Byeronie Epstein Wins the 2015 Mongol Derby

Theadventurists.com - Full Article

August 11 2015

South African, Byeronie Epstein has just won the Mongol Derby in spectacular fashion. Beginning the day 5 stations from the finish it looked like the race would certainly go into the 8th Day. Byeronie and Elise Poitrinal had other ideas though and reaching HS 27 with less than 3 hours until the course closed reached the decision to ride on.

Given that the changeover would take half an hour this was a brave tactic; arriving at the finish line half an hour after the course closes would give them a 3 hour penalty. Even if they finished in time, presenting a horse with heart rate over 56 bpm after an hour would cost them a penalty too.

Byeronie picked a spectacular horse from the last Urtuu though which carried her much of the stage at 24 kph, meaning a later riding penalty was never a question. She couldn't have chosen better horse, which boasted an unrivaled 21 Nadaam medals (top 5 finishes in seasonal equine festivals).

The horse delivered her to the finish just 30 seconds before Elise but it's heart rate stabilised within just 15 minutes. Our head vet Helen declaring it has the strongest heart she'd ever heard "This horse is a freak; a Mongolian Secretariat. No wonder Elise's horse looks more tired"...

Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2015/8/11/byeronie-epstein-wins-the-2015-mongol-derby

FEI Controversy: Dirty Laundry List

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Blogs Straight-Up | August 8, 2015

Well, if there was ever any doubt about the extent of the UAE’s reprehensible behaviour in Endurance racing (and there wasn’t as far as I’m concerned), the FEI’s press release of last week certainly wipes it out. Nothing like a list of what someone is not allowed to do to confirm what that person or group has been up to. I mean, when someone is let out of jail on probation, the terms of the probation aren’t likely to list criminal activities of the sort that the person hasn’t committed. If you stole a car, the probation isn’t going to mention domestic violence, is it?

Here is the list of ‘thou shalt not’ activities contained in a new agreement signed by the UAE and FEI:

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/straight-up/dirty-laundry-list/

Mongol Derby 2015 - Race Report Day 6

Theadventurists.com - Full Article

August 10 2015

At the front of the field Byeronie Epstein and Elise Pointrinal began this morning out on the steppe between HS 19 & 20.

Their riding companions since day 1; Michele Tanaka, Braden Cameron, Ben Wilks and Maxim Van Lierde were half a leg behind, overnighting at HS 19.

Just before midday Byeronie and Elise reached PS1. With Elise due a 2 hour vet penalty and Byeronie free to ride it was unclear if Byerone would wait for the girl she'd ridden so well with so far.

Determined to seize any advantage available though, she pushed on. Elise - somewhat unlucky to get a veterinary penalty when the 5 she was riding with didn't - was left waiting, while the chasing four caught up.

By the time Michele, Braden, Ben and Maxim passed through HS21 Elise's penalty was nearly done and ten minutes later set off in pursuit on a speedy looking paint horse. Chloe reports she was very calm but focused on catching up with the lead...

Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2015/8/10/mongol-derby-2015-race-report-day-6

American riders sought to take part in an exciting pilot challenge ride on Dartmoor, Devon, England, this September

Dartmoor Derby Ambassadors: Olympic silver medallist Mary King MBE, actor and British Horse Society President Martin Clunes OBE

Dear Riders,

Imagine a horseback adventure in one of Britain’s finest areas of wilderness. Imagine riding and navigating for days across moorland, through woods and valleys, crossing rivers, past ancient stone circles and through golden gorse and purple heather. It is countryside Steven Spielberg felt barely able to do justice in his wonderful movie, War Horse.

Imagine seeing the world at your feet, the sea beyond, and all framed to perfection between a horse’s pricked ears.
At the day’s end you reach a specially constructed safari camp, where luxury beds, superb food and plentiful hot water await you and your four-legged team mates.
This is the vision behind a spectacular new equestrian event taking place in 2016, the Dartmoor Derby. This year we are running the pilot event.

The Dartmoor Derby is inspired by the Mongol Derby, but is very different. The horses will be beautifully schooled, overnight stops luxurious and the food quite fabulous. It will also be a multi-day ride (much shorter) and not a race as such.

The information and learnings we gathered through an in-depth feasibility study in the spring, showed us this is a very viable and popular idea.

OUR NEXT STEP is to run an exclusive, pilot version of the event in September of this year (2015), specially invited group of riders, a foretaste of the full Dartmoor Derby experience. This will involve only 30 riders, including a range of celebrities and press, with some 15 or so places open to the general public. It has always been our aim that this ride would attract an international audience, and as such we would like to extend an invitation to members of the American distance riding community to be among the exclusive group riding in this year’s pilot event.

The dates for this year’s event are 24-28 September. The format is NOT the precise format that will be used in 2016, but will be as follows:

> The circular route will take in very varied terrain, through gorse (in full bloom), open moorland, forests, ancient stone circles, sites of historic interest and some of the best views in the world

> This year involves three nights stay with two full days riding over a total distance of approx 80km (about 24 miles a day)

> Two of these three nights will be in a luxury hotel, on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. The other will be a night of very comfortable glamping in a specially constructed temporary camp in an exquisite spot on the moors. Your luggage requirements for a night in camp will be delivered to the camp for you. Superb food will be cooked (using local Dartmoor produce) in a field kitchen on site by a top chef.

