Australia: 2010 Shazada

Aera.asn.au

Marion Legronne was the Fastest Time in 32 hours and 19 mins on her mare Sasam.... Marion looked a picture and smiled her way through the whole 400kms.

The oldest successful rider and rider who travelled the furthest was Alwyn Toorenbeek (below left). Another successful rider, Noni Seagrim (bottom left).

Six horses were called up for Best Conditioned/Best Managed Horse Award - Sasam ridden by Marion Legronne, Shakista ridden by Sue Todd (centre left), Shellal Cattle King Flyte ridden by Allix Jones, Diamond R Boston ridden by Kym Hagon (centre right), Garonne Park Tiara ridden by Anne Lymbery and Razorback Hot Pepper ridden by Tracy Haack.

Best Conditioned/Best Conditioned Horse Award went to Shakista, owned and ridden by Sue Todd (centere left).

Neil Clarkson and Espirit Sherwood won the Halifax Hayes Fit and Well Award.

More information and Photos at
http://www.aera.asn.au/

Canadian Endurance Team Finishes Seventh at World Equestrian Games

Cornwallseawaynews.com - Full Article

Published on October 10th, 2010

In the first competition of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, in Lexington, KY, the Canadian Endurance Team comprised of Elroy Karius and Gail Jewell of Kelowna, BC; Robert Gielen of Norton, NB; and Ruth Sturley of Owen Sound, ON placed seventh out of 21 starting teams on September 26, 2010. 108 riders started the 160km competition, only 55 individuals finished.

Endurance is a distance riding sport where horse and rider teams complete a course of up to 160 km within 24 hours. The welfare of the horse is paramount. Riders aim to finish as quickly as possible, with a “sound”, healthy horse and there are multiple veterinary checks to ensure the horses are fit to continue.

“It was a wonderful team effort,” remarked team captain Kay Melvin. “The crew worked really well together. Today was a real team effort, and a real team success..."

Read more here:
http://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/Sports/2010-10-10/article-1839415/Canadian-Endurance-Team-Finishes-Seventh-at-World-Equestrian-Games/1

Rondezvous in Normandy

Horsechannel.com - Full Article

France to host 2014 World Equestrian Games
By Elizabeth Moyer

At the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the FEI flag was lowered and officially passed from Kentucky to Normandy. The French region will welcome the world equestrian games in 2014.

The French/American connection is especially significant, as 2014 will mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day, when American and allied troops landed on Normandy beach during World War II in a pivotal battle in the liberation of France and Europe.

Normandy and Kentucky share many similarities. Both have a worldwide reputation for producing champions and serve as centers of equine industry, research, breeding and competition...

Read more here:
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2010/10/12/normandy-world-equestrian-games.aspx

The King to spearhead Malaysia's challenge

News-straits-times

New Straits Times, Oct 10, 2010 | by Zainuddin Muhammad

YANG di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin will take part in the 7th Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge on Nov 5-7 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.

The King will face challenges from more than 90 endurance riders from 15 countries in the 120km race, which is co-organised by the state government and Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES).

Organising committee chairman Datuk Mazlan Ngah said riders from the United States, Chile, Uruguay, France, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and Indonesia had confirmed their participation in the three-day competition...

Read more here:
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/new-straits-times/mi_8016/is_20101010/king-spearhead-malaysias-challenge/ai_n55494564/

Malaysia: Terengganu Endurance Challenge To Feature 90 Riders From 15 Countries

Bernama.com

October 9 2010

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge 2010 from Nov 5-7 in Lembah Bidong, Setiu will feature 90 local and international riders from 15 countries.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said said the number of participation was a 50 per cent increase compared with the number of rider when the race was incepted in 2006.

"Apart from participants, the Endurance Race has also attracted the attention of equestrian sport lovers, horse owners, breeders and veterinary doctors in the country.

"It will certainly increase the number of tourists to Terengganu and boost economic revenue from tourism," he told reporters after launching the event at Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa, Pulau Duyong here Saturday.

"The championship not only glorifies Terengganu but it is also a stepping stone for riders to enter internationally acclaimed endurance races.

Ahmad said the challenge would offer RM100,000 in prize money while young local riders .

He added that organizing such events was in line with the state's objective to turn Terengganu into a hub for traditional, cultural, arts, sports and recreational activities in the region.

-- BERNAMA

Princess wants World Equestrian Games in America again

Cincinnati.com - Full Article

By Jessie Halladay • The Courier-Journal • October 7, 2010

LEXINGTON - The head of the governing body for the World Equestrian Games would like see them return to the United States, citing the success in Lexington as ground-breaking and beneficial to equestrian sports.

“We all know that what's big in America becomes big all around the world,” Princess Haya al Hussein, president of the Federation Equestre Internationale, or FEI, said yesterday. “The more chances we have to see our World Equestrian Games on this continent, it would make our sport richer for it.”

The games continue through Sunday at the Kentucky Horse Park, and though not every competition sold out, Princess Haya praised attendance and said having the first games in America have done a lot to increase exposure to disciplines that may not be as well known. Daily attendance has ranged from 12,000 to nearly 51,000.

“What Kentucky has brought to the World Equestrian Games and to the FEI has been nothing short of miraculous,” she said.

“What would for me be the special mark of these games is the American can-do attitude… That's something that we in the FEI should really learn from and take home because if we do there are absolutely no boundaries to where this sport can go...”

Read more here:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20101007/NEWS0103/310070036/Princess-wants-Games-back-in-U-S-

WEC: Maria, an exceptional pilot, Sheikh Mohammed, a knight.

by Leonard Liesens, Endurance-belgium.com

The protocol, but also the traditional Bedouin culture defines its own rules. The leader leads the tribe, his oldest son at his right side. The sons must show respect to their father. They have to follow him, the same principle is true for the youngest sons vs. the oldest.

The trainers of Sheikh Mohammed are in competition against each other for presenting the best horse to the leader and have him choose the one they have trained. The advisors of the Sheikh must probably realize in putting the most accurate comments and have the leader listen to their advise. Nothing else than what's happening in any organization. One must imagine the dilemma for Sheikh Mohammed in order to filter all the information he receives and take the right decision. Choosing the right horse for the right race must not be easy and can be a bit like playing poker. The biggest difference is that the one bluffing a bit too much can quickly be fired. C'est la vie...

Sheikh Mohammed had the choice between Ciel oriental, the chestnut and Acadienne, the grey mare. The photos are showing the two horses when ridden by Maria (Acadienne) and another trainer (Ciel Oriental). Would I be offered to ride any of them, be sure I would write flattering articles for years...

He opted for Ciel Oriental. This horse seems to be especially
difficult at the trotting. Is seems that he is afraid of the person
trotting him. Ears set to the back, head raised, hind legs shifted
to the outside... This doesn't please the veterinarians as it is
difficult to detect any gait abnormalities. At the last trotting,
the horse was trotted twice by his trainer and showed the
particularities described above. It seems that the vet committee
asked another trotting with another person. Sheikh Hamdam took the
rope and trotted Ciel Oriental, on a more 'normal' way. Seen from
3/4, the horse was looking OK, not perfect, but difficult to
eliminate it, taking into account he is the horse from the biggest
patron of endurance.

More...