Bahrain: Riders set for Endurance Race Cup

Gulf-daily-news.com - Full Article

February 08, 2014

BAHRAIN'S best riders will participate in HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Endurance Race Cup, which kicks-off at 7am today at Bahrain International Endurance Village.

The championship will comprise two race-categories, the 120 kilometer race (five stages, 30, 30, 24, 20, 16 km) and the 80 km qualifying race (three stages, 30, 30, 24 km).

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) chairman, Bahrain Olympic Committee president and Royal Endurance Team captain Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa praised the organisers' efforts to ensure the success of the race, while he visited the veterinary examinations for participants' horses. The examinations were conducted by international experts at the village yesterday.

Shaikh Nasser said that the Royal Endurance team will be tough competitors for the title, wishing the best for the rest of the contenders...

Read more here:
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=370185

Abu Dhabi: 120km Hamdan endurance ride set for Saturday

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Elite UAE riders to compete in Al Wathba race that boasts Dh1m prize fund
WAMPublished: 17:37 February 6, 2014

Abu Dhabi: The Hamdan Bin Rashid Festival 2014 Al Wathba Challenge Endurance Ride (120km) will take place from 7am on Saturday at Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The race, which is run under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, will feature an elite group of riders from stables across the UAE

The prizes, whose value totals Dh1 million, will be distributed between the riders who complete the five stages of the race, as well as the award of a sports utility vehicle for the champion...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/120km-hamdan-endurance-ride-set-for-saturday-1.1287537

Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 confirmed in NZ

NZEquestrian.org.nz

5/02/2014 12:00:00 p.m.

ESNZ wishes to inform its members that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has notified of an outbreak of a neurological disease in horses arising from Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1).

· EHV-1 is a common virus in the NZ horse population.
· This is the first instance when neurological effects have been observed and confirmed in NZ.
· Many horses are infected as foals and show no clinical signs of disease. The virus often sits dormant and can be reactivated later in life. Reactivation is more likely in times of stress, such as, giving birth, weaning and long distance transport.
· This neurological form of the outbreak is very limited and has currently been isolated to a small part of a single property – a Waikato thoroughbred stud farm
· MPI have notified that 12 horses have been infected, of which 6 have been euthanised; all other horses on the property are being closely observed.
· MPI have examined horse and staff movements in relation to the affected property, and on the basis of known information, including consideration of the period of time since horses have left any part of the property, state that there is low risk of infection for horses that had been on the property.
· On the basis of information provided by MPI and having consulted with the NZ Equine Health Association; ESNZ advises no changes to continuation of all planned ESNZ equestrian activities.

MPI are urging horse owners to be vigilant for signs of the disease (see attached fact sheet) and to contact their own vet should you have any concerns.

More...

Chile: Enduro Ecuestre 2014 - Torres del Paine

Lastorres.com

At the end of the world, right in the middle of Chilean Patagonia, we invite you to be part of one of the most extreme, unique and unforgettable experience: The equestrian Endurance race of Torres del Paine. (FEI)
On April 12, 2014, right at the heart of Torres del Paine National Park the 10th version of the Equestrian Endurance Race will take place, combining the magic of this exciting sport with the spectacular scenery of one of the most important national parks in Chile.

Enjoy organized programs with accommodation, excursions, transfers and days of activities within the national park Torres del Paine. Get to know the most important attractions of the magnificent national park like Grey Glacier or the imposing Torres del Paine, which undoubtedly will surprise you.

Don’t miss this opportunity and participate in one of the most extreme and exciting endurance races in the world.
This race will run by the international FEI Rules valid since 2009. (Exceptions: junior ages and recovery time).

For more information see:
http://www.lastorres.com/all-inclusive-torres-paine/enduro-encuestre/

Oman: Endurance competition on Sat

Omanobserver.com

January 2014 / 23:35 Written by Oman Observer

MUSCAT — The Omani Equestrian Federation represented by the Endurance Committee announced the launching of the fifth endurance competition for 2013/2014 starting on Saturday.
The competition, which will take place at the Endurance Village in Saih al Mahamid /Al Wahra/ in the Wilayat of Barka, will be an exceptional qualifier in response to a request submitted by horse owners who are interested in tolerance
and endurance for 40 km and
80 km.
The Omani Equestrian Federation has announced an endurance competition on February 14. It is an international race for 120 km and a 90 km race for juniors.
The Omani Equestrian Federation also unveiled an endurance competition for female horse riders on March 7. — ONA

Getting Ready for the Games: Endurance

Horsechannel.com - Full Article

What does it take to prepare for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy? A top endurance rider shares her story.
By Leslie Potter | January 29, 2014

This spring will be an exciting time for the top equestrian competitors as they work to earn a spot at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian GamesTM 2014 in Normandy, France. The Games will take place from Aug. 23-Sept. 7 and feature the world's best riders and drivers in eight different disciplines. Reaching this level of competition takes more than just practice. These competitors have to manage their horses' nutrition, conditioning and overall well-being in order to be ready for the challenge ahead.

Heather Reynolds and her husband, Jeremy, train endurance horses at Reynolds Racing in Dunnellon, Fla. Between the two of them, the Reynolds have four Tevis Cup wins, multiple national championship wins and best condition awards and team and individual golds from the North American Endurance Championships. Heather was the first American rider to cross the finish line at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 in Lexington, Ky. Currently, they have six horses—all purebred Arabians—that they are bringing along as prospective competitors for Normandy.

Miles of Training
Endurance horses at the Games compete in a 100-mile race, and the winning teams will finish in approximately seven hours. That kind of sustained effort requires careful conditioning, but Reynolds explains that they don't log as many training hours as people might think.

"Our horses work six days a week," she says. "We ride them three days and the other three they're on the EuroXciser [a type of hot walker]. When they're in top training, they're probably doing a total of 70 miles a week between the EuroXciser and riding..."

Read more here:
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2014/01/29-getting-ready-for-the-games-endurance.aspx

Saudi Arabia: Kingdom Team wins Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Cup

Arabnews.com - Full Article

January 29 2014

RIYADH: Kingdom equestrian team of Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal captured first place in the 120-kilometer endurance race in the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival here.
Giving the Kingdom team’s 60th international achievement was international jockey Abdulaziz Aldweesh whose mount, Anwar Almamlakah, was awarded the Best Horse title in the championship.
Aldweesh and Kingdom Team coach and supervisor of Alwaleed’s private stables, Najeeb Albarjas, dedicated this accomplishment to Prince Alwaleed.
Prince Alwaleed commented: “We dedicate the team’s achievement to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...”

Read more here:
http://www.arabnews.com/news/516766