France: On Stevenson’s trail: honey and horses in the Cévennes

Theecologist.org - Full Story

Ruth Styles
11th April, 2012

Robert Louis Stevenson’s account of his epic 1879 journey through the Cévennes is one of the high points of travel literature but as Ruth Styles found out, there’s still plenty to be discovered

Travel writing is supposed to be about providing a lyrical introduction to a new place or at the very least, showing a destination in a new light with a quirky angle and new things to do. But how do you do that when said destination is the Cévennes - an area so beautiful, so wild and so historic that the world and its wife have waxed poetic about it? And worse still, when the experience you’re writing about has been done before by the luminous likes of Robert Louis Stevenson?

Stevenson’s 1879 Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes was one of the first travel tomes to grab the popular imagination and paved the way for the likes of Paul Theroux, Ryszard Kapuściński and William Darymple. His adventures along a 120-mile route through some of the most beautiful countryside on Earth with only Modestine, an entertainingly cantankerous donkey, for company, make for a wonderful read. So here I am, attempting to follow in some very illustrious footsteps, with an equine adventure of my own. Not for me though, the crotchety charms of a donkey (although you still can if you want to); instead, I was in the Cévennes in pursuit of an altogether more thoroughbred beast: the Arab.

As well as being the scene of Stevenson’s 19th century adventure, the Cévennes is also famous for its purebred Arabian horses, from whose bloodlines have sprung some of history’s most famous steeds...

Read more here:
http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/out_and_about/1310043/on_stevensons_trail_honey_and_horses_in_the_cvennes.html

South Africa: Albertinia Endurance Ride through dune veld

Suidkaapforum.com - Full Article

Thu, 05 April 2012

HESSEQUA NEWS - On 23 and 24 March, Wynland Endurance Club hosted a two day event with distances of 80 km and 120 km to choose from. The route took the rider and horse through the dune veld of the Albertinia area, making this a difficult ride due to the deep sand on the dunes.

An 80 km ride was offered on Friday, 23 March. Terry Vorster on Nabeehah Azraff completed her 80 km in 5h41, taking second place in the LW Senior division...

Read more here:
http://www.suidkaapforum.com/news.aspx?id=24342&h=Albertinia-Endurance-Ride-through-dune-veld-

France: AllTech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 names Nicolas Wahlen as endurance discipline manager

Horsereporter.com


April 5, 2012
By Pamela Burton - Pamela@horsereporter

Caen, 5 April 2012 French translation below

With 871 days to go, the Organizing Committee for the Alltech World Equestrian Games 2014 to be held in Normandy, France, has named Nicolas Wahlen as endurance event organiser. Wahlen, a former professional rider, organized the 2000 Compiegne, France, World Endurance Championships and since 2004 has been event organizer of international endurance competitions in over 15 countries, including the 2005 European Endurance Championship.

The discipline team has selected specialist technicians in the organisation of equestrian competitions, each expert in their own discipline.

These include:

Jumping : Frédéric MORAND, technical manager of the Bordeaux CSI World Cup

Eventing : Jean-Marc VARILLON, technical director of the CCI 4* Stars of Pau

Dressage : Didier FERRER, event organiser of the Biarritz CDI 3* and the Vidauban CDI

Driving : Jean-Pierre BRISOU, event organiser of the International Driving Competition, Compiègne,

Endurance : Nicolas WAHLEN, event organiser of the CEI Compiègne,

Vaulting : Philippe ROSSI, event organiser of the 2011 European Championships and the 2012 World Championships,

Reining : Michèle PFENDER, international judge since 2002,

Para-Equestrian sport : Didier FERRER as well as a soon-to-be-appointed specialist.

L’esprit d’équipe, puissance 8 : les responsables de disciplines rejoignent la Direction des sports.

Le Comité d’organisation Normandie 2014 s’enrichit de profils d’experts équestres pour orchestrer une organisation sportive à la hauteur de l’événement. Nommés au sein de la Direction des sports, les responsables des 8 disciplines officielles sont les acteurs d’une co-construction qui débutera en mai au Haras du Pin par trois journées d’échanges et des rencontres avec leurs homologues de la Fédération Equestre Internationale.

About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy

Held every 4 years, alternating with the Olympic Games and under the authority of the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), the World Equestrian Games are the biggest equestrian event in the world. They will be held from 24 August to 7 September 2014.

The event brings together 8 official disciplines over a period of two weeks of competition: Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Reining, Vaulting, Endurance and Para Dressage.

Over 60 nations and nearly 1000 athletes will come together to demonstrate equestrian competitions of the highest standard to the 500,000 visitors expected at the various sites.

