New Zealand: Clean Sport Testing Officials

NZEquestrian.org.nz

17 July 2015

Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) is looking to recruit and train Clean Sport Testing Officials to carry out the National and FEI Clean Sport Programme.

As a Clean Sport Testing Official you will have exceptional organisational, coordination and communication skills. You will work alongside ESNZ National Office, Event Organising Committee members, Event Secretaries, Veterinarians, Riders and the person responsible for the horse/pony to ensure that Clean Sport is promoted positively and run efficiently and effectively during the event.

You will also be able to think fast and be flexible when circumstances change. Adherence to the rules, confidentiality, fairness and integrity are core principles of ESNZ Clean Sport, you will also have a natural empathy when dealing with those being tested as the process can be daunting at times.

Full training will be provided.

Please note this volunteer role does attract remuneration of $50 per test plus travel. You will be required to hold full ESNZ membership.

If you would like further information on this role or would like to apply, please do so by emailing the National Sport Administrator: nicky@nzequestrian.org.nz

Devan Horn, Mongol Derby Veteran, Returns for 'Round Two'

by Merri Melde-Endurance.net
July 16 2015

It wasn't in her plans, but Texan Devan Horn will return to Mongolia to contest the 7th renewal of the Mongol Derby on August 5-15. Billed as "the longest and toughest horse race in the world," it traverses the Mongolian Steppe, following part of Genghis Khan's 13th century relay postal system (think the US Pony Express on super steroids), with riders navigating by map and GPS, and changing horses every 40 km at Urtuus, or stations, eating and sleeping with locals in their gers, or eating and camping out in the open. The Mongolian ponies are billed as "semi-wild." Danger and hardships are guaranteed; so is an incredible experience of a lifetime.

The Adventurists, who put on the Mongol Derby, put out a call only weeks earlier to veteran Mongol Derby riders, hoping to fill spots after several dropouts for this year's Derby. "After some hard thinking, some meditation, a couple of cocktails, and some of the most rigorous fitness testing I've ever put my body through, I've decided it's time to pick up the proverbial sword again," Horn said.

It was the 2013 Mongol Derby, where Horn crossed the finish line first after riding a ‘near immaculate race’, but received a 2 hour penalty when her horse did not pulse down in the required time, which gave the victory to Britain Lara Prior-Palmer, second over the finish line an hour later.

Despite the short notice, Devan is ready to have another go. "In 2013, I rode with all my heart and all my strength. This year, my heart and my strength are far greater, and I mean to ride as best I can."

Mongol Derby participants are required to raise money for charity, and Horn's chosen charity is the Houston SPCA, a place near and dear to her heart.

Over 20 riders from around the world (USA, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Canada, Norway, South Africa) are expected to participate.

Check out the contestants, and stay tuned for updates at

http://www.endurance.net/international/Mongolia/2015MongolDerby/

British Success at Kings Forest

Endurancegb.co.uk

12th July - (Published:14 July 2015)

Sunday 12th July saw riders from GB, Netherlands and Ireland compete in the international classes at Kings Forest, close to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. This was the second international ride there this year, organised by Dianne Luke.

The CEI3* 160km winner, Nicola Thorne, riding L M 42 led the pack for the majority of the race and also took Best Condition.

In second place was Annette Masterson, who represented GB at the 2014 World Equestrian Games, on Millenium Chorus and third went to Louise Rich on Oakleazefarm Cziko. Fourth went to Dutch rider, Donna Oudshoorn riding Sera.

Donna rode at the 2012 World Endurance Championships at Euston Park for the Netherlands on her horse, Karrimh, who tragically fell and died shortly after in Newmarket. Donna made the trip over to England to compete her new horse Sera in his first 3* to commemorate Karrimh.

In the 120km CEI2* the win went to Harry Ingram riding Warrens Hill Chayze, second to David Yeoman on Trop Vite Azureen, who also won Best Condition and third to Andrea Champ on Druimghigha Luxor.

The 80km CEI1* winner Kathy Carr riding Aberllwyd Femme Fatalle won Best Condition. Second place went to Sharon Parr who was also riding a Warrens Hill horse, Warrens Hill Troy.

Canadian Endurance Team Named for 2015 NAJRYC

Horse-canada.com

July 9, 2015
by: Equine Canada

Equine Canada and Endurance Canada are pleased to announce the two young athletes who will represent Canada at the 2015 Adequan/FEI North American Junior and Young Rider Championship (NAJYRC), set to take place July 14-19, 2015 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.

