2010WEG: Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital

LEXINGTON, KY—Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital will provide veterinary services for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games test events, as announced today by the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc.
As the Official Equine Hospital and Veterinary Partner for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Rood and Riddle has extended its partnership with the Games to provide veterinary services for a series of test events beginning in 2009. The test events, each called The Kentucky Cup, will allow the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc. to prepare for the world championships coming to the Kentucky Horse Park in 2010.
“Rood and Riddle is very pleased to provide the veterinary services for The Kentucky Cup test events,” said Dr. Tom Riddle. “Our entire staff of veterinarians looks forward with great excitement to serving the sport horse industry, both at the test events and the 2010 Games.”
Lexington-based Rood & Riddle is a full-service equine hospital established in 1986 as a referral center for horses requiring specialized medical and surgical care. Today, Rood & Riddle is known and respected throughout the world for its innovative and highly skilled treatment of horses. The hospital facility offers a full range of services including surgery, internal medicine, advanced diagnostic imaging, a focused Podiatry Center and a specialized Reproductive Center. The practice also provides ambulatory services (on-site care) for breeding farms, sport horse facilities, horse shows and events, with a variety of services, including emergency and preventative care, general reproduction, lameness, radiography, podiatry, and internal medicine.
“We are very fortunate to extend our partnership with Rood and Riddle through the test events for the 2010 Games, and to have the services of such a high-caliber equine hospital available to our equine athletes,” said Competition Director Kate Jackson.
The competitions will begin in 2009 and run through the 2010 Rolex Three-Day Event. All events will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital will manage the veterinary needs for all test events. A complete schedule of all Kentucky Cup test events is available at www.feigames2010.org.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The Games have never before been held outside of Europe; nor have all eight disciplines competed at a single site—both firsts that will be achieved at the Kentucky Horse Park.
The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. The 2010 Games are expected to have a statewide economic impact of $150 million, and other current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc. and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.feigames2010.org.

Media Contact:
World Games 2010 Foundation
Amy Walker
859-255-2010 ext. 235
awalker@feigames2010.org

Chile: Enduro Ecuestre en la Patagonia

Club de Campismo

La cuenta era regresiva para que llegara el 23 de febrero: el día del Enduro, el anhelado reencuentro con la Patagonia y lo que más me gusta de ella; su gente, la tierra, los caballos y los gauchos.

El Enduro es un carrera ecuestre de resistencia a campo traviesa, cruzando ríos, bosques y cerros. Por esto mismo implica al menos un mes de preparación de los caballos: sacarlos a galopar, darle una alimentación específica, cepillarlos, etc. Tareas, a las cuales los gauchos y la Gaela le han puesto todo el corazón y dedicación. Tenemos un equipo que se ha consolidado con el tiempo y, estoy segura ¡tenemos a los mejores!

Dos días antes de la carrera llega el camión “El Torito” y todos saben sus labores: sacar brillo a las monturas, juntar los baldes, separar las botellas, la comida y la parrilla (muy importante) para así al día siguiente llegar y cargar. En la noche al que le toca cocinar tiene suerte… varios comensales entusiasmados y el menú, de seguro carne con papas.

El próximo día temprano ya se ve mucho movimiento en las caballerizas. Se cargan los caballos y los aperos en el camión, tomar unos cuantos mates y nos fuimos. José se queda a cargo del rancho. Silvio y Mario van en el camión y el resto, gracias a la bondad de algún chofer, llega al lugar de la carrera. Una vez allá, inscribimos los caballos y la tarde queda para seguir tomando mate, reencontrarse con viejos amigos y conversar de lo que más nos gusta: de caballos, ¡si podríamos pasar horas hablando de ellos!

El día de la carrera nos despierta el viento, si hasta levantaba las piedras! Pero eso no desanima a nadie, todo lo contrario, están todos listos y entusiasmados: caballos, jinetes, herreros, espectadores y aguateros, esperando la largada, y así se pasó el gran día. Montada de a caballo en la tierra que más quiero, cada paso un destino, cada tranco un recuerdo y cada galope una vida, y pienso: “si galopamos por tantas huellas… no me vayas a fallar zaino, seguí pa` adelante!

Este lindo recuerdo de una experiencia más en la Patagonia me deja feliz, pero sólo por un tiempo. Porque como dice una muy buena canción, nunca jamás se abandona lo que llorando se deja.

[...more]

Bahrain: Women's Endurance event set

Gulf Daily News
BAHRAIN's best riders are gearing up for the season's first-ever Women's Endurance Horseride Championship, to be organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) on Saturday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Among prominent riders taking part in the Maalem Holding-sponsored event are Manal Fakrawi and Sumaya Jassim, both from the Royal Endurance Team.

The two riders, who took podium finish in several races in previous seasons, said they are both ready for this race.

Both Manal and Sumaya highlighted the endless efforts of Breef president and Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa to improve the level of endurance races in Bahrain.

They also thanked Maalem Holding Company for its sponsorship of the women's race.

The race, which is over 120kms, will take place along with two other races - the 100km open race and the 160km seniors race.

The women's race will be divided into five stages, including 30km each for the first and second, 25km for the third, 20km for fourth and 15km for the fifth.

In the 100 open race, which is open to all riders of different ages men and women, will see riders compete over four stages - 30km each for the first and second, 25km for the third and 15km for the fourth and final stage.

The challenging 160km seniors race, the main event of the day, was divided into six stages, including 30km each for the first four stages, 25km for the fifth and 15 for the sixth.

Horses must attended veterinary examination on the previous day of the event between 3pm and 5.30pm.

