Bahrain: Glanders Strikes Again

Gulfweeklyworldwide.com - Full Article

By Anasuya Kesavan
Posted On » October 19 - 25, 2011 (Volume:10 / Issue 42)

Glanders, the equine disease which has devastated the kingdom’s equestrian community and looked close to being eradicated from the kingdom’s shores, has reared its ugly head again.

Two horses from the Dilmun Stables in Saar have tested positive to the killer bacterial infection and the results are awaited on the condition of a third pony following an inconclusive finding.

The movement ban on horses across the island has been extended for another four months and the endurance horse riding competition planned as part of the GCC Games’ eleven disciplines was swiftly withdrawn from the Bahrain 11 programme of events which have been reduced to 10.

Whilst there are conflicting reports over the numbers of horses and ponies destroyed after testing positive to glanders, officials state ‘more than 70’ horses have had to be put down since the outbreak in early 2010.

Over the summer it appeared that the battle against glanders was being won, after three rounds of testing involving every horse and pony on the island came through as ‘negative’ ... until just a few weeks ago.

Experts say that testing in the immediate area will have to continue and the chances are that Bahrain will not be officially declared ‘glanders free’ for at least another 14 months because international authorities demand a six-month period of grace after all retests have returned negative ... provided no new cases are discovered in the meantime.

The disease, caused by the highly-infectious bacterium burkholderia mallei, occurs primarily in horses and can stay dormant from three weeks to eight months, or in rare cases even longer.

Strict measures were introduced across Bahrain following the first outbreak and popular show jumping events were cancelled. At the time the Dilmun Stables introduced some of the most stringent measures in the kingdom in an attempt to keep the facilities free of the disease.

However, the stable team’s best efforts were in vain after two horses tested positive last month and were subsequently put down.

The blood samples were sent to the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) in Dubai – one of the only two authorised laboratories in the world certified by the Office International des Epizooties – World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in Paris for testing glanders.

Dr Ulrich Wernery, scientific director of CVRL, said: “In Bahrain we have tested 4,000 horses and donkeys twice. The third round of testing was coming to an end when sadly the two horses tested positive...

Read more here:
http://www.gulfweeklyworldwide.com/articles.aspx?articleid=27710

Spain: Horses Shortlisted for World Junior Ride 2011 in Abu Dhabi

El Raid Blog

October 17 2011

The National Coach of Raid forwards the list of horses shortlisted for the World Abu Dhabi 2011.
This is the note of the Spanish Equestrian Federation.

"Raid: Screening for the Junior World in Abu Dhabi .

CALL FIRST TEST OF COMPETING ABU-DHABI 2011

National Coach of The Raid, Quico Yebra, has called for the following horses for physical testing and veterinary planned for the selection of Junior horses and riders who will represent Spain in the World Championship in Abu Dhabi, the month of December:

USHAMIR BEN PRIZ
LUCERO MIKI
YEP EMBAUCADORA
VODKA / AMAL
TRA XENA DE ROSE
TRA CLICA

The test consists of long stretches of galloping speed set for a period of time.

They took blood samples from horses and can carry out checks on riders through urine samples.

will be required to provide a list of medicines are, where appropriate, taking by riders with medical firm, and provide the veterinarian with the selection list of products that could have provided the horse during the last days.

Quico Yebra
National Coach "

Greetings from Gabriel.

Chile: Foreign Teams Have Arrived for Pan American Championship

16 October 2011
by Hans Buckel

Everything is almost ready in Santo Domingo Chile .All the foreign teams have arrived and some of the local team Chile were arriving today .The organization has done a great job to look for all the details to have a great event.Usa ,uruguay and brasil have brougth very strong teams altough chile has the advantage to race at home.

The track will  be very technical,with 2 loops very hilly and 3 loops very flat. Temperature and humidity won t be a problem the day of the race.

Photos by Hans Buckel here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/Chile/2011PanAm/

Australia: Success at NSW State Champs Endurance

Articlesbase.com - Full Story

October 10 2011

Congratulations to Bridi Rice and Pocket Full of Posies with a successful completion at the NSW State Championship Endurance Ride where they completed their first160km... in the rain!

The diminutive pair were almost swimming as they crossed the last river in pitch black and pouring rain. They were the last pair through before the crossing was deemed unsafe and closed.

The conditions were appalling, I drowned 3 coats over the 20 hours I was on duty, one of them a well-oiled drizabone. I lifted a Keiffer saddle that had no dye left in the panels and must have weighed at least 15 kilos! Riders commented it was the first ride they had ever come in having gained weight instead of lost it!
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Rosie didn't acquire any injuries but I was on hand for her arrival back into camp at every check, where a big concern was keeping a wet pony warm while she rested in the cold, wet conditions...

Read more here:
http://www.articlesbase.com/horse-racing-articles/success-at-nsw-state-champs-endurance-5290598.html

Australia: Riding for a Cause

Merredinmercury.com.au - Full Article and photos

12 Oct, 2011 10:47 AM
LAST Thursday afternoon, people on the streets of Merredin may have noticed a group of people riding their horses along Barrack Street.

The horse riders were on day six of their endurance horse ride from Mundaring to Kalgoorlie to raise funds for cancer research, education and support services for the WA Cancer Council.

Holly Bongers, Larissa Cooney, Bessie Traylen and Maddison King are all young members of the Wooroloo Horse and Pony Club who jumped at the chance ride along the pipeline for a good cause.

The girls aged 14 and 15 aim to raise $25,000 during their 14-day trek to Kalgoorlie called ‘Kalgoorlie or Bust’.

