Endurance eliminations: Researchers probe risk factors

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Apr 11, 2014 in News, Research

British researchers investigating risk factors and the reasons for the elimination of horses from endurance races have revealed the first evidence that faster speeds decrease the likelihood of completion.

However, their research was unable to detect an association between speed and specific reasons for elimination.

Annamaria Nagy and colleagues at the Centre for Equine Studies, part of the Animal Health Trust, have been following several lines of research into endurance horse eliminations, with their findings published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

Around 40-45 percent of horses are eliminated from international endurance rides globally for various reasons, the researchers said.

One strand of the research involved analysis of FEI endurance rides involving 30,741 horse starts, in a bid to identify risk factors for elimination for lameness, elimination for metabolic reasons, and the likelihood of completion.

Read more ...

Sheikh Mohammed backs task force charged with bringing "level playing field" to endurance racing

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

Planned rule changes include overhaul of operations at events, where officials have been criticised for turning a “blind eye” to rule-breaking, and greater use of technology

By Pippa Cuckson
7:53PM BST 08 Apr 2014

Sheikh Mohammed, whose Dubai stables have been at the centre of the doping and horse injury crises in Middle East endurance racing, is supporting the creation of a task force to implement rule changes, the International Equestrian Federation has revealed.

The task force will include representatives of IMG, because of its “extensive experience in reviewing and modernising competition structures in other sports”.

Sheikh Mohammed met FEI vice-presidents, John McEwen and Pablo Mayorga, and secretary general Ingmar De Vos on March 30 and offered his “full support” for measures to bring a “level playing field” to the sport...

Read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/10753367/Sheikh-Mohammed-backs-task-force-charged-with-bringing-level-playing-field-to-endurance-racing.html

Great Britain: Cornwall Farmers backs rider in world title bid

Thisisthewestcountry.co.uk - Full Article

8 April 2014

Cornwall Farmers is supporting endurance rider Nicky Sherry as she trains for the World Equestrian Games, due to be held in Normandy, France this summer.

Nicky, from St Breward on Bodmin Moor, is a member of the UK Elite Senior Team Squad. Endurance riders embark on controlled long distance riding up to 160km, with veterinary check points to ensure each competing horse is in good health.

Cornwall Farmers and Patch & Acre are supporting Nicky’s training by providing supplies of their own-brand ‘Super Cool’ horse feed which she now uses for grey Arab mare Silver Zourra, who Nicky will be riding at the Games...

Read more here:
http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/cornwall_news/11131892.Cornwall_Farmers_backs_rider_in_world_title_bid/

Endurance riding in Rambouillet (France)

Next 2 and 3 May will be held the "Raid Yvelines Al Shaqab Cup", i.e the traditional (29th edition) international Endurance appointment in Rambouillet, which the Qatari Stud Al Shaqab has joined as a partner of the CEI***.

A positive partnership since the association Enduro Cheval, who has negotiated this partnership without any other consideration than the use of her image, receives assistance to optimize the organization of the 2014 edition, which offers this CEI*** support of French national selection for the World Equestrian Games, but also a CEI**, a CEIYR** and two CEI*.

Optimization that will delight the two hundred expected riders, the public, the exhibitors and the institutional partners of the association (the Yvelines General Council, the city of Rambouillet, the Regional Council of Ile-de-France, the Fédération Equestre International, the French equestrian Federation), and all towns and villages invested in the race.

International Horse Sports Confederation Holds First Meeting

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Edited Press Release
Apr 01, 2014

At the first meeting of the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC), the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) confirmed that they share the same core values of protecting horse welfare and discussed in detail the different models under which both organisztions operate.

The two organizations came to the conclusion that there are many commonalities and opportunities for further cooperation. Although there are operational differences due to regulatory requirements of our sports, both organizations are united by the horse and a shared philosophy built on our common values.

The FEI and the IFHA have joined forces by the creation of the IHSC and agreed on the priority to work together in the following fields always with the aim of ensuring the highest standards for welfare of the horse:

The continued commitment to fight against doping and any abuse of horses;
The cooperation with the World Organization for Animal Health to facilitate the international movement of horses through the adoption of the concept of the “high-health, high-performance horse”;
Assist the industry by surveillance of and reporting of diseases; and
The creation of a fund for joint initiatives to support the horse sports industry.

