Abu Dhabi: Over 100 riders to compete for Presidents Cup

Gulfnews.com
Endurance ride intended to encourage small stables and private owners to participate in events

Staff Report
January 21, 2010



Abu Dhabi: Over 100 riders from private-owned stables will be taking part in Saturday's Shaikh Zayed Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (ADEC), ADEC Director General Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi said, "We are expecting over 100 riders for this event which is a national ride.

"The ride is being held under the directives of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs."

"Like in the Ladies Ride, a total purse of Dh500,000 including two cars will be on offer for the winners and those finishing at the top.

"This event is to encourage riders from small stables and private owners," Adnan said.

Saturday's ride is being sponsored by Bonyan International Investment Group LLC, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Al Medmar magazine and Wathba Stud Farm. "The Wathba Stud Farm of Shaikh Mansour is backing this endurance ride as it gives riders from smaller stables to compete among themselves and graduate to higher levels," said Lara Sawaya representing Wathba Stud Farm.

"There are so many promising riders in the UAE and these rides have been attracting large fields."

Abu Dhabu: Stage Set for Ladies Endurance Cup

Khaleejtimes.com

Hisham Al Gizouli

20 January 2010
ABU DHABI - More than 70 top women riders from the UAE and other parts of the world are all set to vie for honours in the Fatima bint Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for Ladies at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Wathba on Friday.

Winners will walk away with a four-wheel-drive car and handsome cash awards worth Dh500, 000, Adnan Sultan, director of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club (ADEC) said on Tuesday.

The event has also received the support of the Bonyan International Investment Group, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Wathba Stud Farm and Al Medmar Magazine.

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi said during a brief news conference: "Entrants for the Shaikha Fatima bint Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup exceeded70 riders from different nationalities. The race will extend over a distance of 90 km at the desert village. The race will start at 7am."

Meanwhile, all arrangements have been made and 200 students from the schools in the emirate of Abu Dhabi will travel to Al Wathba to watch the race," Talal Al Hashemi, from the Abdu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) confirmed.

Dr. Noor Al Deen Atatreh, vice president of Bonyan said: "We would like to thank the organisers for giving us an opportunity to support this event."

Lara Sawaya, managing director of Tasweeq, the associated organiser of the event thanked the sponsors for their great support.

"We are pleased to see women sport growing under the watchful eyes of the officials and courtesy of our faithful partners and sponsors," she said.

Compulsory microchipping for Australia endurance horses

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

January 20, 2010
by Robin Marshall

Qualified endurance horses in Australia must now be microchipped before they can compete, under new rules effective from January 1.

The Australian Enduance Riders Association (AERA) will not issue a logbook to horses without a microchip and a full veterinary identification.

The move follows the Equine Influenza outbreak in 2007, when many horses in New South Wales and Queensland were microchipped by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) after being vaccinated.

"The Government at the time stated that they would like all horses to be microchipped for tracking and ease of identification," said AERA secretary Anne Jones.

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Horse industry on red alert after swamp fever is discovered in Britain

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Abigail Butcher, H&H head of news
19 January, 2010

The horse world is on red-alert following the news that two horses carrying Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) — often termed "swamp fever" - have been found in Britain.

Swamp fever is not transferable to humans but is fatal in equines. If an infected horse does not die, it will carry the disease for life and faces indefinite isolation or compulsory euthanasia.

It causes intermittent fever, anaemia, emaciation and death.

The horses were imported into the country from Romania via Belgium on 22 December. They arrived in a group of 10 horses, nine of which originated from Romania and one from Belgium.

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FEI's Clean Sport Campaign Website Dedicated to FEI Anti-Doping Efforts

"The FEI must turn a new leaf in order to guarantee its community a clean and uncorrupt product. The Stevens Commission and the Ljungqvist Commission have both painted a picture that illustrates how negligent we have been in this area thus far and our governing body is completely committed to rectifying the problems we now face, for the benefit of our athletes, our community and our public."

- HRH Princess Haya

Equestrian sport derives its credibility and public acceptance from the concept of fair play, the idea that the best athlete or team should win fairly and squarely, having competed under equitable conditions and under rules that are fair and applied evenly with true competence. To be valid and meaningful, competition results must be achieved on a level playing field.

