New Zealand: Decision on the 2012 World Endurance Championship

NZEquestrian.org.nz

20/04/2012

The High Performance Endurance Panel and the ESNZ Endurance Board wish to advise that with the season at an end the decision has been made that NZL will not be represented at the 2012 World Endurance Championships at Euston Park.

The High Performance Panel reviewed various combinations performance records and Andrea Smith with Glenmore Tariq was the only combination to achieve the required consistent performance standard. However Andrea has declined the right to compete at the World Championships as she has a focus on the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

The High Performance Endurance Panel is currently reviewing their strategies for the next 2 and 4 years and will look to conduct potential squad member interviews in June this year.

Australia: Peter Toft appointed as interim Chef d'Equipe

AERA.asn.au

Peter Toft has been appointed the interim chef d’equipe for Endurance following the resignation of current chef d’equipe Mark Freeman. Peter will hold the position of interim chef d’equipe until 25th September 2012 following the world endurance championships in August.

Equestrian Australia & AERA would like to thank Mark Freeman for his service and wish Peter the best of luck as the new Chef d’Equipe.

Regards,

Felicity Dubois

Executive Assistant
Equestrian Australia
National Office
felicity.dubois@equestrian.org.au
www.equestrian.org.au

Great Britain: Golden Horseshoe ride goes ahead

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on May 13, 2012 in Focus

Despite heavy rain in Britain, the Golden Horseshoe Endurance Ride on Exmoor is going ahead, with competition starting today.

Treacherous underfoot conditions have meant many of the country’s biggest equestrian events have been cancelled, but ride organisers have checked the routes and make alternative plans. Riders will set off from the usual venue in Exford.

“Obviously horse and rider safety has to come first, but we are confident that the routes we have chosen for each class are rideable,” said ride organiser Barbara Wigley...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2012/05/13/golden-horseshoe-ride-goes-ahead/

Welfare and dope concerns dominate endurance talks

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson

11 May, 2012

Arab nations have been heavily criticised for the high incidences of broken legs and dope violations in Middle Eastern endurance yards.
The comments were made during a round table discussion at the FEI sports forum in Lausanne on 2 May.

FEI endurance judge Jean-Louis Leclerc alleged that multiple horses suffer fractures on single yards per season and he asked what the FEI was doing to improve the situation.

The FEI’s Ian Williams said it is looking into causes and prevention of fractures in endurance “to ensure that the welfare of the horse is the central pillar [of the sport] in the future”.

The Animal Health Trust in Newmarket is also studying orthopaedic injury rates in endurance horses globally, which will play an important role in the FEI study, he said.

Top endurance vet Fred Barrelet labelled the high level of endurance medication violations from Arab nations investigated by the FEI as “disgraceful...”

Read more here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/389/312583.html

In UAE, horses are big business as well as passion

Vancouverdesi.com - Full Article

Published on May 9, 2012 by DesiWireFeed
* Dubai growing as racing and trading hub

* Business recovers from 2009-2010 debt crisis

* Show jumping popular, not just endurance and flat racing

* Home-grown studs, other local businesses expand

* Money overcomes environmental obstacles

By Martin Dokoupil

DUBAI, May 9 (Reuters) — When an economic crisis in Uruguay strained the finances of Pio Olascoaga Amaya’s family farm, he found salvation halfway across the world: the horse racing industry of Dubai.

Olascoaga took one of his horses from Uruguay to try his luck in an endurance race in Spain. After the horse finished third, he was able to sell it to a trainer working for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler and an avid sponsor, owner and rider of horses.

That led to Olascoaga opening business ties with Dubai and 10 years later, at the age of 31, he helps run a family business selling Uruguayan-reared horses with Arabian blood to the United Arab Emirates. He acts as an agent for other farms in Uruguay as well as his own farm, which has 600 horses.

“If I sell a horse in Uruguay for let’s say $20,000 on average, here you can sell at a minimum $40,000,” he said. The margin makes it worth paying the $10,000 cost of transporting a horse by plane from Uruguay to Dubai, more than 17 hours away.

