Endurance.Net: World News

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Australia: In National Squad

RAELENE HESTON
26 Apr, 2012 10:54 AM

“HE’S a tough little horse,” remarked one official, as 13-year-old Arab stallion West Coast Acheron strolled past the finishing line after a 160-kilometre trek through bushland south-east of Collie. His journey had started shortly after a midnight on Friday, following a vet check, and ended between 4.30 and 5pm on Saturday.

The little chestnut had not raised a sweat at the end of his journey around the Collie racecourse and through the bush.

He had been cantering towards the finish when his rider, Norbert Radney, slowed him to a walk.

Another rider explained that coming in quietly would lower his heart rate and help cool him down before the compulsory vet check.

The cool wind would also help, she added.

After the vet check, there were hugs all around when the WA Endurance Riders’ Association honorary veterinarian, Dr Anne Barnes of Murdoch University, announced Acheron and Dr Radney had qualified for the Australian squad to contest the Senior World Endurance Championships at Euston Park near Newmarket in England during August.

Even before Acheron and Dr Radney finished the event, Dr Barnes said they were well within qualifying time so there was no need for Dr Radney to push his mount...

Australia: Endurance Carnival - Toorbul

The 2012 Endurance Carnival will be held on 5, 6, & 7 of May, 2012 at Toorbul, Queensland. It will be a low key event in comparison to the Endurance Festival 2011 due to a very limited number of helpers.

We will endeavour for the weekend to be rewarding and enjoyable for all. Some competitors want to qualify for the 2013 Queensland Quilty, others want to qualify and vie for selection to the World Championships at Euston Park 2012, but for most it's the opportunity to enjoy a day in the saddle with a special horse at your chosen distance.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Peter Toft

For more information, see
http://www.ozenduranceqinc.com/Information-Sheet.html

Australia: Oz Endurance Festival 2011

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Spain: Selection Criteria for Pre-World Championship

25 April 2012

Consideration will be given the results in the following competitions for horses and riders:

The raid Spain Championship CEI 3 * to be held on June 9, 2012.

Tests 160km CEI 3 * held in Spain, France, Belgium and the UK

until June 24, 2012.

To be considered for screening, the binomial testing should be completed at a minimum speed of 15 km / h. May be considered also some evidence to decide on an individual by the coach in 2012 for individual pairs.

The ranking its use as a guide to determine differences between horses with results next. Also, take into account the horses and riders on their own merits (results above) to confirm their status as evidence to decide individually between owners, riders and coach.

We must accept the commitment papers of incorporation to discharge plan

competition that can be found in the section of regulations section RAID Web RFHE.com.

The criteria for the FEI World Championship to contest all raid in UNITED

KINGDOM are:

1. A 160km test at least 14 km / h by the team (together) in the 24

months before the test.

2. The horse must be at least 8 years to compete in a championship.

3. The horse must have completed 3 CEI 2 * or higher (including test point 1).

4. The rider or rider must have completed 5 CEI 2 * or higher (including test

paragraph 1).

* Any changes in national or FEI criteria will be decided by the coach.

South Africa: It's in the Blood!

Perseveranceendurancehorses Blog

24 April 2012

It was a super successful weekend at the OVK Endurance Challenge for the team from Perseverance Arabian & Endurance Horses. Seven horses were entered, with five riders and four grooms, and six finished, with two 3rd places, one 2nd place and one 1st place!

This year, the ride – hosted by the Lormar stud and sponsored by OVK – was held over two days, with 80km, 120km and stepladder distances on both days. The ride was well attended with around seventy entries, including TV stars Barry Armitage and Joe Dawson, from SABC3′s THE RIDE. Barry and Joe were riding Lormar horses in their bid to qualify to enter the Fauresmith 201km national ride in July.

The highlight of Friday the 13th was a racing finish between father & son pair, Pieter & Lourens Marais in the 80km distance! Both were riding in the Heavyweight category, and shared the honours at the end, with Pieter taking 1st place, and Lourens taking Best Condition.

For Team PSV, Ashley Gower and PSV Mauser – standing at number 3 on the ERASA horse rankings – placed 3rd Young Rider in the 80km, while Francois Seegers rode PSV Nile out of novice with a good 80km stepladder. To round the day off for Perseverance, work experience rider Joy Webster did a 60km stepladder on PSV Medina.