India: Rathod notches up double crown

Telegraphindia.com

RVC-A win 60km team event, RVC-B top 80km event
by OUR CORRESPONDENT

Dibrugarh, Feb. 1: Maj. Bharat Singh Rathod of the Army Services Corps, Eastern Command, won the 60km and the 80km endurance ride in the individual category to bag a double crown in the four-day National Endurance Championships here today.

The meet was organised by the Equestrian Federation of Assam (EFA) and came to an end at the Ethelwold tea estate today.

In the 60km ride, Maj. Rathod riding his horse Badal, completed the ride in two hours 59 minutes and 22 seconds with an average speed of 20.07 km per hour.

In the 80km ride, he rode another steed — Tanishq — to complete the ride in four hours, 49 minutes and 54 seconds to complete the ride.

In the 60km ride, Maj. Rathod was followed by Sanjay Yadav of the Remount and Veterinary Corps astride his horse Monu and Jitender Singh of EFA astride Shamili.

In the 80km ride, Maj. Rathod was followed by Ramesh Kumar of RVC astride his horse Prince Top and Deep Chand of RVC astride New Star.

In the team 60km team event, the RVC-A team represented by Mukesh Kumar (He Man), Sanjay Yadav (Monu), Sanjay Singh (Herculesh) and Amit Yadav (Janbaj) bagged the first position.

In the 80km team event the top position went to RVC-B team, which was represented by Ramesh Kumar (Prince Top), Deep Chand (New Star), Sanjay Yadav (Vishal) and Rakesh Kumar (Monu).

Saudi Arabia: More than 400 horses compete in Saudi fest

Kansascity.com - Full Article

Jan. 30, 2009

By DONNA ABU-NASR
Associated Press Writer

At a green oasis in the desert outside Riyadh, a dazzling array of Arabian horses with colors ranging from dark gray, coffee bean black and warm honey have competed all week in an extravaganza designed to celebrate Arabian horses.

The second Al Khalediah Arabian Horse Festival features a beauty show, races and an auction. The popular animal is intrinsic to this region's culture, and one that, according to ancient Bedouin legend, God designated as one of the "glories" of the earth.

The event, which began last Sunday and ends Friday, was hosted by Prince Khaled bin Sultan, the son of Crown Prince Sultan, at his Al Khalediah Farm which has more than 900 Arabian horses. More than 400 horses from 18 countries took part in this year's festival.

"This is one of the biggest such gatherings in the world," Khaled said of the festival.

More...

Australia Day Awards - Nagambie

Euroa-gazette.com.au

Wednesday, 28 January 2009

Residents in the Nagambie district gathered in the RSL Park at 9.30am for their welcoming address, flag-raising, National Anthem and Affirmation.

Nagambie's Australia Day Ambassador was Peter “Crackers” Keenan, who delivered an address for the occasion.

Nagambie's Australia Day Awards were presented as follows:

Young Citizen of the Year - Samantha Cubbin

Samantha, or 'Sam' for short, is fifteen years old and attends the Seymour Secondary School. She has been around horses since she was a baby, starting with pony rides on older Pony Club horses with her twin brother, Phillip. However, she did not take up riding seriously until the age of eleven, as she was diagnosed with a tumour in her arm. Numerous operations and treatments kept her away from horses for a few years but the growth is now under control and Sam now only misses a couple of months here and there when she needs another operation.

In 2004 Sam began endurance riding. In the past two years she has dominated the State's junior division with her horse Kimba, and may well have taken out the national junior distance title, too. She recently began endurance riding with Tiawarra Ramy, her pony club horse at Tatura Pony Club.

The State Championships at Stanley in 2006 was Sam’s first 160 kilometre ride. She was so tired when she came in off the fourth leg that she fell asleep sitting up with her soup in her lap. She headed out for the fifth leg with a promise of fish and chips for tea if she got back before the shop shut, and subsequently passed five other riders!

Sam is the third generation of a family that has been endurance riding and horse-training for more than twenty-five years, and her achievements include:

* 2006 - Sam: 1st Vic points rider junior, 2nd Vic distance rider junior, 1st Vic one horse one rider all divisions (fifth junior to ever win this title), 5th Nationals distance rider junior, 5th National points rider junior, 2nd Victorian State championship junior; Kimba: 1st Vic points horse, 1st Vic distance horse, 2nd National distance horse, 2nd National points horse.

* 2007 - Sam: 6th National points rider junior, 4th National distance rider junior, 1st Vic points rider junior, 1st Vic distance rider junior; Kimba: 1st National distance horse, 3rd National points horse, 1st Vic distance horse, 1st Vic points horse.

More...

India: National Endurance Championship begins

The Telegraph

7 teams feature in meet
OUR CORRESPONDENT
National Endurance

Dibrugarh, Jan. 29: The four-day National Endurance Championship got under way at the Ethelwold Tea Estate here this morning.

Altogether seven teams, comprising 31 horses and 27 riders, are featuring in the meet, organised by the Equestrian Federation of Assam (EFA). The teams are Assam Rifles, EFA, Assam Police, Manipur RVC, Saharanpur RVC (Hempur) and ASC, 33 Corps (Siliguri).

The Assam squad for the 34th National Games to be held in Jharkhand will also be selected after the meet.

Siddhartha Sharma, the secretary general of the association, told mediapersons that competitions would be held in the 60km, 80km and 100km endurance rides.

Dibrugarh had hosted the first CEI International Endurance Championship in the country in February, 2003, and has been a favourite destination of endurance riders.

Monoj Jalan, the adviser and chief patron of the EFA, also a rider, said there was a plan to host an international endurance meet after the nationals, but the plan was cancelled in view of the Jharkhand National Games.