salehi, Haider Al Zo'bi, Mahmood Abdulsaheb and Fahad Al Rumaihi.

Endurance horse reaches 20,000 mile mark

A BOY MORAB NAMED TULIP

20 YEARS OLD and 20,035 miles-AERC Hi-Mileage Horse

-and Still Going Strong Down the Trail-

(How We Did It?)

Les Carr, Ph.D.

Without the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) record keeping and supportive services; without the energetic efforts of ride managers; without Pony Express (XP) multi-day 3-5 day 50 mile/day rides; and without significant help from AERC members during the 15 years it took to make a hi-mileage Morab horse—-Tulip would not be the hi-mileage horse of all time. Yes, Tulip has 15 years of riding and trails under his belly, and has averaged about 1,350 miles/year in recorded, vet-checked, endurance competition (American Endurance Ride Conference).
[More ...]

Australia: Emma continues on her winning ways

Emma Smith has continued to
compete extremely well
and has recently completed
her first ‘100 miler’ -
the 160kms Horseland NSW
State Championships - riding
Kintamani Mistral.

TheGrenfellRecord

10/09/2008 8:54:00 AM

Emma has brought the mare Kintamani Silver Belle through the novice division where they can only do a minimum of 6 hrs, and once they have completed their 3 x 80kms rides in that division, they gain their ‘yellow log book’ and are able to compete faster.

In their first ride out of the novice classification, they won the Coolamon Junior section in 5.32 and backed up at the Zone Two Championships two weeks later, covering the 110kms in 7.52, a good time for that distance to win again and gain Best Conditioned horse as well.

Emma is next entered in the Shahzada 400kms Marathon ride at St Albans near Wisemans Ferry in ten days time riding Kintamani Silver Motif, a gelding owned by Erika Lindsay.

This horse has covered the distance before and Emma is looking forward to the challenge.

Emma is entered 3 weeks later in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup National Championships at Nanango in Queensland - a distance once again of 160kms.

Emma has become a valuable team member and very reliable, embracing a sport she has only begun competing in this year under the guidance of Alan Lindsay who has completed most of the rides with her.

Alan also works in Grenfell at the Weddin Shire on occasions.

Malaysia WEC: USA to select Team

Endurance.Net
September 9, 2008

Twelve horse and rider teams have gathered in Florida for the final selection of the squad to represent the United States (United States Equestrian Federation - USEF) in the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship in Malaysia, November 6-9. Of these 12 horse and rider pairs, 6 will be selected to travel to Malaysia and 3 alternates will be named.

Friday September 12, is the first day of a 3 day evaluation session designed to determine which horses are the fittest and which riders and crews are the most capable and prepared for the ultimate international endurance challenge. All US hopefuls will begin the session with meetings and discussion Friday evening, introducing the staff to the riders and explaining the itinerary for the weekend.

Saturday morning will begin with a physical evaluation of each of the horses to determine base levels of metabolic and physical fitness. All will then participate in a 40 mile controlled demonstration 'competition'. Riders will be released in stages, 2 at a time, and will traverse the 40 mile course in 10 mile increments at pre-determined speeds, beginning at 10mph, and increasing speed in each consecutive phase, not to exceed 15mph. Ambient conditions will factor into the speed determinations. After each 10 mile phase, a veterinary check will be staged to evaluate the horse's condition.

In addition to the horse's evaluation, riders and crews will be expected to perform at peak efficiency and this will also factor in to the final selection. The full 'team' of horse, rider and crew will be on site for the demonstration ride, and will be expected to demonstrate efficiency and competency. At the World Championship level, a good crew can make a huge difference in the ability to minimize recovery time, cool and care for the horse during holds, trouble shoot, and prepare horse and rider for the next phase. Minutes can be shaved off of final ride times in this way, and minutes can often make the difference between medal winning performances.

Conditions in Florida will be as close as possible to what the US team will experience in Malaysia. The session is being held at the Black Prong Equestrian Center near Ocala, in north-central Florida. The trails in this area are flat and sandy. Heat and humidity will still be relatively high and according to Vonita Bowers, USEF Endurance Director, USEF feels that this will be an ideal test to determine which horses and riders are best suited to compete in Malaysia.

Becky Hart, 3-time World Endurance Champion, is the USEF Chef d'Equipe and has been coaching the USEF team since she was appointed to the position several months prior. Becky is aware of the unique challenges facing US riders in Malaysia and the need to prepare and acclimate both horse and rider.

"Horses going to Malaysia, for the most part, will have proven their ability in humid conditions. We have two west coast horses, one lives in a micro-climate of high humidity, the other is training in a neoprene neck sweat and wool rump rug in 104 degree weather. He wears his winter blanket at all times.

"The horses will be tested at the final training session over a 40 mile fast-paced course in Florida. Blood will be taken every 10 miles to compare fitness to the prior training session and to see where the horses are now in fitness. The horses will stay in Florida until they ship out, wearing their blankets to reduce hair coat growth as much as possible."

The USEF selection committee (Fred Clusky, Tom Johnson, Linda Howard, Jim Wiseman and Kathy Downs) will determine the final 6 horse and rider pairs to represent the United States. Also contributing to the selection will be USEF Chef d'Equipe and 'coach' Becky Hart and the USEF 3-member veterinary panel of Jim Bryant DVM, Tom Timmons DVM and Duncan Peters DVM.

