UAE: Doubts raised over ‘bogus’ endurance race

Horse & Hound
Pippa Cuckson, March 5 2015
Allegations that a qualification race held in Dubai last month (21 January) was bogus has led to questions on how the FEI verifies the authenticity of competition results.

Sources in the UAE have told H&H that a 120km CEI listed ride did not take place. It was a late addition to the FEI calendar, and records a completion rate of 91% (41 horses out of 45), which surpasses any ride in Europe during 2014 and is nearly three times the normal completion rate in a Middle East CEI.

No overseas riders or officials were listed as participating, despite the large winter presence of visiting riders. No pictures can be traced and it is not mentioned on the UAE federation or Dubai Equestrian Club websites.

A FEI spokesman told H&H: “The CEI2* Dubai, which took place on 21 January 2015, was run as a qualifier for the President’s Cup (CEI3* Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba). The event was properly entered in the FEI calendar and, as per FEI requirements, a draft schedule was submitted and approved by the FEI headquarters. The results, officials’ reports, and vet cards were received on time and validated by the FEI headquarters.

“There was certainly a high completion rate at this particular event, but the efficacy of any
set of rules in any discipline cannot be judged on the basis of a single event.

“The FEI is constantly assessing its rules to ensure that they remain relevant.”

[More ...]

Great Britain: Hundreds of young horses to be assessed in bumper Futurity year

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Alice Collins
27 February, 2015

The 11 venues and 12 dates for the 2015 BEF Futurity evaluation series have been announced. Due to low uptake in recent years, Scotland will no longer host a Futurity show.

More than 800 horses are likely to be assessed this year, a major leap up from the first shows in 2005, when 100 horses were forward.

The BEF’s head of equine development Jan Rogers said: “We are increasingly finding that breeders, buyers and riders of British-bred horses are finding a Futurity premium is a very useful aid in helping assess these horses.

“We are also seeing a marked improvement in the standard of youngsters entered in the Futurity, which is very good news for the future of British breeding.”

The evaluations are open to horses and ponies from foals to three-year-olds and aim to identify British-bred potential sport horses destined for top level careers in dressage, eventing, showjumping or endurance.

The Futurity is fast becoming recognised as an important first step in the careers of many potential top level horses and provides a valuable marketing tool for breeders...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/hundreds-of-horses-to-be-assessed-in-bumper-futurity-year-476153#RRyJm1eQFzxOI1Ez.99

Calgary cattle rancher, former local journalist to compete in world's longest horse race

Calgaryherald.com - Full Article

CLARA HO, CALGARY HERALD
More from Clara Ho, Calgary Herald
Published on: March 2, 2015

It’s billed as the longest and toughest horse race in the world, taking competitors astride semi-wild equines on a 1,000-kilometre trek through the Mongolian grassland while exposed to the elements and unfamiliar terrain.

And a local oilman-turned-cattle rancher and former Calgary copy editor are among the 40 competitors saddling up in a bid to win the derby crown this summer.

Bruce Chernoff and Liz Brown are taking on the 7th annual Mongol Derby, which recreates Genghis Khan’s ancient horse messenger system, used for rapid intelligence gathering and communication.

Both amateur and professional riders alike from around the world sign up for the challenge, despite the risk of injury and even death...

Read more here:
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/calgary-cattle-rancher-former-local-journalist-to-compete-in-worlds-longest-horse-race

UAE: Excitement builds for third desert triathlon

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Unique March 13 event combines endurance riding with running and cycling

Staff Report
Published: 20:50 March 2, 2015

Dubai: The third edition of the Dubai Desert Triathlon, to be held on March 13, has generated significant excitement within the triathlon and endurance horse riding communities in the UAE and Middle East.

The Dubai Sports Council (DSC), in partnership with Meydan, debuted this innovative event — which combines the traditional Emirati heritage sport of endurance horse racing with the triathlon disciplines of running and cycling — in April 2014.

“We are very pleased with the response we have had from teams, triathletes and endurance riders so far. This is the third running of the Dubai Desert Triathlon and we see this as the new sport from the Middle East,” said a spokesperson from DSC.

“This event showcases not only the strength of these sports in Dubai and the region, but also the creativity and innovation which has become Dubai’s international trademark...”

