Australia: New horse yarding rules at Australian events

Horsetalk.co.nz

January 11, 2010

Stables and yards at events run under Equestrian Australia rules now have to be of solid construction.

As of January 1, electrified tape, strings, ropes or chains, are no longer be permitted at EA events. The new rule falls under Article 109.3 of the EA General Regulations.

At New Zealand endurance events those yarding horses can no longer use single hotwire tape yards, but instead must construct an area that is double taped and electrified and cornered with waratahs.

Morocco: Princess Lalla Amina chairs kick-off of 1st equestrian endurance riding competition

Morocco.co.ma

01.10.10 | By Maghreb Arab Press
Princess Lalla Amina

Princess Lalla Amina, Chairwoman of the Moroccan equestrian federation (FRMSE), chaired on Saturday the kick-off of the first official competition of equestrian endurance riding.

This competition, part of efforts undertaken by the FRMSE to promote equestrian practice across Morocco, brought together 60 horse riders who raced distances of 20, 40 and 60 km.

The winners received symbolic awards, following this race which lasted over 8hours.

Bahrain: Royal Victory!

Gulf Daily News
Sunday, January 10, 2010


BAHRAIN'S Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and UAE Prime Minister and Vice-President, and Dubai Ruler Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum yesterday shared the top place in the second round of the Giants Endurance Challenge at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

With His Majesty King Hamad watching from the sidelines, Shaikh Nasser and Shaikh Mohammed rode side by side - with the Bahrain and UAE flags held high - in the gruelling 120-kilometre, five-stage race which was sponsored by Unicorn Investment Bank.

The joint-winners were a class apart to the rest of the field. They clocked identical times of four hours 57 minutes and 40 seconds, completing the event nearly 10 minutes ahead of their closest challengers.

Shaikh Nasser, riding Fabio, rallied from ninth place at the end of the first stage to take the lead by the conclusion of the fourth. At the same point, Shaikh Mohammed was behind him, just seven seconds adrift.

Riding SAS Alexis, Shaikh Mohammed powered ahead and managed to close the gap. Shaikh Mohammed and Shaikh Nasser eventually crossed the finish line together.

Shaikh Nasser had a top average speed of 24.74kph while Shaikh Mohammed, who was consistently among the leading three from the very start, had a best average speed of 24.88kph.

Shaikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, another leading participant from the UAE, finished third. Riding Star Dancer of Glendu, Shaikh Majid finished in 5:09:50.

Horacio Ferjancic Diaz and Ali Salman Al Sabri, both representing the UAE, came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Diaz, riding Eliska du Vialaret, had a total ride time of 5:25:00, while Al Sabri, on Madji du Coroux, finished in 5:33:08.

Royal Endurance Team rider Jean Philippe Frances on Liqourice came in sixth in 5:37:14. He was followed by Jaume Punti Dachs, one of several Spanish riders competing in the event, in 5:37:18.

Abdulhak Kaddouri was the second-best Bahraini taking eighth place overall. Riding Currowan and representing the Royal Endurance Team, Kaddouri finished in 5:49:25.

Rashed Mohammed Ali Abbar of the UAE came ninth in 5:50:11, and Bahrain's Yousef Taher rounded out the top 10 in 5:57:41.

Only four more among 60 riders who took part finished the race. Mohammed Abdullatif Al Omair of Saudi Arabia was 11th overall, Abdulla Hassan Al Doseri of Bahrain 12th, and Hashim Moosa Al Baloushi and Fuad Abdulla, both of the UAE, 13th and 14th.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa also took part yesterday but did not feature among the top finishers.

Following the event, His Majesty King Hamad presented the winners their with respective awards. Among others who were present yesterday at the race venue was Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who flagged off the race at 7am, and Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The third and final round of the Giants Endurance Challenge will be held in Dubai in the last week of this month. The points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the series' overall champion.

Click HERE for Photos by Osama Mohammed

UAE: Al Jahouri wins Emirates title

Gulf News
January 10, 2010
photo: * Second and third-place winners of the 120km Emirates Championship endurance ride, Musab Saleh Al Marzouqi (right) and Mag Singh Chain Singh at Al Wathba Endurance Village yesterday.

Abu Dhabi : Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri came up with fine exhibition of skilful endurance riding to win the Emirates Championship at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Riding the 12-year-old gelding Berlioz De Piboul, owned by the Al Wathba Stables, Al Jahouri completed the gruelling 120-km ride in a time of 4 hours and 41.44 minutes.

A strong field took part in the CEI 2* ride which divided into five stages of 32 kms, 28 kms, 24 kms, 20 kms and 16 kms each.

The ride was sponsored by SAS Investments.

Al Jahouri, a vastly experienced endurance rider averaged a speed of 25.56 kmph.

Musab Saleh Al Marzouqi, riding the nine-year-old gelding Tidjaso finished second in a time of 4.43.57. Tidjaso is owned by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi.

India's Mag Singh Chain Singh, riding Yentl Raban, finished third in 4:44.00. Yentl Raban is owned by Al Wathba Stables.

Uruguay's Carlos Enrique Lopez Morales on CAL Caushah took fourth place with a time of 4.49.26 while Emirati Omar Rashid Obaid Al Jarwan clocked 4:49.28 to place fifth aboard Hamaasy.

"This was my third ride of the season. In the previous two rides I finished 10th and 5th respectively. Now I was third time lucky," said a delighted Al Jahouri,

[...more]

Bahrain: Riders set for endurance showdown

Gulf-daily-news.com

Saturday, January 09, 2010


THE second of three rounds in the 2010 Giants Endurance Horseride Challenge takes place today at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

The race, which is being sponsored by Unicorn Investment Bank, gets underway at 7am. It will flag off in the presence of Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The 120-kilometre event has been divided into five stages. The first and second stage will be 30km each, while the final three will be 20km apiece.

