Ingmar Da Boss: His first 10 months at the helm of the FEI

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Neil Clarkson | 7 October 2015

Shortly after the election of FEI President Ingmar De Vos, a wag cheekily suggested I should ask him what it’s like to be the world’s most famous Belgian.

Come on, I replied, the world is full of famous Belgians.

Admittedly, names didn’t immediately spring to mind.

If only a website were devoted to such a worthy subject. As it happens, there is!

I surfed on over to Famousbelgians.net, where an exhaustive account of Belgium’s best and brightest can be found, along with a gentle front-page chiding for those who believe the world lacks famous Belgians.

Naturally, I made my way to the list entitled “The current Top 10 famous Belgians”, to find no sign of De Vos. A mistake, surely?...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/10/07/ingmar-da-boss-first-10-months-helm-fei/#ixzz3ntccXYsT

Great Britain: The Dartmoor Derby: Sheer heaven

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Polly Portwin
5 October, 2015

Camping with your horse at the end of September might not be everyone’s idea of the perfect way to spend a weekend, but Dartmoor has long held a special place in my heart, so simply hearing the words “Dartmoor Derby” immediately made me prick my ears.

With fond memories of family holidays that always seemed to involve a stop by the River Dart and more recent hunting trips on the moor with our own horses, this magical area intrigues me. For that reason there was no doubt the Dartmoor Derby was an event I wanted to learn more about so it was great to get involved in the pilot weekend.

The brainchild of Elaine Prior — founder of the Dartmoor-based riding holiday company Liberty Trails — the event was loosely inspired by Elaine’s experience of African riding safaris which she combined with visions of the Mongol Derby. Having not experienced either of these first-hand, I was able to take a fresh look at the whole concept and to enjoy it rather than making comparisons in my head.

The brief was that we would be riding approximately 25 miles per day on two consecutive days with an overnight luxury camping trip, with hotel stays the night before and the night after the ride...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/the-dartmoor-derby-sheer-heaven-video-512383#D8oFRLvBXo5TfIw4.99

FEI President Pushes 'Clean Sport' Message

Thehorse.com

By Edited Press Release
Sep 1, 2015

Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) President Ingmar De Vos has sent a strong message to the equestrian world on the importance of the FEI Clean Sport campaign in the countdown to the rollout of the FEI’s global Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Program (EADCMP) on Jan. 1, 2016.

The FEI headquarters currently coordinates administration of the EADCMP in FEI Regional Groups I and II (Europe), while administration of the program in the rest of the world has been undertaken through national anti-doping programs or national federations. In January the FEI headquarters will take over administration of the program worldwide.

In advance of the implementation of the worldwide EADCMP, the FEI will upscale its awareness and education campaign amongst national federations, athletes, and their entourages in order to prevent inadvertent positives.

“It is vital for the integrity of all sport that it is clean and fair, but it is even more important when there is an animal involved because of the welfare implications”, De Vos said. “The FEI has a stringent anti-doping policy in place to protect horse welfare and maintain a level playing field. Horse welfare and fair play have always been and always will be two of the central pillars of the FEI.

“We have close to 4,000 international events on the FEI calendar now and, as the international governing body, it is our responsibility to safeguard our athletes and the sport itself, and part of that is protecting our clean athletes,” he continued. “We have a rigorous testing policy and the FEI prohibited substances list contains over 1,000 substances, so it is crucial that our athletes and their vets are aware of what they are giving their horses.

“Of course our horses have to be treated if they are injured or sick, but anything given to the horse must have been eliminated from the body of the horse by the time of competition so that we can maintain the integrity of our sport. Boosting awareness and education is key. Keep it clean is the message.”

De Vos’ statement comes following news that the FEI has imposed provisional suspensions on two athletes whose horses have tested positive for prohibited substances.

Samples taken at a CEI1* 80km endurance event at Miramas, in France, on May 3 from the horse Buenaventura, ridden by Candice Pilloni (FRA), returned positive for the banned substance oxycodone (an opioid analgesic) and the controlled medication substance lidocaine and its metabolite 3-hydroxylidocaine (a local anaesthetic).

Further, samples taken at the North American Juniors and Young Riders Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 16 and 18 from the horse Why Not, ridden by Sophie Simpson (USA) in jumping, returned positive for the banned substance capsaicin, a topical analgesic or irritant.

Both athletes have been provisionally suspended from the day of notification (Aug. 31). Additionally, the two horses have been provisionally suspended for two months. The athletes and the horse owners have the opportunity for a preliminary hearing before the FEI Tribunal to request the lifting of the provisional suspensions.

Basingstoke horse rider Annabelle Lyndon picked for England

Basingstokegazette.co.uk - Full Article

Graham Merry, Sports Reporter / Sunday 4 October 2015

KEMPSHOTT endurance horse rider Annabelle Lyndon has been selected to ride for England in a home international competition in the Welsh mountains.

