2010 WEG: UK teams up with WEG to offer support and services

Bizlex.com

February 05, 2009

by Margaret Buranen

Lexington, KY - The foundation behind the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games recently announced its newest sponsor: the University of Kentucky.

The sponsorship was the first one announced since Jamie Link became CEO of WEG 2010 Foundation. Link, who grew up in Cynthiana, previously worked for both the Kentucky Horse Park and the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

"What a great day for WEG and UK," Link said, while signing the sponsorship agreement. Asked later about the first sponsorship signed during his watch, Link said, "It's very important to me, being a UK alumnus, and a great privilege."

Signing for UK was its president, Dr. Lee Todd, who said, "We feel we'll benefit as well as WEG because of the exposure and activities our students, faculty and staff will get to enjoy."

Todd characterized UK's opportunities for participation at the WEG as "internships and practical experience on a world stage." He explained that students, faculty, and staff from various departments and units would be involved, including arts and sciences, fine arts, design, and career services.

Students and faculty members from the French, Spanish and other foreign language departments will serve as translators for the many international visitors and competitors. The Office of Economic Development will be working on parking issues.

UK's College of Agriculture, appointed as the "Official Equine Initiative" of the 2010 Games, will be very involved with the event. Some of its students are already working in related internships. Agriculture faculty members have also begun working on WEG matters, including turf and water management at the Horse Park. In addition, about 12 miles of the endurance course (one of WEG's eight events) will be run on Maine Chance Farm, UK's equine research facility on Newtown Pike.

The department within the College of Agriculture most closely related to WEG is the Equine Initiative. Dr. Nancy Cox, associate dean for Research in the College of Agriculture, said that "the 2010 World Equestrian Games place a special focus on Kentucky as the Horse Capital of the World."

Cox said that UK's Equine Initiative and the selection of the Kentucky Horse Park as the site for the 2010 WEG were announced at roughly the same time. "Our goal is to provide an array of progress in teaching, in research, in service that is appropriate to the Equine Initiative. [WEG] couldn't be better for us."

Part of the Equine Initiative is the new program leading to a bachelor's degree in equine science and management. About 120 students are now enrolled, with half in their second year. Cox added that "students representing UK will be recruiting [future students] at the Games."

As part of the sponsorship agreement, UK HealthCare will be designated at the "Official Medical Provider" of the 2010 Games. UK will donate more than 7,000 hours in medical personnel time plus equipment to care for spectators, volunteers, staff members and competitors.

Dr. Michael Karpf, executive vice president for UK Healthcare, said, "We're very excited to do our part to make this partnership be a success." Noting that the WEG, plus Keeneland and UK football games, will mean as many as 120,000 to 130,000 extra people in Lexington on some of the event's 16 days, Karpf asserted that, "We'll be ready and will have [emergency medical] facilities on site at the Games. We hope we're not needed, but we'll be there."

A significant factor in UK's ability to provide superior emergency medical care will be its new hospital, which will be open when WEG begins. The new hospital's emergency room will be four times the size of the current hospital building's ER.

"We are the cornerstone for trauma [care] in this region," Karpf said. He predicted that the new hospital's ER will be "the finest ER in the country when it opens up."

The newest sponsorship grew out of UK's past involvement with the Horse Park. Dr. Patricia Howard of UK's School of Nursing and Thomas Harris, vice president for external affairs, have helped the Horse Park with planning medical care during past Rolex events.

Harris explained that as people in various departments at the university were offering ideas on how they could be involved with WEG, "people at the Kentucky Horse Park were asking us to formalize this process and help the Games."

He described the partnership as "such a fine opportunity to engage the community. We feel a responsibility to be involved, as the flagship university of the state."

Reflecting on the value of the sponsorship to UK, its president said that "this event gives us a world stage to expose Kentucky to future students and future faculty."

Todd noted how important horses are to the Kentucky's undiversified economy. He added that UK's WEG sponsorship "gives us a chance to show our commitment to the equine industry and an opportunity to show the world that Kentucky is the equine leader."

Argentina: Endurance en Cazon

CN Saladillo
5 de febrero

La Secretaria de Deportes, Recreacion y Juventud informa que el proximo sabado y domingo se llevara a cabo una nueva competencia de ENDURANCE.

El sabado se realizara la clasificacion para integrar el equipo argentino que participaran de los Juegos Panamericanos en Uruguay en abril de 2009. Por otro lado el dia domingo se desarrollara la primera version de prueba de velocidad controlada para caballos novicios.

Invitamos a todos los amantes de la actividad ecuestre a acercarse a la Base de Campamento de Cazon para disfrutar de un fin de semana diferente.

FEI Rules: FEI to eliminate comprehension hazards - Effective 01 April 2009

FEI NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING

1000.1A No rider or horse owner, or person or persons acting on the direction or suggestion or supervision of the rider or Chef d'Equipe or FEI Endurance Official may try, or attempt to try or make or make attempt to try to comprehend or understand any or all, in whole or in part of the herein mentioned FEI Rules for Endurance, except as authorized by the FEI or an agent appointed by, or inspected by the FEI.

1000.1B If the rider or group of associated riders or Chef d’Equipe or FEI Endurance Official becomes aware of, or realizes, or detects, or discovers or finds that he, or she, or they, are or have been beginning to understand the FEI Rules for Endurance, they must immediately, within three (3) days notify, in writing, the FEI.

1000.1C Upon receipt of the above mentioned notice of impending comprehension, the FEI will immediately rewrite the FEI Rules for Endurance in such manner as to eliminate any further comprehension hazards.

1000.1D The FEI may, at their option, require the offending rider or Chef d'Equipe or FEI Endurance Official, to attend remedial instruction in FEI Endurance Rules until such time that the rider or Chef d'Equipe or FEI Official is too confused to be capable of understanding anything.

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.

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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).