Australia: Endurance horse riding test

Matthew Lee | 6th April 2010
photo: Karen Trundell with horse Zac during a break in competition at Imbil

THE Easter long weekend is used by many Australians as a chance to kick back and unwind.

THE Easter long weekend is used by many Australians as a chance to kick back and unwind.

This wasn’t the case, however, for the many members of the Far-A-Way Endurance Riders Club at the weekend.

With a strong membership base drawn from throughout the Sunshine Coast, the club hosted its first ride of the season in Imbil – the 2010 Easter Endurance Carnival.

The competitive line-up included an 84km ride in addition to a 120km challenge and an epic marathon traversing 320km.

The three events were highlights of a schedule involving nine events in total spread across five action-packed days.

Eager spectators gathered in Imbil yesterday as the marathon ride was expected to come to a close at the Imbil Showgrounds.

The course negotiated by riders was largely similar to that of previous years, with hills and undulating countryside.

During these events, horse safety is of paramount importance and all endurance rides were carried out subject to current specifications for the sport in Australia.

Horses were monitored for their condition at various checkpoints, including physical inspections involving the measuring of heart rate.

The event was only possible due to the army of volunteers that donated their Easter long weekend to take part in a sport that captures their hearts.

A highlight of the Easter Endurance Carnival was the social atmosphere, where young and older riders alike were able to assemble together after a day’s riding at the camp grounds and share their experiences.

Organisers thanked competitors for nominating and the many volunteers for their participation.

[More ...] http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2010/04/06/endurance-horse-riding-test/

Mongol Derby: Riders from 7 countries and an innovative veterinary programme for Year Two

With riders from 7 Countries - UK, USA, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium and Venezuela - the 2010 Mongol Derby is set to be the most hotly contested yet.

Riders include a Martial Arts expert from Texas, an Olympian 'Madonna' from New Zealand, two siblings from South Africa and a brave Brit who previously broke her back riding a horse.

2009 Mongol Derby was a "huge success...a brand new sport tourism variety"
Dr. Orgil, Director of the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Unit and the Chief Equine Vet in Mongolia


The Mongol Derby team have announced an innovative Veterinary Training Programme that aims to leave a lasting equine legacy in Mongolia.

More than 20 local vets will be trained to become part of the international team of equine experts that will ensure the welfare of the 1000 semi-wild horses taking part in the race across the Mongolian steppe.


Led by four star accredited FEI vet Jenny Weston, the specialist training will also leave a legacy that will benefit other events and races in a country renowned for its love of horses.

"The training will cover exercise physiology and the types of conditions that you see in horses involved in endurance riding and the long-distance horse racing that is a part of Mongolian culture," explains Jenny. "This will benefit not only the horses involved in the Mongol Derby but also the many thousands involved in the annual Nadaam festival."

The training is part of a comprehensive horse welfare program including pre-race training for the riders led by Maggie Pattinson, Chef d'Equipe of the British Home International Endurance Team.

Please also see this link for a full veterinary report on the inaugural 2009 Mongolian Derby.

The race format is based on Chinngis Khaan's legendary postal system which could relay messages thousands of miles in a matter of days. Horse stations manned by nomadic families are established at intervals of 40km or less along the course and riders change horses and undergo veterinary inspections at each one.

The Mongol Derby is a joint venture led by British company The Adventurists with Mongolia based Tengri Group and backed by the Mongolian government's Ministry of Agriculture who acclaim the Mongolian Derby as “having great potential to develop our country”.

Applications are open now for 2010 to adventurous riders from around the world. More information about the world's longest and toughest horse and how to apply can be found on the official website: www.mongolderby.com

Fast Facts about the Mongol Derby

25 riders started the 2009 race, 23 finished and they raised £71,000 for official charity Mercy Corps' projects in Mongolia
Aged from 21 to 65, the 2009 riders came from 8 different countries including Argentina, Sweden and South Africa. 12 of the riders were female
Less than 2% of the 700 horses that took part in 2009 required treatment which was all minor first aid
The riders averaged 100 km per day at about 10 km/hr in 2009
On cooler days some riders managed about 140 km in a day on the better days, at an average speed of 14 km/hr
Horses outnumber the population of Mongolia by 7 to 1!
Marco Polo wrote that in the 13th century 300,000 horses were posted at horse stations across the great Khaan's empire


Rider Biographies


The 2010 riders come from the following countries:

UK
USA
South Africa
New Zealand
Australia
Venezuela
Belgium


USA

Hilary Ponti, USA, 47.
US born, Gloucestershire housewife and mother. Hilary ran the 2009 London Marathon and is a member of Cotswold and Heythrop Hunt. She is also an accomplished event rider.

