India: Is Gujarat’s Kathiawari breed galloping towards extinction?

Daily.bhaskar.com - Full Article

Source: DNA | Last Updated 04:04(09/01/12)

Ahmedabad: Their endurance can put Arabian horses to shame, their loyalty is unmatched and their temperament extremely fiery. Yet, despite such traits, the Kathiawari horse—an indigenous breed of Gujarat — is facing a decline in numbers.

Of the total six identified and accepted breeds of horses in India, the Kathiawari is the only one that is facing a threat of extinction. Experts who attended the Horse Show-2012 held at Dholera on Sunday said that the number of pure-bred Kathiawari horses is very low. They said that cross-breeding, a paucity of better-looking horses and a general lack of demand have led to this situation.

Some of them peg the number of ‘pure bred’ Kathiawari horses to as low as 40. Perhaps this could explain why the Centre and state government are working on a plan to revive the breed. “The number of pure bred Kathiawari horses is quite low. It should be noted that any breed whose number falls below 10,000 runs the risk of extinction and the Kathiawari breed definitely falls in this category..."

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UAE: Al Falahi fights close battle to take first place in endurance ride

Gulf News
photo:Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, secretary-general of the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEI), Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, Nafez Abbara, project manager of SAS Investment Co LLC, and Mann Abu Saleh, proprietor of Samawi Neon, present the trophies to the winning trio.

Al Muhairi finishes second in 120km route at Al Wathba Challenge
By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports Reporter

Abu Dhabi: Tayef Atiq Sabt Al Falahi representing the W'rsan Stables based in the capital won the 120km Al Wathba Challenge endurance ride by a narrow margin at the Emirates International Endurance Village (EIEV) in Al Wathba yesterday.

Riding 12-year-old bay Arabian gelding Glenmorgan, Al Falahi was involved in a close battle for the finish before prevailing by 16 seconds from Thani Mohammad Al Muhairi on Razorback Wildfire from Seeh Assalam Endurance Stables with Mohammad Sulaiman Rashid Al Marbouei on Asraf Amir from Dubai Endurance Stables finishing a close third.

Al Falahi and Glenmorgan completed the five stage 120km event in which a large field of 163 riders contested in four hours, 24 minutes and 32 seconds.

It was Al Falahi's first 120km ride win in the UAE though the W'rsan Stables' rider had earlier tasted success in a similar ride in Malaysia.

"It was a very tough contest. I just decided to ride at an average speed of around 26kmph in the first four stages and my horse did well to respond to that," said the winner.

"It was only in the final loop that I pushed my horse and we managed to win this prestigious ride," he added.

Al Muhairi on Razorback Wildfire finished second in 4:24.48 while Al Marbouei on Asraf Amir was timed at 04.25.05 in third place.

Five stages

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, attended the ride in which Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, also participated.

The 120km ride was run in five stages of 33, 27, 24, 20 and 16 km and the prize fund on offer was Dh350,000 including a car for the winner.

Taleb Dhaher Al Muhairi, secretary general of Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEI), Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, Nafez Abbara, project manager of SAS Investment Co LLC, and Mann Abu Saleh, proprietor of Samawi Neon, presented the trophies to the winning trio.

Bahrain: Perfect Ride

Gulf Daily News
AL KHA- LIDIYA Stable were crowned overall champions in the Breef Endurance Horse Ride Team Championship yesterday.

The third endurance event of the season, held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir, was open for teams and was over 120km.

The ride was divided into five stages, with the first two stages covering 30km each. The third, fourth and fifth stages were over 20km each.

Competing with several stables from across the kingdom, Al Khaldiya team came on top with a combined total ride time of 16 hours, 45 minutes and 39 seconds.

Spearheading the victors were Abdulrahman Al Zayed, Ali Baqer, Salman Isa and Yaqoub Yousef.

Finishing second were Al Asayel team of Abdulla Al Qassmi, Fahad Sulaiman, Mohammed Saif and Khalifa Mubarak who completed the event in 18 hours, 58 minutes and 49 seconds.

In the individual ride, which was also over 120km, Royal Endurance Team riders lived up to many expectations, securing a 1-2 finish in style.

Riding Kintamani, Royal Endurance Team star Abdulrahman Al Saad raced to victory in five hours, two minutes and 34 seconds with a 23.796km per hour speed average.

Al Saad, who led the ride right from the start, was followed by teammate Abdulrahman Al Zayed (5:14:05) who came second on Zabubega, while Al Khalidiya Stable's Ali Baqer (5:40:02) rounded off the podium while riding Derrom.

In the day's other ride, an 80km event which was open for new riders, Salem Mubarak Sabt of Al Asayel Stable clinched victory in five hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds with a 15km per hour speed average.

Behind him was Karam Al Belooshi (5:15:31), also of Al Asayel, in second place with a similar speed average of 15km per hour.

The event was witnessed by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and president of the Bahrain Olympic Committee Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who presented trophies to the top three in the team and individual rides.

Also attending the ride were Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Shaikh Sultan bin Hamad Al Khalifa and other federation officials.

