Namibia: Anib Lodge hosts endurance ride

Namibian.com.na

By: STAFF REPORTER
07.03.13

THE Kalahari Endurance Riding Club held its annual endurance ride at Kalahari Anib Lodge on March 2.

Only one of the 29 horses entered for the event did not complete the 80km course.

For newcomer Charles Versfeld from South Africa it was his first endurance ride and he completed it successfully with the support and encouragement of his fellow riders. He was riding the 2011 African Championship winner Manna from Gawie Viljoen’s Zabubega Arabian stud at Keetmanshoop.

Pupils from the Keetmanshoop Private School also performed well in the event.

De Lange Kotze, the route marshal for the day, and Paul Brand, chairman of the Kalahari Endurance Riding Club, had high praise for the route preparation done by Jaco Visser of Kalahari Anib Lodge.

The veterinarian Dr Iris Pack said she was impressed with the condition and fitness of the horses that took part in the ride.
The riders finished in the following order: 1,5km Juniors - Kaylain Visser on Asanib Schatina;

31,5km Senior Standard - Dgini Visser on Edel Delta (first), Jacqueline Nadler on Asanib Isis (second), and Jeanette Swart on Asanib Ismitta (third); 44,5km Juniors - Lizel Pretorius on Toney and Engela Louwrens on Coby;

44,5km Senior Standard - Zaryda Loubser on Que Pasa Sharaf, Elders Corporate on Forest, Reinolt Schurz on Tirat Natan, and Bart Steyl on Baladi;

64,5km Juniors - MJ Garbers on Jomarein Samir;

64,5km Senior Standard – Raymond Schierschmidt on Edl Agbahr Kader, Tobia Kruger on Que Pasa Aziz, and Gabriel van Wyk on Tir’at Jazz;

86,0km Juniors - Zanté Viljoen on Zabubega Shaker, Chané Viljoen on Zabubega Sharat, Philip Knupp on Jahan Sabiha and Jaedene Steenkamp on Zaridha;

86,0km Senior Liggewig - Agarob Matlatla on Kaya, Johannes Swartbooi on Brarab Manasse, Henning Steyn on Zabubega Marzouk, Josef Waters on Karan Shah, Frans van Wyk on Tirat Irex and Johannes Hakskeen on Sheikh Sabaah;
86,0km Senior Standard - Paul Brand on Xanadu, Gawie Viljoen on Zabubega Kahmad and Charles Versfeld on Zabubega Manna.

Australia: Horsing around in Imbil

News-mail.com.au - Full Article

6 March 2013

ENDURANCE horseriders in the Mary Valley will get their last chance to qualify for the famous Tom Quilty Gold Cup National Championship at the Easter carnival hosted in Imbil this year.

To qualify for the national championships held in Kilkivan competitors can participate in the new feature event, a 160km Tom Quilty Queensland Qualifier race, at the Easter carnival from March 28 to April 1.

Far-A-Way Riders president Geoff Fisher said: "With the annual rotation of the Tom Quilty around Australia, it will be six years before Queensland riders again have the chance to compete in their own state."

Endurance horseriders from across Australia will join international competitors at Imbil this Easter to compete in a huge endurance riding program.

The carnival is developed by event organiser the Far-A-Way Riders Association.

Events ranging from 20km to 320km make the Easter carnival an annual highlight for many Queensland endurance riders and others from across Australia...

Read more here:
http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/horsing-around-in-imbil/1780188/

February 2013 Arabian Horse Int'l

Arabianhorseintl.com

The February 2013 issue of Arabian Horse Int'l is out.

Stories feature Khalifa Al Jahouri: Champion of HH The President of the UAE Cup for JYR; 31st Brazilian National Arabian Horse Show: Endurance training and metabolic thresholds; and Meg Wade: Never Say Never.

See the full copy here:
http://www.arabianhorseintl.com/magazine/digital_magazine_fev_2013/

Bahrain: Shaikh Nasser meets Simon Brooks - Ward

BNA.bh

05/03/2013

Manama, March 5 (BNA) -- Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Simon Brooks-Ward, Event Director and Producer and discussed general procedures for Bahrain’s participation in the 2013 Royal Windsor Horse Show, to be held in the UK from May 8 to 12.
Bahrain is organising an international endurance horse ride on May 12 in the UK on the sidelines of the five-day show.

The ride is one of a variety of equestrian competitions that will take place over four consecutive days in this year's festival, which has a wonderful mix of International Carriage Driving, Showing, Equestrian Displays and first class Jumping.

During his meeting with Brooks-Ward, Shaikh Nasser emphaised that Bahrain’s taking part in this prestigious festival comes in compliance with the directives of His Majesty King Hamad to extend the kingdom’s active presence in international sporting events.
Shaikh Nasser added that the decision was also to highlight Bahrain’s development achievement in different areas, especially in sports, affirming that Bahrain has made a significant step in preparing for its participation in the festival.