Many of Bahrain's top endurance riders will be taking part in the round, including Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Also saddling up for the hosts will be Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa, Abdulhaq Qadoori and Yousef Taher.

The Bahrainis will be looking to make an impact in today's ride following a disappointing performance in the first round in Abu Dhabi last month, when they all were forced to pull out in the middle of the race.

Meanwhile, leading riders from the UAE, Spain, Uruguay, India, Oman and Jordan will also be taking part.

Spearheading the Emirati contingent will be UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

All the participants yesterday made their final preparations for the event, including the final medical checks with the championship's official veterinarians on their horses.

The race will be televised live on Bahrain and Dubai sports channels, while updated results will be available on alfurrsan.com.

Following today's activities, the third and final round will be held in Dubai in the final week of this month. The points accumulated over the three rounds will decide the Challenge's overall champion.

Round one was won by Majed Al Jahouri of the UAE. He was followed by Federico Zubiaurre of Uruguay in second, while Ahmed bin Harmash of the UAE finished third.

India: Marwari Horses Succeed in Endurance

Photos by Michael Huggan

Marwari horses succeed in Endurance at the 2nd International Invitational 81km Endurance Championships, in Dundlod, Rajasthan, India

7th—13th December 2009

Marwari horses, loaned by Rawal Devendra Singh of Nawalgarh, succeeded in taking the Bronze medal with an all ladies Team representing Great Britain & the UK Chapter.

This was an 81km endurance race with 10 teams invited, plus some individuals, and consisted of 4 laps of 20.25km per lap, in one day, against the clock . All competitors were 'vetted' in between laps to check the horses heart rate, hydration, soundness and general well being, to ensure the horse was 'fit to continue' and not in distress. The Indian Army entered 2 teams and took gold and silver followed by the British invitational group in Bronze position. Team members were from Endurance GB: Lesley-Ann Parker, Pip Westwood & Bryony Dickins and were joined by Caroline Moorey who is the Chair of Friends of Marwari/Kathiawari Horse UK and also the UK / India link for the event.

The British were the only ones to get all their horses home, and Lesley-Ann, Caroline and Pip achieved the ultimate of riding all 4 loops together, vetting within 2 minutes each time and crossing the line together shouting 'MARWARI'.

Other countries present were, France and Italy (with Assissi squad members riding), Russia, America, Sri Lanka and Indian civilian teams. Team GB rode the Indigenous Marwari breed of horse, who have unique lyre shaped ears, provided by Rawal Devendra Singh who was delighted that the horses were so successful in such an international arena, he said that "the British team’s success could only help to raise the breed profile, especially for this discipline, in which they seem to excel."

Last year three of the team (Lesley-Ann, Caroline and Bryony) took the gold medal for 50km riding Marwari horses loaned by members of the IHSI (read full report in our first newsletter which is on the website www.friendsofmarwari.org.uk). This year Caroline went out early to choose and prepare the horses many weeks before, and was pleased that, as the picture shows, the horses crossed the line looking as though they could have gone around again. The team had many comments from the vets and officials as to how well they rode the race. A professional equestrian photographer from Britain was invited by Caroline to record the event for the team this year, and he can be contacted via his website: www.michaelhuggan.com .

Team motto was 'to finish is to win' - to gain a medal was a bonus!

More photos HERE

Volunteers Still Needed for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

HEROES WANTED!
Volunteers Still Needed for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

DATE: January 6, 2010

Lexington, KY—The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games needs Heroes! Thousands of volunteers are stilled needed to work hundreds of different jobs during the 16 days of the Games, which will be held for the first time in American from September 25-October 10, 2010 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

"We need volunteers who can lend their expertise to help make these Games a success, no matter their professional skill level," said Melissa Gamble, Volunteer Manager for the World Games 2010 Foundation. "You might work as a ticket-taker, an usher, work at a visitor information desk, or help with transportation or event services, but each is a very important part of how these Games work every day."

Volunteer positions for competition-specific duties are currently being selected, but thousands of General Volunteers are still needed. Volunteers can still register their interest at www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer.

In addition, there is still time to reconfirm your interest as a volunteer if you signed up within the past two years. To reconfirm interest or adjust current contact information e-mail volunteers@feigames2010.org.

All volunteers will receive an official Ariat uniform and a volunteer credential, which will provide General Admission entry to the grounds of the park for all 16 days of the Games. In addition, meal vouchers will be provided for each volunteer during their shift.

According to current volunteers, the benefits of volunteering extend far beyond the uniform.

"The opportunity to assist with an international sporting event is something that many of us will never again experience," said Carolyn Greene, who volunteered during each of the 2009 Test Event competitions for the Games and is now volunteering full-time at the World Games 2010 Foundation office. "Volunteering is part of who I am and what I do, and I am having a blast here."

Martin Klotz volunteers his time as part of the Games' Speakers Bureau. After participating in a training program with staff members, Klotz carries the story of the Games to community groups throughout the Louisville area.

"After each presentation, I have come away with the feeling that I had created an awareness of the Games in those who had not thought much about them and enhanced the interest in those who had," said Klotz, who has also worked as an usher at the 2009 Test Events. "Of course, I hope I will continue to have the opportunity to help 'spread the word' about this monumental event."

It is not too late to experience the Games as a volunteer. For more information, visit www.alltechfeigames.com/volunteer or call 859-244-2996.