French Championship at Castelsagrat

The French Championship will be held at Castelsagrat from 17 to 19 May 2013.

Races run during this weekend will go from 110 to 160 km and will be part of the selection for the France team.

The courses are as Daisy, with 5 different loops from 18 to 33 km.
For more information see

http://www.castelsagrat-endurance.org/

New Zealand: Wolfie wobbles, Apollo gets it by nose

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

26/02/13

Endurance horse riders from all over New Zealand and overseas descended on Marlborough to take part in the two-day CopRice and South Island endurance and competitive trail riding champs (CTR).

The event was based up the Waihopai Valley on the old Bankhouse Station, leased by Big Bale Contracting and belonging to Ara Vineyards, and took in several farm properties and vineyards.

There were 15 entries from the North Island, among them overseas riders based in Wellington for the season.

But the February 16-17 weekend belonged to Nelson Lakes rider Alison Higgins, riding the Canterbury-bred, owned and trained Arabian gelding, Northwinds Apollo.

Riding in the CopRice and CRT CEI 3* 160km event on the Saturday, Higgins guided Apollo over the six-loop track, in what was the horse's first start at this level, to finish by a nose in a gallop finish with Cheviot rider Philip Graham and Wolfgang Amadeus...

Read more here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/sport/8351373/Wolfie-wobbles-Apollo-gets-it-by-nose

Australia: Tom Quilty Gold Cup Endurance Ride - to Complete is to Win!

Localhorsemagazine.com.au - Full Article

Australia’s iconic endurance horse ride, the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, will be held at Kilkivan in south-east Queensland from 7 – 9 June 2013. Riders, horses and strapping crews will travel from across Australia and overseas to compete in this ultimate test of endurance, where participants aim to complete the 160km course within 24 hours.

The first heavyweight or middleweight division competitor across the finish line will win the 2013 Tom Quilty Gold Cup award. (The original perpetual cup is a permanent exhibit at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach, Queensland.)

For most competitors, the overall aim is to complete the five-leg course and receive an esteemed Quilty Buckle award.

In the spirit of the ride’s motto – To Complete is to Win – a specially crafted belt buckle goes to every successful competitor in recognition of the high standard of horsemanship required to complete the rigorous course.

This means many long hours in the saddle and the careful tending of tiring horses. At the end of the race, each mount is vetted and must be deemed in sound condition and fit to continue...

Read more here:
http://www.localhorsemagazine.com.au/307-tom-quilty-gold-cup-endurance-ride-to-complete-is-to-win

Great Britain: Royal Windsor Horse Show will include Endurance competition

February 23 2013

Endurance GB is pleased to confirm the news that broke yesterday. The Royal Windsor Horse Show, which takes place in Windsor Great Park from the 8th to 12th May, will for the first time include an Endurance competition. Discussions have been taking place for some time and Endurance GB board member and FEI 4* judge, John Robertson, has been involved in advising the organisers. The organisers of the show have secured sponsorship for the competition from Bahrain.

There will be just one class: FEI 2* 120km, which is scheduled for the 12th May.

It is such a beautiful venue but the ride will obviously have to share space with the other disciplines at the Show. However, it's a great opportunity for Endurance to be seen by more people.

With the Royal Windsor Horse Show celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, it promises to be an event to remember!

http://www.rwhs.co.uk/

GB RIders at H.H The President Of United Arab Emirates Endurance Cup FEI CEI*** 160km, in Abu Dhabi

Endurancegb.co.uk

16/02/2013

Competing were invited 'guest' GBR rider, Dace Sainsbury, with her horse Ballotta, who travelled out from the UK; and Emma Finnie who is based in the UAE.

Emma Finnie finished in 11th place at an average speed of 24.895 kph. A great result for her! Congratulations. Emma is based in the UAE and was riding a locally trained horse belonging to the well know Al Wathba stables.

Sadly for Dace Sainsbury Balotta (Lottie) did not pass the Re-examination at VG5, with 16km to go. Failed on pulse. Such a shame, but well done Dace and Lottie.

Dace's Snow Team finished 7th overall out of 16 declared teams at the start. Two of our teammates were fortunate to finish; Jeanne Holum (NOR) and Natalie Terberova (CZE).

The winning team was Al Nasr 1 Endurance Stable with 3 finishers. The other European Team uniting France, Spain and Portugal were 4th.

