Scotland: Riding Outdoors Endurance or Trail Riding

Gallowaygazette.co.uk - Full Article

25/03/2015

Recently the Scottish Endurance Riding Club (Dumfries Branch) organised a pleasure/intro or taster short/long distance ride near Three Lochs, Kirkcowan.

The aim in endurance is to pace the united skills of horse and rider against the clock and bring a sound and happy horse “fit to continue“ home at a chosen speed. Pleasure ride windows are between 8kph or 5mph and 11kph or 6.85 mph.

A spokesperson for the club said: “With so much adverse publicity re endurance riding in group 7 countries there seems to be lots of unfair crit hanging over all endurance riders. In general (but of course there are always the few who let us down) horse welfare is one of our many challenges..."

Read more here:
http://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/sport/local-sport/riding-outdoors-endurance-or-trail-riding-1-3727462

Abu Dhabi Endurance Festival on Thursday

Khaleejtimes.com

25 March 2015

The organisers have provided prize-money and 36 cars for the participants.

Abu Dhabi — Over 300 riders will be in the fray in three different rides that are part of the Abu Dhabi Endurance Festival to be staged over two days starting from Thursday at the Emirates International Endurance Village.

The rides are being held under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in coordination with the Emirates Equestrian Federation and the Emirates Endurance Village. The organisers have provided prize-money and 36 cars for the participants.

“We are delighted to announce the launch of the Festival which contains the 100-km Private Stables Ride and the 100-km Abu Dhabi Festival Women Ride on Thursday and the 120-km CEN Abu Dhabi Endurance Festival ride on Friday,” said Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club who addressed a Press conference on Tuesday along with Lara Sawaya. “All arrangements are well in place to implement the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan,” he added.

Sawaya commented: “We are obliged to Shaikh Mansour and Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for their continued support.”

UAE: Not So Untouchable?

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | March 23, 2015

For years, the FBI failed to pin down Al Capone for racketeering, but a special squad known as the “Untouchables” finally found a way to send him prison – tax evasion.

For years, the FEI has failed to nail UAE endurance for horse abuse, the running of ringers and field-of-play violations on an industrial scale, due to the reluctance of witnesses, the turning of a blind eye by corrupt or lazy officials, and the invidiousness of the 30-minute rule for protests.

But now there is a glimmer of hope that at least the UAE’s equestrian federation, the EEF, is not quite as untouchable as it thought...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/not-so-untouchable/

Canadians to Contest to the Mongol Derby

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

March 23, 2015
by: Mongol Derby

This is the 7th Mongol Derby, featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race. The 2015 race features 41 riders from 14 countries – including three Canadians – riding 1,000km across Mongolia on semi-wild horses.

It’s hard, it’s risky, people get injured. But people still come back for more.

The race has seen everyone from MP’s to stunt riders compete – so why do people enter?

Entries for 2015 include phrases such as:

“I want to ride across the fatherland of equine evolution.”

“I believe that The Mongol Derby is a positive event to join as it supports the Mongol horse culture and way of life.”

“I read that the 2014 winner almost pooped in her pants. If it is the price to pay for riding in the Mongol Derby I am in for it.”

As well as the usual smattering of equestrian professionals this year’s line-up features a diverse cocktail of the human race – from solicitors to firemen to nomads…

See the 2015 riders:...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/canadians-to-contest-to-the-mongol-derby/

Great Britain: After 50 years West’s greatest horse race could finally be over

Westernmorningnews.co.uk - Full Article

By Western Morning News | Posted: March 22, 2015
by Mike Bramhall

The 50th running of one of Britain's toughest endurance horse races across Westcountry 'wilds' could also be its last.

For half a century, the Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor has tested riders and horses to the limit over a 100-mile course which takes in some of the most remote moorland in southern England.

The three-day event, starting on May 17, also features a series of other rides, and attracts more than 200 riders and supporters who pump more than £60,000 into the Exmoor economy.

But as organisers gear up for the golden anniversary meeting, Barbara Wigley, chair of the organising committee, said she feared it could be the final furlong for the cherished event.

She said: "It is the 50th and possibly the last. It is my last – I have been chairman for the past nine years – and I am stepping down, as are the rest of the committee.

"It has taken over my life. We are looking for someone from Endurance GB to take it over, but no one has come forward yet. There needs to be a rescue plan. But if this is going to be the last one, we will go out with a bang."

Read more: http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/50-years-West-8217-s-greatest-horse-race-finally/story-26206339-detail/story.html#ixzz3V875k0zL

France pushes anti-doping stance at Dubai Horse Fair

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | March 22, 2015

France’s arabian horse society is using its stand at the Dubai Horse Fair to promote clean sport within endurance riding.

The Dubai Horse Fair opened this weekend, and François Atger, the chairman of the French Arabian Horse Society (ACA), said the organisation wanted to take a stand against doping.

“I am personally scandalized by the lack of reaction on the part of our national bodies. Such shortcomings have motivated us all the more to become implicated in public awareness and to appeal for everyone to come to terms with an ethical practice of the sport. Hence the reason for us being here at the Dubai International Horse Fair and the message we wish to convey,” he said...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/03/22/france-pushes-anti-doping-dubai-horse-fair/

AERC President Requests Voluntary AERC Member Support of UAE Suspension

March 20 2015
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

In light of the FEI's suspension of the UAE National Federation from international equestrian events for "an indeterminate period following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in the discipline of Endurance," current AERC President Michael Campbell has issued the following statement:

"I have a personal request, just from me, for AERC members. While the UAE is suspended by FEI for various acts of cheating and equine abuse, I ask that AERC members forgo riding in UAE events and refuse to sell their horses to UAE purchasers. I also ask that AERC [Ride Managers] refuse entry to riders from the UAE until the suspension is lifted. I hope AERC will support the FEI suspension until UAE is rehabilitated and may be welcomed back into the sport."

The FEI/UAE controversy has been building since 2013, and the multiple scandals, including alleged cheating, horse drugging, 'ringers', and faked races, finally led to the UAE suspension on March 12 2015.

It should be noted that at the AERC Conference in Reno, Nevada on March 6 and 7 (before the UAE's suspension), USA International rider Heather Reynolds announced that the USA horses and riders that were invited to compete in a 160-km race in the UAE this spring had already declined to participate, in support of the AERC's stance regarding the FEI/UAE.