Kat Swigart, USA, late 30s
Seriously tough Californian boasting a number of professions: horse trainer, graphic designer, business consultant, freelance writer and photographer, computer systems engineer and financial analyst. 
Kat lived in Russia after the collapse of Soviet Union building computer systems for the Russian stockmarket. A hugely experienced endurance rider she has completed 5000 miles of sanctioned endurance riding in the USA.

Justin Nelzen, 33, US
Professional endurance rider. Justin has ridden competitively all over the world and runs a professional equine facility in Texas where he breaks and trains horses.
He has raced in Dubai, the Tevis Cup and the Pan American Championships to name a few. Amazingly, he only took up riding a few years ago and previously served in the US Navy and Marine Corps including tours to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Justin also took part in the World Games for Martial Arts in 1997, where he won one silver and two bronze medals.

UK

Georgina Budge, UK, 28
Incredible determination brings Georgina to the Mongol Derby. In September 2008 she broke her back in a riding accident but has recovered to take part in the 1000km horse race across Mongolia.
Georgina is a martial arts specialist and has trained in North East China for 3 months. A self employed chef, she has also worked in a point-to-point yard and is an experienced rider.

Anna Bradbury, UK
Diplomat
Biography TBC

Richard Dyer, UK
Biography TBC

Susi Saddler, UK
Biography TBC

Rhiannon Thomas, UK
Biography TBC

Tom Welsh, UK
Biography TBC

Camilla Speck
Biography TBC

Camilla Swift, UK
Biography TBC

Anya Campbell, UK
Photographer
Biography TBC

NEW ZEALAND

Madonna Harris, New Zealand, 53
A serious athlete, double Olympian and entrepreneur, Madonna runs her own company manufacturing herbal products.
Since taking up endurance riding she has competed at the World, Pan American and European Championships. Incredibly she has also represented New Zealand at Olympic level in cycling and cross-country skiing.

Netta Burnside, New Zealand
Biography TBC


SOUTH AFRICA

Saskia van Heeren, South Africa
Saskia took part in the inaugural Mongol Derby in 2009 and enjoyed it so much she's back for the 2010 edition, and has also signed up her sister Alexandra to make up the Derby's first family team.
An international art dealer by trade and life-long horse lover, Saskia grew up in New Zealand where she rode for days at a time across wild terrain on the South Island.

Alexandra van Heeren, South Africa,
Alexandra's adventurous sibling took part in the inaugural Mongol Derby in 2009 and now both sisters are taking part in the 2010 edition to make up the Derby's first family team.
She has climbed numerous mountains in the alps; is a keen sailor having spent six months sailing around Fiji; enjoys kite-surfing and like her sister grew up riding horses.

Gina Abbott, South Africa
Biography TBC

Elsa Post, South Africa
Biography TBC


OTHER COUNTRIES

Alisa Vermay, Australia
Biography TBC

Moises Birnbaum, Venezuela, 61
An engineer and professional endurance 3* FEI accredited rider who competes internationally. He has taken part in the Tevis Cup among other high profile events.

Sophie de Selliers, Belgium
Biography TBC

Grounds Pass Ticket Sales Set for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

DATE: March 31, 2010

Offering will Include Free Child’s Ticket; Host of Venue Activities

LEXINGTON, KY - Grounds Pass tickets for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will go on sale Friday, April 16 at 10 a.m.

Grounds Pass tickets will be priced at $25 each, but from April 16 through May 31, as a special promotion, tickets will be available for $20. Each Grounds Pass will allow entry to the 2010 Games venue for the selected date of purchase.

To provide for an affordable, family-friendly event, admission for children 12 years of age and under will be free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult.

A limited quantity of Flex Grounds Pass tickets will be available for $30. The Flex Grounds Pass can be used for entry on any one day of choice, without selecting a specific date of attendance at the time of purchase.

Tickets will be available for purchase through www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets, on www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet and via the Ticketmaster hotline at 1-800-745-3000.

Grounds Pass tickets allow entry to the 2010 Games for the selected day of purchase and will give spectators access to a wide range of activities at the Kentucky Horse Park venue. Activities include shopping at more than 250 Trade Show booths; exciting exhibits and entertainment at the Kentucky Experience tourism pavilion and the Alltech Experience pavilions; and the Kentucky Horse Park’s world-renowned exhibits and museums.

In addition, spectators will be entertained and educated in the Equine Village, which will present more than 40 exhibitors and some of the world's top equine entertainment acts and clinicians, including Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson and the kid-friendly Equimania.

Grounds Pass tickets are available for 13 days during the Games, excluding the competition days of Endurance, Eventing Cross Country and Driving Marathon. Spectators who wish to purchase admission for these competitions should visit www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets.

