Another Australian Withdraws from the WEC

July 29, 2012

The Australian Endurance Team has had another blow to its preparation today, when Ondy (Andrea Laws King) on medical advice has withdrawn from the Australian Endurance Team.
Ondy had a nasty fall from her Horse last weekend.

We thank her for conducting herself in a professional manner and wish her a speedy recovery.

Regards
Peter Toft.
Chef d Equippe
Australian Endurance Team

******

The horses leave Australia with Chef Peter Toft from Melbourne on August 8th.

Penny and grooms will leave several days before together with Norbert and Jane, Talea and family.

This is a reduced team and certainly not what was planned, however, what we may miss in numbers we will make up with experience, with Penny the veteran of many WC’s , not having missed one since Compeigne in 2000, Alexandra having been a team member in 2009 at Babolna and a groom at WC’s since before she could walk almost, Norbert and Jane experienced the highs and lows at Kentucky 2 years ago and have well and truly got the bug! Talea and family will have to experience all before them.

We wish the Team every success, and will try and keep everyone posted.

Barbara Macdonald
Manager
Australian Endurance Squad

*******

On Behalf of the Australian Endurance Team to contest the 2012 World Endurance Championships, I would like to sincerely thank the Arabian Horse Society of Australia, it’s Board and members for providing each of the five horses with a AHSA team rug.

I would like to acknowledge the AHSA’s support to all our teams at World Equestrian Games and World Endurance Championships over the past two decades.

Our 2012 team, like most other teams, consists of Australian Arabian Horses and this team will go as teams before representing all that is good about Australian Arabians with their amazing athleticism. Our representative team is a credit to the many Australian breeders who, whilst acknowledging the type and beauty of the Arabian horse, also know Arabians are bred to be ridden.

Currently the International component of Endurance in Australia is undergoing considerable reform and the 2012 team is excited to have the honour to represent Australia on the world stage.

Profiles of Horses and Riders will be on the Equestrian Australian website shortly.

Team:

TRAVINA ridden and bred by Penny Toft. Sire Ralvon Amigo S-17258 ( s Milex ) Dam. Traveller.

EMILY JONES te ( A.F.3773 ) ridden by Alexandra Toft, bred by P&P Toft. Sire WN Dasjmir Dam Tallaroon Creo Royarle

WEST COAST ACHARON ( S-21005) ridden by Dr Norbert Radny, bred by J&N Radny. Sire Aquanitor Dam Noran Parmelia

BLAKE’S HEAVEN BOMBORA ( G-25056 ) ridden by Talea Hasko Stewart, bred by H.Riek Sire Shahir ibn Rashan Dam Steveie Nix

Regards
Peter Toft
Australian Endurance Chef 2012

Great Britain: Supergran prepares for gruelling 100-mile horse marathon

Walesonline.co.uk - Full Article

by Abbie Wightwick, WalesOnlineAug 5 2012

At a time when most Welsh grans are beginning to look forward to a relaxing retirement, Tricia Hirst is instead preparing for a gruelling 100-mile horse marathon – at the age of 54.

The supergran will represent Britain when the Longines World Endurance Riding Championships, one of the toughest for horses and riders, takes place in Suffolk later this month.

Cantering at 20km an hour for 100 miles on her horse Madjin des Pins Tricia will be part of the Great Britain team competing against 160 riders from 40 teams across the globe.

It’s the latest challenge for an athlete who recently completed a 56-mile ultra marathon on foot.

“I’ve been training all year for this one goal. I’m the fittest I’ve ever been in my life,” says Tricia, who started endurance riding at the age of 38.

“It’s a wonderful sport and I’m looking forward to the race.”

The mum of three, who became a grandmother earlier this year, lives in Meifod, near Welshpool, where she keeps eight horses and rides every day...

Read More Here:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/need-to-read/2012/08/05/supergran-prepares-for-gruelling-100-mile-horse-marathon-91466-31547063/#ixzz22sAb7vlB

USA's Mallory Capps 2nd in FEI Young Riders World Ranking

August 2 2012

The USA has 4 Young Riders in the top ten of the FEI Young Riders World Ranking as of July 22, 2012. The top spot is occupied by Manuela Basombrio of Argentina, followed by Mallory Capps. Cassandra Roberts ranks 5th, with Katherine Gardener tied for 8th and Kelsey Russell in 10th.

The USA does even better on the Young Riders Combination World Ranking, clinching the top 3 spots. Cassandra Roberts and CA Classy Marina are in first, Mallory Capps and Noslo's Lightning Strikes are in second, and Katherine Gardener and AF Big Bucks are in third. Sydney Sumrall and DCL Mooi Koedoe are in 7th, and Christina Kimeray and DC Macproof are in 8th place.

Bahrain: Quarantine 'puts animals at risk...'

Gulf-daily-news.com

By Ahmed Al Omari , Posted on » Wednesday, August 01, 2012

BAHRAIN'S quarantine facilities could be putting the lives of animals at risk, it has been claimed.

