Australia Appoints High Performance Endurance Positions

AERA.asn.au

12 July 2011

Equestrian Australia wishes to confirm the appointment of the following High Performance Endurance positions for the period including WEG 2014.

Team Veterinarian: Narelle Cribb
National Selectors: Barbars Timms, Anne Barnes and Patricia MacKay
Chef d’Equipe: Mark Freeman

Congratulations to the new appointees, Equestrian Australia looks forward to working with these people to increase the success of Endurance in Australia and overseas.

Kind Regards

Mandy Stephens
Sport Consultant (Jumping and Non Olympic)
Equestrian Australia Limited

Alltech Will be Title Sponsor of Normandy 2014 FEI WEG

Alltech Unites with the Normandy 2014 Organizing Committee to Make the FEI World Equestrian Games a Success

[Caen, FRANCE] – Laurent Beauvais, chairman of the Basse-Normandie Regional Council and Normandy 2014 Organizing Committee, and Alltech president Dr. Pearse Lyons today announced that Alltech will be the title sponsor of the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy. This joint signing represents an historic partnership in the world of equestrian sports with a commitment from Alltech to the value of €10 million. The seventh edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games will officially be known as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Normandy 2014.

“Alltech is proud to continue our partnership with the World Equestrian Games,” said Alltech President and Founder Dr. Pearse Lyons. “These world championships of equestrian sport epitomize the values that we applaud: passion, excellence and performance. When the eyes of the world tune in to watch the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, we will be there. Alltech’s sponsorship of equestrian sport brings the brand to life and creates value for our partners, generating strong ties with the end consumer of our products at moments of great passion. France and Normandy in particular, with its worldwide reputation of excellence in horse breeding, is a strategic location for our company. Alltech has a longstanding history of serving the agricultural community in France, and we are thrilled to support the event in Normandy and to share in the pride of this spectacular event. Given the inherent passion the people of Normandy have for the horse, we hope to leverage this sponsorship to support the communities in which we live and work."

Alltech’s commitment to supporting national and international equestrian sports began in 2006, when it agreed to become the first-ever title sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. More than half a million spectators from all 50 U.S. states and 63 countries attended the 2010 event in Kentucky, and another 500 million television viewers around the world tuned in. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Alltech France, where Alltech has offices in both Paris and Nantes. The company has a strong corporate presence throughout Europe, where 36 of its offices are located. Vice-President for Alltech Europe, Mr. Marc Larousse oversees the European region from the Paris office.

Countdown to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Normandy 2014 officially begins on July 8, 2011. This day marks 1136 days out to the opening day of the event on August 17, 2014. More than 900 riders and 850 horses representing more than 60 nations are expected to convene in Normandy.

For more information on the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.normandie2014.com

Australia: KER-Supported Endurance Rider Sam Marquis Returns from Injury

KER.com - full article

Six years ago, life dealt avid horsewoman Sam Marquis a devastating blow.

A horse-related accident left Marquis with severe back pain. Physicians performed spinal surgery, a procedure that left her with residual back pain and only partial use of her lower extremities. A second surgery a year ago provided hope that a less painful future was possible, and indeed riding once again figures prominently in her life.

After her spinal injuries, Marquis started a business called Helping Hand in which she helps people regain their confidence around horses after accidents. One of her clients, Simone Jelic, decided she wanted to learn more about endurance riding, and Marquis was the perfect person to instruct her...

Read more here:
http://www.ker.com/news/2011/07/ker-supported-endurance-rider.html

China: British Rider Attends Endurance Event

BBS.horse.org.cn - Full Article

6 July 2011

A SPEECH FROM MR. RICHARD ALLEN, AN ENDURANCE EVENT PROFESSIONAL FROM UK

Mr. Richard Allen came from a farm nearby London of U.K., where he has trained up Arabian horses for endurance competitions. He had visited China twice for endurance competitions on China horses, last year, the Yinchuan endurance competion, and now the Yili Chaosu endurance competition.

On the competitors welcoming meeting, he was invited to have a speech before all the competitors. I considered him a respectable trainer and mentor for the endurance event, therefore, I am glad to have his speech written below for those who are interested in endurance events and for those who love horses:-

QUOTE:

Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to talk to you today. It is a great honour.

