France: US Rider Marcia Hefker Finishes 19th in Sartilly WEG Test Event

August 16 2013

USA Rider Marcia Hefker, riding Quadad Al Jahid (owned by Cecile Dumas of France) finished 19th in the World Equestrian Games 130-km CEI** Endurance test event in Sartilly, France. Hefker completed the course in 8:32.56 for an average pace of 15.12 km/h. USA rider Meg Sleeper, aboard Tikis Twistyr (owned by Sandra Fretelliere of France) completed the course but was pulled at the finish for lameness.

The race was won by UAE's Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, riding Nikos, in 6:14.13 for an average speed of 20.71 km/h. Bahrain's Raed Mahmood riding Sandine Phoenix was second in 6:18.02, followed by Oman's Ahmed al Hamdani in third, riding Raffale De La Fageole in 7:02.28. Spain's Jaume Punti finished 2 seconds later on Ramses De La Jotja.

Canada's Jessica Manness finished 23rd on Petit Loup D'Jolie, while Yvette Vinton on Gazal Pompoius was eliminated after loop 3.

There were 58 starters and 27 finishers.

Complete results at:
http://www.atrm-systems.fr/index0esp.htm

Mongolia: Brit wins endurance race

Weeklytimesnow.com.au - Full Article

Jan Heine | August 16, 2013

BRITAIN's Laura Prior-Palmer has become the first woman to win a 1000km horse race across Mongolia.

Prior-Palmer, 19, the niece of Britain's elite eventer Lucinda Greene, crossed the line second, but took first place due to a technicality.

She is the first British person and the youngest rider to win the 1000km race.

American Devan Horn, 20, crossed the finish line in pole position but due to his horse's heart rate staying elevated for too long he was given a two hour penalty to take 2nd place.

The Mongol Derby is recognised as one of the longest and toughest horse races in the world crossing Mongolia.

With approximately eight days of riding, travelling light was of the utmost importance and the need for washing during the eight days was given little importance.

Prior-Palmer travelled light with only her sleeping bag on her back along with a GPS and water - as the horses used were barely broken they were unlikely to accept saddlebags...

Read more here:
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/08/16/579850_horses.html

2014 Normandy WEG: 85,000 tickets already sold!

Alltechfeiweg2014-normandy.com

85,000 tickets have already been sold since ticket sales opened on 6th June 2013 !

This number represents the tickets sold to FFE members (30,000) and those reserved by the official ticket agencies, which offer packages that include transport and accommodation. The Organising Committee estimated that 120,000 tickets could be sold by the end of the year, a target that is well on its way to being reached.
- See more at: http://www.alltechfeiweg2014-normandy.com/en/news/les-br--ves-du-mois-d-ao--t-2013-a205.html#sthash.QilKpMa6.dpuf

World Equestrian Games to host CEI2* Endurance Test in Normandy

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

August 8, 2013
By Pamela@horsereporter

August 8, 2013, Normandy, France ~ WEG Endurance CEI2* Test Event slated for 16th August, 2013.

As the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy gains momentum, the Organizing Committee is set to test various aspects of its organization during preparatory events in August 2013. These events, which feature in the national and international calendar, though at a lower level than the main event in 2014, will take place in some of the official 2014 Games venues but will not be open to the general public. The Endurance test event (CEI2* level), will be held in Sartilly (Manche) on Friday 16th August 2013.

ENDURANCE CEI** SARTILLY in Northwestern France (Mont-St. Michel -Normandy)

Emmett Ross Chef d’ Equipe, USA Endurance, will be on tap with two top USA endurance riders to test the trails.

“Yes we are coming with a small group– most of us arrive on 13th for the 16th race, ” said Ross. ”We will have two riders, the limit allowed by the OC. Meg Sleeper and Marcia Hefker will be riding just to complete and assess much of trail.

Ross said a few other horse owners, US team hopefuls, and ride support will also come to help and preview the trail and venue. “The two rider’s trail reports and some hiking on the trails by us will be used to assess the trail and give me and selectors an idea on who might thrive on this trail,” continued Ross...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/?p=7649

Provisional start list is here:
http://www.jemfeialltech2014-normandie.fr/files/fck/files/Provisional%20start%20list%20Sartilly.pdf

Two US Endurance Riders Will Ride in 2014 WEG Test Event

USEquineendurance.org

US  Athletes and Others will Attend the Endurance Test Event for the 2014 World Equestrian Games – Two will ride.

Two endurance athletes, Meg Sleeper of Pennsylvania and Marcia Hefker from Colorado will  be the United States riders at the upcoming WEG test event in Normandy, France. Others will attend to support the riders and observe.

​The ride, an FEI2*, is one of several pre-game events intended to help WEG organizers test their operation systems (organization, logistics, timing, scoring, etc.) while at the same time offering endurance teams from around the world the opportunity to pre-ride part of the course.  The test events also allow the participating nations to become familiar with the organization and provide the National Federations with the opportunity to give feedback to the organizers.

