Qatar: CHI AL SHAQAB International Equestrian Tournament 2014

Chialshaqab.com

At a busy press conference, Fahad Saad Al Qahtani, Executive Director of AL SHAQAB, spoke of the importance of bringing a world class CHI event to Qatar. He explained how the world’s greatest riders and horses will compete before royalty, VIPs and more than 10,000 spectators.

Mr Al Qahtani said: “The inaugural CHI AL SHAQAB was a spectacular success, and this year will be even better. AL SHAQAB supports Qatar Foundation’s vision to promote the country’s heritage by showcasing its equestrian excellence.”

Omar Al Mannai, AL SHAQAB Competition Manager, revealed that this year’s tournament will see around 170 riders and 200 horses from 30 countries come together to compete for a total of 1,460,000euros in prize money. He also revealed that, alongside jumping, dressage and endurance, the competition will feature vaulting for the first time.

Fahad Al Hajri, Media Manager, pointed out that CHI AL SHAQAB, are working with the world’s media to achieve the highest standards in broadcast production in equine history.

Finally, Bart Cahir, President and General Manager of Exxon Mobile, confirmed that his company is again proud to be the main sponsor of CHI AL SHAQAB.

CHI AL SHAQAB is also sponsored by Qatar Airways and organized under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Thani and Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani. The 2013 tournament was the first CHI event ever to take place in the Middle East and Asia.

AL SHAQAB equestrian center was founded in 1992 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Father Emir of Qatar, to promote and enrich his nation’s traditional association with the Arabian horse. It is a member of Qatar Foundation and serves as the Gulf’s premier venue for equestrian education, breeding and events.

Journalists and other equine specialists are warmly invited to attend CHI AL SHAQAB 2014. For all attendance, interview and other media requests, please contact Laura Wrede (+974 55296773) or email laura.wrede@grayling.com and media@chialshaqab.com.

UAE: Shaikh Hamdan wins second consecutive World Military Endurance title

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

UAE riders claim Team Title in 120km event at Dubai International Endurance City

By Leslie Wilson Jr,Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:36 March 6, 2014

Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was a picture of confidence as he won his second CISM World Military Endurance Championship at the Dubai International Endurance City on Thursday.

Riding Aghaab, winner of the HH Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Endurance Cup in January, Shaikh Hamdan dominated the 70-strong field as he completed the 120km ride in 4 hours, 33 minutes and 36 seconds...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/shaikh-hamdan-wins-second-consecutive-world-military-endurance-title-1.1300517

New Zealand: Instant blood tests for endurance horses a first at SI Champs

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Mar 06, 2014 in Focus

Endurance veterinarians in New Zealand have a new hand-held blood analysis tool to instantly test equine blood samples at events.

The new EPOC Blood Analyser has been purchased by Equestrian Sports New Zealand’s Endurance board, thanks to a donation from the Dion Latta Estate...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/03/06/instant-blood-tests-endurance-horses-first-si-champs/#axzz2vCB1aaFE

Key Defra body ignored in Lord Stevens’ drugs raids investigation for Sheikh Mohammed

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

Veterinary Medicines Directorate was not asked to supply input for report and disputes claim that seized products were not intended for use in UK

By Pippa Cuckson
9:05PM GMT 05 Mar 2014

Defra’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the body that seized 124 unlicensed drugs from Sheikh Mohammed’s Newmarket stables in August, has revealed it had no input into Lord Stevens’s subsequent investigation for racing’s most powerful owner.

Further, the VMD disputes a claim recorded in the report that the seized drugs were not intended for use in the United Kingdom...

Read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/10679378/Key-Defra-body-ignored-in-Lord-Stevens-drugs-raids-investigation-for-Sheikh-Mohammed.html

UAE: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Horsesportinternational.com - Full Article

Karen Robinson
March 1 2014

"...even the most basic rules of horse welfare are so far from being enforced at middle eastern endurance races that they are a complete farce, an absolute joke, and an insult to the principles that supposedly govern the FEI."

Unfortunately, I was unable to obtain permission from the photographer to publish the photo that I wanted to share with you, so instead I will use the proverbial thousand of these one dimensional little things to describe it.

It was snapped during the recent President World Cup Endurance race in Abu Dhabi, and the person who sent it to me sent it with the subject line ‘spot the horse’. The photo could also have been titled ‘where’s Waldo’ – if Waldo were a horse.

See, the horses are not the most prominent feature in this shot of the endurance race. The cars are. Roughly 100 cars, pick-ups, SUVs and those silly little Japanoid van/pick-ups are crowded so thickly along the white racetrack fencing that keeps them off the track that you can barely see that there are actually horses in the frame. Also obscuring a clear view of the horses is a pink haze caused by a combination of churned up sand and exhaust from what are surely hundreds of vehicles – if we make the reasonable assumption that all the cars chasing the race did not miraculously squeeze into this one photo. If you didn’t notice the horses you would think it was a traffic jam in the desert...

Read more here:
http://www.horsesportinternational.com/2014/03/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words/

Oman: All-Women Endurance Horse Race on March 7

Muscatdaily.com - Full Article

Muscat Daily staff writer
March 05, 2014

An all-women endurance horse race will be organised in Barka on March 7, according to a press release from the Oman Equestrian Federation (OEF).

The race will witness a total of 44 riders compete over a distance of 80km and will be conducted according to the International Equestrian Federation's (FEI) rules and regulations. Some of the participating riders are from the neighbouring countries.

The veterinary examination of the horses will be held a day before the event. The race will kick off at 6.30am and will be held in three stages. The first stage will cover 40km, while the remaining 40km will be split into two legs of 20km each.

Spain's Jon Fernandez de Antona wins at Evora, Portugal

Ecuestreonline.com

Spain's Jon Fernandez de Antona riding Talita Kumi 50% won the CEI3* Evora ride in Portugal on March 1.

Cold, wet, muddy trails with constant ups and downs made for a challenging ride.

Alex Luque and Calandria PH won the CEI2*.