UAE: FEI introduce novice qualifiers

Staff Report
Published: December 02, 2008, 00:41

photo: FEI President Princess Haya with Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, Secretary General, UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, Ali Mousa Al Khamiri, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club, and Sundar Rethinavel of DEC at the FEI General Assembly in Buenos Aires.

Abu Dhabi: The UAE delegation successfully spearheaded a re-vote on the rest period for endurance horses between competitions in the revision of Rules for Endurance which have been ratified by the FEI's General Assembly and will be introduced from January 2009.

Another significant development at the Assembly was the introduction of a pre-FEI national system (Novice Qualifying) for riders and horses, though not necessarily as a combination.

It has been decided that all horses and riders must have successfully completed Novice Qualifying to be eligible for CEI Star Qualifying.

This in effect means a progress from one FEI star level to the next, riders and horses must have graduated from the qualifying process.

The FEI's General Assembly was held at the Sociedad Rural in Buenos Aires, Argentina last month and some new endurance rule changes were adopted following suggestions from a Task Force in co-operation with the National Federations, according to a press release from the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation.

Eighty-three National Federations gathered for the Assembly and FEI President Princess Haya Bint Hussain, wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the proceedings and later presented awards to winners in competitions on the concluding day.

The UAE and other endurance countries in the region were not in favour of the proposed increase in the rest period for competition horses from 27 days to 41 days for events between 120km to 160km.

The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation were represented by the Secretary General Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi and Dubai Equestrian Club General Manager Ali Mousa Al Khamiri among others.

The UAE, which is part of the Group VII, first raised its objection at the group meeting and placed it before the Bureau.

But Ian Williams, Director for non-Olympic equestrian sport said it was too late and it should have been suggested earlier.

But the UAE along with other countries in the region and in Asia argued their case saying that the recent World Endurance Championship had kept the National Federations of endurance nations busy.

Williams suggested that the rules regarding rest periods be adopted from 2010 but in the General Assembly it was voted out.

This ensured the changes were included and the UAE which is one of the leading endurance nations got the rest periods to 20 days instead of 47 days.

The guiding principle behind the UAE's insistence for shorter rest periods is the short endurance season in the UAE and the region due to the climate whereas in other parts of the world rides can be held almost through the year.

Further the UAE has proved that despite the high speeds registered by their horses, the welfare has never been compromised and this to a large extent tilted the argument in their favour.

The rest periods as amended following a revote by the General Assembly after a failure to approve the original timings is as follows: 0- 80 km -13 days rest and 81 km and above 20 days rest.

Canada: Area rider competes in Malaysia

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Posted By ANGELA DORIE

Riding knows no boundaries and, as reported here earlier, Wendy Maccoubrey of Ste. Justine, Que., and her Arab gelding, Mariah, competed in the F. E. I World Endurance Championships in Terengganu, Malaysia from Nov. 6-9 as part of the seven-member Team Canada.

Held bi-yearly, the 2008 World Championship was held, for the first time ever, in a tropical environment at the Terengganu International Endurance Par, a venue which covered varying terrain such as the ocean coastline, palm plantations and canal banks, as well as naturally vegetated areas (jungle?!).

Daytime temperatures peaked at 105 degrees with 80 per cent humidity.

The King of Malaysia, HM Tuanku Mizan, himself an accomplished endurance rider, had the park as well as its stables, schooling areas, etc., created to encourage development of the sport.

It is one of only two such specialized facilities in the world.

ALL-EXPENSES PAID

To ensure that the best in the world competed at this event, the King paid all expenses for the 133 competitors, from air passage to accommodations and food, for both two-and four-legged participants.

Also, each country was allowed to send a veterinarian and a Chef d'Equip as well as two support staff for each rider and horse -- a very large contingent indeed.

As anyone who travels will attest to, there are always problems along the way, the SNAFUs of travel if you will, and this trip was no exception for Wendy and Mariah.

It was timed so that the Canadian team would arrive a couple of weeks early, giving them ample opportunity to acclimate themselves and their horses. A case of "misinformation" regarding the timing of a West Nile booster resulted in Mariah's papers being rejected two days before departure. Trying to reschedule another flight 15 days later, followed by a one-day delay in transport time, resulted in Mariah arriving only five days before the competition. In true Arab fashion he arrived full of beans, apparently walking his handlers everywhere when he disembarked.

