Horse sport faces Olympic hurdle

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

March 1 2012
Fran Cleland

EQUESTRIAN events are no longer a given for the Olympics, writes FRAN CLELAND

The Olympic Equestrian Federation has reassured its support for horse sports in the Olympic Games for the next 100 years.

But many still have doubts.

This year's London Olympic Games at Greenwich Park marks 100 years of equestrian sport in the Olympic movement.

FEI president Princess Haya issued a statement last week celebrating the milestone.

Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Stockholm Games.

It is one of the few Olympic sports in which men and women compete against each other and the only one which involves an animal.

But there is considerable discussion as to whether the equestrian sports can survive at the Games.

Other sports - far less expensive to run and hosted by countries not capable of holding horse sports because of quarantine issues - are hammering at the IOC's doors for inclusion.

Horse sports appear "elitist" and their requirements can cause resentment.

London's Greenwich Park has come under criticism from residents - similar to the Grand Prix-related Albert Park protest in Melbourne - due to the loss of access to the park at competition times.

The $68.5 million cost of construction for what is only a temporary venue which carries no benefit to the equestrian community is difficult to justify when it would have cost far less at existing facilities at Windsor.

The simple fact cannot be denied. Equestrian Sport is expensive to run.

The 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington finished with a loss of $1,386,625 despite sponsorship, and required a cash loan close to the event...

Read more here:
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/03/01/449591_opinion-news.html

Spain: Postponement of Al-Andalus Ironhorse

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

February 29 2012

From the Organizing Committee of Al-Andalus Ironhorse VII we report that was postponed until October, due to problems outside the organization, this is the note of the Organizing Committee.
"From the Organizing Committee of the Raid" Al-Andalus Ironhorse "Sorry to inform you that, for reasons beyond our control, we are forced to postpone the race until next fall.

The terrible economic crisis, coupled with the approaching elections Andalusian prevent us from accessing any financial support or media and can not guarantee the viability of our project.

We regret the disruption we have caused you and deeply appreciate all your wonderful willingness to cooperate and participate.

Hopefully the situation will soon improve and we can organize a race category and media support the sport deserves. "

Greetings from Gabriel.

Qatar: Arabian adventure: Desert riders uphold ancient equine tradition

QATAR (CNN) -

The sun is not yet up over the desert, but already 50 horses and riders are gathered at Qatar's Endurance Village in Al-Wakra, half an hour's drive from the capital Doha.

They are gathered to compete in a 120-kilometer (74.5-mile) endurance race, the likes of which are held here most weeks. Masked riders gaze steely-eyed into the desert as their horses crest their necks and paw the ground, eager to get the race under way.

The starter counts down in Arabic, and the horses and riders surge over the starting line, galloping into the pitch-black desert with their high-held tails streaming behind them.

Hot on their heels a fleet of Land Cruisers hares after them across the sand, the glare of their headlights creating a moving oasis of light. These are the support vehicles from which the owners, trainers and managers can observe the race in progress and shout instructions.

Today, the horses will complete laps of a 30 km (18.6 miles) course, stopping for checks at the end of each lap. Any horse deemed unfit to continue thhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5099696e race will be eliminated at each check point.

They will travel at speeds of up to 40 km per hour (25 mph) for around eight hours. Of the 50 who started the race, fewer than a quarter will complete it.

Most of the horses are pure-breed Arabians who are revered in Islamic culture, prized for their beauty, intelligence and, above all, their endurance.

It was the Arabian horse that formed the genetic blueprint for the modern racehorse, with every modern thoroughbred tracing its DNA to just three "original" oriental stallions imported to the UK in the 18th century.

Some say the Arabian horse was a gift to mankind from Allah. The ancient breed is supremely well-adapted to the unforgiving desert terrain of the Middle East.

Many of these animals are ex-racehorses, gradually trained and brought up to fitness to compete in endurance races.

Although the sport is ancient in its origins, today's races are as professional as they are competitive, with horses conditioned to the peak of fitness and subject to rigorous veterinary inspections both during and after the race.

...more

Joan Harris Receives Endurance Canada Hall Of Fame Award

Horse Sport | February 23, 2012 | 0 comments

Endurance Canada takes great pride in recognizing Joan Harris for all she has done for the sport of endurance in Canada. For her dedication, Harris has been named as recipient of the Endurance Canada Hall Of Fame Award.

The list of Harris’ endurance related accomplishments could wrap around a trail loop, but she is not content to retire and reflect on her past accomplishments. She remains an active member of the local saddle club near her home in Jarvie, Alberta. She has quite literally lost track of the number rides she has organized and managed, some of them FEI, in the past 30 years. Harris has also held every board of director’s position in her provincial organization, the Endurance Riders of Alberta.

At present she is a member and a committee member of Endurance Canada, and she is an FEI Endurance Steward. Her resume of her international involvement in the capacity as rider, official and crew is extensive.

