Disbanding the French National Stud

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

July 4, 2014
Pamela Burton

4 July 2014, France ~ The recent announcement of the sale to private parties of some of the last stallions from the historic French National Stud seemed like the final nail in the last horseshoe of a 300+ year-old model—that was working.

The continued sell-off of stallions from pedigrees that served the French Cavalry, won tournaments of endurance and stamina, were tested for speed and came out champions, and became the backbone of the breeding industry of France, has been cause for alarm in the French breeding industry.

In a last-minute effort to save the remaining horses, a proposal to the Minister of Agriculture has been made to continue the genetic legacy that has been nurtured for over three centuries. A group of top officials have penciled a recommendation that would not sell, but would lease stallions of the National Stud, leaving them under the ownership of the people of France. This proposal is on the table and is awaiting offers from qualified breeders, according to the French news agency...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2014/07/04/disbanding-the-french-national-stud/

2014 WEG: Volunteers' Meeting: a day full of surprises!

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Friday 04 July 2014 - 08h40

Over 1,000 volunteers gathered on Saturday, June 28th in d'Ornano Stadium for the "volunteer's meeting" of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy. And they were right, as the afternoon was pretty amazing!

To start the day, volunteers attended a presentation of their duties during the Games. The opportunity to recall the key role that each of them will have to play to make this seventh edition of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games a success.

Many other guests then made presentations based on four tables related to each of the values ​​of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy - respect, openness, achievement, transmission. For each presentation, one or several guest speakers, and the crowd couldn't believe what was happening when both Pierre Durand and Nelson Pessoa, two legendary Jumping riders, appeared to talk about a value they know more than well: achievement !...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/briefs/537/volunteers-meeting-a-day-full-of-surprises

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