The complex, at the Endurance Village in Sakhir, is poorly equipped and has no air conditioning, which could prove fatal for the animals in summer, warned race horse owner Jalil Al Mallah.

He is due to import six European bred horses, worth a combined total of more than BD45,000, from the UK today and claims he will have to risk their lives just to clear customs.

Mr Al Mallah has already secured the paperwork to take them to the Endurance Village, but plans to stand at the gates of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir, where he already owns stables, until they agree to take in his horses.

"I will not take my horses to that crummy quarantine just to have them die," the Bahraini told the GDN.

"When my horses come in I will sign them out and I will drive straight to the race club and offload them there until the club lets me in or arrests me.

"One of these horses, called Cheylesmore, sported the Bahraini flag when the team won a race in England against British horses and now I am just trying to bring them home and this is how they are treated.

"These horses win for Bahrain and they should be treated like winners when they come back home."

Officials from the Municipality and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry could not be reached for comment, but sources admitted the facilities could be better.

"The owner is justified in not wanting to send his animals to the quarantine facility in Endurance Village," they said.

"There is no AC in the facility which is dangerous for all animals, but especially horses that come from the UK.

"Horses coming from a cold country will not be able to survive in this heat at that facility."

The source advised the horse owner to seek permission to keep his horses at the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club.

But Mr Al Mallah already says he has been denied use of the facility, which has its own quarantine.

"This is not the first case of animals from overseas coming into the club stables, so I don't understand why I can't this time," he said.

"I got everything approved, I got all the certificates and the tests done. Not only that, the horses are already in the process of being shipped. "If I cancel the shipping, then I will have to pay a 70 per cent penalty and so I can't just wait."

ahmed@gdn.com.bh

Denmark will Host 2015 European Endurance Championship

Rideforbund.dk

by Rikke Højgaard
[google translation]

The international equestrian federation FEI has awarded Denmark European Championship in distance in 2015. It is Molsridtet to arrange the championship tournament, which means that the approx. 100 participants to try out a 160 km-consuming route of Mols Mountains. European Championship in 2015 distance runs from 31 July - 2 august.
 
Mols Mountains ready for championship bout

"We are both proud and overwhelmed and delighted to get started - it will be a great championship. Today we are 20 people in Molsridtet, but when we reach 2015, we would have grown to 100, so we can provide both participants and spectators a great experience, "says Peter Christiansen, president of Molsridtet.

It is expected that there will be approx. 100 participants at the European Championships in the distance. Riders from non-European countries may also participate in the competition, but can obviously not ride for championship medals.Championship distance 2015 is organized by Molsridtet in collaboration with Danish Equestrian Federation and Syddjurs Municipality.

Australia: Kilkivan Hosts 2013 Tom Quilty

Kilkivanquilty.com

Kilkivan, Queensland, will be the host of the 2013 Tom Quilty Gold Cup on Sunday June 9th.

A tiny town with a heart of gold
 
Queensland’s first gold discovery was at Kilkivan in 1852 and subsequent findings escalated into a gold rush in 1868.  Small pockets of gold are still found today, and a working gold mine offers visitors the opportunity to try their luck at gold panning.
 
The town itself forms the eastern and northern gateways of the South Burnett region of south-east Queensland, Australia. The South Burnett is home to two of Queensland’s biggest inland waterways (Lake Boondooma



and the Bjelke-Petersen Dam) and is also one of the largest wine-growing regions in the State. Most of the South Burnett is located just a few pleasant driving hours from Brisbane.
 
Kilkivan is located on the Bicentennial National Trail which runs right through the centre of the Township with 107 kms of the
Trail running through the Shire itself. The annual ‘Kilkivan Great Horse Ride’ is a spectacular event, attracting over 1,000 riders to its trek along parts of the Trail.
 
As well as lovely accommodation, the local B&B offers sumptuous meals and the opportunity to take some of the goodies with you in a South Burnett gift hamper. Enjoy a drink at the local hotel and meet the owner, Fred Brophy - operator of the famous ‘Fred Brophy’s Boxing Tent’.

Attractions within this area are diverse. Glimpse life as it used to be, by wanderingthrough the town’s historical museum in the main street.  Mudlo Conservation Park, north of Kilkivan, is ideal for birdwatching.
 
Kilkivan may be a small town, but its rich Australian history make this a must-see Quilty event.

Matthew Sample Withdraws from Australian Team for WEC

July 25 2012

Matthew Sample has today announced his withdrawal from the Australian Team for the 2012 World Endurance Championships.

Matthew has kept the Team Vet and myself aware of an unsoundness issue with his horse Brookleigh Ricardo and the decision has been accepted after giving him every opportunity to rectify the problem.

This is disappointing for Matthew after putting in considerable effort to prepare the horse and himself for this level of competition. It is also disappointing for the team to lose one of its valuable combinations.

Regards
Peter Toft
Chef
Australian Endurance Team