New Zealand: Horse of the Year show kicks off next week

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

March 11, 2010

In just under a week's time the first of thousands of hooves will step foot in the main arena at the 2010 Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show and Kevin Hansen will be a happy man.

For the show director, his key crew and a team of more than 450 volunteers, that moment means a tireless year of work and planning will have all come to fruition.

This year's show in Hastings is no different. It will be another huge effort, but one with significant highlights.

Heroes from yesteryear will be honoured with the inaugural Hall of Fame gala dinner on Thursday night, where the first five inductees will be announced - just who they are is a closely guarded secret.

The Aussies are coming to do battle with the Kiwis for the inaugural Nations Cup competition, a young rider team is heading across the ditch to try and defend the Trans Tasman Trophy, there is a trial to find New Zealand's Youth Olympic representative, the nation's best Pony Club showjumping team will be found, and of course, the best will line up to win the Bell Tea Olympic Cup as showjumper of the year.

"So many highlights and so hard to choose just one," says Hansen.

He'll have nearly 2600 combinations competing in 17 disciplines in 28 arenas over six days from Tuesday (March 16) through to Sunday when the Olympic Cup is decided.

Reigning champ Peter McMahon (Australia) will not be here to defend the crown, but there are plenty with their hands up and out, ready to hoist the historic cup on high and pocket their share of the $200,000 prize purse.

Olympic course builder Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela) is back to design the best showjumping courses to challenge the riders and entrance those watching.

Eventing is starring alongside showjumping and dressage this year as one of the top three disciplines and a top-class field has been attracted to the three star division. John Nicholson, brother of Olympian Andrew, will design the cross-country course - something riders and spectators alike look forward to.

Dressage has some incredibly exciting combinations entered in the upper echelon of the discipline.

Endurance will take its record numbers of competitors through some stunning Hawke's Bay wine country.

Read more here:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2010/03/069.shtml

Germany: German Endurance Championships in June

Bestendurance.com

The CERA Challenge German Endurance Championships for Juniors and Seniors will be held 24-27 June, 2010, in Dillingen, Germany.

The championships will be organized by Best Endurance - Belinda Hitzler and Stephan Schelldorf.

The route will be easy and mostly flat with excellent the trackside. Perfect to qualify horses gently. The routes will lead the riders through the picturesque Danube Valley, bordering on mild hills through magnificent forests, back through the level to Dillingen.

Our goal is that all operators would be faced with excellent opportunities to be able to show endurance racing at the highest level.

The excellent infrastructure, with nice hotels, camping and restaurants makes it easy for guests and riders easy to feel at ease. (More information on Dillingen and hotels, they see www.dillingen-donau.de).

For more information on the ride, see Best Endurance or contact Belinda Hitzler at belinda@bestendurance.com or Stephan Schelldorf at stephan@bestendurance.com .

Great Britain: Endurance stars set out on Kentucky fund-raising routes

Yorkshirepost.co.uk - Full Article

08 March 2010
By Jill Armstrong

ENDURANCE riders and anybody wanting to try it out, have a new series of rides to look forward to this season.

The rides are being organised by Endurance GB to help raise funds to support the British team at this year's World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Around 23 Kentucky Rides will be taking place at different venues between now and August. These non-competitive rides will cover a range of distances to suit all levels of experience, from 10 miles to routes of 25 miles.

They are open to non-members and will be an opportunity to ride over some lovely countryside, often over land not normally open to the public. Riders can take part either for pleasure or to prepare for the competition season ahead.

"We have a really talented pool of riders and hope to be sending a strong team to Kentucky," said Jo Claridge, EGB chairman.

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St Francis Bay riders tops at Queenstown Endurance

St. Francis Sport - South Africa
http://www.stfrancissport.co.za/index.php/archives/1306

ESTI STEWART

Endurance horse riders from the Kouga area formed the core of the top riders at the New Stead Ride held in Queenstown over the last weekend in February.

The first leg of an 80km ride started on New Stead farm at 05:30 on Saturday morning February 27, taking the 69 riders through the beautiful and rugged mountains near Queenstown. Conditions for the ride were tough in some places as riders had to negotiate steep up and down hills on rocky mountains.