This is my second visit to China. The first was last year when, thanks to the organization of Mr. Wu(乌扎拉先生), I was able to go to Yinchuan and be the first European to ride endurance in this country. In Yinchuan, I was given a tough little stallion to ride. Although he had no shoes, no special feed, and no special training, he was in good health and went fast and safe for 90 kms. For the first time I understood how good such a horse can be, and ever since I have had great respect for the Chinese horses.

Now, thanks to the generosity of my friend Mr. David Ha (夏海鸥先生), I am back in China to ride endurance in the Yili valley - one of the most beautiful places on earth. To ride beneath the amazing Tian Shan(天山), and experience the "four seasons in one day", is a very special privilege, and I must say again how grateful I am to be given this opportunity.

The Yili valley (伊犁超苏）is not just beautiful, I also think it is a perfect place to produce endurance horses. This is because you have two great assets.

The first, of course, is your horses. You have a lot of them! I have never seen so many horses in one place as were at the opening ceremony. And these horses are obviously blessed with two qualities an endurance horse needs: stamina and toughness. Just like my Yinchuan horse, my horse here was small and did not look very strong, but he surprised me with his ability to carry me for two days - I am not a small man, and I have eaten a lot of noodles...

Read more here:
http://bbs.horse.org.cn/viewthread.php?tid=79757&page=1&extra=#pid385397pid385397

Poland: Wild Finish in Distance Equestrian Race

Heigo Rohtla with Jethro ( Photo: Külli Rohtla ) News.err.ee

By Kristopher Rikken

A collision with a deer in the heat of competition did not keep Estonian equestrian Heigo Rohtla and his horse Jethro off the pedestal at an international endurance riding competition in Poland, although the freak accident may have spoiled a chance at first place.

Rohtla was knocked from the saddle but was unhurt, and he and his mount finished in third place, with a time of 6:34:42 over the 120 km distance - close to a personal speed record, said Rohtla.

The incident happened practically on the home stretch, when a doe emerged from the forest. Jethro and the wild animal collided literally head-on and Rohtla flew from the saddle. "It's a good thing it was a female," said Rohtla, expressing relief he was not impaled on antlers.

In a gesture of good sportsmanship, the second-place finisher Magdalena Prikrylova (Slovakia) held up until Rohtla was back in the saddle, earning her a fair play award.

Polish rider Krzysztof Czarnota and Wened won the event with a time of 6:29:13.

Australia: Local Endurance Horse Ride

Lifeislocal.com.au

5 July 2011

Endurance Horse riding is now one of the fastest growing equestrian sports in Australia.

Bellingen’s only Endurance ride Sharon Foster has been involved in endurance riding for 19 years now and has seen lots of changes in the sport.

Sharon successfully competed two more than 80 km rides recently at Copmanhurst and Kundabung. Sharon says Endurance riding is a mentally and physical challenge for both horse and rider. You both have to be super fit. It is an exciting, and adrenalin pumping horse sport, I’m addicted anyway!

Endurance riding is were one horse/one ride combination, ride over distances of between 80km up to 400km marathons. These endurance horses need to be extremely fit and healthy.

All horses are required to pass a compulsory vet check before, during and after the ride, where heart and respiration rates are measured, temperatures taken and checks made for soreness or lameness. If the horse fails any one of these they are disqualified. Sharon says the rider also needs to be physically and mentally fit and healthy to be able to endure long hours in the saddle and riding a variety of terrains in all weather conditions and often starting a ride in the dark.

A little closer to home is our most local Endurance ride at Upper Corindi. The Clarence/Coffs Coast Endurance riding club is holding an 80km endurance ride on Sunday 7th July 2011. The ride base is at 287 Featherstone’s Road Upper Corindi. The turn off is about 30ks north of Coffs Harbour and another 14k to the base camp.

They are also running a social ride on the Saturday of 20kms for the first time riders and a 40km training ride on the Sunday.

The course takes riders through State Forest and private property and is a challenging ride with hilly terrain. Come and enjoy a fantastic weekend in the beautiful countryside. For more enquiries contact Malcolm and Megan Matters on 6649 2836 or email mandm@aussiebroadband.com.au

China: Bayinbuluk Swan Lake Endurance Ride

4 July 2011

The 3rd Bayinbuluk Swan Lake China Endurance Riding Competition 2011 will open on July 15-17 in the Bayinbuluk prairie, Xinjiang, China. The games will adopt FEI Endurance Game Rules and is ranked international 1-star. The one-day race will cover 80 km in total.