Shaikh Nasser, the Royal Endurance Team captain, praised Al Khalidiya Stable's victory, which underlines the team's keenness to win podium.

Shaikh Nasser said the ride was excited and lived up to expectations.

He said the Royal Endurance Team were leading the team event in the early stages, but the elimination of some team members from the race proved vital.

Shaikh Nasser congratulated Royal Endurance Team member Al Saad on winning first place among individuals, and wished other team members progress.

UAE: Al Merri gallops to 100km Endurance Cup victory

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Teenager wins the race on nine-year-old Highland View Dolly

By M. Satya Narayan, Chief Sports ReporterPublished: 00:00 January 7, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Ahmad Mohammad Al Jaber Al Merri won the 100km Shaikh Zayed Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for the second consecutive year to drive away with the car which was the winner's prize at yesterday's event.

Al Merri rode nine-year-old Anglo-Arab chestnut Highland View Dolly to a superb win at the Emirates International Endurance Village to once again top the event, which is open only to privately-owned horses.

The university student had last season won this 100km UAE national ride on Shardell Sharana Golden and yesterday he repeated that feat, this time finishing on top of a 78-strong field.

The 18-year-old Al Merri started on a very strong note in the very first loop, finishing second, and he never fell below that position in the four-stage race, which he won in a time of three hours, 46 minutes and 19 seconds...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/al-merri-gallops-to-100km-endurance-cup-victory-1.962467

UAE: Private owners to compete at Al Wathba

Gulfnews.com

Open rides for UAE nationals to mark meeting
Staff ReportPublished: 00:00 January 6, 2012

Abu Dhabi: The Shaikh Zayed Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for horses owned by private owners and the Al Wathba Challenge open ride will be held today and tomorrow respectively at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The rides are organised by the Emirates International Endurance Village and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, while SAS Investment Co LLC, Al Wathba Stables and Samawi Neon are the sponsors of the event.

Today's 100km Shaikh Zayed Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for horses owned by private owners is a UAE national ride and will start at 6.30am.
The ride will be run in four stages of 33km, 27km, 24km and 16km.

A large number of riders are expected to start in this event, which is being organised to encourage small and private stables to compete against each other and give them a better chance.
Tomorrow's Al Wathba Challenge will be run over a distance of 120km.

The event is an FEI two- star ride. It is supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, SAS Investment Co LLC, Al Wathba Stables and Samawi Neon.

The ride is an open event which will start at 6.30am and will be run in five stages of 33km, 27km, 24km, 20km and 16 km.

Attractive prizes are on offer for the winners of the two rides.

Bahrain: Endurance team championship set

Gulf-daily-news.com

January 06, 2012

THE Breef Endurance Ride Team Championship, is scheduled for tomorrow at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), the ride is the third event in the 2011/12 season and will feature a team competition.

It will feature two rides, the first of which is the main ride and will cover 120km. An 80km qualifier will also take place on the sidelines of the main event.

Tomorrow's rides will be held under the patronage of federation president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The 120km ride, which begins at 6am, is open for horses aged six and above, with a minimum weight of 75kg and a maximum heat rate of 64 beats per minute, while minimum speed should be 12km per hour.

It's been divided into five stages - 30km each for the first and second, 20km for the third, 20km for the fourth and 20km for the fifth.

In the 80km event, due to commence at 6.15am, the organisers approved three stages. The first stage is over 30km, to be followed by another 30km for the second, while the third and final stage will cover 20km distance.

Riders should be at least 14 years old to participate. The maximum heat rate is 64bmp with a minimum allowed is 70kg and also 12km minimum speed average required.

The veterinary examination for both rides are scheduled for today from 3pm to 5pm at the veterinary area in the village.

The awarding ceremony will be held at 1.30pm on a purpose-built stage at the village, where the top three teams will be honoured.

Following this weekend's ride, the federation will continue preparations for His Majesty the King's Cup ride, the main event of the endurance season, that will take place on February 4.

It will be followed by the Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Ride on February 18. The Breef Championship will then take place on March 2.

The following event on the Breef calendar will be His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Cup night ride on April 6, while the End of the Season Ride will be held on April 5.

Dear Sir/Madam,

i'm writing you in order to invite you to the inauguration of ''LA CORONA - Land
of Horses'' in Punta del Este, Uruguay this 14th of January of 2012,
it will be a pleasure for us to count with you presence in our opening ceremony.
The programming of will have an endurance race of 8kms(for amateur children
under 12 years old), and a promotional race of 40kms and 60kms. Also there are
going to be different equestrian activities, like indian dressage in charge on
Martin Ochoteco, a world well known horse trainer, and more.
Also there are going to be entertainment for all ages with wineries, food,
children area, and endurance education.
The ceremony will end with the awards for the Uruguay national Endurance Team
for their 1st Place Champions in the Endurance World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
As i said before, it will be a pleasure to count with the presence of people
that love horses as we do,
Hope to hearing from you soon,
Best regards and Happy new year!

--
Luis María Juan Pomés León
LA CORONA - Tierra de Caballos
Jose Ignacio, Maldonado, Uruguay
cel. 095562666
www.lacorona.com.uy