On day six, they left Kellerberrin for Merredin and they were half way there having already raised $12,500.

However, this was no easy task; the girls have had 12 months of physical endurance and mental training in preparation for the event and were starting to feel the strain and exhaustion during their stopover in Merredin.

Every day the girls wake up at 4.45am to feed their horses, go back to sleep, then wake up again to have their breakfast at 6am before they hit the road at 6.30am.

The girls are usually on the road for about five hours before they stop to rest for the day.

About 20 people, including friends and family of the girls, have come along for the pipeline ride by driving in support vehicles.

Holly Bongers said she decided to participate in the fundraising event because her grandfather suffered from cancer and all the other girls had been close to cancer at some stage in their 14 years.

It was then decided to make something that they love to do and turn it into a fundraiser for the WA Cancer Council.

Kylie Martin, a good friend and mentor to the girls has also come on board...

Read more here:
http://www.merredinmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/riding-for-a-cause/2321758.aspx

Australia: Endurance achiever Dean Walkom's ultimate reward

Portstephensexaminer.com.au

BY DANIEL MILLS
12 Oct, 2011 01:00 AM
SOME five years of endurance training between horse and human will reap the ultimate reward for Woodville's Dean Walkom.

The long-distance horserider, who competes in some of the most gruelling rides in the country, has trained his horse to carry him incredible distances in the sport known as long distance endurance horseriding.

Dean and his equine companion, Santa Pasa Zaraq, of Arabian breed, will receive the prestigious "Big three Award" next year.

The award recognises that the horse and his rider have competed in and successfully finished the NSW state championships, Shazdada 400km marathon and the Tom Quilty National Championships within the space of a year.

Both championship events consist of a 160km journey from start to finish while the marathon is a 400km trek spread over five days.

Dean most recently completed the Tom Quilty ride over the October long-weekend.

"The horse pulled up really well," Dean said.

"He just powered on to the finish."

The horse, at 12, is at the peak age for long-distance endurance riding and will now have a three month spell.

The task of competing in these rides took Dean five years, in which he broke in his own horse and trained it over 40, 80 and 120 km distances.

Malaysia: Thai Wipawan Wins Sultan Mizan Cup CEI 2* Endurance Challenge

Setiu, 9 October 2011 – Coming in first place at the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011, Wipawan Pawitayalarp of Thailand rode home with USD20,000 in her pocket and an AmaSwiss watch worth USD17,200 on her wrist. Wipawan astride Mulawa Angelus completed the 120 km track in 6:17:43 with an average speed of 19.06 km per hour.

Next to finished in good condition was M. Marlon and Mohammad Fuad Hashim from the State of Terengganu Endurance Team (STET) who clock a time of 6:29:17 riding at an average speed of 18.5 km per hour. He received a tidy sum of USD14,000 as the second place winner. In third place was Zelma Lotter from South Africa riding for TMKN Equestrian on board Nashaar, who won USD10,000 after having completed in a time of 7:02:35 with an average speed of 17.04 km per hour.

Completing the ride in 7:38:30 on Shardell Gazalan, Warit Khuntarhporn from Thailand rode into fourth place at an average speed of 15.7 km per hour. Mohd Sulaiman Muda of Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable mounted on Jakim Murphy came in fifth, clocking 8:15:15 and an average speed of 14.54 km per hour. Warit and Sulaiman received prizemoney of USD6,000 and USD4,000 respectively.

The much coveted Best Conditioned Horse Award went to M. Marlon ridden by second place winner Mohammad Fuad Hashim, who won additional prizemoney of USD6,000.

The prizemoney for the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup has been doubled that of last year. The Honourable Dato’ Seri Hj Ahmad Said, Chief Minister of Terengganu presented prizes to the fifth, fourth, third and second place winners while His Majesty, the King of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin did the honours for the Champion of 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup as well as the winner of the Best Conditioned Horse Award.

The Honourable Chief Minister of Terengganu said, “Our vision is to make the Sultan Mizan Cup the region’s premier event and Terengganu the regional hub for the sport of endurance.”

Riders who completed the Sultan Mizan Cup International Endurance Challenge successfully each received an award of USD6,000 and a buckle, a tradition of the sport of endurance. They were Nik Sabarudin Nik Daud, Mohd Nizan Muda, Muhamad Adhwa Embong, Syarifuddin Shamsul Anuar, Mohd Halim Abd Rahim and Mohd Afendi Mohd Rafi.

His Majesty Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin riding RTES Smith, a 9-year-old gelding, was among the 53 Malaysian riders from teams across Malaysia. The other riders were from Australia, Chile, Slovakia, France, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Ian Williams, FEI Director of Endurance said, “I witnessed yet another superb competition. The ride was very tough for both the riders and horses. I must say it is a world-class event. The officials and support crew did a fantastic job. It is not easy to run an endurance ride in conditions like you have in Terengganu.

“The FEI really looks forward to the further development of the sport in Malaysia, particularly development of youth.”

Williams also remarked that the facilities at Terengganu International Endurance Park are first-class and that it is one of the top three endurance villages in the world.

Jointly organised by the Terengganu State Government and the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable, the 2011 Sultan Mizan Cup was held from 7-9 October at the Terengganu International Endurance Park.

Sponsors of the Sultan Mizan Cup 2011 include Sime Darby Berhad, Norlan United & Carriage Sdn Bhd, AmaSwiss, Public Bank Berhad, Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd, Mitavite Asia Sdn Bhd and Ari Usaha Murni Sdn Bhd.