Further to recent allegations in the United States raised by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and reported on March 20, the IHSC strongly declares that animal cruelty has no place in its sports and urges the U.S. authorities which are investigating these allegations to leave no stone unturned.

Moreover, the IHSC calls on PETA to immediately and as a matter of urgency share with the relevant regulatory bodies all the materials they might still hold with regard to horse welfare in order to allow them to undertake the necessary actions.

Additionally, working groups were established to deal with the aforementioned issues.

Record Number of Nations Declare Participation in 2014 WEG

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Edited Press Release
Apr 02, 2014

Seventy-two national federations (NFs) have declared their intention to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) 2014 in Normandy, France, meeting the 31 March deadline for entries in principle. The number is an all-time high and represents a 10% increase compared to the entries in principle for any of the previous WEGs .

At this initial stage, the NFs have indicated the disciplines in which they intend to be represented by a team or individual athletes. Although the final participation will be confirmed first by the nominated and ultimately by the definite entries, this is a significant first step in the games entry process.

The disciplines that have attracted the greatest number of nations are jumping with 57 NFs, followed by endurance with competitors from 50 countries. Australia, Austria, host nation France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States have entered teams in all FEI disciplines: jumping, dressage, para-dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting, and reining.
Breakdown by Discipline

Jumping: 57 NFs (41 teams; 16 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Endurance: 50 NFs (40 teams; 10 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Dressage: 39 NFs (28 teams; 11 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Para-Dressage: 34 NFs (24 teams; 10 NFs with three or four individual riders)
Eventing: 29 NFs (23 teams; 6 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Vaulting: 29 NFs (20 squads; 14 pas-de-deux; 23 NFs with one to three female vaulters; 15 NFs with one to three male vaulters)
Reining: 25 NFs (19 teams; 6 NFs with one or two individual riders)
Driving: 19 NFs (15 teams; 4 NFs with one individual driver)

Twelve countries will be making their WEG debut—Hong Kong, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Morocco, Mauritius, Peru, Palestine, Romania, Thailand, and Tunisia—demonstrating the increased globalization of the FEI’s flagship event.

The full list of entries in principle is available on the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 website.

“We are delighted with the strong interest the national federations are showing in this summer’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “It is very exciting to welcome new nations from all over the world to the FEI’s biggest event. The majority of the nations that will be participating for the first time have indicated their intention to send teams or individuals in more than one discipline, which shows how well our sport is developing all around the world. These are exciting times and I am looking forward to a successful record-breaking Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy.”

Laurent Cellier, the games' sports director, added, “The number of nations wishing to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy demonstrates how enthusiastic everyone is about this major event. We are looking forward to welcoming all the nations here in Normandy. With only 144 days to go, the entire organizing committee is hard at work to ensure all our guests enjoy their stay and to make them feel welcome.”

The next deadlines in the entry process for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy are as follows:

Nominated entries:

June 24: Endurance
July 21: All other disciplines

Definite entries:

August 14: Dressage, para-dressage, eventing, endurance, and reining
August 21: Jumping, driving, and vaulting

Botswana: Dansawani Arabians Dominate Maun Endurance Race

Thevoicebw.com - Full Article

Posted by THEVOICEBW on April 4, 2014

The Dansawil Arabian Endurance team competed over the weekend of the 22nd March at the first ever 80km ride held in Maun.
The team consisted of two locals Willie Herbst who is the owner, manager and groom and Tebogo Mosorwa on FTB Magnifico.
The other two team members were Louise Herbst on Fa’Nardi Zara and Felicity Cooper on Dansawil Gorbasjof. Another Dansawil horse, Wilshane Shakespeare was lent to a Maun rider.

The track consisted of three 27km legs and the riders had to negotiate water, tight turns, mud and extreme humidity due to the heavy down pours Maun is experiencing.

Wilshane Shakespeare won the race in a time of 3.59.34 hrs, Louise Herbst on Fa’Nardi Zara came second in a time of 3.59.34 hrs and Felicity Cooper on Dansawil Gorbasjof came third in a time of 4.20.01 hrs...

Read more here:
http://www.thevoicebw.com/2014/04/04/dansawani-arabians-dominate-maun-endurance-race/