Saturday, December 08, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Al Kaabi wins National Day Cup endurance event

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Rider upstages European Open champion Al Jahouri for a memorable maiden victory at Al Wathba

Staff ReportPublished: 18:54 December 8, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Ali Reyad Saleh Al Kaabi rode a superb ride final loop in the 120-kilometre National Day Cup endurance ride to score a memorable maiden victory at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

Starting in fifth place on the final stage of the 16km loop, Al Kaabi and his mount Tacka increased their speed to 34kmph from the 27kmph they had registered over the first four stages. That effort was enough to fetch the Seih Assalam Stables’ trainer his first ever win and also helped him finish ahead of European Open champion Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri riding Lourizon Frost.

Al Kaabi was 30th after the first 33kmph, 26th after the second stage of 27kms, 15th after the third stage of 24kms and 5th after the fourth stage of 20kms.

Al Kaabi completed the 120km CEI Two-star ride in 4 hours 19 minutes and 11 seconds while Al Jahouri finished in 4:20.20...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/al-kaabi-wins-national-day-cup-endurance-event-1.1116035

FEI: What the hell, was wrong with the current regulations?

Endurance-belgium.com - Full Article

12/8/12

Oh yeah, of course, it wasn't good for the wealthy riders. You know, the ones who have no time for getting to know their horse, train them, feed them, brush them, pet them, take care. It's easier if you want buy a car to go to the dealer -am I stupid, to send somebody, a henchman- and give orders for the tuning, then when the time comes to drive the car -of course you understand the parable- to mess up -because the engine is too powerful or too delicate- a few miles later.

So this so beloved regulation has been changed, under the impulse of the UAE federation. If you were a bit informed or clear-headed, you had noticed some interventions on forums. Then hop-hop, abracadabra, that's it...

On the other hand, for the welfare of the horse, nada-niet-nothing! To counter the one killing horses, no sensational decision. Of course, a commission has been nominated -we all know the best way of doing nothing is to nominate a commission. Completely opaque. Who's making part? What is the road map? Let's bet that they will soon be employed in the UAE!

The other, major, change concerns the qualification procedure. Was the system not good? It was and has always been OK for us, Europeans! Since years we were using it and never had problems.

So as from now, another additional 80..90 must be completed to get access to the CEI* level. For the professionals, this means an additional cost-risk-time. For amateurs, especially the one bringing their horses slowly to the international level, no big deal. One more 50miles, that's OK, even better for the organizers.

What Pierre Arnould has difficult to swallow -apparently some of his colleagues at the FEI commission are in the same case- is the way the decision has been presented. He said: "I'm fed up to repeat this again and again. During our meeting it was decided to add a low level ride, a 60km to the procedure. Everybody was OK with that and it was presented this way to Ian Williams. But he changed it, adding a 80..90km at free speed. why? what was his agenda? I dont have the slightest idea." He claims that others will take a stance. Wait and see...

Friday, December 07, 2012

Australia: High heat and great times at endurance ride

Southcoastregister.com.au - Full Story

By Alan Marshall (ride secretary). Dec. 7, 2012, 10:04 a.m.

THE last ride of the NSW Endurance Riders Assocation year was held at Sassafras on November 24 and 25 and was an 80 kilometre endurance ride.

The weather forecasters got it right for a change, predicting 32 degree celcius heat and no rain.

A 5am start saw 33 riders head out at first light into the wilds of Morton National Park.

The first riders returned to the ride base in two hours and 12 minutes. After these 33 riders vetted, only 28 headed out for the second leg in the rising heat.

First across the line was Shelly Ison riding Aloha Fabian, and Peter Norman riding Tallaganda Downs Natifa, in a ride time of five hours and six minutes...

Read more here:
http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/1171431/high-heat-and-great-times-at-endurance-ride/?cs=204

Great Britain: McGhee and Foxghyll win awards aplenty in endurance riding

Thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk - Full Article

10:00am Friday 7th December 2012 in Sport By Scott Kirk, Reporter

AMBLESIDE endurance rider Kath McGhee is celebrating national awards as she and her horse Foxghyll’s Filly were out to prove a point this year.

The Cumbria Endurance GB rider and her 20-year-old horse won three national trophies, including the Veteran Championship, and they finished second in the Senior National Championship.

The Cotswold Trophy now belongs to McGhee, which is awarded to the pony (14.2hh or under) and senior rider combination gaining the most points in all types of competition rides.

She also claimed the Regent Trophy, which goes to the rider with an unregistered horse or pony gaining the most points in all types of competition rides, and Kirkby Thore’s Ann Aldridge celebrated her 80th Birthday this year and with her pony Mycathlly Golden Sunshine she picked up the Pitchford Trophy for the best performance by a native pony, beating her nearest rivals by 470 points...

Read more here:
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/sport/10088083.McGhee_and_Foxghyll_win_awards_aplenty_in_endurance_riding/

Thursday, December 06, 2012

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

Australia's Poppy Kettlewell: From pony club loops to the world stage

Photo Credit: Amanda Kettlewell Inside.FEI.org - Full Story 17 September 2025 Author: Bella Fricker When 18-year-old Poppy Kettlewel...