Canadian Endurance Team Races Through the Trenches

Canadalovesweg.com - Full Article

August 29 2014

Equine Canada Communications - One hundred and sixty-five horse-and-rider combinations, representing 42 nations, set off on the five-loop, 160 km endurance race across the coast of Sartilly, FRA on August 28. With unfavourable weather conditions the trails turned to mud trenches sinking a foot deep causing issues on course. Canadians took on the race with a strategic plan and several tactics to approach the race technically.

Reflecting on the race day, Chef d'Equipe Maura Leahy remarked, "We came into this event expecting to have four personal bests. So it was disappointing having not completed, but that is a part of Endurance. Everybody, the riders, crews and officials have done a wonderful job getting the horses through the loops. We are glad to have four healthy and happy horses and humans."

Leading the Canadians was Jessica Manness of Dugald, BC and Greater Glide (Flaming Tigre X Flaming Streak), her 13-year-old Arabian gelding. They completed four loops in 9:58:40 staying at a consistent pace. At the end of the fourth loop Manness entered the veterinary inspection. It was determined that the horses may have some electrolyte imbalances earning a ME veterinary check code meaning the horse has a metabolic concern. After further testing and treatment for the decreased electrolytes in the veterinary clinic Greater Glide was released with a clean bill of health.

"We were in the middle of the pack to start which is where I wanted to be," commented Manness. "Before we started I set all the times I wanted to achieve and I stayed on them until our last loop. The trail was harder than I had anticipated. It was muddy and had a lot of hills across the in-lands. The second loop was mostly on the beach and on the asphalt roads. My immediate concern was how the hard ground would impact my horse, but he isn't showing any signs of soreness which is good..."

Read more here:
http://www.canadalovesweg.com/news/canadian-endurance-team-races-through-trenches

2014 WEG: Best Condition for Laiza de Jalima

Sindy Thomas photo
Normandy2014.com

Friday 29 August 2014 - 18h30

The Best Condition Award was given to Laiza de Jalima, Marijke Visser’s mare. The horse and rider finished second in the individual Endurance competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

"She’s a little mare, a tiny one in fact, but absolutely a joy to ride, very courageous and capable of big results”, the Dutch rider said after the awards ceremony, which was held in front of a jammed-packed D'Ornano Stadium. Born in France to owner Jean-Claude Guillaume, a few kilometers from Monaco, the mare, sired by Ismael d'Aubanel, was sent to the United Arab Emirates just before turning seven years old. Her preparation for the Games, however, took place in Belgium.

World Equestrian Games: Shaikh Hamdan strikes gold in France

WAM Photo
Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Dubai Crown Prince emulates success of his brother in 2002 with endurance success

By Leslie Wilson Jr
Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 21:27 August 28, 2014

Normandy, France: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, scaled the summit of his sport to win the individual gold medal in the endurance event at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, on Thursday.

Riding 2013 European Open Champion Yamamah, Shaikh Hamdan secured his place among endurance riding’s elite with a domineering performance over a challenging 160-kilometre course to win in eight hours, eight minutes and 28 seconds.
Dutch rider Marike Visser finished a competitive second in a time of 08:19.17s.

Shaikh Hamdan’s success was the UAE’s second gold in the event after his brother Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE National Olympic Committee, became the youngest champion and first Arab to win a gold medal at the World Equestrian Games when successful at Jerez, Spain, in 2002...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/world-equestrian-games-shaikh-hamdan-strikes-gold-in-france-1.1377962

Sheikh Hamdan wins endurance gold at World Equestrian Games

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed on Yamamah in Normandy, western France. Ian Kangsdon / EPA
Thenational.ae - Full Article

Amith Passela
August 28, 2014

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed produced a riding masterclass on Yamamah to win the endurance gold medal at the Altech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy on Thursday.

The Dubai Crown Prince battled through rain and muddy conditions after his four teammates fell out of contention in one go at the end of the third loop, finishing first in a field of 173 riders from 47 nations.

Sheikh Hamdan completed the gruelling, 160-kilometre trip in 8 hours, 8 minutes and 28 seconds, then had to spend some anxious moments until the 15-year-old bay mare cleared the final veterinary test and the celebration began in the UAE camp. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who attended the race, was full of praise for his son.

“I used to give them [the UAE riders] instructions and advise during the races, but I have stopped that now, because they are now well-versed and very experienced riders and can read the situation of the race,” Sheikh Mohammed told TV cameras afterward.

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/sheikh-hamdan-wins-endurance-gold-at-world-equestrian-games#ixzz3Bn6d6LcS

Postcard: Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Endurance

Equisearch.com - Full Article

Time for a field trip from Caen to a beautiful and quaint section of France about 90 minutes away in Sartilly, where the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance race was held.

By Nancy Jaffer | Aug 28, 2014

August 28, 2014 -- I didn't go to the WEG endurance championship for the competition; I went for the scenary. The drawing card was being able to photograph horses against the backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel, one of France's most famous landmarks. It's an eighth-century island fortress, a little more than a half-mile off the coast, topped by a monastery and an abbey. Below them are shops, restaurants and housing for the 44 residents.

Truth be told, the commercial area is basically a tourist trap, but the structure is so lovely that it is wonderful to look at, especially from a distance, where its statuesque beauty really can be appreciated.

Two loops of the endurance race were run on and near the beach, with Mont Saint-Michel as a backdrop. People turned out to see the horses canter across the sand, just a few feet from them. It was cool to look up on the dunes and see that someone brought several horses to watch.

The endurance mounts provided a contrast to the painstaking turnout of the dressage horses I've been writing about for the last three days. It ranges from scrappy to utilitarian, with tack to match. This is no pleasure ride; they're going 100 miles and doing it fast to get the medals. Unlike the dressage warmbloods, these horses are mostly Arabians or half-Arabs, without an extra ounce of fat on them. Some, frankly, look skinny.

- See more at: http://www.equisearch.com/article/postcard-endurance-25088#sthash.wytztor2.dpuf

WEG Endurance: A tough day at the office

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Neil Clarkson on Aug 29, 2014 in Featured, Focus, WEG 2014

The FEI has been singing the praises of its world championship endurance race in Normandy, but I’m yet to be convinced that everyone will see it that way.

No doubt the views of the competitors will emerge over the next few days, but certainly there are questions swirling around a race in which only 38 of 174 competitors finished.

That’s 174 of the world’s elite endurance horses and 174 of the finest riders, competing in a race in which only 22.4 percent of them finished...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/08/29/weg-endurace-tough-day-office/#ixzz3Bn5SOX9D

UAE wins WEG endurance gold; 136 in field eliminated

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Aug 29, 2014

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum led all the way to win the 160km endurance contest at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France, riding the Australian-bred mare Yamamah in a race where only 22% of starters completed the race.

Just 38 horses from the 174 starters finished. Only three countries had the minimum of three riders in contention by the end of the race.

Twenty horses failed to complete the first loop, which was marred by the death of Costa Rican horse Dorada, who hit a tree in an accident 13.6km into the first loop and about 400m from the first check point.

[Read More ...]