Australia: Prince ready to compete at the Tom Quilty Cup

Whitsundaytimes.com.au - Full Article

11 October 2012

WHITSUNDAY rider Tony Laurent and his Arabian horse 'Prince' have qualified for the premier endurance riding event in Australia, to be held in Kilkivan, in southern Queensland next June.

Laurent won the notoriously difficult Denison Creek race to qualify for the Tom Quilty Gold Cup championships.

The prestige associated with competing in the Tom Quilty Cup is huge and it is the goal of Australian endurance riders to attempt the ride in their lifetime.

Laurent is thrilled to have qualified for the event.

"We have been trying to complete a 160km ride in qualifying time for years," Laurent said.

"It takes about two years of training to get a horse that fit.

"Then of course you have to have a horse with a huge heart and willing character.

"All those lonely days and nights out there training in the forest develops a wonderful bond between you and your four legged companion..."

Read more here:
http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/news/prince-ready-to-compete-at-the-tom-quilty-cup/1577325/

Scotland: Endurance season ends better than it started

Thesouthernreporter.co.uk - Full Article

Published on Wednesday 10 October 2012 23:52

THE Scottish Borders Endurance Riding Club (SBERC) ended another successful and eventful season by holding their final ride of the year last week.

By all accounts this season has been challenging to say the least, with many rides being cancelled throughout the year due to the extreme weather conditions.

Nevertheless, Peter and Ashley Close of Fishwick Mains Farm near Paxton, managed to pull out all the stops in order to provide a weatherproof route with distances of 80km, 60km, 50km, and 33km as well as a 20km pleasure ride.

Competitors on the day came from as far afield as Cumbria, Durham, and Glasgow, as well as the Borders.

Some of the far-flung horses and riders stayed overnight on the Saturday and made use of the camping and corralling facilities on offer.

Riders witnessed a fantastic route out over the surrounding countryside, which consisted of quiet country lanes, lovely grassy tracks and fields, as well as disused railway line and, of course, some fantastic scenery...

Read more here:
http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/sport/endurance-season-ends-better-than-it-started-1-2567283

France: A seminar to lead the way!

Jemfeialltech2014-normandie.fr

2/10/12

On 25 September, some 115 representatives of local authorities associated with the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy, gathered at a seminar arranged by the Organising Committee (OC). The seminar comprised two distinct phases: a first round of discussions at the Regional Council, followed by an initiation into equestrian disciplines at the Caen Equestrian Club.

The seminar’s principal aim was to bring the participants up to date on the project’s progress. It was also the perfect opportunity to allow them to get to know the members of the OC that they work with. « Of the 140 invitations sent out, 115 people participated; this goes to show how much interest there is for the event », adds Dobrina Perrody, the Organising Committee deputy director. « Everyone present was familiar with a small part of the project, either through their professional involvement in a local authority or other organisation. But we wanted everyone to have an overall view of the Games. We felt that they could, in this way, really appreciate the significance of the event. In a sense, the aim was also to say; we need all of you, we need your skills and your help!”

Proceedings were opened by Fabien Grobon, the OC managing director, who was then followed by several members of the Organising Committee. One after the other, they talked about their exact role, the work already accomplished and the priorities they faced in the coming months.The local authorities’ director generals then went on to make a speech (Regional Council, General Council of Calvados, of Orne, the Manche, Urban Councilof Caen la mer and the town of Caen). Finally, Clara Verger, cabinet director for the Calvados prefect, took the floor to reaffirm the French government’s support for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy.

The second half of the seminar saw a special demonstration of the event’s eight official disciplines at the Caen Equestrian Centre (SHUC as it is known). Eric Navet, the 1990 & 2002 world champion, one of the finest records in world jumping, impressed spectators with his minute and fascinating running commentary about the way he jumps his horse. José Letartre, para equestrian dressage multiple-medal winner, Fabrice Martin, French driving champion, Laura Duponchel, reining champion and the vaulting teams of the Petit Dan stables near Caen, led the way as they all shared their passion for equestrian sport.

It was indeed, a festive end to what had been a day true to the spirit of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy.

2013 FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List in Effect from 1 January

fei.org

2 Oct 2012
The FEI Equine Prohibited Substance List for 2013, which has now been approved by the FEI Bureau, will come into force on 1 January 2013.

Following a period of consultation with the National Federations, the FEI List Group held its most recent meeting during the London 2012 Paralympics and signed off changes to the List for 2013, which include five new substances and other amendments.

The changes, which will be included in the 2013 List and will come into effect on 1 January of next year, are summarised here and below:

 Five new substances have been added to the List for 2013. These are the Controlled Medication substances Cyclosporin, a systemic immunosuppressant; Tropicamide, which affects the central nervous system and has a potential for abuse; Pitcher Plant preparation (Sarapin), which is reputed to have analgesic properties, a potential to affect performance and its use is considered to be a welfare concern; Delmadinone acetate and Chlormadinone acetate, synthetic steroidal progestins that decrease testosterone concentration and have the potential to affect performance;

 Fentanyl and Morphine (analgesics), both of which are currently classified as Banned Substances, will be moved to the Controlled Medication section of the List in 2013 due to their increasingly common legitimate use in equine medicine;

 Suxibuzone, which converts to Phenylbutazone in the body and is currently listed as Phenylbutazone, will be listed separately under Controlled Medications;

 Deslorelin, which was categorised as a Controlled Medication substance in the 2012 List, will be removed from the 2013 List.

