South Africa: In Honor of Zulu Liebenberg

Horsereporter.com - Full Story

October 10 2014
by Pamela Burton

We celebrate the life of Derek (Zulu) Liebenberg, (1960-2014), Naval Officer, South African National Equestrian Schools Association (SANESA), Endurance Ride Association of South Africa (ERASA), FEI Endurance Development Officer, Namibia and Botswana, husband and father.

The man the world knew as Zulu was born in Impangeni Zululand in KwaZulu Natal Provence on 28 February 1960. He served in the South African Navy for 12 years, first as a Navigator, then rose to the rank of Commander.

Zulu was instrumental in starting the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (SANESA) and was very involved in endurance riding and opening the door for South African riders on the international scene. He worked with other disciplines and helped to bring in the Brazilian Team of show jumpers who competed at the SANESA International Show jumping Competition held during the SANESA 2013 National Championships.

As an FEI Endurance Official, Zulu traveled to many countries to organize and help promote FEI endurance rides...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2014/10/10/in-honor-of-zulu-liebenberg/

Australia: Wagin Quilty Cup hailed a success

Waginargus.com.au - Full Story

October 7 2014

RIDING out at midnight is a feat in itself, riding out onto a foggy dark track, only guided by a mounted helmet headlamp is a venture that only a select few would undertake. Of the 101 riders that started the Tom Quilty Gold Cup in Wagin over the weekend, only 36 successfully completed the 100 miles in 24 hours. This included three from Victoria, five from Queensland, four from Tasmania, four from New South Wales, one adored veteran rider from South Australia and 19 buckle winners from our home soil, Western Australia.

Of course, the most exciting part of the event is who wins the Tom Quilty Gold Cup. And this year Jessica Langridge from Queensland riding Tarrangower Crecendo, an 18-year-old Arabian, won in a time of nine hours, 13 minutes and 25 seconds. This is Langridge's first trip to WA as well as her first Tom Quilty ride, so the whole event makes for a memorable trip...

Read more here:
http://www.waginargus.com.au/story/2610107/wagin-quilty-cup-hailed-a-success/

New Zealand: Horses in the mist: Endurance and trail-riding action

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Oct 13, 2014

Morning mist was little more than a hiccup for riders in Canterbury, New Zealand, who enjoyed a weekend of endurance and competitive trail riding in the sun.

The fog at the Tamara Farm venue near Cust quickly cleared with the heat of the spring sun, allowing riders to complete rides of up to 80km in near-perfect conditions.

Read more and see photos: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/10/13/horses-mist-endurance-trail-riding-action/#ixzz3G2MAhC00

South Africa: Top endurance official loses fight with cancer

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Oct 11, 2014

South African endurance stalwart Derek Liebenberg, an FEI 4-star judge and technical delegate, chief steward and course director, has lost his battle with cancer. The 54-year-old died on Wednesday.

Liebenberg, affectionately known as Zulu, was appointed as the FEI’s regional development officer for Africa in 1998 and worked tirelessly to develop endurance throughout southern Africa from his home in Johannesburg....

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/10/11/top-endurance-official-loses-fight-cancer/#axzz3Fme6QwEY

Australia: Bendigo horse enthusiast is riding high in endurance sport

Bendigoadvertiser.com.au - Full Article

By Raelee Tuckerman Oct. 10, 2014, 2 a.m.

Newspaper ad introduced horse enthusiast to an equestrian test of endurance

HORSE enthusiast Ange Nicholls answered a small “Riders Wanted” newspaper ad, hoping for an inexpensive way of getting back in the saddle after the birth of her first child.

What she got instead was an introduction to the sport of endurance riding - and a high-end industry that sees international buyers pay thousands of dollars for locally bred mounts.

“That’s how I met Vincent,” she says, referring to Campaspe Valley Arabians stud owner Vincent Comer, a veteran with three decades of experience in the endurance riding world.

“He was looking for someone to help exercise his horses. It’s not paid, but I meet him out at One Tree Hill and go for a ride for a couple of hours about once a week and I just love it.”

This arrangement has mutual benefits: Vincent has a dedicated volunteer to lend him a hand and Ange enjoys a regular riding fix without the cost and commitment of owning a horse.

The 35-year-old began competing in endurance events last year and recently completed her first 80km ride - winning the lightweight category on Miss Pasha in just over six and a half hours and also taking out the best conditioned horse in her division...

Read more here:
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/2616584/ange-is-riding-high/?cs=81

2015 Mongol Derby Filling Up Fast

The 2015 Derby is filling up fast, and with female applicants outnumbering males 2 to 1 it brings the question?

Where are all the boys?

The first four Mongol Derbies were won by the boys, but in 2013 the ladies came into ascendency. The first five finishers were girls, with 19 year old Lara Prior-Palmer taking the crown. In 2014 Sam Jones put her stamp on the derby, with the girls this time dominating the top 15.

Will 2015  be a chance for the chaps to win back some dignity or will the girls ride it home again? Are you a gent determined to wrestle back the title? Are you a lady equally determined to keep the title from their grasps?

Applications are still open...

More info at: http://www.theadventurists.com/mongol-derby/

Jessica Langridge and Tarrangower Crescendo win Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2014

October 4 2014

Winner of the Tom Quilty Gold Cup for 2014 is Jessica Langridge and Tarrangower Crecendo with a riding time of 9.13.25.

Jessica also received the Shareym Trophy as the first middleweight or heavyweight horse to complete the Tom Quilty Gold Cup and who has the most Quilty buckles to its credit up to and including the current event.

Tom Quilty Gold Cup 2014 Best Conditioned Awards
HW - Alan Mackinder & Jezabelle Sweet Dreams - 460 points
MW - Kristie Taprell & Castlebar Belair - 436 points
LW - Dianne Walsh & Razorback Silver Wings - 447 points
JNR - Colleen Krahnen & Kalkadoon Viva - 435 points