Doping and the inappropriate use of normal medications present a serious threat to the integrity and reputation of our sport, because they give athletes an unfair advantage and threaten the welfare of horses. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the entire equine community: athletes, veterinarians, grooms, managers, coaches, owners, officials, and our National Federations to join together to help combat doping and the inappropriate use of medications through better education and increased vigilance.

The FEI's Clean Sport Campaign is a coordinated effort at many levels to provide all our stakeholders with the information and tools necessary to address the issue head on. We hope the campaign will also serve as a call to action to all to reaffirm their commitment to fair play and horse welfare. The concept of Clean Sport is about much more than a new list of prohibited substances and a new rulebook. It's also about better judgment, professionalisation of the officials that regulate our sport and consistency of decisions. It's a complete package and its success depends on everyone playing their part to maintain that level playing field.

For more information, see www.feicleansport.org

UAE: Al Jahouri wins Endurance Cup for the second year in a row

Gulf News
January 17, 2010

Dubai : Defending champion Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri delivered a stunning repeat performance to win the His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Endurance Cup for the second year in succession at Dubai International Endurance City yesterday.

Al Jahouri held off a challenge from Al Wathba stables teammate Mohammad Mubarak Al Sayari in a dramatic finish to prevail by just two seconds.

The talented Emirati horseman, who has ridden and trained purebred Arabian endurance horses for the last 10 years, clocked a winning time of 6 hours 31 minutes and 19 seconds.

Al Sayari was two seconds back in 06.31.21 seconds.

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also participated in the event together with his son Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture.

The FEI CEI three-star ride was held over a distance of 160 km and organised by the Dubai Equestrian Club.

Al Jahouri looks to be in red-hot form having only last week won the Emirates Championship at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.

Riding Bouwman Nasrof, a nine-year-old grey gelding, Al Jahouri rode a patient race.

After finishing the first and second loops in 12th and 13th places, he moved up the field in the third loop to take fourth place.

The 34-year-old Al Jahouri went into the lead in the fourth loop and paced his horse perfectly in the first loop to narrowly beat Al Sayari.

The latter also delivered a strong performance moving up the field from 21st position to make a bid for the title in the final loop.

Saif Sultan Abdullah Dhahi Al Bu Amim, representing the Al Aasfa Stables, took third place with a time of 06.33.12 seconds.

Al Bu Amim led for the early part of the ride but gradually dropped back after each of the first loops.

Over hundred riders from UAE and Europe participated in the prestigious competition including two ex-World Cup champions.

The ride distance was divided into six phases.

The Red Loop comprised 31km after which the horses were presented twice within 20 minutes and 30 minutes hold time.

The second phase through the Blue Loop ran over 30km and the same rules as above for the presentation and the hold time applied.

1. Al Khalfan Al Jahouri (UAE/ Al Wathba Stables/ riding Bowman Nasrof). Time: 06:31.19secs.

2. Mohammad Mubarak Al Sayari (UAE/ Al Wathba Stables/ Kalifa) Time: 06:31.21secs.

3. Saif Sultan Abdullah Dhahi Al Bu Amim (UAE/ Al Aasfa Stables/ Kumait) Time: 06:33.12secs,

New Zealand: Iron horse, iron rider

Ruralliving.co.nz - Full Article

Friday, 15 January 2010
By Crispin Caldicott

The infamous ironman contest sounds to be at the extremes of human endurance, but it is probably good training if you are an endurance rider about to set out for a 100 mile saunter through the night on horseback.

Rural Living spoke to Wendy Farnell, who with her husband John spent ten years abroad training horses for this very exacting equestrian discipline.

Today Wendy is secretary for the Counties Distance Riding Club which organises Endurance championships throughout the country.

"This club has been in existence for ten years, and started with mostly trail riding before concentrating on endurance competitions. Effectively these events are marathons on horseback, with several different categories from the longest of 160 km starting at 1am on Saturday to the more junior events down to 57km.

"Each Class starts at different times throughout the night - or early morning! Everything about this sport is very exacting. The horse may not even set off if it doesn't meet the vetting criteria, and there are several points throughout the ride at which it could be disqualified – including right at the very end - we say this is a great sport for bringing you down to earth!"

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