Spain: Shortlist for the World Endurance Championship in Normandy (FRA).

July 1 2014

Riders shortlisted are:

- María Álvarez + QUALIF DU PONCELET

- Jordi Arboix + MYSTAIR DES AUBUS

- Javier Cervera + STRAWBLADE

- Ruth Comas + SUNIT DU COLOMBIER

- Robert Diez + ESPOIR DE BOZOULS

- Laia Muixi + VAINCRE KOSSACK

- Jaume Puntì + RAMSES DE LA ROTJA

- David Serrano + DOCTOR DEL RIERAL

- Ángel Soy + FOR XINXETA

- Cristina Yebra + GIROLA DE QUERCUS

Canada Awarded 2015 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships

Horse Sport July 3, 2014

Equine Canada and Endurance Canada are pleased to announce that the 2015 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships, a race 120km in length, will be held in Millbrook, ON, at Cayuse Creek Ranch.

The competition will be held in Ganaraska Forest, southern Ontario’s largest conservation area. The forest has over 11,000 acres of treed area and over 600 km of trails. The advantage of this venue is that there will be no public roads and only proven horse friendly private landowners. The course will be designed for mostly double track flat trails which will maximize the speeds for the horses and minimize any hazardous trail conditions.

“The Organizing Committee is looking forward to hosting this prestigious event at Cayuse Creek Ranch,” said Bob Coleman, the Championships’ organizer. “It will be an honour to have some of the best endurance horses and riders from North, Central and South America at this event here in Ontario.”

“This event will do much to promote this amazing equine sport, as well as highlight the athleticism of the Arabian horse, the breed of choice for endurance racing, but will also showcase the recreational and tourist attractions of the area,” continued Coleman. “The race will take place through the beautiful Ganaraska Forest, which I believe is the best venue in Ontario for endurance racing with its wide selection of trails – from flat, sandy and fast to narrow, technical ones. Roadwork is minimal on the course, which is important for safety reasons.”

The public is invited to spectate free of charge at the Pan American Endurance Championships, and will be tentatively held the week of July 6, 2015 to correspond with 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.

Horse Sport, Canada

Australia: Life in the Saddle - Alywn Torenbeek

ABC.net/au - Full interview

Broadcast: 29/06/2014 12:17:17 PM
Reporter: Pip Courtney

In the bush, no-one likes a skite. But while modesty's an admirable trait, it's kept many with fascinating lives from writing their memoirs.

Alwyn Torenbeek's a good example. Despite an extraordinary life, it took years of badgering from his family before the 77-year-old retired drover agreed to put pen to paper.

At just 21, he was Australia's bronc-riding champion, known for his bravery, natural talent and cheeky showmanship. But his biography is about more than fame. There's adventure, tragedy, romance and mateship, and that indomitable bush trait, endurance.

An endurance riding camp has its own pace. There's plenty of time to catch up with mates and swap stories, some of them tall.

At Alwyn Torenbeek's camp, you're assured of a yarn or five.

Few in the camp realise this genial grandfather's tales aren't tall, they're true. But this old bloke is in three halls of fame - Rodeo, Stockman's and Equestrian...

Watch the video here:
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2014/s4035229.htm

FITS announces five riders selected for 2014 WEG

 Elite FITS riders to represent US, Canada at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
 
July 1, 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA — FITS, inventor of the most athletically advanced riding breech on the market, is proud to announce that five of FITS team of elite riders have been selected to represent the United States and Canada in the upcoming 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
 
Horse and rider combinations were selected based on a few criteria. These included their previous international experience, the horse and rider’s drive to win, and performance in the 2013/2014 competition season, with emphasis placed on dressage scores and cross country scores, among others.
 
Representing Canada at the World Equestrian Games are FITS riders: Hawley Bennett-Awad from Langley, British Columbia, with her mount Gin & Juice, a 2000 American Thoroughbred. She is joined by Selena O’Hanlon, from Kingston, Ontario and her 2003 Canadian Sport Horse gelding Foxwood High. Rounding out the third FITS rider representing Canada is Jessica Phoenix, from Cannington, Ontario, and her horse A Little Romance, a 2005 Canadian TB /Trakehner mare.
 
Not to be outdone, two FITS riders will be representing the United States at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Eventer Kim Severson, from Charlottesville, Virginia will take along her horse Fernhill Fearless, a 2000 Irish Sport Horse gelding. FITS endurance rider Meg Sleeper, from Frenchtown, New Jersey, along with her 14-year-old Arabian Mare Syrocco Reveille will represent the USA Endurance team.
 
Confirming the reputation for excellence and comfort that FITS has built over the years, the entire team USA Endurance at this year’s Alltech World Equestrian Games will be wearing Treads AS Lite breeches. The uniquely designed breeches with rubberized full seat ink dots optimizes a rider’s grip and stability in the saddle, an absolute must-have for long endurance racing.
 