Harris has held three FEI rides in a row, and she has a three year plan for more rides including FEI rides and fundraising rides for them. No small task on a tight budget, a retirement income, and quite often a task force of one—herself. When her trail system needs to be cleared and marked on horseback which she has often done on her own, she has been known to pack a chainsaw on her horse and spend a whole day clearing trail.

Yet Harris still makes time to ride. Her lifetime mileage is close to 6800 competitive miles and Harris is looking forward to participating in 100 mile rides this coming summer and next year, so she will have her 7000 mile award buckle in time for her 70th birthday.

“It is a great honor to be recognized this way for my 30th anniversary of being involved with endurance riding,” said Harris. “I love every aspect of this sport from grassroots to podium. It has been my life.”

Harris’ mixture of modern foresight, blended with experience and her enthusiasm to assist anyone from first time rider to first time FEI rider has been an encouragement to many endurance members.

“Joan Harris has been hugely valuable to the sport of Endurance in Canada; one might almost say pivotal,” said Endurance Canada Committee chair, Terre O’Brennan. “In addition to her many years of service at the domestic level—managing events for her local Alberta riders—she has been at the very forefront of promoting international level competition. Her commitment to managing FEI-sanctioned events where both athletes and officials can qualify and get experience has been crucial to our efforts to compete on the World stage.”

And while she has no plans to retire just yet the Hall of Fame would not be complete without Harris’ name in it.

New Zealand: North Island Championships

NZEquestrian.org.nz

Lisa Davenport and Lace and Fineness won the STIHL CEI3* 160 km Championship in the North Island Championships, held on 21-22 January, 2011. Their ride time was 9:36.50, 17 minutes ahead of second place finisher Rosemary Revell and AA Mystic Charm. Best Condition award went to Lace and Fineness. Of the 16 starters, 7 finished.

Georgia Smith, riding Aurora Australia, won first place and Best Condition the Ethical Agents Pty CEIJY3* 160 km Championship as the lone entrant. Her total ride time was 10:00.01.

The Dixon Smith Equestrian CEI2* 120 km Championship was won by Braden Cameron on Karamea Krusader, in 6:49.53, 6 seconds ahead of Alexandra Rogers on Supre Topaz. Third place Sandy McCuan and Mizraim Silver Gym received Best Condition honors.

First place and Best Condition in the Sarah Linton Equine Therapies and Saddle Fitting CEIJY2* 120 km went to Emma Mason and Tararua Mistalight.

For more results, see
http://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/Article.aspx?Mode=1&ID=727&ESID=5817

Spain: The national Raid loses one of the great, Quico Yebra

Left Quico Yebra giving an award to José Luis
Ruiz Hidalgo. ggjineteraid.blogspot.com

Thehipicatimes.com

The Raid Team Leader in Spain, Quico Yebra, has died after losing battle with cancer that lasted two years.

The equestrian world national and international has lost an exceptional professional. Yebra Quico has left us after two years battling cancer. The Spanish Team Leader Raid achieved in this discipline that Spain stand out internationally. It has been so far who has reaped more success as Team Leader Raid in Spain.

The FEI, dated February 18, this emotional letter published on its website, in memory of Quico Yebra:

"With special offer dismay and sadness of the death of Quico Yebra, under whose direction the Spanish Raid has achieved major successes in its history.

Quico has died in the morning because of a cancer against which he fought for two years.

The disease was not an obstacle to lead the Spanish team on their recent successes in the World Championship 2010 (individual gold) and in Europe, 2011 (individual Gold and Silver Team).

Previously, since 2005 to become our Team Leader, other World Championships and European categories of senior and junior have witnessed their good work and results, which have devoted themselves to raid Spanish as one of the best in the world.

From here our sincere support to his family and the whole family of Raid, you lose today a unique figure.

Rest in Peace "

India: Even paralysis couldn't stop Raj Patel's jockey dreams

DNAIndia.com - Full Article

Published: Monday, Feb 20, 2012, 15:41 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA

When Raj Patel, 11, a student of the fifth standard finished first in the juniors category of the endurance race held in Ambdo village near Gandhinagar, his family, friends and onlookers erupted in joyous celebration, cheering the young boy for his achievement.

But only few knew that this little champ had also triumphed in the greatest endurance test that life had in store for him.

For, Raj, who has taken part in several such races across the state and dreams of being a jockey, had taken a fall from a horse which left him completely paralysed. Raj fell from a horse the very first time he insisted on riding one!

"We had just bought a mare and he insisted on riding it. At that time he was just three and a half-year-old. Because he was being so stubborn about it, we let him sit on it while we stood at a distance. To our horror he fell off the mare," said Hiren Patel, father of Raj, who runs a farm and a dhaba...

Read more here:
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_even-paralysis-couldn-t-stop-his-jockey-dreams_1652575