New Zealand: Hamilton woman given last minute chance to ride in the Mongol Derby

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

RACHEL THOMAS
Last updated 19:02, June 3 2015

A Hamilton woman has been given a last minute chance to take part in the world's longest horse race, but she needs a leg-up to get there.

Isabella Campbell made a late entry to the Mongol Derby, a 1000 km race across the wild Mongolian steppe following Genghis Khan's postal route. She found out she was accepted last week as one of 40 other riders from around the world.

"Generally just over half the people make it over the finish line, so making it over that finish line is a massive goal, it's basically my life dream..."

Read more here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/69062126/hamilton-woman-given-last-minute-chance-to-ride-in-the-mongol-derby

British endurance riders conquer Kings Forest

Horseandcountry.tv - Full Article

By Charlotte Ricca-Smith on 5th-Jun-2015

British Endurance riders swept the board at the CEI Kings Forest Endurance Event in Suffolk at the weekend (30-31 May).

'So proud'

Chris Wray and Takwenya won the CEI3* 160km (100 mile) event. Chris completed the course in a time of 9 hours, 51 minutes and 55 seconds. He was followed 20 minutes later by Fiona Griffiths, who took second place with Oliver Twist IV.
“Takwenya was absolutely great all day,” said Chris. “We trotted most of the ride, only cantering if she wanted a change of pace. But on the final loop we cantered more than the previous five loops put together – she just ate up the ground. Her trot-ups were amazing all day. I’m so proud of my wonderful mare...”

Read more here:
http://www.horseandcountry.tv/news/2015/06/05/british-endurance-riders-conquer-kings-forest

Format changes could be in place for WEG in 2018, says FEI president

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | 4 June 2015

Format changes in the key disciplines could be in place for the next World Equestrian Games, FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos says.

De Vos, who ended a New Zealand visit yesterday, provided a potential time-frame for the implementation of changes which the FEI hopes will result in tighter and easier-to-follow formats that are likely to win greater favour with broadcasters...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/06/04/format-changes-weg-2018-fei-president/#ixzz3cCBVYcsH

UAE: Khalifa issues law on horse racing

Emirates247.com - Full Article

Cabinet issues implementation regulations

By Wam
Published Monday, June 01, 2015

The President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued Federal Law No. 7 of 2015 to combat the trade or use of banned substances in horse racing and equestrian sports events in the UAE. The Cabinet has also issued the Implementing Regulations of the new law.

The law aims to protect legitimate competition in the sport and eliminate fraud while promoting the principle of sportsmanship. It will also encourage research on combatting banned materials in horse racing and equestrian events, help develop the detection process in order to maximise the effectiveness of preventive strategies and educate owners and professionals about the seriousness of the use of prohibited substances.

The new law is applicable in equestrian sports that include any local, regional and international contests or competition dedicated to horses, which include, without limitation, Endurance, Flat, training of horses, polo and events related to beauty...

Read more here:
http://www.emirates247.com/news/government/khalifa-issues-law-on-horse-racing-2015-06-01-1.592527

50th Tom Quilty and Tracy Hofstrand: Riding the Continents

May 31 2015
by Merri Melde-Endurance.net

Horse riding and travel often go hand in hand. Californian Tracy Hofstrand is attempting to ride on all of the continents (Antarctica excluded, though she plans a visit there). Being an endurance rider, and being that Australia is another continent to conquer, and that the country just happens to hold a challenging endurance ride in the Tom Quilty, it was an obvious choice for Tracy to ride in it. "It is a difficult ride, a national championship. Also the ride has the most entries that I will ride in! It is bigger than Tevis which I did in 2012," Tracy says. "It offers a nice buckle for completion awards, has a big party afterwards, and the people are very generous and friendly."

Tracy's been riding endurance for 13 seasons, and has close to 3000 AERC miles. She will be riding Deanna and Roy Trevena’s 11-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding Dumaresq Jackson. "Jack" has competed in endurance for 6 seasons; he completed the 2009 Shahzada 120-km Mini Marathon, and the 2014 400-km Shahzada. Tracy's husband Jeff will be her strapper for the ride.

She's looking forward to seeing the Sydney, Australia area, visiting friends and hosts Lee-anne and Charlie Guaci whom she met on the 2011 XP ride, riding the trail, and making new friends. Most of all, with a bit of luck, "I'm most looking forward to coming home with a buckle to keep my Tevis buckle company!"

The Quilty will stream live - bookmark this link: http://www.tomquilty15.com/

For more stories, photos, adventures and results, see
http://www.endurance.net/international/Australia/2015TomQuilty/

Mongol Derby: A Party and One Last Ride on Canadian Soil

Horse-canada.com - Full story

Desk to Derby Blog | May 29, 2015

I’m now in my final week of work before I drive down to Moab to reconnect with Christoph Schork for six weeks of Mongol Derby boot camp.

Last weekend, I had my last run on a racehorse and as I rounded the final lap of a three mile gallop, it hit me how much stronger and braver a rider I’ve become over the last eight months. Eight months ago I couldn’t gallop half a mile without coughing and sputtering and feeling my legs build with lactic acid. Eight months ago I’d nearly crap my pants if a horse started spooking and bucking underneath me. I guess that’s the reality of returning to riding in your mid-30s after a seven-year hiatus.

As I cantered one of my friend’s green ponies, she also commented that my confidence had improved. “You know, I didn’t know if you’d be able to do it, you were so timid when you started back at it,” she said...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/desk-to-derby/a-party-and-one-last-ride-on-canadian-soil/

Emirates Equestrian Federation launches new Committee to review and strengthen UAE Endurance riding

EEF.ae

Underlining its commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the sport, the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) has established an Endurance Committee to oversee a review into national and international endurance rides in the United Arab Emirates.
The Endurance Committee, which will be under the direct observation of the UAE's National Olympic Committee, will seek to work closely with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to ensure that the world governing body's rules and regulations are applied in all endurance races in the UAE.

The review follows the FEI’s decision in March to suspend the EEF following an investigation into endurance racing in the UAE.

Taleb Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the Emirates Equestrian Federation, said: "As the governing body of equestrian sports in the UAE, it is our goal to pursue excellence while promoting the growth of the sport and safeguarding the welfare of equine and human athletes. We recognise the best way to achieve this is to work closely with the FEI, the international governing authority, and as such have decided to withdraw our appeal against the suspension.

"The EEF has always sought to uphold the highest standards in horse and athlete welfare and integrity. The Endurance Committee will look to build further on those standards, working in collaboration with the FEI, and ensure that the FEI's rules and regulations are applied in endurance racing across the UAE.”