UAE: 240 Km in the desert

Wrsan wins after 3 days of competition
by Paula Nascimento, Brazil
photo album

Three days in the desert, with high speed and heat formed the backdrop of the 4th edition of HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance International Festival. Some races were part of the event in Boutheib Endurance Village: International Open Race FEI *** 240 km, Juniors & Young Riders 120 km **; Privates Horses 120 km **; Federation Qualifier Ride 80 Km and 40 Km Qualification Ride. Starting December 31, 2009, the Festival also included an auction in Boutheib Stables. The event was organized by the Emirates Heritage Club with the Federation of United Equuestre (EEF).
Coincidence or not, is another year that Al Wrsan Stables remain unbeaten in the competition of 240 km. Only Sh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan stables has this trophy, while most stables, trainers and veterinarians in the United Arab Emirates hope to come.

The distance of 80 km per day can apparently not be difficult, but certainly this is one of the most difficult races in the desert, inhibiting many stables to participate with their horses. Their prefer to save them for other events less technical. It takes much training, wisdom and sensitivity for the horse/ rider to finish the 240 km in good physical condition.

This year, the highlight was the argentinian horse breeding Cal Puelche, that led Wrsan Stables to the highest place of the podium. With an average speed of 23.36 Km/h, Puelche was with Abdulla Rashid Mohd Saeed Al Naqbi and all scored a total of 10h16min12s on track. Puelche presented during the three days of competition good recovery. The time recoverying was between 1min16s/ 2min40s. Only the return of the first loop the horse was slow to recover and have to wait 6min14s to go into the vet check. CAL Puelche performed at the vet check nine times and added an average recovery with 19min22s.

In the first loop, Puelche arrived with the 27th place. The speed on track in this loop was 24 km/h. In the second loop the horse recovered many places, taking second place and the speed was 25.83 km / h in the desert sands. After Puelche and Abdulla was between 4, 2nd and 1st place, but not reaching the highest speed that the 2nd loop (1 day). Puelche performed well in all stages, including the initial inspection of each day to start.

Cal Ramon, in Argentina, was the Puelche breeder in Argentina and trainer was Jorge Vita, then when the horse was exported to the United Arab Emirates in 2008.
The second place was Saif Salem Mohd Al Fares which Raaward Kasmin, Dubai Endurance Stables. They stay every day in the top 10 and on the last day was running for the top of the podium. Raaward made the 1st loop with the average 25.39 km/h and finished the race at a speed of 24.58 km / h, with only two seconds off the champion. The total time of his recovery was 28min48s.

The third place went to Munthar Ahmed Al Baloushi and Jibbah Enog, a horse feared and respected in the UAE. Representing the Al Reef Stables, Jibbah was leading the race for 5 loops and made the race in 10h16min33s. The average speed was 23.35 km / h and the recovery of the horse enviable, since not passed 1min55s. In the third loop Jibbah performed with only 1min17s, totaling just 12min49s recovery. The trainer of Jibbah in Al Reef Stables is Yousef Ahmed Al Bloushi.

Who win the best condition was My Last Mabrouk, ridden by Fauiz Jameel Al Turkoman. They was the 7th place and made the race with an average of 22.08 km/ h and 10h51min59s. They was grown during the three days of competition, leaving 20, 19, 14, 13, 12, 9, 9, 7 and 7 respectively. My Last Mabrouk is a horse in the Fazaa Endurance Team Stables.

On the first day (December 31), the race was divided into loops of 30 km, 30 km and 20 km, starting at 6am. Was 50 horses that begin the race in search of the title and many stables in order to end the hegemony of the ever-victorious Al Wrsan. Were 38 sets that ended the 80 km in the first day. On the second day, only 34 went to the trail in the fourth loop and completed the 6 th loop 23 horses. All days were 3 loops that made up the tracks, totaling nine rings. Start on the morning of 02 January 23 horses and 19 finished the race.

