Great Britain: Endurance youngster achieves elite premium at Futurity Read

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

12 August 2015

The Baileys/BEF Futurity recently headed to Writtle College, Essex (3 August).

Top scorer for the day was 18-year-old Tara Lee’s filly foal, Florouche JT (pictured top) (Woodlander Freddie M x Firebreak) attaining an elite premium of 9.05 in the dressage section.

Tara from Basildon said: “I am delighted with Florouche, I outgrew my 14.2hh dressage pony and so mum and I decided to breed a horse that I can go out and compete in a few years.”

Florouche JT is out of Tara’s mare, Magic In Motion. Tara continued: “Magic in Motion is a former racehorse. She ran about seven times but she wasn’t very fast! We bought her from Lynne Crowden as a broodmare. We will keep Florouche as she is definitely part of the family, but any further foals will be for sale...”

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/endurance-youngster-achieves-elite-premium-at-futurity-505663#tb2iMwAC5xwqMsL6.99

Australia: 2015 Shahzada Approaching

SHAHZADA 2015

The 35th Shahzada will be held from Monday, 24th to Friday, 28th August in St Albans, north west of Sydney, NSW, and being 10 weeks out from the Quilty to be held in Del Rio, NSW, everyone from all over Australia has the opportunity to not only achieve a 50th Anniversary Quilty Buckle but a much coveted Shahzada Buckle and then, with the NSW State Championships in northern NSW in October, "The Big Three" - awarded for three successful completions in the Quilty, Shahzada and NSW State Championships by the same horse and rider combination in the one year.

As well as the ultimate test of 400km over five days, the Mini Marathon of 120km over three days will be held from Tuesday, 25th to Thursday, 27th August. Both rides are held in St Albans with horses and riders camped all around the town and venture out on each leg up and down the legendary tracks of the Macdonald Valley on both sides of the river - this year there is the promise of perfect Shahzada weather and lots of fun with heaps of social events and activities to keep everyone smiling throughout the week.
There will be many updates in the coming months to let you know what to expect during Shahzada and the lead up to it but for now, go to the Shahzada website www.shahzadaresults.org for all the stories of past rides to get you motivated……this is a very special event and if you don’t do anything else in endurance, you have to ride Shahzada!!

Track clearing days will be announced here in the near future and if you would like to help at these weekends or volunteer to help during Shahzada, please email Sue Todd on suetodd@activ8.net.au

More detailed information is on the website www.shahzadaresults.org with entry forms and campsite request forms as well as the option to book your special ride number or contact Shahzada secretary, Sue Todd on suetodd@activ8.net.au

For more on the Shahzada, see http://www.shahzada400.com/

Canadian Squads for North American Endurance Team Challenge

Horse-canada.com

August 11, 2015

by: Equine Canada

Equine Canada is pleased to announce the Canadian squads who will represent Canada at the 2015 North American Endurance Team Challenge (NAETC), set to take place in Millbrook, ON at Cayuse Creek Ranch on August 21, 2015.

The NAETC is an FEI sanctioned endurance competition held every two years, with teams from Canada, Mexico and the United States participating.

The following riders have qualified for the Canadian squads. Prior to the start of competition, these riders will be split into teams of three to five members riding for Canada:

CANADA EAST
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
Laura Austin / Millbrook, ON / Good to Go CCA / Laura Austin
Robert Gielen / Flesherton, ON / More Bang for Your Buck / Robert Gielen
Brianne Henderson / Grand Valley, ON / Rivendell Elessar / David & Janet Henderson
Wendy MacCoubrey / Ste. Justine de Newton, QC / Am Mysterious Mopsa/Yvette Vinton
Mike Merriam / Finch, ON / J Walker AES / Kim Woolley
Dessia Miller / Berwick, ON / Amber Kiera / Dessia Miller
Solstice Pecile / Bailieboro, ON / Glorious Song IA / Solstice Pecile
Yvette Vinton / Morriston, FL / Teese / Yvette Vinton
Michele Watling / Kirkfield, ON / Klien / Michelle Watling
Savanah Wilson / Kemptville, ON / WRR Victorian / Savanah Wilson
Kim Woolley / Finch, ON / Schakka Khan / Kim Woolley
Nancy Zukewich / Ottawa, ON / Serious Moonlight / Nancy Zukewich

Chef d’équipe – Nancy Beacon, Flesherton, ON

CANADA WEST
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Owner
Wendy Carnegie / Dugald, MB / Shaunessy’s Autumn Harvest / Wendy Carnegie
Avery Delannoy / Beausejour, MB / OK Absolutely Spotless / Angela Lavallee
Colleen DeVry / Fort Saskatchewan, AB / Nightwind’s Bey Infiniti / Colleen DeVry
Lena Gray / Montney, BC / Zorros Black Pearl / Tara Macleod
Angela Lavallee / Anola, MB / Cansas / Angela Lavallee
Ariel Macleod / Montney, BC / Driftwoods Tabora / Ariel Macleod
Coletan Macleod / Montney, BC / Zorros Iron Horse / Tara Macleod
Tara Macleod / Montney, BC / Zorros Flying Dutchman / Tara Macleod
Heather Nielsen / Lamont, AB / Nightwinds Indigo Bey / Colleen DeVry
Tracy Vollman / Regina, SK / RA Karim / Tracy Vollman

Chef d’équipe – Maura Leahy, Dugald, MB

This NAETC is an FEI 2* (120km) ride with four phases. The competition will be divided into Senior and Junior/Young Rider (J/YR) Divisions, with both divisions using the same trail on the same day.

For more information regarding the NAETC, click here.

Winning the Mongol Derby - Interview

Theadventurists.com - Full Article

August 11 2015

How does it feel to win the Mongol Derby?

It's quite surreal at the moment, I'm relieved and excited. I'm glad the training has paid off, I've had a phenomenal time, it was a great adventure. I've aches and pains all over my body, on day 3 I blew out my left knee, since then I've been trying to strap it up and have been going through a lot of pain, but it's been worth it.


At what point did you think you might win?

It was very uncertain, it was constantly changing between the six of us who was in the lead. Then at the last checkpoint Elise and I galloped about half the last stretch, and until about 3 km before the finish I had no idea if I would win. I happened to have the faster horse, but Elise was a great competitor.


How do these horses compare with the ones back home?

These horses are phenomenal. I realised that back home we pamper our horses, we worry about what terrain we ride them on, but the derby horses are like machines, over any terrain, it's incredible, I did get a few which wouldn't move and the guys around me helped me, but I got some which were absolute rockstars. They would just go and not stop literally canter the whole way. They were incredible...

Read more here:
http://www.theadventurists.com/the-jibber/2015/8/11/winning-the-mongol-derby-interview

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