~end

USEF Names Long List for the 2012WEC

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Lexington, KY – Endurance competition heated up this weekend at the Priefert Ranch in Mt. Pleasant, TX as 45 of the nation’s top horses and riders contested the 160km Selection Trial for a spot on the Long List for the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship. In a close race to the finish Jeremy Reynolds guided A Kutt Above to the win in 8:16:03, narrowly beating out Wendy MacCoubrey and Reach for the Gold (8:16:05) and Becky Hart riding No Repeat (8:16:09).

Over a course designed to replicate the Championship environment, 19 of the 45 starters finished the race. The top finishers were strong all day and recovered well in the vet gates. Reynolds, of San Jose, CA and A Kutt Above (owned by wife Heather Reynolds), also earned the coveted Best Conditioned Award. A Kutt Above has been named to the Long List with both Jeremy and Heather, who finished fourth on Riverwatch. Reach for the Gold was ridden by Proxy Rider MacCoubrey and has been named to the Long List with owner Valerie Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA. Both Kanavy and Hart (San Juan Bautista, CA) will seek a chance to earn another World Endurance Championship title. Kanavy currently has two titles to her name and Hart will seek a fourth, this time with her own No Repeat.

“I am extremely pleased with the horses on the Long List. Three Young Riders completed the race and were named to the Long List, which is so encouraging for the future,” said Chef d’Equipe Emmett Ross. “There are a few disappointing absences to the list, but overall this is a fantastic group of horses and riders who all have potential to be extremely competitive. Race day was hot and humid, but for one boggy area on the course which had to be repeated several times, the course rode well and the times were all good. I am very pleased with all the officials, staff and volunteers. Priefert Ranch was phenomenal and very supportive with both materials and staff.”

Per the selection procedures all 19 finishers were named to the Long List. Ross may name up to three applicant athlete/horse combinations who did not compete in or complete the Selection Trial to the Long List in addition to the top 19. Ross has named John Crandell III with Heraldic and Deborah Reich to the Long List.. Crandell elected to withdraw Heraldic after the horse passed the vet check at gate two, but before going out on loop three with concerns about deficiencies in the horse’s metabolics. Reich, who was unable to compete in the Selection Trial due to injury, has been named to the Long List with DJB Juniper who finished seventh. Riders are listed on the Long List with each horse they applied for consideration with and that finished in the top 20. Please click here for the complete Long List.

The 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship will take place August 25, 2012 in Euston Park, Thetford (GBR). To find out more about the Championship visit: http://www.eustonparkendurance.co.uk/.

Keep up with the 2012 U.S. Endurance Team here: http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2012Endurance/.

For more information, contact Vonita Bowers, USEF Director of Endurance and Reining Programs, vbowers@usef.org.

Great Britain: Olympic year buzz over Golden Horseshoe endurance ride

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Apr 03, 2012 in Just Briefly


The scene is set for Britain’s biggest and most demanding endurance ride as the final preparations are completed for the Exmoor Golden Horseshoe Ride, from May 13 to 15.

The ride, with four competitive classes, is held over the challenging Exmoor terrain, classed as among the most challenging tests on the endurance calendar and attracts riders from all over the country, and sometimes from Europe.

“With London hosting this year’s Olympics, there’s a real buzz in the equestrian world at the moment and this year’s Golden Horseshoe is set to be as popular and exciting as ever,” said ride organiser Barbara Wigley.

“Exmoor takes a long time to dry out after the winter, but at the moment the ground is good. I do, however, hope that riders have remembered to include plenty of hillwork in their training because the 2012 route includes Exmoor’s famous – but very steep – Punchbowl in the competitive classes.”

This year’s event has a special prize up for grabs, too. Equine physiotherapist Mary Bromiley is offering £100 to the first rider on an Exmoor pony to complete 50 miles in one day...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/04/03/olympic-year-buzz-over-golden-horseshoe-endurance-ride/

Bahrain: Stage set for Crown Prince endurance ride

Gulf-daily-news.com

April 3 2012

THE Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Beef) has stepped up its preparations to host the Crown Prince Endurance Night Ride, to be held on Friday. To be hosted by the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir, the prestigious event will be open to all riders and is covering a total distance of 120km.

Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa highlighted the significance of this event and its popularity among stables.

He expressed thanks and appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, for his support for the activities of the federation and all riders.

Shaikh Nasser stressed that this continued backing is an incentive for everyone to give their best and achieve the needed aspirations and goals.

He also asserted the importance of the upcoming event, which will be for the Crown Prince Cup, and vowed to provide all forms of support to the federation to ensure this ride is a big success.

And following the great success over the past five years in the Crown Prince Cup, Shaikh Nasser noted that the night rides have special taste with different environment that has its influence on the competition.

Shaikh Nasser believes the competition for this weekend's race will be fierce as all the riders are presently having serious preparations.