On Saturday, third cousins Laura Seegers and Wesley Hayes dashed around the 80km together in the fastest time of the weekend. Wesley also breeds Arabians, and has the Olford Stud in Queenstown… it must be in the bloodline!

Laura was riding PSV Mabruk – currently at number 2 on the ERASA overall horse rankings – and finished in a time of 4h03min. Laura and Wesley crossed the line together with Laura winning Standardweights and Wesley winning Heavyweights. Mabruk trotted off with the Best Condition for that ride AND the Best of the Best award for the weekend’s events!

In his second 80km of the weekend, Ashley Gower and PSV Liberty took 3rd place Young Rider, and Donalyn Hennessey on PSV Ibis came 2nd in the Standardweights.

The 1st Lightweight place in the 80km was taken by Baba Sintu on Alicedale Hidalgo, while 1st and 2nd places in the Young Rider category went to sisters Jenna and Kirsty Masterson from the Hofmeyr club. It was another thrilling finish to the 120km, where Young Rider Rory Rous was chasing fellow YR Ninine Erasmus, and caught up with her on the last leg to sccop 1st place and Best Condition.

Sharp eyes may have spotted that Mauser is back in competition...

Australia: Chef d'Equipe Application Date Extended

April 25 2012

Equestrian Australia are calling for applications for the position of Chef d’Equipe for the World Endurance Championships to be held at Euston Park, Great Britain, in August 2012.

The job description, resume template and nomination form are available from the AERA Secretary, Ieva Peters, email: ieva.peters@bigpond.com or from the AERA website.

Applications must be to the Equestrian Australia (National Office) by no later than 30th April 2012.

View/download the job description, resume template and nomination form or contact the AERA Secretary, Ieva Peters, email: ieva.peters@bigpond.com or from the AERA website.

Regards,
Ieva Peters
60445

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Belgium: Mont-Le-Soie Pre-Ride

April 24 2012

On the saturday 28th and sunday 29th of April, Mont Le Soie will organize a series of competitions for senior and young riders, all in FEI classes. This will be a unique opportunity for the national squads to discover the competition.

Everyone knows of course how important it is to prepare well in advance all details concerning their participation to a big event.

On the saturday 28th of April, 5 international competitions:
° CEI**YR120km and CEI*YR100km
° CEI***160km
° CEI**120km and CEI*100km

On the sunday 29th of April, 3 international competitions:
° CEI**120km
° CEI*100km
° CEI*YR100km

The startlist for the pre-ride is now available here.

Mongolia: Globetrotting - Getting Under the Skin

Globetrotting1.wordpress.com - Full Article

April 23 2012

The girl’s cheeks are flushed beetroot red, her half moon eyes bright with anticipation as her wiry bay pony jigs around in a circle. Shadows of her horse’s ribs are visible beneath the make-shift saddle, a stirrup-less foam pad that is secured by a rawhide girth strap. The number nine is pinned to her back and chest. She is one of 20 child jockeys that will be competing in the Naadam Festival race held in a remote northern region of Mongolia. The child jockeys are stone faced with concentration as they trot their dread-locked, wild-eyed ponies past the group of onlookers.

The children start to sing in mid-trot. Their high-pitched voices echo across the lonely steppe. Our interpreter Molor explains, “they’re worshipping their sky father and giving thanks to the horse.” It’s a haunting, high-pitched chorus that ebbs and flows with intensity as they amble past.

My husband, our two good friends and I were at the beginning of a 19-day horse-riding adventure, where we trekked deep within the remote Darhat Valley, only accessible by horse, reindeer or foot. We were in search of the Tssatan people while getting a taste of a nomad’s life. To arrive in time to see Naadam festivities we jumped on an overnight train, hitched a ride on a regional flight and spent half a day in a Russian army van to reach the windswept town of Khatgal. It’s the frontier town to Lake Khovsgol National Park, the deepest lake in central Asia.

Naadam is a traditional type of festival in Mongolia held in country towns like Khatgal during the midsummer holidays. Translated as ‘the three games of men’, it includes Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery.

The dust cloud on the steppe signified that the 25-kilometre horse race had begun...