New Zealand: Need for speed carries Walton long distances

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

MURRAY HILLS
24/07/2013

Trevor Walton knows all about endurance riding.

The 71-year-old is a national champion in his chosen sport, receiving the award at a special function in Christchurch last Saturday night.

There's no engine power, just good old horse power with Walton claiming the New Zealand endurance title on his 12-year-old Arab gelding, Lotus Blue Moon.

Walton, who has a block of land near Bell Block, had the best points tally in the national series, beating competitors young enough to be his grandchildren.

Riders had to compete in at least five races in the series, over distances between 40km and 79km.

"You take your best five rides over the year from rides in different areas and different types of terrain . . . from Wairarapa to Pukekohe. I'm up against riders from 21 or 22 right through. I was the oldest rider competing in the series," he said yesterday...

Read more here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/8955446/Need-for-speed-carries-Walton-long-distances/

Great Britain: Abbie, 14, and 50 horses raised £1,500 for mother

Burtonmail.co.uk - Full Article

Written by HELEN KREFT

A 14-YEAR-OLD has joined 50 horse riders on an epic trek across the National Forest to raise £1,500 to beat cancer.

Abbie Mae Trayford, who attends Abbot Beyne high school, was given the challenge by Kathryn Parker, the school’s library assistant, after the pupil’s mother was diagnosed with lung cancer.

After months of planning and advertising for riders, Mrs Parker, Abbie and friends -Marissa Golding and Holly Lindsey, along with 50 riders and their horses took part in a 12-mile Long Distance Horse Ride.

Mrs Parker said: “It came about as I know Abbie has an interest in horses and her mother suffers from lung cancer. I thought what can we do to entertain Abbie at this time?

“I thought about horse riding. It is lovely where I live, there are lots of paths, but we needed to get permission from landowners to ride across their land but it all linked up...”

Read more here:
http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Abbie-14-and-50-horses-raised-1500-for-mother-20130723134235.htm

Canada: Flesherton's Webb wins two silvers at youth equestrian championships

Owensoundsuntimes.com - Full Article

By Bill Walker, Sun Times, Owen Sound
Sunday, July 21, 2013

LEXINGTON, KENTRUCKY - LEXINGTON, KTY.. – Flesherton's Emma Webb won two silver medals at the North American Junior Young Riders Championship's endurance division on Friday.

The 19-year-old Webb rode Vagas in the 120-km race against the top riders in North America, claiming the individual silver with a time of 7:29.40.

Webb also led Team Canada – which included Alberta's Jessica Yavis on Jahlad (8:33.11) and Jaylene Janzen on Sakic (9:42.51) – to a silver medal. Canada finished with a total time of 25:45.42.

Webb was part of the gold-medal winning team at last year's North American Junior and Young Riders Championships...

Read more here:
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2013/07/21/fleshertons-webb-wins-two-silvers-at-youth-equestrian-championships

Meg Wade completes her first 20km ride in Australia Since Accident

July 22 2013

Meg Wade completed a 20 km ride on July 20th at Colamon in Australia, her first endurance ride since her horrific head injury in April of 2009 when she was thrown from a horse and was critically injured with a fractured skull. It's been a long road of recovery from ABI, Acquired Brain Injury, for Meg, and returning to ride endurance was a major accomplishment.

She rode a "wonderful mare" named Actress. "Actress is the real star, she is so good with me." The duo persevered through the cool, wet and windy weather with good friends Kristie Taprell and Linda Tanian to finish the ride.

Australia: Riders take on Kundabung endurance event

Wauchopegazette.com.au - Full Article

July 18 2013

LOCAL riders from the Hastings Trail Riding Club took the opportunity to ride in Kundabung's annual Endurance Ride even though the odds were against them with the extremely bogey wet course.

Gary and Ashley Thomas finished 80km with Gary coming in third spot in the Heavyweight division while his daughter Ashley came in fourth in the Middleweight section.

HTRC members who entered the 40km ride were Maz Tattam, Jackie Tattam, Margaret Bentley, Helen & Ari Riek, Joan Barnes, Denise Wagner & Robyn Coombes.

Stephanie Hunter & Sarah & Danika Glover participated in the social 20km ride.

Well known local Robyn Coombes is no stranger to Endurance riding and riding in general...

Read more here:
http://www.wauchopegazette.com.au/story/1643372/riders-take-on-kundabung-endurance-event/?cs=1671

Burnley rider Kate ready for GB outing

Lancashiretelegraph.co.uk - Full Article

16 July 2013

Kate Atkinson showed she has the endurance to succeed after she was selected to represent Great Britain at the 2013 FEI World Young Rider Endurance Championships in Tarbes, France at the weekend.

The 15-year-old from Burnley will tackle the tough 125km course in the foothills of the Pyrenees riding her own and her mother Rachael Atkinson’s horse, Oakthwaite Samara.

The five strong British team for the Championships was chosen after a hotly contested team selection trial held on the 16th June at the Endurance GB Wimpole Way ride in Cambridgeshire.

Kate was a member of the bronze medal winning British team at the 2012 European Young Rider Championships...

Read more here:
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/10550977.Burnley_rider_Kate_ready_for_GB_outing/

Hendra jabs hurdle to the horse export trade

Warwickdailynews.com.au - Full Article

Michelle Slater
16th Jul 2013

SOME trainers are refusing to vaccinate their horses against Hendra, because vaccinated horses will not be accepted into export markets.

Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore have closed their borders to Hendra-vaccinated horses because blood tests show up as Hendra positive.

Warwick showjumper Dave Goodwin is about to take his top horse to Europe where he may go on to compete in the UAE.

"I wasn't going to vaccinate him because I'm going travelling with him and I didn't want to worry about travel delays," he said.

Mr Goodwin sells horses to China and Japan where a good horse will sell for between $50,000 and $100,000.

Toowoomba trainer, Jay Randall, exports Arabian endurance horses to the UAE at around $30,000 per horse...

Read more here:
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/hendra-jabs-hurdle-to-the-horse-export-trade/1945919/