Sunday, day 3 of the Florida session, all 12 horses will once again stand for a veterinary evaluation, similar to a Best Condition judging. Sunday evening the final selection will be made and the 6 member traveling squad and 3 alternates will be announced.

In 2010 the United States will host the World Endurance Championship as part of the World Equestrian Games. While USEF is determined to ship the best possible squad to Malaysia for the 2008 Championship, they are keeping their sites on the 2010 goal as well.

According to Becky, "We are just setting out on a new program for world competition and to develop a TEAM. Malaysia will be a test to gauge how we are doing. It takes time to develop a team, especially among independent endurance riders. How would you like someone telling you what pace to ride and with whom? Yet that is what our riders must do if we are to have any kind of team strategy. Winning for individual glory is not the goal. A rider may need to sacrifice an individual gold medal so the team can have a solid finish. This is what we are asking our best riders on their best horses
to do. Wait 'til the WEG in Kentucky. By then we should really have this team thing down."

With just 4 weeks left before shipping, the United States is now focused on choosing the best possible team to compete in Malaysia. Hopefully the efforts of the USEF staff and the hard work and focus of the riders will pay off with a medal performance in Malaysia.

The 12 nominated entries for United States:

Kathy Brunjes & Theatric
Cecilia Butler-stasiuk & Djb Sombeiul
Johnt Crandell & Hh Saba Shams
Cheryl Dell & Reason To Believe
Lisa Green & Lr Amana Tabi
Ann Hall & Bogus Thunder
Valerie Kanavy, Valerie & Flash Flame
Valerie Kanavy & King Ali Gold
Heather Reynolds & Cal Flaming Emit
Margeret M. Sleeper & Syrocco Reveille
Margeret Sleeper & Shyrocco Troilus
Janice Worthington & Golden Lightning

Malaysia: Final List Of 12 Riders For WEC To Be Announced On Oct 1

Bernama.com.my

September 08, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama)-- The names of 12 riders who will represent the country in the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) World Endurance Championship to be staged at the Lembah Bidong, Setiu in Terengganu will be announced on October 1.

The National Sports Institute (ISN) director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz said 16 riders have qualified for the prestigious event, scheduled from Nov 6 to 9 but only 12 will be selected.

"All 16 will undergo centralised training from Oct 15 to beef up their team spirit, physical and mental strength," Dr Ramlan told reporters here Monday.

Ramlan added that the Selection Committee has set a number of criterias for the riders as well as their horses to ensure that they will be in the right condition for the gruelling race.

"In addition to horses that riders already have, we have also bought 13 horses from overseas at a cost of about RM2 million," he said.

Dr Ramlan said the horses which arrived early this month are to be quarantined for a period of four weeks before exposing them to the local conditions and weather.

The Malaysian team competing in the 160km race will be spearheaded by non other than the country's number one sportsman, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

So far 26 countries have confirmed their participation and from the total, 24 countries will compete in the team event and 12 in the individual event.

The list of riders who have qualified for the FEI World Endurance Championship on merit are Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Datuk Kamaruddin Abd Ghani, Datuk Shuib Isahak, Datuk Abdullah Taib, Mohd Faizal Ismail, Rosdam Mohd Noor, Che Ahmad Yusri Muhamad, Muhammad Alif Sabidi, Yusran Yusof, Zainuddin Yusof, Md Rino Abd Rani, Abdul Halim Alihan, Bakar Aman, Norlaily Buniyamin, Muhammad Firdaus Hamid and Md Aizie Ismail.

-- BERNAMA

Australia: Tom Quilty Cup on horizon for Fleming

The Inverell Times

9/09/2008 9:32:00 AM

LOCAL endurance rider Clare Fleming and her grey Arab gelding Mangueira Moksha have been chosen in the 2008 team to represent the Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) at the Nanango Tom Quilty Cup.

Fleming received the email notification that her application had been successful late last week.

And she said she was thrilled to have been selected.

On being chosen as a team member, Clare's Quilty nomination fee will be paid for by QERA.

She will also receive a pair of Qera team jodhpurs', a Qera team T-shirt and a Qera team saddle cloth for her horse all in Queensland colors.

On the day of the Quilty, Clare will proudly dress in this outfit and her horse will use the saddle cloth provided.

Jade Vergis, Angela Hawks, and Mitchell Teuwsen are the other three team members, with Gayle Holmes as the reserve.

The Tom Quilty Story began in 1966, when 26 riders rode the first Tom Quilty 100 mile endurance ride on a course west of Sydney in the Hawkesbury area.

The ride was the brainchild of R M Williams.

The idea - ride your horse 100 miles in one day. - no mean feat!

R M had convinced his friend Tom Quilty, a Kimberly cattleman and renowned horseman, to donate $1000 to make a gold cup.

This cup is known as Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

It is a perpetual trophy and it is on permanent display in the Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach.

Each year a field, often upwards of 250 riders, lines up to ride the 160 km of the Quilty course.

Only a handful of elite equine athletes are ever in contention to win the prestigious Gold Cup.

For most it is simply the challenge, complete the ride and win one of the famous silver buckles and achieve the motto of the sport - 'To Complete is to Win'

This year, Fleming and Moksha will join the line up of riders at Nanango in Queensland to endeavour for a completion and a Quilty buckle in this grueling 160km event and a QERA Team win for Queensland.