Savanah Wilson of Kemptville, ON and Solstice Pecile of Bailieboro, ON, have been named to represent Canada in Endurance, which will be held on July 16, 2015. This is an FEI CEI 4*, 120 km ride.

Wilson will be riding Hoover the Mover, Cheryl Van Deusen’s 11 year old gelding while Pecile’s partner is her current mount, Glorious Song IA, a 19-year old Arabian mare.

The team will have support from veterinarian, Dr. Glenn Sinclair and Chef d’Équipe, Bob Gielen.

The following Endurance riders will compete at the NAJYRC Championships:

Team: Canada
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
Savanah Wilson / Kemptville, ON / Hoover the Mover / Cheryl Van Deusen
Solstice Pecile / Bailieboro, ON / Glorious Song IA / Solstice Pecile

Veterinarian: Dr. Glenn Sinclair
Chef d’Équipe: Bob Gielen

For more information on NAJYRC 2015, visit www.youngriders.org.

Mongol Derby Prep: A Bad Break

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Desk to Derby Blog - Liz Brown
July 7 2015

While training for the Mongol Derby I’ve continuously tried to find the balance between pushing myself and keeping my body intact so I arrive at the start line as healthy and fit as can be. All that went to hell last week as I had a minor accident that left me with an injury that’s going to hinder me in Mongolia and is making my training in Utah significantly more painful and difficult.

On Wednesday, Christoph, Meryl (the French intern) and I trailered three horses to the mountains to do some altitude and incline training to get these horses ready for Tevis (a famous 100-mile endurance ride in the southwest U.S.). It was meant to be a fast 40 kilometre ride, snaking up a mountain and back down again.

I was riding Dunny, a Quarter Horse Arab mare with lots of go who likes to pull. We had just started, only three kilometers in, and were trotting along a rocky incline. Dunny was focused on the horses ahead of her and was pulling a little. I was just about to half halt her back when she tripped over a rock and almost did a face plant on the trail. As she lurched forward, I instinctively put out my left hand to prevent myself from flying over her head, but at the moment I stuck my hand out, she regained her footing and shot back up, her neck flying back into my outstretched hand. I heard a pop and then felt the pain. She’d jammed my baby finger back...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/desk-to-derby/a-bad-break/

Enduring Observations

Equinerescuefrance.org - Full Article

Posted by ERF on Jul 4, 2015

ERF is very grateful to Australian Vet and Endurance Rider, Anna Erickson, for allowing us to reproduce her comment on Endurance riding from her perspective.

This is even more significant as news is filtering through from the Middle East that various UAE Endurance Stables are insisting that the FEI has lifted the ban. Which of course is entirely untrue.

“After yet another scary looking pic and yet another argument about how to interpret it along with the usual comments that we “weren’t there so we don’t know” and “it’s rare” and “I’ve seen horses as bad as that in Australia” I feel compelled to write. As a vet who also rides endurance (which many of my clients know) I just want to say “the (horse) world is watching”! Many of my clients who don’t ride endurance have asked me:

1. Have you seen that picture? (Splitters Creek Bundy)
2. What in the hell is going on in endurance?
3. Have you seen anything like this here?
4. How do people justify still selling horses to the UAE?

To which my answers are:

1. Yes
2. I don’t really know but clearly we have a problem in the Middle Eastern countries and we need to sort it out
3. No
4. I have no idea.

These are not endurance people, but they are concerned horse people...

Read more here:
http://www.equinerescuefrance.org/2015/07/enduring-observations/

FEI Tribunal Exposing Truth and Lies in Endurance

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | July 6, 2015

The 27-month FEI suspension on a virtually unknown Qatari endurance rider Nasser Khalifa NJ Al Thani received a lot of media coverage recently.

There is nothing new, of course, about an endurance rider from Group 7 (Middle East) being banned for doping, but the reason it is now News with a capital N is simple: the FEI has a new policy of issuing press releases about Tribunal decisions. To date, they have only issued statements about cases with an Olympic or World Equestrian Games connection – with the obvious exception of the Jock Paget case, the subject of media frenzy.

This welcome initiative means those interested no longer have to consult the Tribunal database every other day, waiting for something new to pop up. In future, every media outlet will receive a ready-to-use story. If this spurs more colleagues to then read the much juicier, full decision notice I am all for it. The detailed evidence therein provides a snap-shot of the some very strange goings-on.

I am only sad this publicity drive didn’t happen much, much sooner, and that large numbers of people were not reading and thus reacting to these serial endurance horror stories decades ago...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/fei-tribunal-exposing-truth-and-lies-in-endurance/