USA Young Riders and Horses arrive in Abu Dhabi for the Presidents Cup

February 10 2013

USA Young Riders Jessica DiCamillo of New Mexico and Devan Horn of Texas arrived in Abu Dhabi on February 9th in anticipation of riding in the February 16th 160-km Presidents Cup. Jessica will be riding DJB Black Al Badi (aka Diesel), owned by Darolyn Butler, and Devan will be riding CJS Maverick, owned by Jason and Ceci Butler-Stasiuk. Ceci has been in the UAE the last couple of weeks, riding in endurance races on horses owned by Shaikha Madiya.

"Jason and the ponies arrived safely and in very good health," Ceci said this morning. "And so did the rest of the of the young U.S. team!!! They where both bright & bushytailed after such a long trip!! We are all very privileged to be here as an endurance family."

Ceci will also ride in the Presidents Cup on one of Shaikha Madiya's horses, where over 200 entries are expected.

For coverage of the Presidents Cup follow:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013PresidentsCup/

Young British Rider invited to India International Endurance Ride

Endurancegb.co.uk

Amber Sole, 17, from Hessle, East Yorkshire, set off for India this week to take up an opportunity to compete in a 60km endurance ride in India on 2nd February, riding a borrowed horse.

The invitation to ride in the International Endurance Championship at Dibrugharh, Assam came in November from the Equestrian Federation of Assam. Amber’s mother, Allyson, herself a regular endurance rider, jokingly asked if Amber would fancy having a go. “To our surprise, Amber said yes, so it was then all systems go to get everything ready for her to travel to India. She has only been abroad once before, on a school trip to Paris, and she has never flown so we had to organise her passport and visa in quite a hurry”, explained Allyson. “Luckily her Dad has travelled extensively so I left it all to him to organise”, she added.

Amber first sat on a horse when she was just 18 months old and was learning to ride properly when she was 5. “I was competing regularly in endurance at a low level and so it was a natural progression for Amber to join in” said Allyson. Amber competed in her first endurance ride when she was 10 years old, riding a Welsh Section A pony called Tilly, and then started competing her mother’s Fiord horse, following Allyson during the rides. Amber soon moved on to the higher mileage rides organised by Endurance GB, the governing body of the sport of Endurance riding in Great Britain, and competed in her first 80km ride on a part bred arab called El Cavalier that she was given on loan. In 2010 she completed her first 2-day 160km ride at Dukeries, as well as several other 2-day rides and became National Junior Champion. She has continued to up her game, coming first in a 90km FEI 1* ride at Hayward Oakes in 2011 and completing her first 100km graded ride in 2012. “She is very determined and aims to do a 120km ride this year and try to qualify for the under 21’s team by 2014”, explained Allyson.

What better way for an aspiring young rider to start the 2013 season than a trip to India to represent GBR in their International Endurance Championship? Amber and her father will arrive in India on Thursday with a couple of days to acclimatise and find out what horse she will be riding in the competition on Saturday. “The terrain will be quite different to anything she has experienced, and it will be interesting to see what sort of horses they ride”, says Allyson, who has stayed at home to look after their own horses. “The ride takes place in the eastern Himalayas, along sandy river banks and through tea plantations, which I think will be terraced, so it is likely to be hilly. We have been told that the scenery is stunning”, she added. Getting on a strange horse will be no problem to Amber who is studying Horse Management at Bishop Burton College and regularly rides different horses.

Regular updates will be posted on the Endurance GB facebook and Twitter. www.facebook.com/EnduranceGB or @endurancegb.

FEI Continues Equine Doping Crackdown in 2013

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre • Feb 04, 2013 • Article #31306

As the 2013 competition season approaches, it might be wise to make sure you (and your horses) are in compliance with the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). In its ongoing crackdown on equine doping, the FEI delivered a record number of decisions during the first ten months of 2012.

The world governing body of equestrian sport presented data on doping decisions made by the FEI Tribunal last year at the 2012 FEI General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey, held in November.

Between January and October 2012, the FEI Tribunal delivered 16 final decisions on equine cases involving 14 horses, according to Lisa Lazarus, JD, of the FEI general counsel. Six two-year final suspensions were issued to the "persons responsible" (usually the rider). The average suspension was 15.2 months, and the average fine was 1,567 Swiss francs (or $1,684).

All cases involved the administration of a prohibited substance to at least one horse...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/31306/fei-continues-equine-doping-crackdown-in-2013

Mongolia: Anatomy of the Derbyist: Inside Adventures Giants

Theadventurists.com - Full Story

by Katy on: 22 Jan 2013

The Mongol Derby is the world's longest and toughest horse race, a 1000km dash across remotest Mongolia aboard the semi-wild native horses of the steppes. It takes a very specific type of rider to tackle the hazards of the Derby; from exposure to sleep deprivation to broken bones, the Derby is a test of nerves, gumption and common sense as well as horsemanship.

So just what is under the helmet of one of these Derby riders? We sent Mongol Derby chief, veteran of the inaugural Derby in 2009, and rather amateur biologist, Katy Willings, to investigate. Her research suggested they are an entirely disctinct species: Adventurist Equestrianus Mongolicans.

Here she is with a head-to-toe look at the special features and key modifications of this most fascinating species, the Mongol Derbyist.

Head - unusually level. Adv. Eq. Mongolicans is not prone to feelings of over-excitement, fear, or panic. The large cerebrum allows the rapid assimilation of information such as the geographical lie of the land for navigation purposes, or which horse out of a choice of 35 will be the fastest or kindest, or what is mutton fat and what is noodle in a bowl of mixed materials served at daybreak.

Eyes - long-sighted, with well-developed night-vision, for locating horses who have high-tailed off into the distance, especially when camping out overnight...

Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/anatomy-of-the-derbyist

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/