Swiss Willing to Boycott 2016 World Endurance Championships in Dubai

February 24 2015

Statement of the Swiss Equestrian Federation regarding various incidents in endurance races
(English version of the Swiss press release)

The Swiss Equestrian Federation SEF is outraged by recent dramatic incidents that have arisen in endurance, especially during the Al Reef Cup in Abu Dhabi. It calls upon the International Equestrian Federation FEI to examine the conditions, both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE), to take immediate and effective measures as well as to continue to act accordingly. It is paramount that the welfare of the horse comes first. As the governing body of equestrian sports, the FEI must find ways to enable the application of sanctions against national federations, which tolerate mistreatment during their national races.
Furthermore, the SEF reserves therefore the right under these circumstances to not attend the Elite Endurance World Championships 2016 in Dubai.

In recent weeks the endurance season (group VII of the FEI) in the Middle Eastern countries has been in full swing. Some events left strong traces in the media and on other social platforms and have indicated again in dramatic proportions, that the new regulations of the FEI have not been adopted by all national associations and have respectively not been sufficiently enforced by the FEI officials.

The SVPS is outraged with regard to the horrific events i.e., (multiple fractures in racing, positive doping tests, prohibited manipulations, various rule infringements, as well as too many grooms and vehicles per horse etc...) in various national and international events.
It calls urgently upon the FEI, to take immediate and effective measures and to act accordingly.

Given the dramatic incidents of recent weeks, the Danish Federation has already issued a conditional start ban for its riders on events of the group VII of the FEI. The SVPS also strongly advises its endurance riders not to start in eventual races in these countries. Taking part in such races is currently incompatible with Membership of the Swiss elite team.

Under the circumstances, the SEF finds it at this moment also impossible and incompatible with its mission statement for the welfare of the horse, to participate in the next Elite World Endurance Championships 2016 in Dubai (UAE).
The SEF, therefore, reserves the decision, to not attend the WEC 2016 and to not send any riders.

Additional Information:
- Dr. Charles F. Trolliet, President of the Swiss Federation for Equestrian Sports,
Tel. +41 79 205 32 91, e-mail: trolliet@swissonline.ch
- Dr. Claude Nordmann, International Relations, Swiss Federation for Equestrian Sports
Tel. +41 79 353 75 54 E-mail: claude.nordmann@bluewin.ch

Abu Dhabi: 10 cars on offer for endurance rides on weekend

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Activities for children, families also on anvil
staff reportPublished: 14:07 February 22, 2015

St. Moritz, Switzerland: Ten 4WD cars will be on offer for the top five who finish in next week’s 100-km Shaikha Fatma Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup on Friday (February 27) and the 100-km Shaikh Mohammad Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup For local Stables (February 28), to be held at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba.

The event is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club under the directives of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of UAE and Minister of Presidential Affairs as part of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival with the support of Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak.

Speaking to the media at the Kempinski Hotel in St. Moritz before the third leg of the Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race, Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the Int’l Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committee in the Int’l Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities ( IFAHR) said: “The top five finishers in each race will drive away a brand new 4WD, bringing the total to 10 cars...”

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/10-cars-on-offer-for-endurance-rides-on-weekend-1.1460653

Bahrain: Al Khatri claims King's Cup Endurance title

BNA.bh - FUll Article

21/02/2015

Manama, Feb21(BNA) - Fahad Hilal Al Khatri claimed the seniors' category title in the King's Cup Endurance Race Championship, organised by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) and held at the Bahrain International Endurance Village.

The seniors' ride covered a total distance of 120km and juniors' event was for 80km, with the participation of a large number of riders from the Bahrain Royal Team and other local stables, and with the follow-up of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee President Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports First Deputy Chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association President Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and BREEF President Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

Khatri from Victorious Team was followed by Ghazi Al Dossary from Al Ruood team in second place, while Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa from Al Zaeem Team came third...

Read more here:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/655210

Australian officials to meet over demise of Splitters Creek Bundy

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | February 17, 2015

Senior endurance figures in Australia will meet with board members from Equestrian Australia this week, as the fallout from the death of Splitters Creek Bundy from two broken front legs in an Abu Dhabi endurance race continues.

The Australian-bred horse suffered the fatal injuries late last month in the Al Reef Cup, with harrowing images of his plight before euthanasia causing outrage in the global endurance community...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/02/17/australian-officials-demise-splitters-creek-bundy/

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...

Read more here:
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...

Read more here:
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:...

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