A long and grinding road ahead for riders and horses in Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup

Thenational.ae - Full Article

Ali Khaled
Mar 18, 2013

The suits, the dresses and, of course, the hats already are being prepared, more than a week in advance. On Saturday, March 30, the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse will be the epicentre for thoroughbred racing. And for good reason: the world's richest race will be run, part of the richest night of racing, and fans from around the world will be there to see and be seen.

For some racing enthusiasts, however, this weekend brings a different, more extreme but equally compelling brand of racing.
Welcome to the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup.

Over the coming weekend, Dubai International Endurance City will witness two races that may not carry the glamour of the Dubai World Cup but more than make up for it as tradition-steeped tests of horse and rider.

On Friday, the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Ride, which is restricted to privately owned stables and individual jockeys, takes place over a gruelling 100 kilometres. On Saturday, the 120km Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup is open to all government-funded stables, as well.

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http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/sport-comment/a-long-and-grinding-road-ahead-for-riders-and-horses-in-dubai-crown-prince-endurance-cup

Lameness primary cause of endurance horse vet-outs

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Mar 19, 2013 in Focus

Lameness is the most common reason for the vetting out of horses on endurance rides around the world, a study has revealed.

Researchers A Nagy, JK Murray and SJ Dyson compared the frequency of occurrence of elimination due to lameness and metabolic reasons from FEI endurance rides of greater than 100km from 2008 to 2011 in all countries.

They aimed to assess risk factors for elimination due to lameness and metabolic reasons. Data for the study was collected from the website of the FEI, the world governing body for horse sport.

Between 2008 and 2011, there were 30,741 horse starts at FEI endurance rides of 100-160 km distance in 47 countries. Of all started horses, 30% were eliminated for lameness...

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http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/03/19/lameness-primary-cause-endurance-vet-outs/#.UUh4GFtAT_o

India: Rajasthan's horse heaven

Pushkar, the Aravalli Hills, Rajasthan. Photo / Thinkstock NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

March 18 2013

Marwari horses steal Suzanne Middleton’s heart at the start of a three-month journey through Rajasthan in Northern India.

The Pushkar Camel Fair is a glorious melee of camels, farmers and tourists both Indian and foreign. Reminiscent of a New Zealand A&P show back in the 1960s, it's a farmers' big day out spread over nine days of competitions, displays, horse trading and religious observance.

To the urban tourist it's a spectacle of colour and fast-moving beasts. But for the horse lover it's a paradise of voluptuous horseflesh. In a sea of beige camels and cattle the vibrant Marwari horses, white, grey, black, bay and skewbald, snatch my attention from day one. Brought here to be sold, they're presented at their best, proud and noble animals bred by tough desert men.

These fiery and feisty horses are dynamite and they seem to know the place they hold in the hearts of Rajasthanis. They're a 2000-year-old breed, used as cavalry horses and ridden by the maharajahs of old, known for their courage, strength and endurance.

Striking in appearance, they're lean with clean lines, between 14.2 and 15.2 hands high, and any colour except chestnut. Their numbers were reduced to a few hundred 20 years ago, but now the Rajasthani government is encouraging excellence in the breed.

The men put the horses through their paces in the arena, leaning back with their feet forward, travelling at a thundering trot or a blistering semi pace, as smooth as the sand at their feet...

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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10871969

Great Britain: Local author to give illustrated talk

Brechinadvertiser.co.uk

18 March 2013 05:14

Local author John Tytler Thomson will be giving an illustrated talk about his book ‘Drinking the Wind’ at the Inglis Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 23.

This is an extraordinary and inspiring version of his recovery from a sudden and debilitating illness and his progression to become a successful endurance rider.

The book is about courage, determination and the tough, intense, often unforgiving conditioning required to prepare a horse and rider for the extremes of endurance.

It is a remarkable account of the formidable bond forged between the rider and his pure bred Arabian horse and their combined battle for the first Trans Scotland 200-mile endurance ride from Scurdie Ness Lighthouse to Ardnamurchan Point.

This talk will appeal to everybody - book lovers; horse lovers; those who have battled against illness; lovers of the Scottish countryside.

Admission is free and tea, coffee, soft drinks and home baking will be available.

The event is being hosted by the Edzell Library Action Group.

Qatar: Top riders get set for Doha

Thepeninsulqatar.com

17 March 2013

DOHA: Several top riders and horses from all over the world will participate in show jumping, dressage and endurance competitions at first CHI Al Shaqab to be held later this month.

The four-day gala will be organised by Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, from March 27 to 30.
Undoubtedly, the jumping competition receives great attention at CHI Al Shaqab 2013, with the high number of world’s top ranking riders participating in it, and with the CSI 5* Grand Prix considered as a qualifier for the FEI World Equestrian Games Normandy 2014 to be held in Normandy, France.

One of the notable riders participating in the competition is Qatar’s Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani, who considers CHI Al Shaqab 2013 as an important stop for preparing for the FEI World Cup Jumping finals that will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden, next month.

This is the second consecutive time that Sheikh Ali has qualified for the FEI World Cup Jumping, after he claimed one of the direct qualifier cards of the FEI Arab League Jumping Championships.

