"One of the Greatest Scandals of Modern Horse Sport"

February 23 2014

In a comment column in Great Britain's Horse & Hound, editor Lucy Higginson blasted the equine doping violations and injuries involving the Middle Eastern nations and plaguing FEI endurance racing, calling it "…one of the greatest scandals of modern horse sport. It is a convoluted saga that has involved drugs, ghastly injury rates and inadequate reporting systems."

Great Britain's The Telegraph and Horse & Hound (primarily with freelance reporter Pippa Cuckson) have led the way in bringing to the world's attention the atrocious doping incidents and high fracture rates in endurance racing in the group 7 Middle Eastern countries, and FEI's responses to the worldwide uproars these have caused.

A new article by Pippa Cuckson, "Progress made - but key nations stay away" can be obtained by subscription to Horse and Hound here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/

Omani teams lead Gallops charge

Timesofoman.com - Full Article

BY SARAH MACDONALD | FEBRUARY 23, 2014

Muscat: The Gallops of Oman desert endurance horse ride along the coast concluded on Friday, approximately 100km south of Al Ashkarah, with two Omani teams leading the charge.

The five-day event challenged 110 riders from nine nationalities riding in teams of five to cross the Wahiba Sands at a pace that ensured their horses stayed in good health. Omani teams Al Safinat and Al Adiyat finished in the first and second place respectively, the best overall timings of the week, while the French team Khasab finished third.

"I'm so happy that our team was united like a fist and we won. I thank all the people who helped us. It was difficult but it was easy for us whenever we laughed and talked together. We put it in our minds that we had to win and that's what helped us win today," said Azhar Al Wardi from the Al Safinat team, as she celebrated with her fellow riders Mahmood Al Fori, Fatima Al Manji, Ahmed Al Hamadani and Hisham Al Farsi...

Read more here:
http://www.timesofoman.com/News/Article-30168.aspx

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/