After a couple of days to settle in and some hand walking, he and Wendy started night time rides and were deemed fit to start the championship race.

The 160-kilometer (100-mile) race was ridden the night of November 7, riders departing from the start gate at 5 p. m. and riding the seven LED colour-coded "loops" of the course, passing through the mandatory checkpoints at the end of each.

CHECK CONDITION OF HORSES

This is where the condition of the horses is checked by a full flight of vets and technicians: recovery rate, body temperature, pulse and respiration, as well as lameness and/or soreness, before they are permitted to continue on the next leg. As testament to the difficulty of this type of competition, 78 of the 133 who started were either eliminated, disqualified or voluntarily retired.

Canada was represented by Wendy on Mariah, along with six other riders and their horses, three competing as individuals and four as a team (best three times to count).

All but one finished the course, a member of the team, however as three still completed, their times counted and Team Canada placed seventh over all with a time of 38:25:45.

FINISHED 46TH

Wendy and Mariah finished 46th with an individual time of 13:08:21, an astounding effort considering their trials just getting there.

Talk about going against all the odds!

UAE: 2009 Heavyweight GrandPrix Series

Original Article

Body weight endurance race on again

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation will resume the Body Weight endurance championship with a three-round series.

The first race of the Endurance Grand Prix will be staged on December 13, 2008, at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Abu Dhabi, according to a press release.

The Grand Prix is being staged under the instructions of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs.

In this specialised endurance category, every rider must weigh 75kg or above without riding equipment and must be registered with the FEI, according to the release.

The first ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village will coincide with the National Day Cup, scheduled for the same day. The next two rides will be held in Bahrain and Dubai respectively.
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UAE: Al Jahouri winner of 120km race

Gulf News

photo: Al Jahouri overcame a slow start and later registered some terrific speeds on the final loop to leave some equally talented riders far behind.Abdul Rahman/Gulf News

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
Published: November 29, 2008, 23:31

Dubai: Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri of Al Wathba Stables rode Berloiz de Piboul to a superb win in the Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) 120-kilometre ride to drive away with a Nissan four-wheel drive and a cheque of Dh200,000 on Saturday.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, attended yesterday's ride in Seih Assalam with a total of 127 starters in the first event of the UAE season.

Seasoned campaigner

Al Jahouri, a seasoned campaigner from Al Wathba, who also is a well-known endurance horse trainer, overcame a slow start and later registered some terrific speeds on the final loop to leave some equally talented riders far behind.

It was the first win for his 10-year-old chestnut gelding and Al Jahouri got the better of two Al Reef riders, including champion Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi, who finished second while world champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain had to settle for fifth place after dominating the initial stages.

Al Jahouri, who was in 20th place after the first loop, moved up six places after the second loop. After the third loop, in which he was fourth behind Ponton and Al Beloushi, he began to make his move.

"The initial pace was a bit too much but at the third loop my horse was in fine nick and I decided to go for it," said the winner, who averaged nearly 27kph on the final loop of 12km.

Al Beloushi, who was just about a minute behind Al Jahouri going into the final loop but finished over eight minutes behind, said: "My horse [Charlandre El Sharif] was coming back after an injury and initially I just wanted to race him for three loops."

"But he looked good so I continued, but I did not want to push him too much.

Charlandre El Sharif holds the world record in a 160-kilometre ride.

Saudi Arabia's Fauiz Jamil Al Turkmani, riding SAS Alexis, a horse belonging to the Dubai-based Al Fazaa Endurance Team, finished third while Al Reef's Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi was fourth on Cameo Zinnia.

Ponton, crowned world champion earlier this month in Terengganu, Malaysia, blamed the lazy attitude of her horse Antares Sauveterre for her fifth-place finish.

"He is very lazy and does not like to challenge. But I must admit the pace was crazy. I think Antares Sauveterre is more of a 160-kilometre horse," said the Dubai-based Spanish ace.

Thaleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, and Ali Mousa Al Khamiri, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club, sponsors of the ride, gave away the trophies and the keys to three cars for the top three riders.