​Each of the 40 countries expected to attend was invited to send two riders.  The US riders will lease two French owned and trained horses.   US athletes will be accompanied by Emmett Ross (Chef d’Equipe) and Vonita Bowers (USEF Director of Endurance).  Other team hopefuls, owners and crew members expected to attend include Skip Lightfoot, Amy Atkins, Lisanne Dorion, Dave Augustine, Steve Betzel and Valery Kanavy. Information obtained at the test event will be used to inform training programs back home and to develop the right team of horses and riders for the WEG competition August 2014.

​More information about the test event can be found here:    
http://www.alltechfeiweg2014-normandy.com/files/fck/files/COMMUNIQUE%20DE%20PRESSE%20-%20EPREUVES%20PREPA%20UK%20-%20OK.pdf

The Endurance CEI2* Test Event will not be open to the general public.

As the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy project gains momentum, the Organising Committee is set to test various aspects of its organisation during preparatory events in August 2013. These events, which feature in the national and international calendar, though at a lower level than the main event in 2014, will take place in some of the official 2014 Games venues but will not be open to the general public. Below you will find all of the information regarding the Endurance test event (CEI2* level), which will be held in Sartilly (Manche) on Friday 16th August 2013.

http://www.alltechfeiweg2014-normandy.com/en/news/endurance-cei2--test-event-information---16th-august-2013-a200.html

Thoughts on the Raid World Junior in Tarbes (FRANCE)

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

August 10 2013

[google translation]

My friend Oscar Ricca, from his native Uruguay, I submitted a series of reflections of the past World Junior Raid in Tarbes (FRA), run past July 27, 2013.
As one of the participants in this World Cup, attending his daughter Oriana Ricca, that such good results obtained in these World with Jon Fernandez Spanish mare "Talitha Kumi 50%", being ranked in the fourth place of those World, can give us a review of how the events occurred before, during, and after the race.
The events are not known, can not be measured, so if after a championship as important, such as a World and draw some conclusions, it is impossible to improve for the next. Sure that the memory test is conducted by competent bodies, but an assessment of a sufferer of all these circumstances, are valued and taken into account for future international events, since language is one of the drawbacks or setbacks Oscar describes us.


"THE BAD, THE REGULAR AND THE GOOD OF THE WORLD AND / R OF TARBES, France, 2013.
From my point of view only, I will tell you some details, which at best, can serve to improve in future competitions. Reflections are:

THE BAD:
1.-THE START. A real mess. Some authorities authorized, others stopped, other largaban before ... everything!
Two. - SUPPORT POSTS. - Very distant, without any signaling and difficult to park and get out in time for another post of support.
Three. - DEVICE FOR COOLING A VET BEFORE THE HORSES CHEK. - Very little space, the provision of water tanks should be in the same direction between arrival and control.

USUALLY:
1. - THE LANGUAGE. All in French. As an international event, it should have taken into account the English language, too.
Two. - BATHS. Especially for the ladies.

THE GOOD:
1. - JOGGING TRACK. - Notable
Two. - GIVEN EXCELLENT TREATMENT FOR ALL OFFICERS, SECRETARY, ETC.
Three. - PRIZES: Great Good! For its quantity and quality.
As in all international events, the best thing to always remember is the treatment shown to us all fulfill some function. In this World Cup, the deal was EXCELLENT!
We returned to our Country, very happy to have received a great reward to the enormous effort we made. Doors were opened to us, we interact with various players in the world, a real success, beyond positions to finish the race.
But it was a real success Talita Kumi involving 50% with Oriana, so that was very generous reward.
Now we begin to dream of another project ... Normandy! Basques and Uruguayan together again!.
Thank you very much, friend Gabriel by this inexhaustible vein of friendship that you have generated.
Big hug. Oscar ".

Thanks Oscar for your contribution to the improvements of the tests within the global environment.
Greetings from Gabriel.

Canada: Melhuish, Hudson celebrate success of first High Sage event

Lillooetnews.net - Full Article

AUGUST 7, 2013

WENDY FRASER
After 55 miles and more than seven-and-half demanding hours of endurance riding, it all came down to seven riders and their horses galloping to the finish line with mere seconds between them.

Organizers June Melhuish and Scott Hudson say they couldn’t have asked for a better finish to the High Sage Ride, the first endurance ride they organized after years of June and their daughters Nora and Molly riding competitively in endurance events.

The July 27 High Sage event featured three rides – a 50 Mile event that was re-sanctioned to a 55-mile distance, a 22 Mile event and an 11 Mile fun ride for newcomers to the sport. Twenty-six riders saddled up for the challenging 55 Mile ride, 21 competitors entered the 22 Mile ride and four riders gave the 11 Mile event a try. Competitors came from the United States, Fort St. John, 100 Mile House, the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland...

Read more here:
http://www.lillooetnews.net/article/20130807/LILLOOET0108/308079994/-1/lillooet/melhuish-hudson-celebrate-success-of-first-high-sage-event