On the last day of racing was impossible to know the winner and the last three loops the dispute was between the top three who took turns in the standings.
Among the horses that were in race, was the Brazilian horse WN Peronek, exported to the United Arab Emirates in April 2008 for Al Wrsan Stables. In Brazil, Peronek was owned by Renato Salvador. Highly praised by professionals in the stable arabic, Peronek was eliminated on the 2nd day, after run 140 Km. He left the race after finishing the 5th loop. Peroneck was with Bader Ali Saeed Al Kayoum and remained at 18, 21, 18 and 15 place. The highest speed that was reached 24.78 km / h.
In Provately Owned Horses CIS * 120 km, the winner was Ylmood, ridden by Eduardo Herrara Saravia, representing the team Al Ain Endurance Stables. With an average speed of 22.93 km/h , the horse completed the race in 5h14min. Second place went to Rashid Saeed Al Kamda with RS Najid, averaging 22.77 km / h and only two minutes behind the champion. Al Kamda is the buyer of the Brazilian horse breeding Al Galyb HCF. In 2009, he bought three more horses in Brazil, sold by Haras Morada do Sol, owned by Silvio Arroyo. The horses are breeding for Kazik Stud, that the owner is Cláudio Ribas.
With the third place on the podium was Zafar Nawaz Shah with Bicho and did 22.74 km / h.

Among the Juniors & Young Riders the winner was Ahmad Saeed Mohammad Al Fares with Fenwick Cadenza, the Seeh Al Salaam Stables. The average race was 25.35 km / h and 4h41min01s. The second place was Rashid Ahmed Al Bloushi (Al Reef Stables) withTrojano and the average speed 25.34 km / h, reaching a few minutes after the winner. And third was Mohammed Saeed Mohd Al Fares Twaf with 23.58 km / h (Seeh Al Salaam Stables). The Best Condition was Sweet October, ridden by Magali Mendez, the Emirates Stables.
Attended every day of the competition Sheikh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and formed the ceremony of awards in Boutheib Endurance Village. It was the U.S. ambassador Richard G. Olson, who was part of the podium delivering the prizes.

The website Endurance Brazil and Arabian Horse Magazine paid tribute to Sheikh Hazza in thanks to the invitations to coverage of the event.
It was the 4th edition of the Festival and the first was won in 2007 by Sh Hazza Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on ZT Faraventure. In 2008 it was the turn of his brother, Sh Khaled bin Sultan Al Nahyan who formed together with Nemer (Roxborough Zepher) and in 2009, third edition, the winner was Abdul Rahman Mohd Karam riding Nemer (Roxborough Zepher).

UAE: Endurance Cup Attracts Top Riders

Kaleej Times
Hisham Al Gizouli
15 January 2010

DUBAI - Over hundred riders from UAE and Europe will line up under the early rays of the sun for the 160km FEI CEI Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup 2010 at the Dubai International Endurance City on Saturday.

The prestigious competition has attracted top 12 riders from Europe based on their European rankings including two Ex-World Cup champions.

The riders have arrived with their horses and preparations have been made to provide them with the utmost comfort.

The riders expressed their pleasure with the facility and warm welcome they have been receiving in Dubai thanks to the Arabian hospitality and friendly people and atmosphere.

According to Ali Mosa, general manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club, all arrangements have been made to stage the race.

“The distance has been divided into six phases. The Red Loop comprises 31km after which the horses should be presented twice within 20 minutes and 30 minutes hold time. The second phase through the Blue Loop runs over 30km and the same above rules for the presentation and the hold time apply. The Yellow Loop extends over 37km, followed by the Green Loop over 27km, the Pink 18km and the final White Loop over 17km,” he said.

Some of the loops have been done in previous World Cups and the others are new. The surface is a mixture grounds and the race is expected to be competitively fast.

The organisers are expecting the winner to cover the 160km in eight hours while the lazy horses may need up to 13 hours to cross the finish line. But the maximum riding time will be for 16 hours.

The pre-ride briefing will be held in the Vet Gate at 6am on the race day. The Best Condition horse will be selected from the first ten horses finishing within one hour after the first placed horse. The competition will be held approximately one hour after completion by the 10th placed horse. Any horse retires after the start must be presented to an official ride veterinarian before it.

Defending champion Ali Al Jahouri said he’s ready to defend his title but expected the race to be tough and the competition to be fierce.

