Record Line-up for Mongol Derby

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

The Mongol Derby — the world’s longest, toughest horserace —boasts its biggest line-up yet for 2014.

43 riders — 26 of them women — from 15 countries will be taking part, including former National Hunt jockey turned valet Chris Maude, England polo player Jamie Peel and Rob Skinner, military rider and 1 of H&H’s hunting’s most eligible bachelors (14 February 2013)...

Read more here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/record-line-mongol-derby/#SypzL91II672mKKb.99

It’s not all black and white when it comes to FEI yellow cards

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

The yellow-carding of a rugby or football player is, in my view, a sporting spectacle in itself.

It’s the sense of anticipation that draws me. One can sense 30,000 bottoms sliding forward on their stadium seats as the referee summons a player after some egregious sin.

It is clear what’s coming. The referee is strutting and looking especially officious by this stage.

The player receives a brief dressing down and the referee, in a grand flourish, reaches for his pocket and pulls out the yellow card, or possibly even a red card.

Dramatic stuff.

The FEI has a yellow-card system, too. However, their use does not generate anything like the same drama and spectacle.

In equestrian sport, the yellow card is essentially a small yellow form which is printed out and given to the offending rider by the president of the ground jury at an event. No drama. No theatrics. That, my friends, is the FEI way.

[More ...]

Canada: Endurance breeder honored with Award of Excellence

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Feb 21, 2014 in Just Briefly

Arabian horse breeder Carl Fudge has been presented with the Award of Excellence for his outstanding achievements in the sport of Endurance in Canada.

Fudge, who is Managing Partner of Sturgeon Creek Arabians, was presented with the award at the Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala recently in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by current Chair for Endurance Canada, Terre O’Brennan.

As of last month, Sturgeon Creek Arabians (SCA) has completed over 25,000 miles in Endurance competitions...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/02/21/endurance-breeder-honored-award-of-excellence/#ixzz2tyKJJcys

2014 Normandy: 220,000 new tickets going on sale on 4 March 2014

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Tuesday 18 February 2014 - 17h33

4 March 2014: Opening of the final phase of ticketing for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. This is a definitive stage where the Organising Committee puts over 200,000 individual tickets on sale to the public. Based on the number of messages and calls already received, this is a much-awaited stage and one likely to be a great success. So to Normans, horse riding fans and extravaganza enthusiasts wishing to attend the largest equestrian competition in the world in Normandy from 23 August to 7 September 2014, now’s your chance!

On 4 March, everyone will be able to purchase a place for their chosen session(s) (ex: Jumping of Eventing, Jumping’s Speed competition, etc.) when over 200,000 places are put on sale. It’s worth noting that 80% of these places involve Olympic disciplines (Dressage, Jumping and Eventing) and that the best places are still up for grabs.

The Organising Committee insisted on making the event accessible to the greatest number of people, with an average ticket price of 25€, and some tickets available for only 5€ ! All those tickets will give spectators a free access to the Games Village set up in Caen’s "Parc des Expositions". A great place to relax, eat, watch exhibitions, concerts, and more.

It should be noted that tickets for the ‘4-way final’ will not go on sale just yet. The latter won’t be accessible until late April on the principle of an online registration, and a drawing of lots will be organised...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/262/2200-000-new-tickets-going-on-sale-on-4-march-2014

Great Britain: Horse riders urged to sign up for charity event next month

Knutsfordguardian.co.uk - Full Article

February 20 2014

HORSE riders from across the north west will endure 10 and 15 mile routes around a Cheshire forest in aid of Cancer Research on Saturday, March 8.

As part of a series of National Rides organised by Endurance GB, riders are being encouraged to enter this event at Delamere Forest whether or not they have done endurance riding before.

Liz Finney, chair of the Cheshire Group of EGB said: “This is a family sport, open to anyone with a horse fit enough to complete the distance at a steady pace within 3 hours...

Read more here:
http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/11025145.Horse_riders_urged_to_sign_up_for_charity_event_next_month/

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour steps into endurance racing row

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, owner of Manchester City, is understood to have intervened in the clean-up of endurance racing at the President's Cup ride in Abu Dhabi


By Pippa Cuckson


Six yellow warning cards were handed out, with two riders disqualified, at the 100-mile President's Cup ride in Abu Dhabi on Saturday as organisers finally reacted to global pressure to punish rule-breaking and horse abuse in Middle East endurance racing.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi and owner of Manchester City, is understood to have intervened in the clean-up, and been instrumental in the installation of security cameras at vet-gates (vet check) areas and on the “crew” cars following the horses.

Representatives of Lord Stevens’ intelligence services company Quest, and International Equestrian Federation (FEI) endurance director Ian Williams were on hand to support officials.

The unprecedented move came days after Telegraph Sport’s exposure of horse-beating by a running groom, caught on video at a ride in Sakhir, Bahrain, on Feb 8.

The FEI later announced that the rider, winner Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, received a yellow card and was suspended.

The Telegraph

Sheikh Mansoor festival Supports Four Endurance Races across Europe

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

by Pamela Burton

February 16, 2014, Abu Dhabi ~ The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival lends support to four Endurance Championships: Portugal-April 25 to 27, France-May 23 to 27, Italy-July 25 to 27, and Slovakia-September 27.

Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and chairman of the Ladies Racing (IFAHR) gave a press briefing in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, February 16.

“Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the endurance and flat races will be combined together under the umbrella of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival,” Sawaya stated. “I would like above all to thank the Portuguese ambassador to the UAE, Jimmy Van Zeller Laitau, for coming, pointing out that the festival has started sponsoring endurance races last year and it is carrying on for the second season...”

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2014/02/16/sheikh-mansoor-festival-supports-four-endurance-races-across-europe/