Results

* 1. Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (Berloiz de Piboul) 4hrs 44 mins 49 secs. Average speed: 25.28 kmph.
* 2. Yousuf Ahmad Al Beloushi (Charlandre El Sharif) 4:53.02 (24.57 kmph);
* 3. Fauiz Jamil Al Turkmani-KSA-(SAS Alexis) 5:10.10 (23.21 kmph)
* 4. Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi (Cameo Zinnia) 5:17.06 (22.71 kmph)
* 5. Maria Alvarez Ponton (Antares Sauveterre) 5:18.42 (22.59kmph)

Mexico: Fall 2008 Ride Results Mexico

Endurance News in Mexico
www.Endurancemex.com

Resultados Otoño 2008

Boca del Rio Veracruz, 12 octubre:
Catagoria unica 40 kms.
1. Bobby Ortiz con Bossanova,
2. (& Best Condition) Ricardo Galan con Kinetic,
3. Mary Jane Gagnier con Torrid Elegance

Huichapan, Hidalgo, 16 noviembre Primera competencia nacional de 80 kms.
1. Ricardo Galan con Kinetic,
2. Guillermo Viñals & Duende,
3. Mary Jane Gagnier & Torrid Elegance
4. Gabriel Mendoza & Bossanova. *

60 kms.
1. Eduardo del Hojo & Shamal,
2. (& Best Condition: Juan De La Rosa con PT Crusier,
3. Mauricio Orozco con Menta

40 kms.
1.Juan Chavez Guerrero con Cantinero ********** www.endurancemex.com **********

Canadian Endurance Team Finishes Seventh in Malaysia

Hunter Jumper news
Written by Julie Cull
November 28, 2008

Ottawa, ON—The Canadian Endurance Team comprised of Wendy Benns of Pontypool, ON, Ruth Sturley of Owen Sound, ON, Yvette Vinton DVM of Simcoe, ON, and Bob Gielen of Norton, NB, finished in seventh place out of 21 starting teams on November 7, 2008, at the World Endurance Championships.

Held at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Merang Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia, 126 riders representing 33 countries took part in the 100-mile competition, which saw only 48 individuals finish.

Only seven nations finished three riders, and the results were very close. First place went to United Arab Emirates in a time of 27 hours, 57 minutes and 59 seconds. Qatar finished in second with a total time of 28:47:17, and third place was awarded to Bahrain with 30:54:22. Canada finished in 38:25:45 for seventh place overall.

“I felt our strength would be in our teamwork and I think this proved true. Even though it didn’t always go according to pre-ride planning, on the whole the strong Canadian performance was the work of the whole group—grooms very much included—that got the horses through in such good condition and in position to place top ten,” remarked Chef d’équipe Kay Melvin. “Congratulations again to the whole Canadian contingent on a job well done. We should also thank our hosts who treated us so well and made us welcome in their beautiful country.”

Individually, Gielen was the top placed Canadian rider, with a time of 12 hours and 27 minutes for 40th place, with his horse FC Galaxy, an 11-year-old Arabian gelding. In 42nd spot, in a time of 12 hours and 49 minutes, was Sturley and RBF Super Sport, her 15-year-old Arabian gelding. Recording the same time, of 13 hours and eight minutes, was Wendy MacCoubrey of Ste. Justine, QC, for 46th place, on Mariah, a nine-year-old Arabian gelding, and Vinton, for 47th, and Tease, an eight-year-old Arabian gelding. Benns her horse Supreme Justice, a nine-year-old Arabian gelding, did not complete the ride.

“This was the most challenging ride that I have ever completed, and my horse performed way beyond my expectations,” remarked Gielen who hope to qualify for the Canadian Endurance Team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. “Completing the ride in Malaysia was just an incredible experience.”

Maria Mercedes Altars Ponton of Spain lead the competition from start to finish on Knobby, a 13-year-old Arabian gelding in a time of eight hours, 48 minutes and six seconds.

“This year’s world championships lived up to Endurance’s reputation as the most demanding of all equestrian sports, as the nearly two-thirds of competitors who were unable to complete the course can certainly attest. The climate, terrain, and distance were physical and psychological trials of both horse and rider, and we are proud of our team for thriving on a course that most other nations struggled merely to survive,” praised Equine Canada CEO, Akaash Maharaj.

The next stop for the Canadian Endurance Team is to field two teams, Canada East and Canada West, to 2009 World Equestrian Games Endurance Test Event in Kentucky in preparation for the 2010 World Championships.

About Endurance Canada

Endurance Canada is a committee of Equine Canada, and the National governing body of the sport of Endurance Riding in Canada, from the grassroots to the international level. Endurance Canada is responsible for the growth and pursuit of excellence at all levels of the sport, providing support and guidance through various programs and committees: veterinary; rules and sanctioning; athlete and sport development; education and coaching; communication and awards. For more information, please visit the Endurance Canada section of the Equine Canada website.

