NZ adds voice to rising tide of concern over death of Splitters Creek Bundy

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | February 17, 2015

The head of Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ), responding to the harrowing demise of Splitters Creek Bundy in an Abu Dhabi endurance race, says her organisation will take a strong stance against any individual or organisation that fails to endorse high standards of horse welfare.

Chief executive Vicki Glynn added her voice to the rising tide of international concern over the death of the Australian-bred horse, who suffered two broken forelegs during the Al Reef national endurance event late last month.

“Endurance is an extreme sport and protecting our horses has to be the highest priority, always over and above the importance of the competition,” Glynn said...

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http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/02/17/nz-voice-global-concern-death-splitters-creek-bundy/

Abu Dhabi: Teeanger Al Mehairi claims President’s Cup glory

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Dedicates victory to Shaikh Mohammad after dominating rivals in gruelling 160km endurance ride

By Leslie Wilson Jr Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:15 February 14, 2015Gulf News

Abu Dhabi Teeanger Saeed Mohammad Khalifa Al Mehairi claimed the biggest victory of his burgeoning career when delivering a gripping performance in the final leg of the 160km CEI3* His Highness The President of the UAE Endurance Cup at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba on Saturday.

Representing the powerful MRM Stables aboard the eleven-year-old gleding Mureib, the talented 18-year-old rider made ever yard count in the 20km run to judge, to finish 50 seconds clear of second placed Suhail Ali Rashed Ali Al Ghailani (Khalifa) and Saeed Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi who finished third on Castlebar Tornedo...

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http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/teeanger-al-mehairi-claims-president-s-cup-glory-1.1456892

Crisis Mis-Management

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | February 13, 2015
by Pippa Cuckson

Two weeks after the Al Reef double fracture scandal, the FEI president has finally managed to say something, in this email today to national federations, a cut-and-paste embellishment of something sent to the many individuals and groups who have already written in to complain.

Call me a cynic, but it’s funny how the damage limitation machine only started to crank into action after the Daily Mail‘s Martin Samuel, a top sports columnist in the UK, queried on Monday if there was any sports body “less effective” than the FEI, and opined it was time for the International Olympic Committee to intervene.

I criticized the deafening silence from the FEI earlier this week, but maybe I should take it all back; it’s better for the morale of the global equestrian community to hang on to the hope that the FEI is taking this all seriously, than to see written confirmation that there is no such hope.

Here is Ingmar De Vos’s statement in full, with my comments bracketed in italics as we go along:...

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http://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/crisis-mis-management/#.VN4mj-ME4iU.facebook

Ninth global equestrian discipline announced: FEI Bashing

Horsetalk.co.nz
Neil Clarkson | February 15, 2015

Today is a red-letter day in international horse sport, with the first formal recognition of FEI Bashing – the ninth equestrian discipline to fall under the jurisdiction of the world governing body.

The FEI Bureau is expected to meet in coming days to form a committee which will develop the rules and formulate the all-important Code of Conduct.

The new sport already has a small band of hardened professionals playing within its ranks, with legions of amateurs, armed with keyboards and social media accounts, making a pretty good fist of it, too.

The new discipline is expected to enter the FEI’s ranks in the top tier, in terms of the number of participants. There is no need for pesky horses, nor expensive tack. FEI Bashing represents fun for all the family, and can even be played by those who don’t know the biting end of a horse from the kicking end.

[Read more ...]

Bahrain to host Ladies' World Championship

BNA.bh - Full Article

13/02/2015

Manama, Feb. 13. (BNA) -- Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa welcomed Bahrain's hosting of the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies' World Championship (IFAHR), which will be held under the auspices of the Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

Shaikh Nasser noted that hosting the event comes in implementation of the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, in order to develop horse sport on a global level as well as greater cooperation with the United Arab Emirates in this area.

He praised the interest of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of HM the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, and her commitment to the development of women's sport in Bahrain and in the Gulf region.

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad pointed out that the Kingdom of Bahrain will strive for the success of this important sporting event, which will be held for the first time on the island, stressing that Bahrain will start from now to prepare and organise the event.

International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Chairman Lara Sawaya announced in a Press conference held in the UAE that Bahrain is to host the Fatima bint Mubarak World Ladies Championship (IFAHR), with the presence of Bahrain Olympic Committee member Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) Assistant General Secretary Dr. Khalid Ahmed Hassan.

Lara Sawaya said that the event will be held in two days, the first day on March 13 and the second on March 14. The first day to be held at Rashid Horse Racing Club for horse racing event, while the second day to be held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village for endurance race event. She noted that Bahrain will organise this event as part of ongoing cooperation between UAE and Bahrain in various fields specially in the equestrian sport, stressing that Bahrain is able to ensure the success of all aspects of the event...

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http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/653969

Al Reef fatality: Investigation our top priority, says FEI president

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Feb 14, 2015 in News

FEI President Ingmar De Vos has written to national federations amid the growing storm around the Abu Dhabi endurance race in which a horse shattered his two front legs, assuring them that the world governing body’s investigation was a top priority.

Splitters Creek Bundy suffered his catastrophic leg breaks during the Al Reef Cup in Abu Dhabi late last month. The race was a national event run under the rules of the United Arab Emirates Equestrian Federation and was not under the jurisdication of the FEI...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/02/14/al-reef-fatality-investigation-priority-fei-president/#ixzz3RjZfrROJ

Danish equestrian body acts over Group 7 horse fatality

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Feb 14, 2015 in News

The Danish Equestrian Federation has imposed restrictions on the country’s riders wanting to compete in Middle Eastern endurance races staged under local rules, as the fallout from the death of a horse in an Abu Dhabi race continues.

The Dansk Ride Forbund says riders from the country will not be permitted to ride in Middle Eastern endurance races staged under national rules by any of the FEI’s Group 7 nations until the world governing body has provided clarifications around endurance practices in the region...

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http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/02/14/danish-horsesport-body-acts-group-7-fatality/#ixzz3RjZKRfS6