UAE: Hamad guides Loca Linda to victory in Endurance Cup

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

Hisham Al Gizouli / 5 January 2014
Shaikh Mansour and Shaikh Hazza attended the races

Hamad Obaid Rashed Al Kaabi partnered his eight-year-old crossbred mare Loca Linda to victory in the CEN 100km Al Ettihad Endurance Cup For Private Owners Only (UAE) at the Emirates Endurance Village here on Saturday. The winner covered the distance in 3 hours 34 minutes and 40 seconds at an average speed of 27.950km/ hour to cross the finish line two minutes ahead of Uruguayan contender Jaonatan Rivera Iriarte on board nine-year-old Part Arab mare HC Golden Queen. Yousif Mohammed Hassan Al Hammadi, astride Arabian gelding Sangha Fageole, was a minute away back in third.

Meanwhile, 84 riders from UAE and elsewhere started the race under ideal winter weather conditions, but only less than half of the field (34 riders) have completed the race or passed the final vet test...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/inside_sport.asp?xfile=/data/nationsports/2014/January/nationsports_January25.xml§ion=nationsports

UAE: Endurance Festival in Portugal

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

Hisham Al Gizouli / 4 January 2014

Shaikh Mansour show will be held over three days in April which will see 15 UAE riders take part.

The Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Festival will be held over three days at Frontiera in the neighborhoods of the Portuguese capital Lisbon from April 25 to 27, 0214, it was unveiled on Friday.

The event will be held under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

“The festival will host four different rides including a 160km (3 stars), 120km (2 stars open), 120km (1 star open for junior and youth riders) and 80km Qualifier,” said Lara Sawaya, director of the Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, chairman of Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) and president of the Higher Organising Committee of the Endurance Festival...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/inside_sport.asp?xfile=/data/nationsports/2014/January/nationsports_January20.xml§ion=nationsports

Bahrain: BREEF organises Shaikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa National Arabian Horse Show 2014

BNA.bh

2 January 2014

Manama, Jan. 2. (BNA) Following directives from the Honorary President of the Bahraini Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the late Shaikh Faisal bin Hamad Al Khalifa National Arabian Horse Show (Local Produce) will be held on January 15 and 16 at the Bahrain International Endurance Village in Sakhir.

Royal Endurance Team manager Dr. Khalid Ahmed Hassan affirmed the importance of consolidating efforts in order to organise the tournament in an outstanding way, worthy of its precious name and in order to implement the directives of Shaikh Nasser in this regard, pointing out that BREEF has already started taking the necessary steps to equip the site to establish the tournament as required and invite the stables to participate in the tournament.

Dr. Khalid asserted that the committee will spare no effort to put in place all requirements of the success of the tournament, which commemorates the late Sheikh Faisal who was a lover of horses and constantly participated in BREEF’s events.

He noted that BREEF, led by Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, will ensure the success of the tournament so as to promote the endurance sport, one of the kingdom's deep-rooted sports.


BREEF urged participants to fill in the forms on its website (http://www.equestrianbahrain.com/show.php?id) or obtain additional information through its Instagram account (BAHRAINNF).

Ecuador: Rider warned, horse owner banned in doping case

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Dec 29, 2013

Young Ecuadorian rider Daniela Moreno has received a formal warning after the horse she was assigned to ride in an FEI-sanctioned event tested positive for phenylbutazone and flunixin.

The breeder who rented the horse to her copped a two-year ban and was fined 2000 Swiss francs (CHF), plus costs...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/12/29/ecuadorian-rider-warned-horse-owner-banned-doping-case/#axzz2oz8GZfxQ

UAE: Emirates Endurance Championship will be held in Al Wathba next Saturday

Emirates247.com - Full Article

By Wam
Published Thursday, December 26, 2013

In implementation of the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and President of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, the Emirates Endurance Championship will be held at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba next Saturday.

The 120-km race is organised by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club in cooperation with Emirates International Endurance Village...

Read more here:
http://www.emirates247.com/sports/local/emirates-endurance-championship-will-be-held-in-al-wathba-next-saturday-2013-12-26-1.532619

Emirates Racing Authority Cracks Down on Medications in UAE

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

December 10, 2013
By Pamela@horsereporter

December 10, 2013, Dubai ~ In a continuing effort to ensure the safety of horses and riders, Emirates Racing Association (ERA) Stewards are delivering messages through fines for medication and other types of infractions found in the UAE racing world. The message was delivered by John Zucal, ERA Chief Steward, that a recent inquiry into a report received from the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory proved that the prohibited substance ibuprofen had been detected in the post-race urine sample taken from DEVDAS (IRE) after it competed and ran second in Race 2 the Emirates Holiday (1400metres) at Meydan on 7 November 2013. This finding has been confirmed by the Singapore Turf Club Laboratory.