> Riders will travel in teams of five, with a guide

> The event is very happy to provide horses for riders.
> There will be full veterinary and farrier support throughout the event

> While there is definitely a long-distance ride, this is not a race; while it will be necessary to maintain a reasonable pace to complete the ride within daylight hours, the aim is to complete the ride with your horse in first class condition and having had a brilliant time. It is not necessary for either horse or rider to have had experience of endurance riding.

> Riders do not need to enter as a team, but will be put into teams of like-minded riders by the organisers

> Riders may choose either to arrive in Devon on Thursday 24 Sept and leave Sunday 27th, with the 25th and 26th spend riding OR
— may arrive on Friday 25th and depart on Monday 28th, riding on Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 September.

> The cost is £1,800 ahead including dinner, bed and breakfast and horse. Flights are extra.

The Dartmoor Derby is organised by the team behind an existing, established adventure-riding business, Liberty Trails.

I am assisting the event founder, Elaine Prior, with the Dartmoor Derby. Until a year ago I was editor of Horse & Hound magazine, and this event is one of my subsequent projects; Dartmoor sends me rather weak at the knees.

Interested riders, contact Lucy Higginson at Lucy.Higginson@libertytrails.co.uk or input your details here.

Devon, England - Liberty Trails launches the Dartmoor Derby

The Dartmoor Derby

Experienced rider? Enjoy stunning scenery? A thrilling new riding challenge awaits!

Imagine a horseback adventure in one of Britain’s finest areas of wilderness. Imagine riding and navigating 100km or more across 3-5 days, across moorland, through woods and valleys, crossing rivers, past stone circles and through golden gorse and purple heather.

Each day’s ride concludes in a specially constructed safari camp, where luxury tents, beds, superb food and plentiful hot water awaits you and your four-legged team mates.

This is the vision behind a spectacular new equestrian event being planned for 2016, The Dartmoor Derby. Places will be limited to 100.

Pilot Event: 25th - 28th September 2015

A Pilot event is taking place this year for a small number of high profile riders, celebrities, journalists and specially selected paying guests ahead of the full launch next year.

Accompanied by a local guide, groups of five will set off at staggered times for two full days riding.

The route will cover a total of 80km or so across the two days (roughly 24 miles each day).

At the end of the first day guests will ride into a specially constructed safari style camp in the heart of Dartmoor.

A camp supper will be prepared by a top chef in the Field Kitchen with fresh local produce from the Dartmoor Farmers.

The inclusive price for this unique experience is £1800 per person

To be part of this special event, apply by clicking HERE to input your details.

With the backing of the Regional Growth Fund, UKTI and Dartmoor National Park, the event is being developed by the same team that runs Liberty Trails, an established adventure riding company on Dartmoor.

September is a stunning month on the moors. Dartmoor National Park is, quite simply, spectacular. The landscape here has changed little for thousands of years; exploring it on horseback is almost like stepping into the past. With its ancient woodlands, high granite tors, winding valleys, sparkling streams and vast tracts of rolling moorland, at more than 368 square miles it’s the largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England. Come join us!

The Dartmoor Derby

Kiwi riders in leading pack in 1000km race

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

Last updated 19:47, August 10 2015

Three Kiwis, including one from New Plymouth, are in the leading group of six riders at the beginning of the sixth day of the gruelling Mongel Derby.

Maxim Van Lierde, 25, son of New Plymouth sculptor Renate Verbrugge, Braden Cameron from Wellington and Ben Wilks from Katikati were in the leading pack at the end of Day 5 of the 1000 kilometre horse race across the Mongolian Steppe.

The derby website reports there has been a break by the front six at the start of Day 6.

"At the pointy end of the field there's finally been a breakaway from the lead six. Eloise Pointrinal and Byeronie Epstien have peeled away from Michele Tanaka, Ben Wilks, Braden Cameron, and Maxim Van Lierde. So now the battle for the lead is: France/ South Africa followed by USA/ New Zealand/ New Zealand/ New Zealand."

About 30 riders are competing in the race, which follows a route once taken by Genghis Khan. Each day they ride about 100km and change horses every 40km.

The riders are battling weather conditions, unfamiliar terrain and the constant threat of dehydration...

Read more here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/70916269/kiwi-riders-in-leading-pack-in-1000km-race

Mongol Derby 2015 - Race Report DAY 5

Theadventurists.com - Full Article

August 9 2015

Early this morning the lead six rode off from HS15 purposefully like knights into battle (BW, BE, EP, BCM, ML & MT).

The chasing pack (PSK, KW, SK, UM & CP) though two stations behind began following at an even greater speed with Sara Klymkowsky clocking an impressive 20 kpm. On arrival at HS14 Patrick was looking euphoric declaring "I've just ridden the best horse in Mongolia".

Meanwhile the going wasn't so good for Devan Horn at HS12. She had made some recovery overnight but not enough to ride on. This is a devastating blow for the young Texan who has been working towards victory here for two years.

A pattern seems to be developing on the steppe this summer. In the cool of the morning the riders push on at a considerable lick, making some impressive miles and having a lot of fun while they're at it. Then it gets to mid-day and in the heat of the sun things start getting tough. Rider begin to tire and start to make mistakes...

Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2015/8/9/mongol-derby-2015-race-report-day-5