Sponsorship reshuffle as endurance reform plans outlined

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

Efforts to resolve the problems in endurance are gathering pace, with the FEI announcing “concrete steps” to bring about change, including Dubai-sourced funding for the recently announced special task force.

Changes announced today include a sponsorship reshuffle affecting the upcoming FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games.

The FEI has provided more details over the special task force aimed at finding practical solutions to bring the endurance controversy to an end.

The issue has split the endurance riding community over drug infractions and welfare concerns in the sport centred on the FEI Group VII nations of Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar.

National federations on both sides of the Atlantic have raised the possibility of a breakaway group unless the FEI can rein in the problems, including what some view as the cavalier approach to endurance rules taken by some competitors and some officials.

[More ...]

More than 120 entries for inaugural Dubai Desert Triathlon

Published: 18:32 April 10, 2014
Gulf News

Dubai: Dubai’s newest sporting event, the Dubai Desert Triathlon, will have more than 120 teams for the inaugural event, organisers announced on Thursday.

The Dubai Sports Council has partnered with Meydan Racecourse to develop an innovative event which combines the traditional heritage Emirati sport of endurance horse racing with the triathlon disciplines of running and cycling.

Organisers say they are delighted with the response received, not only locally, but also internationally, with registrations far exceeding expectations.

“We are very pleased with the response we have had from the triathletes and endurance riders. It is clear that they are excited and enthusiastic to be part of something which may well be a world first,” said Nasser Al Rahmah, Director of Sports Events Department at Dubai Sports Council.

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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.

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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.