Human Barefoot Trends: What Can they Tell Us About Horses?

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Michelle N. Anderson, TheHorse.com Digital Editor • Dec 04, 2012 • Article #30951

Barefoot running and glove-like minimalist barefoot running shoes have gained popularity with human athletes in recent years. And, much like the shoes versus barefoot controversy in the horse world, the benefits and drawbacks of going shoeless are highly debated in human podiatry, said Nora Grenager, VMD, Dipl. ACVIM, of Grenager Equine Consulting in Middleburg, Va.

Grenager presented trends and topics in laminitis research at the 2012 Conference on the Equine Foot, which took place Nov. 2-3 in Monterey, Calif. That research included the work of Pat Reilly, chief of farrier services at University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, who authored the paper "The Barefoot Paradox," which was published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science in October 2011 (Volume 31, Issue 10).

Research has found that human barefoot runners:

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/30951/human-barefoot-trends-what-can-they-tell-us-about-horses

UAE: National Day Cup endurance attracts dream line-up

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

Hisham Al Gizouli / 6 December 2012

Around 300 riders have been entered to bid for a dream line-up in the FEI 120km ** National Day Cup which marks the celebrations of the 41st anniversary of the National Day at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Saturday, it was revealed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the big event will be preceded by the running of the Al Wathba Cup for private owners only which will be held at the same venue on Friday.

Speaking to newsmen at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel, the official hotel of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Globan Arabian Horse Racing Festival, Adnan Sultan, director general of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Globan Arabian Horse Racing Festival and head of IFAHR Ladies Racing briefed the media of the twin races and associated events.

The Press conference was also attended by Mubarak Rashed Al Nuaimi, international promotion manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Talal Al Hashmi of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Stephen Bowey of Invest AD, Ahyam Ali Hamad, sales and marketing manager of Areej Al Ameerat.

“We have received entries from around 300 riders for Saturday’s prestigious National Day Cup endurance ride to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba,” Al Nuaimi said...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/inside_sport.asp?xfile=/data/nationsports/2012/December/nationsports_December72.xml§ion=nationsports

Australia: Alan’s Arabian mare clocks up 5000km endurance riding

Cowracommunitynews.com - Full Article

COWRA Arabian horse breeders Alan and Mark Lindsay have completed the Sassafras 80km endurance ride at Braidwood, with Alan’s home-bred mare Kintamani Charisma reaching a milestone of more than 5000km in successful rides.

The mare is now 19 years young and looking a picture, relishing in her work, says Alan.
She started the year well with a good 80km at Oberon, but in April suffered a severe hoof injury at a ride on the Southern Highlands and it was feared she would never compete again, leaving her short of the big 5000 by just 2km.

Time and care saw her return to work in October, ready to compete again at weekend...

Read more here:
http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=2379&id=2

UAE: Endurance races are an experience like no other

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Many reasons why long-distance riding events can enthuse the whole community

By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 14:58 December 6, 2012

While the UAE flat racing season is briskly moving through the gears, it’s encouraging to see that the endurance calendar is also flowing into a pattern with a regular series of rides.

I guess if you love horse-related sports, you can’t but be attracted to the sport that has charmed almost every aspiring horseman and woman.

But have you ever wondered what makes these long, arduous rides on horseback so appealing?

It is something that people ask me all the time, and I’m afraid it’s a question that I have never been able to answer well enough. It’s not that I myself am not convinced of the sport’s merits, as endurance riding is not something to be taken lightly — it requires meticulous and demanding preparation and dedication.

The thing I like about the sport is that it is infectious and can be a lot of fun. Every time a ride takes place, you can feel the buzz and the whole endurance site become a hub of activity. Everybody gets involved — the trainers, helpers, officials, medics. It’s like a community thing and something that you don’t really see in other sports. The emotions that flow from one individual to another are quite amazing...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/endurance-races-are-an-experience-like-no-other-1.1115152

New Zealand: Bit by Bit

December 5 2012

Jacqui Knight was 10 years old when she opened an English textbook and found an excerpt from ‘Tschiffely’s Ride’, one of several books written by Aimé Felix Tschiffely covering his epic journey with two Patagonian ponies, from Buenos Aires to Washington DC. Tschiffely’s destination had been New York but he found the traffic was too bad. And this was in 1925!

