Changes in saddle at Godolphin to ensure Dubai operation’s firm hold

Thenational.ae - Full Article

Geoffrey Riddle
February 25, 2014

A Godolphin restructure was inevitable. From a small, elite band of equine talent when it started in 1992 under the guidance of Simon Crisford and Saeed bin Suroor, the international stable has mushroomed into an enterprise that spans the world.

The equine empire of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, goes beyond the Royal Blue silks of Godolphin, which have raced in more than 16 countries.

The huge Darley Australia operation and a blossoming presence in Japan is a growing aspect to Sheikh Mohammed’s global outlook.

The racing and breeding operation is without comparison and has moved to address the shortcomings exposed by last year’s Mahmoud Al Zarooni doping scandal...

Read more here:
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/changes-in-saddle-at-godolphin-to-ensure-dubai-operations-firm-hold

New Zealand Neurologic EHV-1: Seven Horses Euthanized

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Erica Larson, News Editor
Feb 10, 2014

New Zealand's first reported neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak has claimed several equine victims on the one affected property. As of Feb. 2, 13 horses on the property had been affected by neurologic EHV-1, Andre van Halderen, principal adviser for the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), told The Horse via e-mail received Feb. 7.

"Of the 13 horses, seven have been euthanized," he said. "The other affected horses are receiving supportive care..."

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33373/new-zealand-neurologic-ehv-1-seven-horses-euthanized?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=breeding&utm_campaign=02-16-2014

UAE to host World Military Endurance Championship

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum won at inaugural event last year
Staff Report
Published: 18:41 February 24, 2014

Dubai: Leading military endurance riders from over 20 countries will vie for top honours in the second annual CISM World Military Endurance Championship, which will be held in Dubai next month.

The international event, sponsored by Meydan pillar partner International Petroleum Investment Company (Ipic) and organised by Meydan Group’s Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) alongside the military sport body CISM (Conseil International du Sport Militaire) and the UAE’s Ministry of Defence, will take place on March 6...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/uae-to-host-world-military-endurance-championship-1.1295289

Great Britain: Royal Windsor Horse Show secures series of prestigious international events for this year's show

Localberkshire.co.uk - Full Article

24 Feb 2014

THE biggest outdoor equestrian extravaganza in the country will become even bigger as it hosts a series of prestigious international events.

For the first time, Royal Windsor Horse Show has been granted prestigious Concours Hippique International (CHI) status meaning this year the event will feature three, international three-star rated jumping and dressage competitions attracting some of the top horseriders from around the world.

The five-day event will take place from May 14-18 in the grounds of Windsor Castle and will feature hundreds of competitions in showjumping, dressage, driving and endurance with the three-star rated Concours de Dressage International (CDI) and Concours de Saut International (CSI) competitions taking place on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings of the show promising to be a highlight...

Read more here:
http://www.localberkshire.co.uk/news/windsor/articles/2014/02/24/97984-royal-windsor-horse-show-secures-series-of-prestigious-international-events-for-this-years-show/#sthash.whCP4sAy.dpuf

2014 Normandy: Interview with Mathieu Collet, an orchestrator of the Games

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Tuesday 18 February 2014 - 15h02

After multiple experiences working at some of the world’s greatest sporting events, Mathieu Collet joined the Organising Committee of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy on 19 June 2013 as Site Manager for the Exhibition Centre, the Zenith and the Games Village. His role is to coordinate the requests of the Committee’s different departments in order to ensure that the event takes place in the best possible conditions on these 3 sites. With 35,000 visitors predicted in the Village every day, and tens of thousands of spectators expected for the Vaulting and Reining events, Mathieu is a very busy man!

Mathieu, which events did you work at before joining the Games adventure?

At the beginning, I worked in classic corporate event planning. Then I dipped my feet into the world of sport at the Rugby World Cup in 2007. I was in charge of layout and fittings on the Cardiff site, and I really loved the atmosphere and excitement that prevailed within the Committee. So I continued in the same thread by working in volunteer recruitment and management for the opening and closing ceremonies of Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria, artists’ transport for the Asian Cup in Qatar (equivalent of the Euro), and entertainment for the Arab Games in 2011 (equivalent of the Mediterranean Games). In 2012, I worked as site manager for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, before working for the Taewando's Sports Operationsat the London Olympic Games in 2012...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/269/interview-with-mathieu-collet-an-orchestrator-of-the-games

Gallops of Oman — the real experience

Omanobserver.om - Full Article

By Lakshmi Kothaneth — There was ecstasy in the air as Gallops of Oman came to a conclusion in the Wilayat of Jaalan Bani Bu Ali’s seashore. The excitement was not just among the winning teams, but each member of the 20 teams as they completed the journey of endurance — crossing 180 km of Sharqiyah Sands. “I think it’s a great success that we have achieved, it has been an excellent experience and organising Gallops of Oman was not easy,” said Brig Abdulrazak Alshahwarzi, Commander of the Royal Cavalry, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Gallops of Oman. They had reached the final stage of 21 km and at the finish line as the riders accompanied their horses to the veterinary doctors; one could see the bond between the riders and the horses that had developed in the last six days.

At the end of each stage the team of veterinary doctors would inspect the horses for their heart rates and stress level, and the time taken to reach the finishing line. Being early or late meant losing points. The Arabian horses impressed their riders with their stamina, strength and spirit...

Read more here:
http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=59105

"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/