“Here in the UAE is the Formula One of horses. They need horses all the time, and from all around the world,” Olascoaga said after making a presentation to Saudi owners at an Arabian horse fair in Dubai...

http://vancouverdesi.com/sports/feature-in-uae-horses-are-big-business-as-well-as-passion/

Australia: Endurance Festival Named Event of the Year

KER.com

May 7, 2012

The Al Reef-RM Williams Endurance Festival, run by long-time KER clients and supporters Peter and Penny Toft, won the title of Event of the Year at Equestrian Australia's 2011 Sport Achievement Awards of Excellence this month. The Endurance Festival featured the FEI*** National Championships and was the largest endurance ride in Australia in 2011, attracting a record number of entries from multiple countries. In addition to this, the event was designated as a Tom Quilty Cup qualifier and doubled as a qualifier for the 2012 World Endurance Championships.

The Endurance Festival and competition was broadcast to a global audience though a live webcast. International officials were offered a unique opportunity to partake in the Australasian Endurance Forum held in conjunction with the festival and competition. Peter Huntington, B.V.Sc., KER's director of nutrition, presented the latest research in endurance horse nutrition during this forum, and KER nutritionist Clarissa Brown-Douglas, Ph.D., attended the festival and competition to provide on-the-spot nutrition advice for riders.

Bahrain: Al Hazza rallies to a fine victory

Gulf-daily-news.com

May 06, 2012

ISA Al Hazza was a surprise winner in the Season Ending Endurance Horse Ride Championship yesterday.

Some of Bahrain's elite riders competed in this 120-km night ride, which was held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir. But it was the Royal Endurance Team who dominated the show, securing a 1-2 finish as they lived up to their top billings.

Riding Garibha, Al Hazza completed the five-stage ride on top in five hours, 21 minutes and 31 seconds and with a 22-km per hour average speed.

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Royal Endurance Team captain, followed his teammate in second place on Warraba in 5:38:09 and with an average speed of 21-km per hour.

Sultan Salim Al Hadhrami, representing Al Asayel Stable, rounded off the podium by coming third on Sche in 5:49:40 and with a 20-km per hour average speed.

The Royal Endurance Team riders headed into the concluding event of the season as favourites.

Indeed they lived up to many expectations as team member Ahmed Abdulla led the 30-km first stage in 1:13:27.

Closely

He was closely followed by Mohammed Abdulsamad (1:17:19) of Al Khalidia Stable and Shaikh Nasser (1:18:00) in second and third places, respectively.

Shaikh Nasser then moved up to top spot at the end of the second stage, which was also over 30 kms in 1:18:31.

The Royal Endurance Team skipper completed the stage ahead of Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa (1:19:07) of Ahmed Al Fateh Stable, who came second, while Al Hazza (1:19:26) was third.

In the 20-km third stage, Shaikh Nasser extended his lead to 54 minutes and four seconds, while Shaikha Najla (52:56) and Al Hazza (52:54) maintained second and third position, respectively.

Shaikh Nasser held on to his solid lead after finishing the fourth and penultimate stage, which also covered 20 kms in just 57:33 minutes.

Al Hazza (57:39) climbed into second place, followed by Shaikha Najla (1:01:48), who slipped to third

Shaikha Najla, however, was eliminated from the race after failing to pass the veterinary examination after the fourth stage.

Excitement mounted in the 20-km fifth and final stage as Al Hazza took over the lead from Shaikh Nasser in the final moments to capture the trophy.

The prize-presentation ceremony took place at the endurance village right after the race.

It was attended by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who honoured the top three riders.

Shaikh Khalid also presented certificates of recognition to members of the veterinary commission in appreciation of their efforts in making the event an all-round success.

Veterinarians from Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman were part of the organising committee. The commission has nine members, headed by president Dr Yassine Motemri of Tunisia.

Other members are Mohammed Al Hammad, Mohammed Al Daen, Kuldip Kuhad, Zahid Rafiq, Ebrahim Yousif, Sabah Al Kabie, Abu Obaidah Yacoob and Abdelrahman Abu Shook.