The tale inspired her. For the next thirty years she pored over maps and clippings files in newspaper offices, read books about geography and travel and horses, studied mountains and rivers that might obstruct her path. And in 1996 her dream became a reality.

New Zealand: Bit by Bit is the book Knight has published a book of the journey that she and a small dog took on horseback the length of New Zealand, from Bluff at the bottom of the South Island to Cape Reinga at the top of the North. It took her 105 days’ riding over a period of eleven months — a total of 2538.2 kilometres. She was was 46 but had been dreaming about the adventure for over thirty years.

Jacqui just loves to share her beautiful country with visitors from overseas. She has entertained many people and advised them on what to see and where to go. Always, she warns that their visit will not be long enough.

If you've ever dreamed about visiting New Zealand and getting 'off the beaten track'; if you love animals and wild places, if you love meeting people and learning about different cultures, then this book is for you. Jacqui has a natural, conversational way of writing which is easy to read. You will feel that you are travelling with her, her horses and Brae.

For more information see
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/261468#longdescr

Great Britain: Abby and Grey Medlar - new SUPREME CHAMPION for 2012

Endurancegb.co.uk

26 November 2012

Abby and Grey Medlar swept the board at the Awards Dinner for Endurance GB. The Supreme Champion 2012 is Abby Chisholm and Grey Medlar.

Abby was also Young Rider Champion and Medlar achieved Best Purebred Arab. Medlar who is now 21, was also Supreme Champion in 2000 with mum Jo, in the last year of BERA.

Abby (17) was also Young Rider Champion in 2010 with CFS Diana of Court, who is Junior Champion this year with 11 year old Saffron Bishop.

Abby started riding Medlar in 2011, and Medlar has now achieved over 7500 competitive kilometres during his 15 year endurance career, with the next goal of 8000 km firmly in his sights for next year.

Read more here:
http://www.endurancegb.co.uk/html/item.asp?ItemId=2924

Abu Dhabi gears up for National Day Cup

Gulfnews.com

Major endurance race to be preceded by Al Wathba Cup for Private Owners

Staff Report Published: 18:30 December 5, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Around 300 riders have been entered for the FEI** 120km National Day Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Saturday, it was revealed on Wednesday.

The National Day Cup event will be divided into five stages of 33km, 27km, 24km, 20km and 16km. The big event will be preceded by the running of the Al Wathba Cup for Private Owners, which will be held at the same venue on Friday.

Adnan Sultan, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and Lara Sawaya, Director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Globan Arabian Horse Racing Festival and head of IFAHR Ladies Racing, announced the two events at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel on Wednesday.

“Some of the top UAE and international riders are expected to take part,” Al Nuaimi said. “We are celebrating the 41st anniversary of the National Day and, on this occasion, we are delighted to provide plenty of good news for the contenders who will be lucky enough to take part in the ride.

“These will include a total purse of Dh500,000 in prize money, plus a brand new car, which will be driven home by the winner.”

In the Al Wathba Cup for private owners, which is a CEN 100km ride, participants are required to cover the distance in four stages of 33km, 27km, 24km and 16km. Another total purse of Dhs500,000 plus a new car is up for grabs and so far 70 participants have been confirmed.

Sawaya said: “Preparations are well in place for the National Day Cup race, which is considered the most prestigious and valuable event of the endurance racing season, in addition to the Wathba Stud Challenge Cup for Private UAE owners only.”

Meanwhile, regarding arrangements for the World Arabian Horse Conference 2013, Sawaya said: “The details will be announced at 12 noon on 12/12/12 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Paris and 360 representatives will be covering the announcement.

“Arrangements are also in top gear for the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Awards. The first leg of the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Championship (IFAHR) will kick-off at Al Flaij Racecourse in Oman on January 17, 2013, as part of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival. The festival will also take part in the one of the biggest Equine Fairs in the Sultanate.”

Sawaya also confirmed that the Polish Parliament has invited the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival to address MPs on December 10 on its marketing and promotional plans before heading for France.

Also present at Wednesday’s press conference were Mubarak Rasheed Al Nuaimi, International Promotion Manager for Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA), Talal Al Hashemi of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), Stephen Bowey of Invest AD, and Ahyam Ali Hamad, Sales and Marketing Manager of Areej Ameerat.