Poland: The Kuźnia endurance contest – good organization and attendance

Polskiearaby.com

The Kuźnia endurance contest – good organization and attendance. Kamilia Tobiasz became Polish Champion

Author: Maciej Kacprzyk | 2009-07-28

Mistrzyni Polski Kamilia Tobiasz, fot. Mateusz Jaworski

During the last weekend (24th - 26th of July) in Kuźnia Nowowiejska Equestrian Center (Poland) the International Endurance Contest, as well as the Polish Contest and the Polish Championship, was held. During three days, nine contests attracted as many (as for an endurance competition) as sixty five pairs from eight countries that participated: Czech Republic, Finland, Holland, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, United Arab Emirates and Poland, of course.

Yara de Boer z Holandii na Riki's Macho Man, fot. Mateusz Jaworski


On Friday the CEI/CEIJY2* 120 km contests as well as a domestic L-class 30 km contest were held. In all 9 pairs – 6 seniors (a CEI2* contest) and 3 juniors and junior riders (a CEIJY2* contest) – started in the 120 km contest. In the CEIJ2* contest the Young Riders and Juniors Polish Championship was about to hold. Unfortunately it didn’t come off because only one Polish pair took part in the contest and therefore the condition of the minimum of 4 pairs taking part necessary to the Polish Championship to occur, wasn’t fulfilled.

full article at polskiearaby.com

Mongolia: Elite endurance vets assist Mongol Derby organisers

HorseandHound.com
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
31 July, 2009

Top international endurance vets are to assist organisers of the Mongol Derby in ensuring the welfare of horses involved in what is being dubbed the "longest, toughest horse race in the world".

Last week, H&H reported on the international row that had broken out over concerns that the welfare of 700 horses taking part in the 1,000km race would be compromised (news, 23 July).

But since then, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stepped in to offer elite veterinary assistance to organisers, via the Mongolian government.

On Friday, 24 July, Ian Williams, head of non-Olympic sports for the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) met with Mongol Derby organisers on a "fact-finding" mission for the UAE.

"The UAE expressed a wish to provide high-level veterinary care, so we wanted a full briefing on provisions for the horses," he told H&H.

"It hasn't been finalised, but the UAE would like to provide a mobile equine hospital, along with international endurance vets to assess the horses before they race, and as they arrive at the urtuus [stations]."

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Great Britain: ‘Private’ endurance ride sparks unrest among UK riders

(post dated)

Horseandhound.com
Abigail Butcher, H&H news editor
2 August, 2009

A 120km 'private' endurance ride with an "unprecedented" prize-pot of £175,000 being organised and run by Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) is causing consternation among UK riders.

The 120km event, called Ride with the Stars, will be held at Euston Park, Norfolk, on Saturday (2 August). It was announced on 14 July and will not be run under International Equestrian Federation (FEI) or Endurance GB (EGB) rules.

The ride is expected to attract a large field because every completing combination will receive prize-money.

Discussion about the last-minute addition to the endurance calendar is rife on the EGB members' forum.

One rider states: "Our ride organisers have put many hours of unpaid time into producing rides for this year and the future and, if we are not careful, they will not be there."

Others are concerned over welfare of horses ridden by inexperienced competitors keen to complete and win money.

"I would urge anyone who does not have extensive experience of competing at this level to think long and hard before entering," said another rider.

There have also been suggestions that the ride has been put on to allow Sheikh Mohammed to continue to compete. He is currently suspended from competition by the FEI while a doping enquiry is investigated (news, 16 April).

EGB chairman John Yeoman has warned members to remember the "very hard work" put in by ride organisers who are "understandably disappointed that this unscheduled ride is going to take place".

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UAE: Mohammed 'Rides with the Stars' to win the 120-km endurance in UK

WAM - Emirates News Agency
Aug 3, 2009 - 08:44 -

WAM Euston Park, Norfolk, Aug 03rd, 2009 (WAM): Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum rode his horse in Euston Park to win the 120-km endurance clocking in at 5:07:47 beating 118 riders who took part in the 'Ride with the Stars' event held here on Sunday.

The Arabian knight won the event with his unparallel perseverance and practice.

With the difference of a second, Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum finished second in the event, in which riders, both men and women, from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, France, Italy, Luxemburg, USA, Australia, Ireland and Britain participated with much fervor and enthusiasm.

Chairman of the Dubai Authority for Culture and Arts HH Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Saeed Bin Maktoum Al Maktoum also participated in the endurance ride.

The event was attended by Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Finance Minister HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Australia: Toft to head up first Magic Millions sale

03 Aug 09 - by Brent O'Neill


TWENTY years as a trainer, 25 years as a competitor and a lifetime spent breeding horses.

Added up, Marburg’s Peter Toft knows what to look for in a horse.

Such is Mr Toft’s wealth of knowledge, he was handed the responsibility of selecting 14 endurance horses for next month’s inaugural Magic Millions Australian Sporthorse Sale, an auction of more than 100 equines from the six major equestrian disciplines.

As an experienced breeder and trainer of Arabian endurance horses, and a World Championship silver medallist, there are few better people to have on board for Australia’s first-ever sale.

“The concept of auctioning is not common here so this is a whole new adventure and it’s got enormous scope,” Mr Toft, 50, said.

“Magic Millions came to us, recognising us as the leading breeder in endurance horses.

“(Endurance equestrian) is a fascinating sport and it’s very fortunate we can incorporate something we enjoy in our business."The Sporthorse Sale will be held on August 15. Visit http://www.magicmillions.com.au.

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Sheik Mohammed Gets 6-Month Ban for Horse Doping

ABC News - full story
Equestrian federation bans its president's husband, Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed, for 6 months
By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer
GENEVA August 3, 2009 (AP)

The International Equestrian Federation banned its president's husband — Dubai's Sheik Mohammed — from riding in endurance races for six months after his horse twice failed doping tests.

Sheik Mohammed accepted the suspension based on his horse Tahhan's positive tests for a hypertension drug and the steroid stanozolol, equestrian's governing body said Monday.

"Consistent with the FEI's strict liability approach to anti-doping rule violations, the panel has found Sheik Mohammed responsible for the doping of his horse," a tribunal panel said in a ruling published on the FEI's Web site.

His ban runs through Oct. 3, and he was assessed $4,200 in fines and legal costs.

The sheik's horse trainer, Abdullah bin Huzaim, admitted giving the horse drugs without the sheik's knowledge before the 74.5-mile desert races at Bahrain and Dubai.

Bin Huzaim was banned for a year and fined.

Sheik Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya of Jordan, is president of the FEI and has campaigned to clean up equestrian's doping and medication problems. She took no part in the disciplinary process.

The three-man panel said bin Huzaim, manager of the sheik's Emaar Stables in Dubai, "clearly wanted His Highness to do well with the horse. This behavior is not acceptable and needs to be sanctioned severely."

Full story

Sheik Mohammed gets 6-month ban for horse doping

Sheik Mohammed gets 6-month ban for horse doping

Associated Press - August 3

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — The International Equestrian Federation has banned its president's husband from riding in endurance races for six months after his horse twice failed doping tests.

Dubai ruler Sheik Mohammed accepted that his horse Tahhan tested positive for a hypertension drug and the steroid stanozolol, the governing body said Monday.

His ban runs through Oct. 3, and was assessed $4,200 in fines and legal costs.

The sheik's horse trainer, Abdullah bin Huzaim, admitted giving the horse drugs before the 74.5-mile desert races at Bahrain and Dubai. He was banned for a year.

Sheik Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya of Jordan, is president of the FEI but took no part in the process.