“We are so proud of our elite FITS riders who will be competing at this year’s World Equestrian Games,” said Sheryl Rudolph, founder of FITS. “Seven women athletes were chosen for the two eventing teams, and we dress over half of them! We are also very happy to have fitted out the men and women on team USA Endurance with our Treads AS Lite breeches. We wish all of our FITS athletes good riding!”
 
With the exceptionally talented and dedicated FITS riders already world-renowned for their international eventing careers, this year’s WEG is sure to be one to watch.
 
For more information about FITS clothing, including their technically advanced breeches, please visit FITSriding.com.
 
ABOUT FITS
 
FITS (“Fun In The Saddle”) launched in 2005, bringing to market the original patented PerforMAX™ top-performance technical breech that continues to revolutionize the way riders connect with their saddle, their horse, and their riding experience. Today FITS has a well-deserved reputation as inventor of the most advanced athletic wear for the English rider, with a full range of exceptional performance clothing for year-round riding. FITS is sold widely throughout the USA, with growing availability in Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, France, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Holly Davis, Horsefly Group
770-674-4675  holly@horseflygroup.com

France: Lignieres CEI** 130 km

6/14/2014

The Royal Endurance Team of Bahrain dominated the CEI** 130 km ride at Lignieres, France on 14 June 2014.

Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa finished first aboard Raja du Roc'h in 5:32.46 for an average speed of 23.440 km/h. Following were Fahad Helal Mohammed Al Khatri on Pegase D'Altus in second place in 5:33.45, Jaafar Merza Abdulnabi Hassan on Presage de Crouz in third place in 5:33.46, and Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Zayed on Ramses El Quibi in fourth place in 5:33.47.

37 of 69 riders completed the course.

Photos by Osama Mohammed are here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/112590388649341553131/LignieresFranceCEI130Km6142014OsamaMohammedPhotos

2014 Nordic Baltic Championship

Nordic Baltic Championship in Froland, Norway – 28th June

by Leonard Liesens

This year it was Norway's turn to welcome the Nordic Baltic Championship, after Estonia last year. This championship gathers the Scandinavian (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland) and Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).

The Nordic Baltic is not only for endurance, as competitions of show jumping and dressage took place in the same province. The endurance event took place in the picturesque region of Froland, in the south of Norway ( enchanting lakes, rocks and forest).
The trail was challenging with gravel roads, forest pads and plenty of ups and downs. It hasn't rained in this part of Norway for weeks, so everything was dry as was the going in most of the course.

There were near fifty couple at the start of the two competitions: a CEI** of 120km for seniors and a CEI* of 80km for juniors.
Coached by the Belgian Leonard Liesens, the Norwegians clinched the gold medals in the two categories: juniors and seniors, team and individual. As the President (Per Anders Owren) and the Sport Manager of the Norwegian Federation were attending an endurance event for the first time, one couldn't dream about a better outcome for the day.

The CEI** was won by of one of the most experienced horse of Norway, Shah Nahim ridden by Vidar Ydstebo while the CEI*YR first place was won by Rita Eiesland riding Ka Piaget Virkku. Actually there were exactly the same horses winners as last year in Estonia.

Hunterdon riders make short list for World Equestrian Games team

By Lillian Shupe/Hunterdon County Democrat
July 01, 2014

Local equestrians are one step closer to going to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games later this summer.

Oldwick resident Sinead Halpin was named to the three-day eventing team. She will ride Manoir De Carneville Syndicate’s Manoir de Carneville. Halpin was a strong contender for the Olympic team two years ago but did not make the final cut.

Ballynoe Castle RM, a horse owned by Tewksbury Township residents Carl and Cassandra Segal, also made the team. He will be ridden by Buck Davidson.

Eventing has three phases — dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

Tewksbury Township native Doug Payne had his eye on a spot on the three-day eventing team but did not make the list. He and Halpin however, were named to the High Performance Summer/Fall Training Lists.

Both made the “World Class” list, meaning the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) believes they possess the ability to be competitive anywhere in the world. They will participate in training sessions with US Eventing’s Chef d’Equipe, David O’Connor.

Dr. Meg Sleeper of Kingwood Township has been named to the “short list” for the endurance riding team by the USEF.

She is currently ranked third on the list aboard Syrocco Reveille, a 14-year-old Arabian mare. If something happens and that horse can’t compete, Sleeper’s other horse Syrocco Cadence, an 11-year-old Arabian mare, is the first alternate.

Sleeper was one of two riders who represented the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance test event last summer. The ride was held at Sartilly in Manche, France.

Endurance rides are generally 50 to 100 miles long. Horses go through several thorough veterinary exams before, during and after a race. Heart rates, respiration and temperatures are closely monitored. Only horses deemed fit to continue at each vet check are allowed to keep going.

The World Equestrian Games will be held Aug. 21 to Sept. 9 in Normandy, France.

Hunterton County Democrat