“The FEI List Group seeks to use the most up-to-date scientific research and information as part of its ongoing review of the Prohibited Substances List,” said Graeme Cooke, FEI Veterinary Director.

“The National Federations and all the Veterinarians involved in our sport are very much a part of the consultation process and all comments received on the initial suggested changes, which were first proposed in April of this year, were discussed by the List Group prior to the changes being finalised.

“Publishing the changes to the List 90 days in advance, in accordance with our rules, means that the National Federations and their athletes will have plenty of time to familiarise themselves with the changes well in advance of the 2013 Equine Prohibited Substances List coming into force on 1 January next year.”

The 2013 Equine Prohibited Substance List will be accessible prior to 1 January 2013 on the FEI Clean Sport website. Additionally, information is now available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database, which is free to download for Smartphones.

South Africa: Endurance ride a big success

Georgeherald.com - Full Article

28 September 2012

SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - The Wynland Endurance Club held a 35km, 90km and a 120km endurance ride in Oudtshoorn on 15 September.

The CANSA auction site, in conjunction with De Zeekoe Guest House and Resort, was used at the venue.

Fifty riders gathered and tested their horses on the course. The pre-vet check was completed at 07:00 and the ride briefing took place at 07:30. The 120km entrants left at 06:00. The first leg of the 35km was ridden through the De Zeekoe Meerkat Reserve.

The second and third leg, of 27km each, took the riders along a dry cement causeway lined with thick thorn trees. Even with the high temperatures and reasonably technical paths, only three riders did not complete the ride.

Seven riders from Mossel Bay participated. Jeni Ferreira on Shadow successfully completed the 35km day ride. Antonet Vorster on her novice Arabian, Mont Blanc Farazz, completed 60km, while Ronell Robertson, a new promising young rider, finished 90km on an Arabian mare called Juliet, belonging to Tiaan Gerber...

Read more here:

Australia: Olympian embarks on 1,100km charity horse ride

ABC.net.au - Full Article

By Jessica Nairn
Updated Mon Oct 1, 2012 8:11pm AEST

A 24-year-old Olympic pentathlete has left Braidwood, south-east of Canberra, to ride 1,100 kilometres on horseback for charity.

Edward Fernon, originally from Sydney, arrived back from the London Olympics not long ago but is again saddling up, this time for a different reason.

Mr Fernon is riding from the southern New South Wales town through Canberra before following the bicentennial national trail to Melbourne.

"I'm doing a charity horse ride to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute," he said.

"We're riding into Canberra, over the Snowy Mountains, down through Marysville and we finish in Healesville in time for the Melbourne Cup."

The five-week ride follows the steps of famous racehorse Archer.

Legend has it he was led from Braidwood to Melbourne where he won the first Melbourne Cup...

Read more here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-01/olympian-embarks-on-1100km-charity-horse-ride/4289764?section=nsw

Malaysia: Ziyad makes his mark

MST.com.my

21 September 2012

MUHAMMAD Ziyad Muhammad Hamzah earned the praise of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after Malaysia's youngest rider at the World Endurance Championships finished 37th in Euston, England recently.

Ziyad, 16, was the second-best Malaysian in the 160km ride on board his horse, Braza, in eight hours, 47 minutes and 19 seconds, the same time as the Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin on Nafis De Brisal.

Asri Abd Aziz was Malaysia's best placed rider at 32nd in the event won by Dubai ruler and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum.
Dr Mahathir said Ziyad's achievement was commendable, given that half of the field of 147 riders failed to finish the course.

"Malaysian athletes do not often win," said Dr Mahathir in a statement.

"Therefore we celebrate even if our athletes are placed, as for example Lee Chong Wei who came in with a silver medal in the London Olympics and Pandelela Rinong who was third in diving.

"I would like to report another achievement of a Malaysian athlete. He is Muhammad Ziyad Muhammad Hamzah who recently completed an arduous endurance ride of 160km in the World Endurance Championship held at Euston Park in Britain.

"He came in 37th in the race participated by 147 riders. Maybe it is not something to celebrate. But about half the riders did not complete the course.

"Muhammad Ziyad is the youngest rider, still in his teens. He is in the category of 52 fastest riders, and is among the top 10 of the FEI World Junior category.

"He has accordingly been selected to represent Malaysia in the 2013 World Endurance Championship in France.

"I am particularly proud as Muhammad Ziyad works with his father at my stud farm in Langkawi. The horse he rode is from the farm and is a pure bred Arab gelding."