Lithuania: Alisija Zabavska-Granger rides the dream

Horsebytes Blog by Monica Bretherton - Full Story

Imagine that you have secured a qualification to represent your country in endurance at the World Equestrian Games, a goal you have been working on for many years.

You even have the luxury of two horses who are qualified, a gelding and a lovely bay mare, but finances dictate that you focus on preparing only one for the 2010 Games. The gelding is strong and powerful, and he moves up to 75 miles without a hitch. The signs are looking pretty positive.

One evening you go out to dinner with the future mapped out, only to find on returning that the gelding is not in his paddock.

This is what happened to Alisija Zabavska-Granger, who will be representing Lithuania in endurance at the Alltech World Equestrian Games on September 26th.

After she told me a little bit of her life history, I was not so surprised to hear she had overcome this setback.

Beginnings

Alisija left her native country of Lithuania because, she said, "Men were dominating and I would have been a slave in the horse world..."

Read more here:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/horsebytes/archives/220140.asp?from=blog_last3

Australia: St Albans hosts horse riding marathon

Hillsnews.com.au - Full Article

BY JO ARBLASTER
03 Sep, 2010 01:14 PM

Neil Clarkson from Glenhaven achieved a mighty milestone last week by winning a gold-plated buckle and the Halifax Hayes Fit and Well award riding his Arabian stallion Espirit Sherwood at Shahzada.

They came from all over Australia to take part in the annual 400 kilometre marathon ride held at St Albans. For 30 years, the little Hawkesbury village has been the ride base for the longest endurance ride in the world. This year 79 riders ranging in age from 13 to 73 took part in the event where the motto is To Finish is to Win.

Starting at 4am each morning, competitors rode 80 kilometres a day for five days in the picturesque Macdonald Valley and the Dharug National Park. Not for the faint-hearted are sections of the track such as Prestons and the Steps whose names belie the challenges they present. Participants are off 'tailing' their horses up and down rocky cliffs which test the endurance of both horse and rider. Twice daily veterinary checks ensure the horses are fit to continue.

Marion Lengronne from Anstead in Queensland, riding Arabian mare Sasam, lead the field from day one, completing the ride in 32hrs 19mins...

Read more here:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/horsebytes/archives/220140.asp?from=blog_last3

France: Lexington hopes of medals

Nationales-bretonnes.org

From October 25 to 10 the World Equestrian Games in Lexington (USA) will offer the world the events bringing together the best competitors of time in eight disciplines: jumping, eventing, dressage, endurance, vaulting, Driving, Reining and Para Equestrian Dressage.

Endurance World Equestrian Games will be Sunday, September 26, the day after the opening ceremony. The last mile to consolidate the French team has gone to Compiegne. The young Breton Sarah Chakil to defend the colors of France with Sakalia.

The horses of the France team will gather on 14 and 15 September in Vittel to a final work program. Then they will join Cork in order to recover Christophe Pélissié, the veterinary team from France and assistance. All horses selected for the French gaming will take off for Lexington 19, riders will recover them 20.

* Virginie ATGER / AZIM DU FLORIVAL
* Sarah CHAKIL / SAKALIA
* Caroline DENAYER GAD / GWELLIK DU PARC
* Jean-Philippe FRANCES / HANABA DU BOIS
* Bénédicte SANTISTEVA / DJOUR DE BOZOULS

Alternate: Cecile MILLETO / EASY FONTNOIRE

Since August, Sarah connects a program of training that prepares the best for the distance of 160 km. LANDIVISIAU / COREMAs with GRAZIELLA OF SULEIMAN (August 7) - The world's eight years in COMPIEGNE with ORRHA Gargassan (August 20 ) - The trophy sponsors COMPIEGNE with NIAC ARMOR (August 21) ... Coming in the next few days: Monpazier CIS * Monpazier with and again the following day ** CIS will then Florae with SHARARAT (the origin of lameness in Corlay encountered was identified and resolved since).

The "world capital of horse" France will host a team of motivated, well prepared.

Wish them luck

Namibia: Horse riding fever in Walvis

Newera.com.na - Full Article

02 September 2010

by Albertina Nakale

WALVIS BAY - Approximately 200 international horse riders have joined their Namibian counterparts for the annual International Horse Endurance Riding Competition, at the Namibian harbour town.

According to the Namibia Endurance Ride Association (NERA), Walvis Bay remains the ideal location for the competition.

“It is difficult to imagine any other location where the stamina, perseverance and willpower of both the rider and their steed is challenged. Not only do the dunes provide for some of the toughest endurance and obstacle courses, this course is more difficult than similar races in the Middle East.

“We have been very fortunate to enjoy the support of the Municipality of Walvis Bay to host this particular event and would like to see this relationship continuing,” said NERA secretary, Annette Hanekom.

Hanekom noted that over the last few years since the competition was shifted to Walvis Bay, there has been an improvement in the skills and performance of Namibian endurance horse riders...

Read more here:
http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=12814

African endurance in Walvis Bay

Newera.com.na - Full Article

01 September 2010

WALVIS BAY - The coastal town of Walvis Bay is hosting the First National Bank (FNB) African Endurance Horse-riding Championship.

The event, organized by FNB, is said to be “the biggest ever” in Walvis Bay with 195 participants. Apart from hosts Namibia, South Africa and Germany will be represented by riders in various categories, and who are expected to endure an ultimate 120 km ride in the hot Namib desert.

“It is a difficult ride because of the desert and the weather. All the horses were thoroughly checked by veterinarians. We have 14 vets to check the horses before the game.

“These horses will be going in different directions. Some to Dune 7, along the beach up to Guano Island, while some will go to the salt pan,” said Annette Hanekom one of the main organizers of the event...

Read more here:
http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=12783

New Zealand: Trio aiming to go the full distance

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

By David Leggat
5:30 AM Saturday Aug 28, 2010

Jenny Chandler had pottered about for years in the usual equestrian pursuits. Some eventing here, a bit of showjumping there, going back to getting her first pony at 10.

She'd heard about endurance riding but figured she wouldn't have the time to take it seriously. But on Tuesday she and teammates Debby Worsfold and Alison Higgins are off to Kentucky as New Zealand's team for the 160km endurance race at the world equestrian games.

"I've now discovered the riding I most enjoy doing - hacking down the road, which used to be called skiving because you should be doing more important things - is called training," she quipped. At the Masters Games in Hamilton six years ago, Chandler, who farms near Pirongia, close to Te Awamutu, and works at Waikato University's animal psychology lab, was encouraged to enter and had a standardbred who wasn't much good for anything else.

"So I took him in. It was 20km, which seemed an awfully long way. We won it and I was hooked." Chandler bought her world games mount, Lace and Fineness, in December 2005...

Read more here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10669396

China International Horseracing Meeting Kicks off in NW China

Cri.cn

2010-08-28

China international horseracing meeting kicked off in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Saturday, which attracted nearly 100 equestrian lovers from home and abroad with over 120 quality horses.

The meeting encompasses three racing disciplines, including International Equestrian Federation (FEI) 80km-endurance, speed and horse-walking races.

During the competition event, other equestrian shows will be staged, including dressage, jumping and riding-shooting.

The meeting was held along the Great Wall and Beacon Tower in Yinchuan, which is a great appeal especially to foreign equestrian lovers.

The meeting is held to promote the exchange between Chinese and foreign equestrian lovers and lead more people to approach the healthy and low-carbon exercising choices, said the organizers.