Greener Pastures: High Winds Jedi - May 1983-October 2011

Arabianhorseworld.com

by Genie Stewart-Spears

Larry and Valerie Kanavy, of Fort Valley, Virginia, are mourning the loss of their 1998 World Champion endurance horse, 28-year-old High Winds Jedi (Tut El Sakkara x RAF Silver Sonnet) who died on October 29. Valerie Kanavy had just returned from earning the individual Bronze Medal at the Pan American Endurance Championship to find her beloved World Champion gelding breathing his final breaths.

Jedi competed in many top AERC and FEI endurance competitions between the years of 1994-2000. Of his 58 starts in AERC competitions, he won 20 and earned 10 Best Condition awards. Valerie said her most thrilling ride of a lifetime was when she and Jedi won the 1998 World Championship in Dubai. This ride is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest international equine event ever held.

“It was tremendously satisfying because it had the largest representation of competitors that was or ever has been from throughout the world,” she said. “There were 50-some countries and nearly 180 starters. To be able to compete with such caliber and numbers of competitors was a real thrill.”

Kanavy acquired Jedi when he was 14 years old, after he had had a short career as a racehorse, been schooled in dressage, and then raced in endurance. About Jedi, who once appeared on “The Today Show with Katie Couric,” Kanavy says, “His earlier training in dressage taught him balance and flexibility. As a result he was so responsive, so push-button easy to ride...."

Read more here:
http://www.arabianhorseworld.com/live/library/2011/11/waterhole/index.html

AHA Youth of the Year headed to the UAE for World Championship

Arabianhorses.org

November 22 2011

Aurora, CO (November 22, 2011) – Kelsey Kimbler, the AHA 2010 Youth of the Year, heads to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates next month to help represent the United States in the Young Rider World Endurance Championship.

"The opportunity to represent my country and the great sport of endurance riding is incredible," says Kimbler. "It has been my dream to get to compete in this championship."

Riders, ages 14-21, met certain qualifications with their horses for a chance to be part of team USA. Kimbler, a 2011 high school graduate, is ranked second in the country among those who applied for the team.

In addition to being a full-time biology major at Northern State University in her hometown of Aberdeen, S.D., Kimbler has an impressive list of accomplishments, most recently being selected as both the United States Equestrian Federation's (USEF) 2010 Junior Equestrian of the Year and Youth Sportsman Charter Overall winner. At the 2010 North American Young Rider Endurance Championship Kimbler was a team silver medalist. Kimbler earned an individual gold medal and team bronze at the 2009 Championship. In 2006 and 2008 Kimbler was honored with the American Endurance Ride Conference Junior National 100 mile award, by completing more 100 mile rides than any other junior in North America.

Australia: Riding royalty at Red Range

Static.Lifeislocal.com.au - Full Article

BEN LONERGAN
24 Nov, 2011 03:25 PM
The Red Range Sports Ground was graced with the presence of one of the biggest stars the sport of endurance riding has to offer on the weekend.

Four time Australian champion and 10 time national rider of the year, Margaret “Meg” Wade was in town for the Red Range Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) annual event.

Meg was undoubtedly one of the top endurance riders in Australia and throughout the world before a tragic accident cut short her competitive career two years ago.

While riding in an event in Tumbarumba during Easter in 2009, Meg fell from her horse only 10km from the finish line and as a result suffered traumatic brain injuries.

She was placed in an induced coma for three weeks and lost around three months worth of her memory.

Meg was kept in hospital for almost a year, so her condition could be monitored as well as to start her rehabilitation.

For the next year, she had to travel from her home just south of the NSW border to Albury two nights a week for rehabilitation.

But her persistence and commitment to rehabilitation eventually paid off and she had her first post accident horse ride in November 2010...

Read more here:
http://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/news/local/sport/equestrian/riding-royalty-at-red-range/2369734.aspx

Abu Dhabi: 200 ready for National Day cup endurance horseride

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

* By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter
* Published: 16:00 November 25, 2011

Around 200 riders have confirmed their entries for Saturday's prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba

Abu Dhabi Around 200 riders have confirmed their entries for Saturday's prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The National Day Cup, which has a 15-year history, is a CEI two-star event and will be run over 120km, with almost all the top riders in the UAE to be joined by some international riders.

The defending champion is Sultan Ahmad Al Beloushi, who won last year on Marlicia Walter. The Al Reef Stables rider also went on to win the HH President's Cup ride over 160km and is expected to be among the favourites today, along with the likes of Yousef Ahmad Al Beloushi.

This year's European Open champion, Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri from Al Wathba Stables, will also be in with a good chance.

Significance

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, said: "With the UAE marking its 40th year, the event holds a lot of significance to the riders and officials.

"A total prize fund of Dh300,000 and a car for the winner of the ride will be on offer. We expect the number of starters to exceed 200 but a final figure will be known after the pre-ride veterinary check."

First of a series of equestrian events

Lara Sawaya of Tasweeq said: "This is just the first of a series of equestrian events to mark the UAE National Day. The National Day Cup will be followed by another prestigious ride for ladies and we will give details of that event soon.

Today's ride was due to start at 6.30am and will be run in five different loops of 33km, 27km, 24km, 20km and 16km.

Ali Al Mulla, Chairman of Areej Al Ameerat, who are one of the sponsors, said: "For us it is a source of great pride to be involved in this prestigious ride. We have seen this ride develop into one of the most popular events on the UAE endurance calendar and being a sport involved with the UAE's past, we are delighted to support it."

Great Britain: The tale of the horse who got stuck in the mud

Cambridgefirst.co.uk - Full Article

By Hugh Morris Wednesday, November 23, 2011

BARNEY, a 24-year-old endurance race horse, may be fit for his age but was still left exhausted after a two-hour struggle stuck in the mud.

The gelding had slipped into the River Cam near Church Street, Great Shelford, early on Tuesday morning. His owner, Dr Jane Greatorex, awoke expecting to find three horses in the field but there were only two, despite all the gates being shut.

She called for Barney and he neighed back.

“In 25 years we have never had a horse fall in the river. It’s quite slippery on the banks so he must have just fallen. He was right in up to his shoulders,” she said.

“I borrowed some waders and went in to try and encourage him out and managed to get him to the spot he was eventually rescued from.

“It was quite scary. He had obviously been trying to get out as he was exhausted.”

When Cambridgeshire Fire And Rescue Service’s two appliances and a rescue vehicle arrived at the scene, four of the firefighters got into the water with the horse but he was too heavy to lift and had sunk into the mud...

Read more here:
http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/the_tale_of_the_horse_who_got_stuck_in_the_mud_1_1135000

Europe: Young Horses Championship Moved

Endurance-belgium.com

November 20 2011

Compiègne had announced its forfeit for the organisation of the Young Horses Championship to be held at the same time as the World Championship in Euston Park. Compiègne had launched this event in 2002 and year after year it became an inescapable event in endurance.

Babolna (located at the State Stud breeding Shagya arabs) has just received the right to organize this championship. It will take place on 18-19 August 2012.

Abu Dhabi: Entries for YRJ Championship

November 20 2011

Representatives from 33 countries will participate in the 120-km FEI Young Riders & Juniors World Endurance Championship on December 10, 2011 at the Emirates International Endurance Village at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Entry list can be seen here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2011WECYRJ/