India: Punjab to Pushkar in 12 Days Manu Sharma’s Dream Ride

Goinggaited.com - full article

By Gina McKnight

On November 17, 2012, world-renowned equestrian and equine photographer, Manu Sharma, set a new endurance record for India. He has set the record for riding a Marwari Horse 612 kilometers in 12 days, a great feat of equine endurance and equestrian perseverance celebrated by Manu and horse lovers everywhere.

From Patiala, India, Manu prepared for this great event for many months. His record breaking endurance ride began at Param Gill Stud Farm, village of Chinniwal, district of Barnala, Punjab. Manu’s love for his native horse, the magnificent Marwari, shines through. Manu explains, “It was my dream to ride a horse for a very long distance. I started with training two Marwari colts; Manak and Punjab Kesri. I trained them for three months. Both stallions had enough stamina to travel 40 kilometers in one day, but in the end, I chose Manak for the endurance because Punjab Kesri was too young to take the stress of the journey.”

Manak is a beautiful dark bay Marwari. He has the Marwari signature curved ears that frame the heart of India. At seven years, Manak stands at 15.3 hh and weighs 425 kg. His long defined legs and solid muscular silhouette exemplify months of training, conditioning and Manu’s expert care. Manak is a true performance horse. His conformation is structurally correct; balanced perfection from majestic head to aesthetic tail. His forelock settles neatly over his white star, between his inward curving ears. A luxurious coat gently shimmers in the sultry India sun, covering his stalwart, suave frame. His powerful neck and artistic formation are the envy of his stall mates...

Read more here:
http://goinggaited.com/GINAPUNJABTOPUSKAR.html

US Young Riders/UAE Presidents Cup Update

30 January 2013

The horse Jessica DiCamillo was scheduled to ride in the Abu Dhabi Presidents Cup on February 16, RGS SHA Strike Two, cannot travel due to European restrictions. Instead, she will be riding DJB Black AL Bodi (aka Diesel), owned by Darolyn Butler.

UAE: Women race ahead in endurance test

Cnn.com - Full Article

By Paul Gittings, CNN
updated 8:27 AM EST, Thu January 31, 2013

(CNN) -- Purebred Arabian stallions dominate the world of endurance horse events, but it is increasingly likely that the rider guiding them to glory will be a young woman.

The United Arab Emirates is the hotbed of equestrian's fastest growing discipline, and new entrants to the top level of the sport such as 18-year-old Fatima Al-Marri are already upsetting the established order.

"We love to challenge the men," she told CNN's Winning Post, while fellow competitor Mariam Mothana has another take.

"The best thing is when you see the look on their faces when they pass the finish line," Mothana said.

"It's nice to see that they understand that the women here can challenge the men -- they can be as strong as men."

Some 40% of registered endurance riders are now women, and the bar has certainly been set high for the likes of Fatima and Mariam.

Back in 2010, Spanish rider Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton won her second world title just seven weeks after giving birth to her first child...

read more here:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/31/sport/women-endurance-horse-racing/

Bahrain International Endurance Race 2012: A success story narrated in the media worldwide

BNA.bh

30/01/2013

Manama: Jan. 30 – (BNA) The success story of the Bahrain International Endurance Military Championship still echoes in the media all over the world who praised the Kingdom of Bahrain's excellent organizing of the first such championship hosted in the Kingdom.

The widely-circulated and leading German daily newspaper (Dilingen Extra) allocated considerable space for its coverage of the championship hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain last December 2012 under the kind patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

A large number of prominent personalities and world-class chevaliers participated from all over the world including the UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Leader of the Kingdom of Bahrain's Royal Team His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation cum Commander of Al-Khalidiya Stables HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa participated in the 5-lap, 120-kilometer endurance race whose events the prestigious German newspaper has covered and interviewed a number of participants who gave their impressions on the optimum atmospheres provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain for the highly-competitive international horse-race. (IY)

Australia: Endurance ride spurs passion for endurance

Warwickdailynews.com.au - Full Article

30th Jan 2013 7:00 AM

WHAT started out as a business deal 22 years ago, turned into a lifelong passion for accomplished endurance rider Dick Collyer.

Dick, who operates his Arab stud from his 688 hectare property Totara at Leyburn, with partner Jill Crowley has been breeding arabs for 40 years.

I saw all these exhausted people come in to check points on their horses and then take off again and I admired them so much. There was real buzz about taking off at midnight.
However, it wasn't until he sold one of his "good horses" to a bloke he thought was a "good rider", that his love of the sport was born.

"It was 1991 and a bloke I knew wanted to win the 1994 Tom Quilty Endurance Ride, as he had already come second twice in what is regarded as the pinnacle of the sport," Dick said.

"However, the horse and the bloke didn't suit each other, so I took the horse back and decided I would take up endurance riding myself," he said.

"I set my sights on the 1994 Tom Quilty, as it takes about three years to train a horse to compete in a 160km ride..."

Read more here:
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/addicted-to-endurance-tough-rides/1734150/

India: Manipur endurance riders feted

E-pao.net

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 28 2013: State riders who have won many medals in the National Junion Endurance Championships 2013 held at Dibrugarh, Assam were felicitated in a function held at the Manipur Pony Breeding Farm, Lamphelpat, Imphal.

President of Manipur Equestrian (MEA) Championships, Dr S Joykumar, Vice President of MEA Ningthoukhongjam Bedajit and President of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, S Budhachandra graced the felicitation function as presidium members.

The Manipur team won two silver and one bronze medals in the championships.

In Individual event, L Atangba of Chingkheihunba Polo Club won a silver medal while E Robin of the club won a bronze medal.

In team event, L Atangba, E Robin, S Bronson and Chand won silver medal.

Other riders who represented Manipur in the championships were Prakash Bhandari of Imphal Riding Club, Chand and Saratkanta of Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club, John of Imphal Riding Club and Th Kaoba of Chingkheihunba Polo Club.

T Pradipkumar and S Bimol were the Coach and Manager of the state team. Manipur Equestrian Association awarded a cash incentive of Rs 1000 each to the riders and Rs 1,500 each.

Spain: Ignasi Casas Confirmed as Chef d'Equipe

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

In yesterday January 28, 2013, the Spanish Equestrian Federation designation adopted several agreements on technical structures of the FEI. and composition of the various Technical Equipment equestrian discipline.
In regards to our discipline The Raid, confirmed to D. Ignasi Casas as Director of the discipline. It specifies the crew, when we have this information we will post it.

This is the note from the Spanish:

Peter King and Luis Lucio, directors and Dressage CCE
Posted: 29 Jan 2013 12:31 AM PST

The FEI has appointed Peter King and Luis Lucio as directors of Eventing and Dressage, respectively. He has decided the locations of several championships in Spain and Spanish Cups.

The Board of Directors of the Spanish Equestrian Federation adopted several agreements on Monday January 28, among which were the designations relating to the technical structure of the FEI. Thus, in regard to the composition of different technical equipment, confirmed the following designations:
Jumping

Director: D. Marco Fuste
Attached to the address: D. Mike Florence


Dressage

Director: Luis Lucio


Eventing

Director: Peter King


RAID

Director: Ignasi Casas


"All of them," the FEI said in a statement, "will be assisted by respective Technical Committees of Selection to be composed of representatives of different sectors integrated in each of the disciplines."

Read more here:
http://ggjineteraid.blogspot.com/2013/01/confirmacion-de-ignasi-casas-como.html