India: Marwari horse finds a place on stamp

TimesofIndia.com
P B Chandra, TNN 8 December 2009

JAIPUR: The might of Marwari or Malani horse has finally been recognised. The faithful Marwari breed of horses, the most famous of which was Maharana Pratap's Chetak, descended from native Indian ponies crossed with the Arabian horses and possibly with the Mongolian influence.

The Marwari along with other indigenous horses of India like Kathiawari, Zanskar and Manipuri have found a place in the Indian philately. The post & telegraph department, because of the persistent efforts of the Indigenous Horses Society of India has come out with a first day cover depicting the four horses. The stamp would be released at Dundlod in Jhunjhunu district during the national endurance horse racing championship. The stamp will be released by the chief post master general of Rajasthan.

"We have been trying to give due recognition to the indigenous horses of India and the best way that the people could know about it was through postage stamps. After much effort, the post and telegraph department decided to recognise the indigenous Indian horses by giving them a pride of place in the postage stamp," said Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod, secretary general of Indigenous Horse Society of India.


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Australia: Alexandra Toft on track to success

Alexandra Toft, with endurance horse Pia te, is Equestrian Queensland's Junior Sports Star of the Year

QT.com.au - Full Article

Lee Gaskin | 9th December 2009

AT just 14, Alexandra Toft can lay claim to a travel history to make even the most adventurous of backpackers jealous.

Welcome to the life of an equestrian globetrotter and in this case, a Marburg teenager who is quickly treading the same path as her world championship gold-medal winning parents.

Alexandra rattles off the countries she has visited like the places you stop over on a weekend drive.

There's Italy and the United Arab Emirates from the time her parents Peter and Penny Toft were regulars on the international equestrian scene.

Most recent was a two-week sojourn to Hungary in September when Alexandra competed in her first World Youth and Junior Endurance Championship.

Up against competitors as old as 21, Alexandra surpassed even the loftiest of expectations to complete the challenging 120km course in 17th position.

"Definitely going to Hungary has been the highlight ... it was amazing," Alexandra said.

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Australia: Taking all the right Rhodes results in a monthly award

Central West Credit Union’s Leanne Mikoda (right) congratulates endurance rider Karen Rhodes on winning September’s Sportsperson of the Month award.

Cowraguardian.com.au

07 Dec, 2009

She holds the record for the most finishing buckles in the gruelling Shahzada marathon and that feat has propelled Karen Rhodes to September’s Sportsperson of the Month award.

The Woodstock horsewoman collected her 15th buckle out of 16 attempts when competing in the rugged terrain of St Albans near the Blue Mountains.

No rider boasts more buckles in the demanding five-day event where entrants cover 80km each day.

She has trained her trusted companions Kelly and Shadow to cover the designated courses, estimating between the pair of them have covered over 7,000km competitively without taking into account training rides.

Rhodes has also been tackling another of the endurance riders’ marquee rides in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The 160km one day ride was recently held in Victoria where Rhodes and Shadow finished their fifth Quilty together.

The event is known for the toll it takes on horses and riders alike with a number of entrants failing veterinary examinations.

That’s what makes Rhodes’ achievements so special, the fact like clockwork she almost completes every ride.

She maintains her goal is to complete every ride she competes in.

That’s winning to her.

Bahrain: Hazza captures endurance title

Gulf-daily-news.com

Sunday, December 06, 2009

BAHRAIN'S Isa Bu Hazza, riding CR Prince Charming, won the Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Endurance Ride Championship yesterday at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

A 75-strong field set out on the four-stage 100-kilometre race before dawn. But Hazza was first off the blocks and once he established a big lead he did not have to look back.

He was the sole leader after the opening two legs of 30 kms each, and he maintained a strong stride over the remainder of the ride to complete the event in four hours 23 minutes and 49 seconds.

Hazza built a gap of over seven minutes from his closest challenger by the time he reached the finish line. Compatriot Ebrahim Al Jabury, riding Al Habeeba, was the runner-up with a total ride time of 4:31:19. The duo made an impressive one-two for Ahmed Al Fateh Stable.

Al Jabury did well to pace himself behind the victor and managed to overcome a late challenge from third-placed rider Salman Isa, who is also Bahraini and riding for Al Hawar Stable.

Isa, saddling Tirroan, moved up to second overall after the 25 kms third stage. But Al Jabury regained the advantage with a stronger ride down the final 15 kms to seal second place.

Isa finished three minutes behind Al Jabury in 4:34.30.

Abdulla Yusuf Al Qasimi from the Bahamas was fourth. Riding Jellaby Kafour, Al Qasimi had a total ride time of 4:53:01, and was the last rider to finish the event under five hours.

Registered Fifth was Ali Al Tamimi on Khoto. The Al Asayel Stable ace had a solid performance that saw him finish in 5:00:57.

Bilal Al Rajab riding Sedan was sixth. Al Rajab, from Al Muhqeerat Stable, registered a total ride time of 5:06:59.