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/uae/excitement-builds-for-third-desert-triathlon-1.1465539

Middle Eastern endurance: Do not pass Go, do not collect $200

Neil Clarkson
Horsetalk.co.nz

My friends gave up playing Monopoly against me many years ago. Apparently, I’m not much fun to play against.

It wasn’t about cheating. Apparently, I’m too officious and determined, and revel in the fact I’m slowly grinding my opponents into poverty with my hefty rents and expansive property holdings.

It was a case of going directly to the doghouse without passing Go and without collecting $200.

The lesson, learned rather belatedly, is that if you don’t play nice, eventually no-one will want to play with you.

It seems, after several years of controversy around welfare issues, doping infractions, and what would seem to be a pretty loose interpretation of the rules, the nations at the centre of the endurance controversy in the Middle East might have to learn this lesson, too.

[More ...]

Middle Eastern endurance: Do not pass Go, do not collect $200

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | March 2, 2015

My friends gave up playing Monopoly against me many years ago. Apparently, I’m not much fun to play against.

It wasn’t about cheating. Apparently, I’m too officious and determined, and revel in the fact I’m slowly grinding my opponents into poverty with my hefty rents and expansive property holdings.

It was a case of going directly to the doghouse without passing Go and without collecting $200.

The lesson, learned rather belatedly, is that if you don’t play nice, eventually no-one will want to play with you.

It seems, after several years of controversy around welfare issues, doping infractions, and what would seem to be a pretty loose interpretation of the rules, the nations at the centre of the endurance controversy in the Middle East might have to learn this lesson, too...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/03/02/middle-eastern-endurance-do-not-pass-go-do-not-collect-200/

Great Britain: Go the distance on Exmoor this spring and try one of its long distance trails

Easier.com - Full Article

26th February 2015

Celebrating the recent of announcement of an injection of £637,050 Government funding into West Somerset's Steam Coast Trail, Visit Exmoor looks at some of its other well-known Trails that provide a breath-taking network of multi—user paths for walkers, cyclists, runners and in many cases wheelchair users.

The Steam Coast Trail will provide a multi-use coastal path between Minehead and Williton, creating a traffic-free route open to walkers and cyclists between Minehead, Dunster, Carhampton, Blue Anchor, Washford, Watchet and Williton. It will weave walkers, cyclists, runners and wheelchair users through 36km of glorious countryside and in and out of picturesque heritage towns and railway villages. Find out more at: steamcoasttrail.org.

There are already five very popular Trails criss-crossing the amazing Exmoor landscape and probably the best known of all is the South West Coast Path. It's the country's longest path and it starts by traversing the rugged coastline of Exmoor. The total length is 630 miles from Minehead to Poole Harbour via Lands' End. The first section across Exmoor is widely acknowledged as one of the highlights and this can usually be completed in three days from Minehead to Combe Martin.

For those who like to link some culture to their outdoor activities, The Coleridge Way is the perfect walk for fans of the Romantic Poets. At 51 miles this is a great introduction to long distance walking and links the Quantock Hills with Exmoor National Park charting the paths that the likes of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Wordsworth, Shelley and Byron followed while writing some of their most influential works. The original route opened in 2007 running a total of 36 miles from Nether Stowey to Porlock. In 2014 an extension was added to make a walk 51miles in total length running between Nether Stowey and Lynmouth.

The route starts at Nether Stowey where Coleridge once lived, passing through the Quantock and Brendon hills before traversing the high moorland of Exmoor. The route then drops down to picturesque Porlock before heading inland via the wild Doone Valley and finishing on the coast at the pretty harbour side of Lynmouth. There is an optional short extension to Poets Corner high above in the Valley of Rocks. For more information: coleridgeway.co.uk

For experienced horse riders, there is also The Coleridge Way Bridleway, a route open to horse riders and cyclists as well as walkers. Much of it follows the same route as the walking route, other than a short section on the Brendon Hills and the final route from Wheddon Cross which instead of skirting the east side of Dunkery Beacon follows the southern slopes and finishes in the village of Exford which is a traditional centre for riding within Exmoor...

Read more here:
http://www.easier.com/129274-go-the-distance-on-exmoor-this-spring-and-try-one-of-its-long-distance-trails.html