The Royal Endurance Team captain also noted that his stable has been training hard over the past few weeks and in accordance to the plan for this race. He lauded the efforts and contributions of the team members in past achievements.

Shaikh Nasser stressed that the Crown Prince Ride is one of the largest and most important races in the Kingdom, especially as it comes at the end of the season.

Shaikh Nasser noted that specific strategies need to be set up for night rides, and wished everyone success.

Reynolds tops Endurance Trial
http://theequestriannews.com/2012/04/03/reynolds-tops-endurance-trial/

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above win in Texas. (Photo by Donna Shifflette)
By Paula Parisi April 3, 2012

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above took the win in a flat-out race to the finish at the Endurance Ranking Trial CEI 160km in Mt. Pleasant, TX. The race served as the USEF Selection Trial for the 2012 FEI World Endurance Championship taking place in August.
Jeremy Reynolds racing his grey endurance horse, A Kutt Above.

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above win in Texas. (Photo by Donna Shifflette)

Forty-five of the nation’s top endurance riders took to the trail at Priefert Ranch, March 31, over a “cloverleaf” course designed to replicate the Championship environment. Nineteen crossed the finish line and were named to the United States Equestrian Federation’s “long list” of contenders for the FEI Championship, Aug. 25 in Euston Park, Thetford, England, where only six U.S. riders will compete.

Reynolds narrowly beat Wendy MacCoubrey and Reach for the Gold, at 8:16:03 versus her 8:16:05. Becky Hart was a close third riding No Repeat (8:16:09), Heather Reynolds was fourth on Riverwatch.

The top finishers were strong all day and recovered well in the vet gates. Reynolds (San Jose, CA) and A Kutt Above also earned the coveted Best Conditioned Award/ Along with the other 18 finishers the pair was named to the USEF “Long List” of championship contenders (the horse with both Reynolds as riders).

Although Reach for the Gold was ridden by proxy jock MacCoubrey, the horse made the Long List with owner Valerie Kanavy of Fort Valley, VA. Both Kanavy and Hart (San Juan Bautista, CA) will seek a chance to earn another FEI World Endurance Championship title. Kanavy currently has two titles to her name and Hart will seek a fourth, this time with her own No Repeat.

Endurance chef d’quipe Emmett Ross said he is “extremely pleased” with the horses that made the long list and also with the fact that three young riders completed the race, calling it “encouraging for the future.” Junior and young riders in the sport of endurance are any riders between 14 and 21 years of age. While Ross acknowledged “a few disappointing absences” on the list – notably Lindsay Graham and Monk, who failed to finish, and Kelsey Russell, who chose to skip the event – overall he characterized it as “a fantastic group of horses and riders who all have potential to be extremely competitive.”

Race day was hot and humid in Texas, but with the exception of one boggy area that had to be repeated several times, the triple-loop course rode well and the times were good. Ross said he was “very pleased with all the officials, staff and volunteers [at] Priefert Ranch,” which he called “phenomenal and very supportive with both materials and staff.”

In addition to the 19 finishers, Ross has three discretionary horse/athlete combinations he can add from among those who did not compete or complete in Texas. Two of those slots have been taken: he named John Crandell III and Heraldic even though Crandell elected to withdraw Heraldic after the gate 2 vet check, which the horse passed but Crandell had concerns about deficiencies in his mount’s metabolics.
Jeremy Reynolds and his grey arabian A Kutt Above.

Jeremy Reynolds and A Kutt Above, are ready to race in Texas.

Ross also named to the long list Deborah Reich who was unable to compete in the selection trial due to injury. Her horse, DJB Juniper, finished seventh.

Sometime in July the top 19 plus Ross’ wildcards will go on to complete a short course (40-60km) that will serve as an evaluation for soundness, and 12 horse and rider pairs will be named to a “short list” from which the final six competitors will be named (plus alternates) no later than one week prior to the FEI Championship, which takes place a week after the Olympics and about 35 miles away.

USEF director of endurance and reining Vonita Bowers said the U.S. has a talented field of athletes and horses from which to choose, and is looking forward to once again standing on the international podium for endurance, from which the country has absented itself since Valerie Kanavy’s individual Gold Medal in 1998.

“We’ve won medals at the Pan Ams, but not since ’98 at the World Championship level,” Bowers said, noting, “Prior to ’98 we won on a regular basis, then the rest of the world caught up. They started figuring out how to compete. Also, she noted, the sport has changed. “The U.S. version of endurance had always been on a very difficult course – closer to the Tevis Cup. The international rides are much flatter, faster courses. So the sport has changed a lot, and now we’re the ones catching up.”

The USEF is verifying the complete long list. It will be posted here as soon as it is made available.

To find out more about the FEI World Event Championship, visit http://www.eustonparkendurance.co.uk/ full article