The first combination to finish was Mohd Ali Al Shafar (UAE) and Orman de Cardonne (11 year old Arab Gelding).

Average speed was 26.201 kph (31.631 kph on the final loop).

They were in 23rd place at the first vetgate but ran up with the leaders for most of the race.

Abu Dhabi: Oman- Al Jaber clinches hat-trick of wins

Menafn.com

24/02/2013

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) Ahmed Mohammed Al Jaber completed a hat-trick of wins as he guided Omani Quandara to victory in the Shaikh Zayed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for private-owned horses at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on Saturday.

The CEN 100 kms was run in four phases of 33kms, 27 kms, 24 kms, and 16 kms. It drew 67 riders. Al Jaber had won the previous two editions of the competitions.

Shaikh Zayed bin Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan gave away the prizes. Also present were Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, director general of Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival and Head of IFAHR Ladies Racing, Stephen Bowey, Executive Director (corporate development) Invest AD, and Saif Al Awani, managing director of Al Awani.

The total prize money on offer was Dhs half-million including a car for the winner.

Nineteen-year-old Jaber completed the ride with a time of three hours, 46 minutes and nine seconds with an average speed of 26.531 kmph. It was seven-year gelding Omani Quandara's first and the winning horse belongs to Al Jaber Stables.

Jaber, who finished first in the first stage, never looked back and went on to win the remaining three stages to emerge a comfortable winner.

"It was a quite a tough ride as it attracted new stables also who have strong horses ," said Al Jaber.

Mansour Ibrahim Ahmed, who was riding Rezongo El 1 finished second clocking 3.50.34 with an average speed of26.023 kmph while Azaam Aref Own Al Kahtheeri timed 3:50.34 on Capa Negrafrom Al Ain Endurance Stables to take the third spot.

The fourth place went to lady rider Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha who partnered Waleed (AE) from Al Giyad Stables. She clocked a time of 3. 56.23, followed by Yousif Mohammed Hassan Al Hammadi (3.56.24) on Nara from Al Rawahel Private Stables.

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

1. Ahmed Mohammed Al Jaber (Omani Quandara from Al Jaber Stables) 3.46.09

2. Mansour Ibrahim Ahmed (Rezongo El 1 from Al Kamda Stables) 03.50.34

3. Azaam Aref Own Al Kahtheeri (Capa Negra from Al Ain Endurance Stables) 3.50.37

4. Layla Abdul Aziz Al Redha (Waleed (AE) from Al Giyad Stables) 3.56.23

5. Yousif Mohammed Hassan Al Hammadi (Nara from Al Rawahel Private Stables) 3.56.24

Lesotho Rescue Ride

Rescueride Blog

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Sophia McKee

Stolen horses in the country of Lesotho are rounded up and held in government pounds. Horses in the Lesotho Pounds endure harsh conditions with no food or water. Many starve to death or die of dehydration while waiting to be claimed.

The purpose of the Lesotho Pound Rescue Project is as follows:

1) Raise awareness about the conditions in the pounds

2) Improve conditions through cooperative collaboration amongst the government, police, stock theft units, horse owners, concerned citizens, and donors.

3) Provide a forum for updates on the effort

4) Provide a location for posting photos/descriptions of lost/recovered animals in the various pounds (www.facebook.com/lesothohorses)

The Lesotho Rescue Ride is a seven day trek from South Africa into the tiny country of Lesotho and back out. The ride was created to raise awareness about the plight of the horses within the Lesotho Government pounds.

The Ride is an effort to work with local government officials and international riders to raise awareness and funding for the Lesotho Pound Rescue Project.

Who: All Adventure riders are welcome. The inaugural ride will be launched by Mongol Derby alumni, but all adventure riders willing to pony up the dough are welcome. This is NOT a tourist trek. The ride will be limited to riders that have demonstrated experience in adventure riding and horsemanship. Horses will be provided for this ride and their safety and welfare is paramount. The ride will be long and tough over challenging terrain with a real danger from horse thieves. Navigation will be done via gps along a set track. No guides will be provided.

What: Seven day rough trek from South Africa into the country of Lesotho and back out. Estimated six hours a day of hard riding.

When: October 1-8

Where: Kingdom of Lesotho – the “Kingdom in the Sky...”

Read more here:
http://rescueride.wordpress.com/