About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States.

The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. Current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan, and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

Media Contact:
Amy Walker
Public Relations
awalker@feigames2010.org

Princess Haya to run for 2nd term as president of world equestrian body

Winnipegfreepress.com - Full Article

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
31/03/2010

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Princess Haya of Jordan will stand for a second and final four-year term as president of the International Equestrian Federation.

The 35-year-old princess, who competed in jumping at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said Wednesday she wanted to continue giving something back to her sport.

"It's been an honour to serve our sport and our federation over the last four years. I have loved the job," Princess Haya said in a statement. "We have built a fantastic team that it would be a privilege to continue to work with."

The election is scheduled for November at the federation's annual assembly in Taiwan.

Princess Haya was elected FEI president in 2006, and the next year was voted on to the International Olympic Committee.

Read more here.

Kuwait: The first Arabian long distance horse race begins

Q8nri.com

March 29th, 2010

Kuwait: The first horse race on endurance and capacity begun in Kuwait on Saturday. The race was organized by the Kuwaiti Association for Horses, and took place in the Kebad area. Many of the jockeys participating in the race rode authentic horses, riding for four stages.

The first and second stage was 30 km in length, while the third and fourth stage involved 20 km, including a qualifying and classification stage.

Vice?President of the Association, Ahmad Apul said that the endurance and capacity race is "the first of its kind in Kuwait" and the total is 100 km in length. He clarified that the race began at 5pm at the Heritage Village.

Apul added that a list of important instructions and guidelines were set for those who wished to participate in the race, stressing the need to adhere to these rules.

He said that the Association was honored to organize this race, calling for a promotion of the sport, as Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) urged his followers to teach their children archery, swimming and horse riding.

He said that Kuwait has a good reputation in the field of horse riding in the Gulf and the Arab world. He added that the race involves a large number of jockeys from neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Arab and foreign countries as well.

It is noteworthy to mention that despite the bad weather, a large number of fans witnessed the start of the race. The dusty weather that occurred at 10 in the evening was a significant impediment to the Jockeys as they attempted to reach the end as soon as possible.
Nayef Al-Humaidan

The miracle that is Amigo

www.horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

March 28, 2010
by Neil Clarkson

The owner of endurance horse Amigo has praised the outpouring of support from an ever-growing fanbase as the Arabian continues his remarkable recovery from a shocking injury.

The Tennessee horse now has more than 8000 fans following his recovery on Facebook, and owner Gary Sanderson describes them all as wonderful people.

Amigo's fans have rallied to raise $US20,000 toward Amigo's vet care, including an anonymous donation of $US11,600 from out of state.

Gary has put $US10,000 on a special animal-care credit card, meaning the $US30,000 in veterinary bills so far accrued have been covered.

Amigo has been in the care of the large animal clinic at the Univesity of Tennessee since his January 17 accident, in which he was impaled on a branch in his pasture in Luttrell.

Read more here.

New Zealand: Update for Nationals

March 26 2010

Important last minute update for all.

All things are sorted and being bought together for a brilliant NZ Championship.

Traveling competitors will be pleased to know we have secured the use of the Balmoral Pony Club Grounds at Culverden for off base accommodation for horses and people. Minimum facilities (toilets showers) are supplied with room to yard your horses. (Yarding standards to be observed). Please contact David Marshall to make arrangements (small cost will apply). 03 3243 727, 027 446 5593 or email info@hollyfarmnz.com

Bookings for Prize giving dinner will be available until Friday. Please do not miss out to relax and enjoy prize giving/auction and dinner. Great chance to enjoy catching up after the business of the weekend.

With a huge concerted effort, prizes have been secured to a substantial value (think it has past $20,000). This equates to around a third of our budget.

On Sunday evening an Auction has been organized to sell some specific items. If you wish to donate items for fun or pleasure please contact David. At this time we have a household pump and pressure system and a submersible pump from Norlings, a stallion service from Holly Farm Equestrian Services and other items. This is just a start! off site bids will be accepted, contact Ken McGrath (ken.mcgrath@harcourts.co.nz) or David Marshall (as above).

When you arrive at base: please adhere to site allocations. We have set out sites according to entries and if everyone remains considerate we have room for everyone. Layout and basic principles will be posted on arrival.

We are very happy to do everything we can to make your Championship as successful and enjoyable as we can. Any questions please ask. In the meantime, travel safe and looking forward to huge fun weekend.

Kind regards,

From the Culverden 2010 NZ National Endurance and Trail Riders Championship

For more information, see NZEquestrian.org.nz">NZEquestrian.org.nz