About Equine Canada

Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada’s equine community and industry. Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

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Spain: Tierras de Al-Andalus set for 2009

JOSE MANUEL SOTO PRESENTA EN EL SICAB LAS ÚLTIMAS NOVEDADES DEL IV RAID KALIBER TIERRAS DE AL-ANDALUS

(click here for English Version)

El Paris-Dakar del mundo del caballo se desarrollará del 27 de marzo al 4 de abril de 2009 y contará con el Río Guadalquivir como protagonista.

Sevilla, 26 de noviembre.- El IV Raid Kaliber Tierras de Al-Andalus está ya a la vuelta de la esquina. José Manuel Soto, alma mater de este proyecto, ha presentado esta tarde en el marco del Salón Internacional del Caballo (SICAB) las principales novedades previstas para el 2009.

Los participantes descubrirán los rincones más bellos de nuestra geografía. Sevilla, Córdoba, Cádiz, Jaén,...todo a lomos de un caballo, que será el único compañero de viaje. En la edición del año que viene está previsto una participación de 70 caballos y ya hay confirmaciones de equipos de Francia, Alemania o Australia. La media de kilómetros que realizarán en cada jornada será de unos 60 kilómetros. El recorrido comenzará en Jerez de la Frontera, por el Valle del Guadalquivir y finalizará en Jaén.

José Manuel Soto expresó su confianza en la edición del 2009. “Ya tenemos tres años de experiencia y los jinetes cada vez están más satisfechos con esta prueba. Intentamos superarnos día a día y nuestro equipo trabaja todo el año para diseñar una prueba tan carismática. La mejor recompensa es que la gente disfrute con esta experiencia”.

Diego Antoñanzas, Director de Patrocinios de Heineken España, indicó que “Kaliber y el Raid Tierras de Al-Andalus están hechos el uno para el otro. Es más, el logotipo de nuestra cerveza sin alcohol es un caballo. Estábamos predestinados” prosiguió Antoñanzas, que reveló la importancia de este evento dentro del mundo del deporte.

El Director del Área de Promoción de Deporte Andaluz, Juan Carretero resaltó la importancia de unir Turismo y Deporte y que el Raid Kaliber Tierras de Al-Andalus demuestra las amplias posibilidades que existen en Andalucía.

Más información:
Javier Franco.- 662 105 410
Inés de Albert.- 637 790 386

links:
Official Website
Endurance.Net coverage of Tierras de Al-Andalus 2008

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JOSE MANUEL SOTO PRESENTS THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS OF KALIBER TIERRAS DE Al-ANDALUS 2009 at SICAB.

The Paris-Dakar of the horse world will run from March 27 to April 4 of 2009 and will have the Guadalquivir River as a protagonist.

Seville, November 26 .- The IV Kaliber Tierras de Al-Andalus is now just around the corner. Jose Manuel Soto, creator of this project, has presented this afternoon in the framework of the International Salon of the Horse (SICAB) major developments planned for 2009.

Participants will discover the most beautiful parts of our geography. Seville, Cordoba, Cadiz, Jaen, ... everything from the back of a horse, which will be the only travel companion. In the edition of next year participation of 70 horses is expected and already there are confirmations of teams from France, Germany or Australia. The average mileage to be carried out on each day will be about 60 kilometers. The tour will start in Jerez de la Frontera, the Valle del Guadalquivir and end in Spain.

Jose Manuel Soto expressed his confidence in the edition of 2009. "We already have three years of experience and the riders are increasingly satisfied with this event. We try to do better by the day and our team works all year to design a test so challenging and enjoyable. The best reward is for people to enjoy this experience. "

Antoñanzas Diego, Director of Sponsorships Heineken Spain, said that "Kaliber and Tierras de Al-Andalus are made for each other. Moreover, the logo of our non-alcoholic beer is a horse. We were predestined "continued Antoñanzas, which revealed the importance of this event within the world of sport.

The Director of Sports Promotion Andaluz, Juan Carretero stressed the importance of uniting Tourism and Sport and the Kaliber Tierras de Al-Andalus shows the wide possibilities that exist in Andalusia.

More information:
Javier Franco .- 662 105 410
Ines de Albert .- 637 790 386

links:
Official Website
Endurance.Net coverage of Tierras de Al-Andalus 2008