“There’s nothing easy in the sport. Nobody can say he’s going to win a race or his horse is better than the other. We learned from the sport that the welfare of the horse comes first and for this reason it’s very difficult to predict what lies next,” he said.

Regarding his preparations to retain his crown, Al Jahouri said his horse is doing everything right but will happen on the ground is something different.

“We are well prepared for the competition and hopefully our plan would work and go for a back to back win for Al Wathba Stables,” he said.

India: Manipuri ponies gallop out of comfort zone

Telegraphindia.com
January 14 , 2010

Regulars in races & polo matches, this indigenous breed will debut at Dibrugarh equestrian meet

Dibrugarh, Jan. 13: It will be more than a test of endurance for the debutantes.

Five Manipuri ponies have been introduced to compete with other established breeds at the daylong one-star Conquer Endurance Internationale meet, organised by the Equestrian Federation of Assam with assistance from the Equestrian Federation of India in Dibrugarh on January 22.

Though Dibrugarh had been holding equestrian events regularly for riders from home and abroad, never before have Manipuri ponies taken part in any of the events in this Upper Assam tea town. The organisers have named the meet Eastern Himalayan Ride, 2010.

"The event, which will cover a total distance of 60km, is expected to have participation from all the top endurance riders of the six countries which have been invited. We are fielding indigenous ponies in the endurance event and hope that it will be exciting," said Siddhartha Sharma, the secretary general of the Equestrian Federation of Assam.

Apart from top riders from host nation India, the invited countries are Switzerland, the US, South Africa, the UK, Argentina and Australia. "We wanted to give the event a global look so that we can have at least riders from one nation from each continent, we do hope that all of them will turn up, most of them had confirmed too. It will be really exciting to watch the Manipuri ponies in action for the first time in this part of the country. So far we have seen them in polo matches and races. We hope followers of equestrian will love this addition of new breed of horses," Manoj Jalan, the chief adviser of the Equestrian Federation of Assam, added.

Unlike other sport, organising an equestrian event takes months and even years of proper planning and correspondence within the state federation, national as well as the international body, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Organising the one-star Conquer Endurance Internationale - French for International Endurance Championship - in Dibrugarh had taken months of planning and preparation by the Equestrian Federation of Assam.

"The riders will have to criss-cross sandy banks of the Brahmaputra and trek through tea gardens with the Himalayas in the background. This is why we thought to christen the event the Eastern Himalayan ride," Jalan said. This is the second time Dibrugarh is hosting an international endurance event, the first being held in 2003. Riders from various nations largely appreciated the track.

Ian William, the head of the endurance department of the FEI, is expected to arrive in Dibrugarh shortly and will act as the president of the ground jury and oversee the technical conduct of the event.

Rod Fisher, an eminent equine sport veterinarian, will be a foreign veterinary delegate and act as the president of the Veterinary Commission, said Brig. (retd) K.S. Rao, the technical director of the event.

Rao had been associated with the Equestrian Federation of Assam for a long period and was also the former director of the Meerut-based Army Equitation School - now upgraded into a college - while in service. Equestrian was held in 2001 for the first time in Assam and most of the events had been held in Dibrugarh.

Australia: Avery rides away with endurance challenge

Stuff.co.nz: The Marlborough Express - Full Article

13/01/2010

Former Waihopai Valley rider Kylie Avery showed her skills at last weekend's Annandale Feeds South Island Endurance and Competitive Trail Riding Championships in Chestnut Valley, taking out the Radich Law CE1 1* 100-kilometre title.

On a challenging course in the Wairau Valley, Avery, on her horse Silands Mia Bella, headed off Jessica King riding Wishum, with Tessa Deuss, from Wellington, third on Samson 11.

Avery backed that effort up on Silands Jasark with a second placing in the Mitavite CE1 2* 120km event and later won the Best Conditioned 100km award with Silands Mia Bella.

The event included a wide range of courses, from 160km in the top endurance event to 32km trail rides. The 160km event started in darkness at 1am, the first two loops completed with the aid of headlamps and glow markers.

More...

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