Canadian Wins FEI Biltmore Challenge 160 km CEI3*

Horse-Canada.com
Wendy MacCoubrey became the first Canadian to win the 160 km race at the 2014 CEI3* FEI Biltmore Challenge, held in Asheveille, NC, aboard Raven About Gold. Photo by Becky Pearman Photgraphy

Wendy MacCoubrey of Ste Justine De Newton, QC made history this past weekend when she became first Canadian ever to win the 160 km race at the 2014 CEI3* FEI Biltmore Challenge, held in Asheveille, NC, from May 3-4.

Paired with Valerie Kanavy’s eight-year-old Arabian mare, Raven About Gold, MacCoubrey completed the 160 km race on the grounds of George Vanderbilt’s historic Biltmore Estate in a time of 12 hours for the FEI win and tied first for the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

“She’s an awesome ride,” said MacCoubrey about Raven About Gold. “I got to ride another amazing horse on another great trail.”

The 2014 Biltmore Challenge marked the 21st event along the challenging French Broad River, over rolling hills and low mountains testing the skills of both horse and rider.

“This was the toughest Biltmore ride yet,” stated MacCoubrey. “A technical trail is always a challenge hence the name Biltmore Challenge. This year was nothing less than challenging – with new trail being added this year”

[Read more ...]

Australia: Homewood Farm Endurance Ride

Winghamchronicle.com.au - Full Article

By Gemma Colefax May 6, 2014

Homewood farm welcomed its first endurance event which saw over 85 people and horses compete.

It all started some years ago in Jerrys Plains - another sleepy town more than 300km away. Nigel and Gemma Colefax would befriend neighbours Gary, Deb and Meik Pevy. The Pevy's were known names in the endurance world and they would share their passion for horses and involvement in the sport. Nigel was convinced to park up his motorbikes for the long distance training and competition of endurance while Gemma gravitated towards the less competitive, social side of the ride...

Read more here:
http://www.winghamchronicle.com.au/story/2262604/homewood-farm-endurance-ride/?cs=1551

WEG 2014: Taking Normandy by Storm

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Apr 28, 2014

A preview of what's to come when France hosts the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

On June 6, 1944, American, Australian, Canadian, and British forces surprised German troops as they debarked on the English Channel’s French shores, storming the Normandy beaches in one of the bloodiest battles in modern times.

Seventy years later, America, Australia, England, Germany, France, and dozens of other nations will join together Aug. 23 to Sept. 7 in peaceful sportsmanship along these same beaches as they compete in a sport that epitomizes unity and partnership: equestrianism. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will open in the rich and fertile French region of Normandy—celebrated for its fine cheeses, landscapes, and horses—famous for the invasion that marked the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) event in Caen, France, in the northwestern region of Basse-Normandie—the Games’ seventh edition—promises to bring together many nations to an internationally emotional site, grounded in rich equine heritage...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33763/weg-2014-taking-normandy-by-storm?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=04-29-2014

Switzerland's Pierre Genecand Confirms Candidacy for FEI President

In a letter released May 5th, 2014, Pierre Genecand of Switzerland confirmed his candidacy for FEI President. He originally announced his bid on February 17th, when it was officially registered by the FEI. Genecand will run against Princess Haya, who will be running for an unprecedented third term of 4 years, after all but 3 member nations opposed changing the statute on April 29th to allow Haya to run again.

See Genecand's letter here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/FEI_Presidency_candidacy_Pierre_Genecand.pdf

For a complete update on the FEI controversy, see:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/

France: Meet the Games’ Ambassadors’ Committee

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Wednesday 16 April 2014 - 13h35

In less than 4 months, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 will kick off in Normandy. As part of this event, several national and international celebrities – actors, presenters, impersonators, former professional riders, etc. – have joined forces with the Organising Committee to lend their support to the Games: they make up our Ambassadors’ Committee. Some have been horse-lovers since their childhood, others started riding more recently, and a few simply wanted to promote their home region, but one thing they all have in common is that they are proud to use their image, their talent and their motivation to promote the Games. They all share the same ambitions as us: to make the Normandy 2014 edition an event to remember in France’s number one equestrian region.

Each of the Committee’s ambassadors can choose how involved they wish to be: some have been implicated for a while now, such as writer Jean-Louis Gouraud who for the past year has been penning stories for the “Around the World in 80 Horses” project; some will come along to celebrate the D-100 countdown on 15 May; and others will be on site during the Games to meet spectators and cheer on the competitors. Whatever their involvement, they are all committed to spreading the word about the world’s greatest equestrian event...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/349/meet-the-games-ambassadors-committee

Rodriguez and Lyrical Breeze Repeat Spanish Championship

4 May 2014

Jairo Rodriguez and Lyrical Breeze are Spain's new National Champions after winning the 160-km Championship at Bascara on May 3rd, in a time of 8:12.58. Former World Champion Maria Alvarez Ponton finished second on Qualif du Poncelet in 8:13.01, followed by third place Jordi Arboix riding Mystair des Aubus in 8:31.15.

Ten of 39 riders completed the course.

It is a repeat National Championship win for Rodriguez and Lyrical Breeze, who won last year's Spanish Championship at Sant Feliu Saserra in May 2013.

For a complete order of finish see:
http://www.endurancetiming.com/raids/Bascara_160_Km_Cp_Esp_2014.PDF

Record number of nations declare participation in Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Tuesday 01 April 2014 - 10h48

No less than 72 National Federations (NFs) have declared their intention to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, 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 editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games™.

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 and Para-Dressage; Eventing; Driving; Endurance; Vaulting; and Reining...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/324/72-nations-intend-to-compete-in-the-alltech-fei-world-equestrian-games-2014-in-normandy