Saturday, June 04, 2011

Malaysia: The Ruler’s enduring passion for sports


Sporting spirit: The King (right) riding VV Coco during the Sultan’s Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge in Lembah Bidong last year. -ZABIDI TUSIN/The Star Thestar.com.my - Full Article

June 4 2011

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI
farik@thestar.com.my

ASIDE from being accustomed to royalty, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin is famous for living a very active lifestyle and having lots of hobbies and vocations.

As a teenager, he was active in various sports and activities like football, golf, taekwondo, scuba diving and horseback riding. But his true love is endurance riding.

The ruler's love for horses and endurance riding is unparalleled that he even established the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable and the International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.

In January, Tuanku Mizan took part in the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES) Endurance Ride Series 1 at the International Endurance Park Terengganu.

Tuanku Mizan, riding the horse VV Coco, led three other riders in the 80km ride.

Also taking part in the race were his son Tengku Muhammad Mua'az and two daughters Tengku Nadhirah Zaharah and Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra'.

He even participated at the Fifth International Equestrian Championship from March 3 to 5, organised by the Emirates Heritage Club.

The track, running through the desert with strong winds and tough weather was participated by more than 90 riders.

Tuanku Mizan and two other Malaysian riders successfully completed the three-day race covering 240km...

Read more here:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/4/nation/8817256&sec=nation

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Jean Louis Leclerc to work as consultant for the Brazilian Squad

Endurance-belgium.com

It seems that Leclerc is accumulating the duties. After being fired (well, the official reason was that he was set in early retirement, but Leclerc now openly claims he has been sacked, and we can understand he is not very happy with that) by the French federation just before [the 2010WEG in] Lexington, the national trainer accepted a job as trainer from the German federation. When he was giving a lecture at the Belgian forum in February, Jan-Louis told us that his mandate with Germany wouldn't occupy him full time and that he was looking for other occupations. Brazil has since several years developed privileged contact with France, thanks to exchange programs between riders developed by Guilherme Ferrera. That's why many Brazilian riders could be seen in action on French events.

Leclerc will work for Brazil as technical advisor, helping the team to select and train a squad for the PanAm (in Chile) and the World Yound Riders Championship in Abu Dhabi.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Great Britain: Katy's Exmoor experience turns to gold

Farminguk.com

June 1 2011

Competing in the Exmoor Experience class of the internationally renowned Golden Horseshoe last month, Katy completed the two-day 50-mile course across the rugged landscape of Exmoor in Devon on her 13th birthday.

Katy, who lives on the Longmynd and is a pupil at Bishops Castle Community College, rode her 12.2hh Arab-cross pony Angelina Ginny at an average of 12km/hour over the two days, finishing each day within the optimum time and passing all veterinary inspections. She went one better than her record-breaking achievement in 2010, when she became the youngest rider to complete the course, attaining Silver Medal standard.

The Golden Horseshoe endurance ride takes place on Exmoor in Devon annually, attracting the UK’s top endurance riders and horses. This year’s event was boosted by the participation of Olympic three day event rider Mary King, who made her entry into the sport riding in the same Exmoor Experience class as Katy Mellor.

Qatar: Al Shaqab Endurance Team wins

Thepeninsulaqatar.com

May 31 2011

DOHA: Faleh Nasser Bughenaim secured victory for Al Shaqab’s Endurance Team, member of Qatar Foundation, in the Nations Cup Young Riders race in Compiegne, France, recently.

This win qualifies Bughenaim for the World Cup Young Riders competition later this year. Riding the horse In Situ, Bughenaim finished the 120km race in 5:48:46 hours, only two seconds in front of the second place rider. His average speed for the first four loops ranged between 18-21 km/h, but on the final lap he captured the victory with his increased average speed to 28.54 km/hr.

Sarah Baudrit, a French native, also competed for Al Shaqab, securing a 9th place finish with a total time of 5:54:18 hours.

The team will remain in France for the coming summer months, competing in multiple races across the country.

The Al Shaqab team representing of Qatar is led by Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, Director of Al Shaqab, manager and trainer Hadi Nasser Al Naimi, assistant trainer Jabr Nasser Al Naimi, and assistant trainer Abdul Aziz Saleh Al Jabir.

THE PENINSULA

Australia: Andrew Bowe goes barefoot

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

June 1 2011

ANDREW Bowe's revolt against the farrier trade has ruffled some feathers, writes SARAH HUDSON

They call him the barefoot blacksmith and it's a phrase even Andrew Bowe admits is contradictory and, more pointedly, controversial.

"It's got me into all sorts of trouble," Andrew says.