The Supreme Council chairman noted that the Bahraini delegation will look to make the most of their presence in the UK during the four-day festival, by promoting Bahrain as one of the countries that featured a quantum leap in different areas.

Both parties also reviewed Bahrain’s preparations to organize the endurance ride on May 12, with several prominent riders from Bahrain and other countries expected to take part.

On his part, Brooks-Ward affirmed that the show organizing committee is keen to make Bahrain’s participation in the UK a very special experience, besides providing ideal conditions for the activities and programmes that will be organised by the Bahraini delegation during the race.

The meeting was also attended by Royal Court chief Abdulla Al Rumaihi, Royal Ceremonies head Khalifa Al Fadhala, Royal Team manager Dr Khalid Ahmed Hassan and director of Shaikh Nasser Media and Information Centre Tawfeeq Al Salehi.

This year's show celebrates its 70th anniversary, having started in 1943 to raise money for the war effort.

There are classes for the grass roots competitor right through to top international riders, besides four arenas at Royal Windsor, all with a full programme of national and grass roots show jumping as well as Military Services and Pony Club jumping competitions.
EM
Royal Windsor is the first major event of the equestrian showing season. It has 117 showing classes with an additional 20 championships. Over 3,000 horses and ponies compete at Royal Windsor in very prestigious classes.
As for the RWHS British Riding Clubs Championships, it's a unique grass-roots competition offering both riding club and non riding club competitors the once in a life time chance to compete at Royal Windsor.
Qualifier rounds take place around the country throughout the year, with the finals and championships being held in the prestigious Castle Arena at Royal Windsor in 2013.
One of the most important driving events in the UK - The Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix with an FEI World Cup Qualifier for the Four-In-Hand class – will also take place during the festival.
Over 80 competitors from 18 nations take place in this event with the most popular phase; The Marathon taking place on May 11.
The President of the show will be His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who still takes an active part in the event.
EM

Dubai: Dana wins Rashid Festival ride

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

3 March 2013

Dana Mohammed Sharif Al Mutawa astride Hirstglen 
Horizon and Amy Louis McAuley on Nirida de Paute finished a ladies 1-2 in the 120-km Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Challenge Festival ride at the Emirates International Endurance Village on Saturday.
The top two riders and the third-placed Shaikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum on Colonial Boy made a clean sweep by the Seih Assalam Stables in Dubai.

Dana said it was a tough ride as she faced stiff competitions from many strong horses in the final loop.

“I followed the instructions of my trainer Ali Al Muhairi and made a steady progress to the final stage and was able to put up a good display to emerge the winner,” said the 21-year-old Dana. “This is my best finish though Hirstglen Horizon have registered many victories.

19-year-old McAuley, who is a student at the Jumeirah College Dubai said: “I am very happy with my second place in the ride. My previous best has been a top four since I took up the sport fours years ago. A fifth place was Nirida de Paute’s best before...”

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/inside_sport.asp?xfile=/data/nationsports/2013/March/nationsports_March32.xml§ion=nationsports

Lesotho Rescue Ride: First Riders Announced

Rescueride.wordpress.com

The first round of riders is in for the Lesotho Rescue Ride, 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 will take place October 1-8, 2013.

Riders are:
Wendy Chambers/Australia. Mongol Derby 2012.
Kevin Price Moor/South Africa. Mongol Derby 2011 (Ride organizer)
Richard Allan/United Kingdom. Mongol Derby 2011
Craig Egberink/South Africa. Mongol Derby Winner 2011
Olivia Swingland/United Kingdom. Mongol Derby 2011
Sophia McKee/United States. Mongol Derby 2011 (Ride organizer)
Bildo Saravia/Mexico
Paul Erskine/South Africa. Mongol Derby 2011

Canada: Solstice sitting tall in the saddle

Mykawartha.com - Full Article

Todd Vandonk|Mar 01, 2013

(BAILIEBORO) Solstice Pecile is well beyond her years when it comes to riding horses.
Solstice's love for horses began at a young age with the help of her mother. She was riding by the time she was able to walk. By the time she was six years old, the now 13 year old was riding on her own.

Solstice hasn't looked back and is starting to make a name for herself in the sport of distance riding, cleaning up at the 2012 Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association (OCTRA) Awards Banquet, earning high point overall horse, competitive trail horse, top junior rider and top Arabian horse.

"I was competing against adults, juniors and people that have been competing in the sport a lot longer then I have, so it is special," explains Solstice.

The sport of distance riding consists of four separate disciplines -- Set Speed, Competitive Trail, Endurance and Ride'n'Tie, each offering a variety of distances to choose from. Scoring focuses on the well-being of the horse which is required to pass a veterinary inspection before, at checkpoints during and again at the finish of all competitions...

Read more here:
http://www.mykawartha.com/community/article/1587315--solstice-sitting-tall-in-the-saddle