Rounding out the top eight were Othman Abduljalil Awadhi and Jaffar Mohammed Salman. Awadhi, riding Jacquard de la Pouge from Ahmed Al Fateh Stable, completed the race in 5:08:18; while Salman, saddling Suwaity Reaan from Awal Stable, was not far behind in 5:09:44.

Awadhi overtook Salman in the final stage to finish ahead of his close rival.

All the winning riders were later presented with trophies and cash prizes by Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Shaikh Sultan bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Sultan are the sons of His Majesty King Hamad and the brothers of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The event, which was the third of the endurance season, was organised by Breef and held under the patronage of Shaikh Khalid. It was sponsored by the Swiss-Bahrain Holding Company.

Along with his first-placed trophy and prize money, Hazza drove home the grand prize of a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser.

Meanwhile, Dhruv Singh from India finished first in the 85 kms and 60 kms qualifying events.

He had a total ride time of 4:24:53 on Lormar Lorraine in the 85 kms race, and then completed the 60 kms event in 3:04:43.

India's Mohan Singh, riding LO 605, came second in both events. Hari Singh, also from India, finished third in the 85 kms event while Bahrain's Abdulrahman Al Saad was third in the 60 kms ride.

click HERE for photos by Osama Mohammed

Abu Dhabi: Obaid wins Rashid Challenge ride

Mohammad Hilal Salim Obaid wins the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge at the Dubai International Endurance village yesterday.

Image Credit: Ahmed Kutty, Gulf News


Gulfnews.com

By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter, Gulf News
Published: December 6, 2009

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad Hilal Salim Obaid, riding Rahman Des Bruycres, secured his first major endurance victory when he won the Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge 120km ride held at the Dubai International Endurance City on Saturday.

Obaid, riding the 10-year-old gelding Rahman Des Bruycres from Al Aasfa Stables, which is trained by Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya, dominated the ride from the second stage onwards and made every phase a winning one.

After South Africa's Gerda Burger won the first 27-km stage in which Obaid was fifth, it was a close battle between the two in the second and third loops.

Under threat

However Obaid won both and at the end of the third loop and was leading with Burger second. At that stage Obaid and his horse were averaging over a 26 km/h speed and the world record for a 120km ride here in the UAE seemed under threat.

However, Burger's challenge faded away and she eventually finished 7th while Obaid went on but at a much slower pace to win the 120-km in a timing of 4:42:26.

The world record stands in the name of Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri on Cupid, set at Al Wathba with a timing of 4:32.26 during the 2007 National Day Cup.

Ahmad Saeed Al Farsi on Akasha Sansation was second behind Obaid in 4:44.33, followed by Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum on Halim in 4:56.39.

Shaikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum along with Ali Mousa Al Khamiri of Dubai Equestrian Club gave away the prizes and trophies to the winners.

Results

1. Mohammad Hilal Salim Obaid (Rahman Des Bruycres) 4hrs 42 mins 24 secs;

2. Ahmad Saeed Al Farsi (Akasha Sansation) 4:44.33;

3. Shaikh Rashid Dalmook Juma Al Maktoum (Halim) 4:56.39;

4. Hassan Abdullah Al Hammadi (Habibi) 4:56.41;

5. Khalifa Ganem Al Merri (Neran) 4:57.16.

Great Britain: British Equestrian Federation welcomes the FEI's move

Endurancegb.co.uk

2nd December 2009

British Equestrian Federation welcomes delay of "Progressive List"

The British Equestrian Federation (BEF) welcomes the move taken by the Bureau of the FEI to defer the introduction of the new Equine Prohibited Substances List and the accompanying Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations until 5 April 2010. This positive step recognises the urgent need for further discussion and reflection on the consequences of rushing through the "progressive list" without further debate.

The BEF will now seek the views of our FEI sporting member bodies, and through them riders, organisers and officials, as well as other organisations and individuals as appropriate. A consolidated view will be passed to the FEI.

Between now and 5 April 2010 the BEF will work closely with the FEI in order to ensure that riders, team managers, owners, veterinarians and other stakeholders have clear guidance as to the regulations in force. We will also work with the FEI to seek to find a way through this period that does not compromise our collective clean sport principles.

"This is a most positive move by the FEI," comments Andrew Finding, Chief Executive of the BEF. “"The objective must now be to find a global consensus that meets the needs of a clean sport. For us, this needs two things: very high levels of equine welfare and the complete support of the international community."

Vets Object to New FEI Drug Guidelines, FEI Responds

Thehorse.com - Full Article

by: The Horse Staff
November 30 2009, Article # 15370

On Nov. 19 the General Assembly of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) approved new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations as well as a new list of prohibited substances. The passed regulations included a "progressive list" of substances that will now be allowed in competition in limited amounts.

Some national federations called for a second vote on the progressive-list measure, claiming that some voters were confused as to what they were voting for. This request was denied. (Read more: "FEI Takes Steps on Equine Welfare, Doping Issues.")

On Nov. 24, a group of veterinarians submitted the following letter to the FEI:

FEI Clean Sport
The 'Progressive List'
24 November 2009
To: FEI President

Your Royal Highness,

As a group of senior veterinarians with experience of equestrian competition at international level...

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