Evidence was taken from Mr. Ernst Oertel, trainer of DEVDAS (IRE), Veterinarian Dr. Louise Barbesgaard, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory Chief Analyst Mr. Peter Albert and ERA Head Veterinary Officer, Dr. David Sykes...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2013/12/10/emirates-racing-authority-cracks-down-on-medications-in-uae/

FEI: AERC BOD Provides Recommendations to ESPG's Proposed Plans

December 19 2013

On November 7, 2013, following the FEI General Assembly in Montreux, Switzerland, the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) circulated their “plan on a page” for proposed changes within FEI to correct and reform the current egregious issues in regards to equine injuries, fatalities and positive drug tests within the endurance discipline. During a subsequent conference call with the AERC Board of Directors, it was requested by Joe Mattingly, Vice President of USEF and Chair of the High Performance Endurance Committee, that AERC’s Board of Directors provide their specific recommendations in regards to the ESPG’s proposed plan.

The below list is in response to that request.

• Commitment to change. Above all, AERC is concerned as to whether there is a true commitment to change and reform within FEI infrastructure, rather than just rhetoric and “words on a page”. While we understand that some proposed changes may take more than a few months to show measurable improvement, we recommend an immediate demonstration of commitment through a change of leadership within FEI, and especially within the endurance leadership of FEI, that will demonstrate and symbolize FEI’s dedication towards correcting the increasing international perception of compromised integrity within FEI.

• Transparency of equine fatalities. AERC sets an example of transparent reporting of all known equine fatalities related to or occurring during competition. Moreover, AERC subsidizes necropsies for all those fatalities to more completely understand underlying causes of death. We recommend that FEI adopt similar policies, and that results of those fatality investigations be openly published on their website. Additionally, we request that FEI endurance fracture statistics be similarly reported to the general public, scientific and veterinary community.

• Major penalties for responsible individuals, not excluding rider, veterinarian, trainer, owner and stable for infractions of FEI rules and FEI code of conduct. If both riders and owners or stables are sanctioned and prohibited from participating with any horse for a significant period of time following rule infraction, even to the extent of a permanent ban, then steps will be taken by those in the position of authority to ensure all personnel under their influence take care to stringently comply with rules. The results of all disciplinary hearings, sanctions and penalties should be made publicly available. We further recommend that any prize money and placings be forfeited as a mandatory result of rule infraction, and that fines be levied that significantly exceed prize monies.

• Extensive drug testing at major competitions. We recommend increased and extensive drug testing at any FEI ride which is 2* or above, as well as any FEI rides involving substantial prize money or awards.

• Limited competitors per team. We strongly recommend repealing the recent rule change that allows more horses per team, of which the results of only the top three are counted towards awards. This rule contradicts the commitment to equine welfare, as it promotes the ability to compete numerous horses as expendable commodities, rather than striving towards the goals of high completion rates amongst the entirety of the team. As such, we recommend that each team be limited to a maximum of four riders, of which the top three members will count towards a team score, and all four stand on the podium if medaling.

• Certificate of Capability. We recommend that time requirements to qualify for a COC be a reflection of the technicality of the individual course, as opposed to a set and immobile time for distance, regardless of terrain. We are concerned that in response to current requirements, FEI endurance racing has evolved to emphasize courses that are essentially extended flat track courses in order to maximize speed. This has resulted in an increase in the frequency and type of serious injuries to horses previously only associated with flat-track thoroughbred racing. We recommend that COC requirements be redirected to include and emphasize more technical courses, including the practices that allow successful and safe negotiation of difficult terrain.

• Disciplinary action. FEI officials are obligated to promptly investigate and respond to reported rule infractions occurring at events. Officials failing to do so will be severely sanctioned, suspended and/or otherwise removed from officiating duties and opportunities.

• Crewing from moving vehicles. Horses may not be assisted or accompanied in any manner during competition by one or more moving vehicles. Not only does this practice endanger all participants within the immediate area, but doing so also constitutes ‘hazing’ of the target horse to unfairly increase its speed. Crews violating this rule will result in the immediate disqualification of the horse and rider with which they are associated.

• Sponsorship Entities providing significant financial support to the event that constitute a conflict of interest may not be provided with special privileges or allowances as a result of their sponsorship. No VIP passes may be given that allow an unfair advantage to the associated team, or otherwise interferes with the assurance of a level playing field for all participants.