Commenting on his participation at CHI Al Shaqab, Sheikh Ali said: “We always aim at participating in these international competitions, which are usually held in European countries, as we are used to in the past years. What makes us feel proud this time is that Qatar is organising a competition of this international level through Al Shaqab. Qatar has acclaimed global attention, thanks to its ambitious vision in the field of sport. This places great responsibility on the Qatari riders to live up to the expectations.”

About the benefit that he shall gain from participating in CHI Al Shaqab, the Qatari rider said: “CHI Al Shaqab will provide a treasure of experience on the technical level, not only to the riders, but also to those working behind the scenes in the equestrian field. It serves as an opportunity to the local trainers to follow and observe the preparations and trainings done by the international riders participating in the competition.”

Praising the organisers, he added: “Al Shaqab owns the best stables and courses, and complete world-class facilities, which helps them in hosting a number of high level international tournaments. “

He explained: “Moreover, organising international championship of this kind proves the international standard and global fame of Al Shaqab, and adds to the value of the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Qatar Olympic Committee.”

He added: “Everyone must keep in mind that the world’s top riders choose the places in which their horses shall be handled with utmost attention and care. The trust they place in allowing their horses to be kept at Al Shaqab in preparation of the championship proves that Al Shaqab is completely fit and eligible to organise international competitions.”

Commenting on the competitions in Qatar, Sheikh Ali said: “We hope that the sport organisers increase the number of championships held in Qatar. This shall reflect positively on the level of local competitions. Also this will help the horses and riders get the opportunity to compete in different places.” THE PENINSULA

Bahrain: Mohammed lifts Nasser trophy

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

March 17, 2013

HUSSAIN Mohammed was crowned winner of the Nasser bin Hamad International Endurance Race trophy yesterday.

The Royal Endurance Team rider came on top in one of the most exciting national endurance races, which took place at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Mohammed completed the race in a total time of five hours, two minutes and 50 seconds, with 23km per hour average speed.

He finished ahead of fellow team member Raed Mahmood (5:07:15), who settled for second place, while Ahmed Al Fateh Stable rider Shaikha Najla bint Salman Al Khalifa came third.

In the stables category, Shaikha Najla's overall finish time saw her win the competition and one of the three Toyota SUVs awarded by championship patron Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The second fastest in the stables competition was Abdulrahman Al Zayed of Ajyal Stables (5:24:37), with Fahad Al Azri (5:27:26) of Al Asayel Stable third.

Organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef), being presided by Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the event also featured an 80km international qualifying ride.

But the main race of the day saw riders from across the kingdom battling over five stages for the cup glory.

The qualifying ride consisted of three stages. The first and second each covered 30kms, followed by 20km for the third.

Jaffer Mirza of the Royal Team took an early lead in the first stage, which was over 30km. He was followed by Mohammed Abdulsamad, also of the Royal Team, in second place, with Hussain Mohammed coming third.

Another 30km distance was waiting for the participants in the second stage, which ended with no significant changes as Mohammed took over the lead from Mirza, as Mahmood and Ghazi Al Dossary climbed up to second and third places, respectively.

In the 20-km third stage, Mahmood moved ahead of Mohammed, who slipped to second, for the overall lead. Al Dossary followed in third position.

Mahmood stayed ahead of everyone in the 20-km fourth stage against Mohammed and Olalya Gonzales, who were in second and third places, respectively.

But in the fifth and deciding stage, Mohammed showed some outstanding riding skills and stamina to take over the lead and celebrate a well-deserved victory with his stable mates.

Shaikh Nasser, in the presence of Shaikh Khalid and other Breef officials, presented trophies to the winners in the main event, and keys to the SUV winners in the stables competition at the prize-distribution ceremony held at the endurance village after the race.

Shaikh Nasser praised the outstanding performance of the riders yesterday and the competitive level which added more thrills to the race.

He said this race is regarded as one of the distinctive events this season, which was clearly emphasised by the participants' keenness to take part and claim podium finish.

Shaikh Nasser thanked the working committees, who exerted extra efforts in preparing for the races and pulled off great success in organsing last year's edition.

The Royal Endurance Team captain also expressed appreciation to Shaikh Khalid for backing the federation in organising all races in general, and this competition, in particular.

Canada: Port Hope rider goes the distance

Northumberlandnews.com - Full Article

Karen Longwell|Mar 17, 2013

Teen excels at competition

PORT HOPE -- Solstice Pecile, 13, started riding horses before she could walk.
Solstice's mother Phyllis Pecile is an avid rider and took her riding as a young child. The Grade 8 C.R. Gummow Public School student started riding on her own when she was six. Recently Solstice is excelling in the sport of long distance riding. The Ontario Competitive Trail Association presented Solstice with nine awards in February including Top Junior Rider for 2012.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Solstice started distance riding at eight years old. She completed a six-mile team event called ride n' tie.

"I loved it so much that I wanted to do more," she said...

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http://www.northumberlandnews.com/sports/article/1593403--port-hope-rider-goes-the-distance