When a respected farrier turns, in effect, against his trade and becomes a proponent of horses being unshod or barefoot, well, in the horse trade it's heresy, akin to changing football allegiances, or backing the wrong horse.

"Imagine something like the farrier industry, which is protective of its old ways. They see that I've gone over to the dark side and it has ruffled a few feathers," he says.

"I never thought it was not worth it. I'm a master farrier after all, and I should be as protective as them."

It is a testimony, then, that Andrew has persisted, and made such a success of his Alexandra businesses, The Barefoot Blacksmith.

The businesses are based on his 130ha property, which includes lecturing, workshops, consultancy, a newsletter and DVD arm, Australia's first barefoot rehabilitation centre, trimming service, and product sales which he runs with his wife, Nicky.

Andrew's success is also a testimony to his belief in the benefits of the barefoot concept.

His change of heart came about in a curious way...

Read more here:
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2011/06/01/337801_country-living.html

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

UAE: Pink Caravan donates pink tack to 'Monyati Initiatives' Support for orphans and children with special needs

WAM.org.ae

May 29, 2011 - 02:11 -

WAM Sharjah, May 29th, 2011 (WAM) -- The Pink Caravan campaign has donated the candy-pink equine equipment used during its ten-day cross-country journey in April to raise awareness on breast cancer and actively screening UAE residents, focusing on the remote and outlying areas of the country.

The equipment will be used to the Monyati Initiatives Sudan project in support of the project's goal to build a stable and provide equipment for the rescued horses of the Miracles Sudan riding school for children with special needs.

The handover took place recently at the Fursan Al Warqa stables, which was Pink Caravan's key supplier for horses, grooms, staff as well as volunteering riders from their riding school and endurance team. Present for the handover were Fursan Al Waqa representative Mohammed Abdin, Founder of Monyati Initiatives Monja Wolf, and Pink Caravan Chairperson Cecile Guillemot and head of the equine committee Abdulwahid Al Jeaidi.

Speaking of the decision to donate the tack, which was originally provided to Pink Caravan by Bonjour Equestrian, Middle East distributor of stable equipment and equine accessories, Ms Ameera Binkaram, President of the Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), said, "We are delighted to be able to donate this tack to such a worthy cause as the Monyati Initiaves Sudan project. It has already been on a long journey with us since Bonjour Equestrian donated it to the Pink Caravan campaign in support of its journey across the UAE. This brightly coloured equipment helped the campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, where its bright colour helped to draw attention to the caravan itself and to our aims. It is our hope that by passing it on to another worthy cause, this beautiful, candy-pink tack will continue to draw attention to the cause it supports, and will also brighten the hearts of those children who will be using it".

Nicolas Griot, General Manager of Bonjour Equestrian, which donated a number of items included in the welcome packs given to the riders, in addition to the candy-pink tack, said ""It has been an honour and a great privilege to assist Pink Caravan by outfitting the brave horses who trekked across the UAE, to raise awareness on breast cancer. Bonjour commends Cecile and the entire team, for deciding to send the equine equipment on another epic journey with Monyatai Initiates. This time it will be used brighten the lives of special needs children in Sudan, who receive hippotherapy. We look forward to many more opportunities to support Pink Caravan in the future, as a small gesture can really go a long way!" The Pink Caravan campaign is specifically designed to raise awareness of breast cancer and to encourage women to perform self-examinations and go for regular medical checkups. The campaign will run annually until 2014, focusing on all areas across the UAE, including remote and outlying areas, as well as city suburbs. The funds raised during this awareness campaign will ensure the availability of the latest technology in the early screening and detection of breast cancer, making it accessible to all women in the UAE.

Canadian endurance riders to race in China

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

ay 30, 2011

Four Canadian endurance riders have been invited on an 80km ride in China, as part of an initiative between the two countries.

The ride, in Zhaosu Xinjiang next month is part of the Path to China initiative led by Equine Canada's Export Market Development program (EC Export).

"Canada's participation in the Zhaosu endurance race is one of many opportunities that came as a result of the EC Export path finding mission to China that we conducted this past March," said Susan Stewart, a consultant to EC Export.

Four individuals have been selected not only on their competitive abilities, but on the personal attributes that make them best suited to be ambassadors of Canada's equine industry as a whole. The riders include 2010 World Equestrian Games Canadian Equestrian Team members, Elroy Karius, Gail Jewel and Robert Gielen, and 2008 FEI World Endurance Championships CET member, Wendy MacCoubrey...

Read more here:
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/05/228.shtml

Costanza Laliscia: the young Italian equestrian endurance champion

Sport.quotidiano.net - Full Article Costanza Laliscia, endurance champion, talks about her passion for horses and the sacrifices she makes...