Jenna Masterson (15) from St Francis Bay was determined to do well and had every confidence in the fitness and ability of her horse Xantium Zulu, owned by Alexander Holliday and trained by his mother Claire Holliday from Jeffreys Bay. She won the Junior Division in a time of 04:30:00 and in the second overall position. Her younger sister Kirsty (11), a Child Rider, rode her own horse Cydrob Crown Amira with their mother Jenny on Maestro, owned and trained by Daan Landman, as according to the rules a child rider has to ride with a senior rider. During the second leg of the ride Kirsty and Jenny was right behind a woman who fell of her horse, seriously injured. In the true spirit of endurance riding Jenny Mastersons and Bob Seegers stayed with the women, delaying them for 35 minutes. Kirsty finished the leg with another senior rider, but waited for her mother at the next compulsory rest period.

Despite the fact that they both lost more than half an hour due to supporting their co-competitor, they both finished with a time of 05:46:00 with Kirsty in second position (Child Riders) and Jenny in first position in the light weight senior rider category.

Daan Landman, Springbok rider from the Tsitsikamma was the first heavy weight home in a time of 04:35:00 on his gelding Shams El Farin Fasab, Chris Landman was second standard weight home on his mare Sahida, the Eastern Cape horse of the year 2009.

The Spirit of Endurance Award was given to Jenny Masterson and Bob Seegers from Graaff Reinett for unselfishly assisting the seriously injured woman, compromising their own positions and time in the competition. Jenna also won the cup for the Best Conditioned Horse in the Young Rider Division.
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Oman: Horse endurance race held in Barka

Oman Tribune

March 06, 2010

A Staff Reporter

BARKA The final race of the horse endurance event witnessed a lot of excitement and stiff competition between the participating horsemen on Thursday.

In all, 37 horsemen and horsewomen took part in the main race for 90km and 19 horsemen in the qualifying race for 40km.

Organised by the Omani Equestrian Association and sponsored by Emran Company, the event was held at Seih Al Mahamed in Barka, under the auspices of HH Sayyid Mohammed Bin Salim Al Said, and attended by Mohammed Bin Eisa Al Fairouz, OEA chairman, along with hundreds of other people. Horseman Khalil Bin Ebrahim Al Nairi, riding the horse, ‘Tarraf’, won the race after passing all stages successfully, finishing the race within 6 hours and 12 minutes.

Horseman Al Fares Bin Hasan Al Farsi, finished second the race on horse ‘Nail’ in 6 hours and 25 minutes.

Horseman Mahmoud Bin Marhoon Al Fawri finished in the third place on horse ‘Cleft’ in 6 hours and 31 minutes.

Ahmed Bin Salim Al Hamdani came in the fourth place on ‘Al Ufuq’ in 6 hours and 38 minutes, whereas, horsewoman Turkia Bint Mahmoud Al Balushi finished fifth on ‘Lara’ in 7 hours and 41 minutes.

Brazilian horse won best condition award in UAE

Endurancebrasil.com.br - Full Article

Brazilian horses are gradually showing potential in Arab lands. Adaptation in the desert can be a little slower to Brazilian horses, but in his time has shown good results.

Caraiva CSM was Best Condition in the Ladies Endurance Ride - CEN 90 km in the Dubai Endurance City this weekend, February 26. The breeder of the mare in Brazil is Claudio Ribas (Kazik Stud) and now she is in the second season in the United Arab Emirates. She assured the 6th place been ridden by Hamya Ali Mohm Al Saiqal. The average was 25.15 km/h average and arrive 18min48s after the champion. Caraiva completed the race in 3h34min40s. In the Best Condition she added 53, 36 points.

The Brazilian mare make up the team Seeh Al Salam Endurance Stables in UAE, which is owned Sh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Caraiva has completed some evidence in UAE.
Another Brazilian highlight was Pommery FGJ, from the same stable, the mare finished the race in 21th place. The Anglo Arab was been ridden by Jamila Ahmed, finishing the race in 4h26min15s and the average was 20.28 km / h.

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Spain: 2010 Raid del Cron

Raidcron.blogspot.com

The 15th CEI2* 120 km Raid del Cron will take place 12-14 March, 2010 at the Club de Raid Osona Nord in St Pere de Torello, Spain.

For more information, trail maps, registration, and directions see the Raid del Cron blog