The 12-year-old was selected after winning the junior intermediate endurance ride at the National Pony Club Championships on her 19-year-old piebald mare Lacey.

The Basingstoke-born rider started endurance riding with the Hampshire Hunt Pony Club and qualified for the pony club championships in 2012...

Read more here:
http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport/13802383.Basingstoke_horse_rider_Annabelle_Lyndon_picked_for_England/

Cheryl Van Deusen Dominates FEI Standings

October 4 2015

USA's Cheryl Van Deusen ranks first on the FEI Open World Ranking as of 31/08/2015, with 967 points. Czech Republic's Tereza Kopecka is second, and Great Britain's Nicola Thorne third.

Van Deusen is twice in the Top Ten of the FEI Open Combination World Ranking. She's third with Hoover the Mover, and 7th with Snake Eyes Leroy. Cameron Holzer is also in the Top Ten, ranking 5th with Kong.

Both of Van Deusen's horses hold the top two spots in the FEI Open Horse World Ranking, with Snake Eyes Leroy in first, and Hoover the Mover in second.

In the FEI Young Riders World Ranking, USA's Kelsey Russell is in first place with 632 points. USA's Hanna Weightman is third with 582 points.

Four USA riders top the FEI Young Riders Combination World Endurance Ranking, with Hanna Weightman and Syrocco Rabia in first, Annie Whelan and RF Priceless in second, Kelsey Russell and My Wild Irish Gold in third, and Ragan Kelly and Colin for Gold in fourth. Maria Muzzio is eighth with Laconic, and Kelsey Russel and Genuwine Gold rank ninth.

Great Britain: 2016 Dartmoor Derby

Liberty-trails.com

“It really is the most wonderful riding you can imagine”
Eventer Mary King MBE, Olympic silver medallist

Following its successful Pilot Event in September 2015, the 2016 Dartmoor Derby is now taking bookings.

This uniquely formatted event is inspired both by the international success of the famously rough, rugged and breathtaking annual challenge across the Steppes, the Mongol Derby, and the enduring appeal of chic African riding safaris.

The Dartmoor Derby combines the best of both. It’s an opportunity to navigate a carefully planned, three- to six-day ride around countryside that sent even Steven Spielberg weak at the knees. Through the course of it you may camp in a selection of specially constructed comfortable moorland camps purpose-built for the event, spend nights in luxury hotels, and enjoy fantastic, locally-sourced food.

Riders — limited to a maximum of 100, riding in small teams of four to six — are invited to bring their own horse for the Derby, or may hire a fit horse with plentiful experience of Dartmoor terrain through the organisers.

The Dartmoor Derby is a luxury riding challenge, and while participants will need to be established and fit riders, confident at every pace, this is not a race and there is no need to jump.

Price points vary from:
> £1,250 for three days riding and four nights accommodation on your own horse (£1,750 with horse hire included), to…
> £2,500 for a six-day ride (£3,000 with a horse provided)
> There is a further mid-range option priced at £1,800 (£2,300 with a horse provided).

The 2016 Dartmoor Derby takes place on either the second or third weekend of September (from the 8th or 15th September) with the precise date to be confirmed very shortly.

Please register HERE to find out more, email enquiries@liberty-trails.com or call (+44) 07967 823674

Dartmoor Derby
At a glance

The Dartmoor Derby Ambassadors are eventers Mary King MBE, Lucy Wiegersma, and actor and British Horse Society President Martin Clunes OBE

Places will be limited to 100 riders, travelling in teams of four to six

Riders are invited to bring their own horse, or can be matched with a fit mount, with wide experience of Dartmoor’s terrain, by the organisers

Riders to choose which blend of hotel and glamping accommodation best suits their needs

Locally sourced food and suppliers are used wherever possible. This is a proudly West Country event

A number of specially constructed, and immensely comfortable, camps and horse stations will be built for the event. Each camp will have a different theme (Mongolian, African etc)

The event will run either over the second or third weekend of September 2016 (precise date to be confirmed and shared here very shortly)

Keep up to date with our news by following us on Facebook and on Twitter @DartmoorDerby

Horses will stay in specially constructed horse stations close to each safari camp at the end of each day

To be part of this special event, apply by clicking HERE. Or call us on (+44) 07967 823674

Uruguayan Endurance horse tests positive to prohibited substance

FEI.org

1 Oct 2015

The FEI has imposed a provisional suspension on a Uruguayan Endurance rider whose horse has tested positive for a prohibited substance.

Samples taken at a CEI2* event in Trinidad (URU) on 8 August 2015 from the horse LG Muneerah (FEI ID 104TQ89/URU), ridden by Fernanda Villar (URU) to win the 120-kilometre competition, have returned positive for the banned substance Guanabenz, a sedative with analgesic effect.

The athlete has been provisionally suspended from the day of notification (29 September 2015). Additionally the horse has been provisionally suspended for two months. The athlete and the horse owner/s have the opportunity for a preliminary hearing before the FEI Tribunal to request the lifting of the provisional suspensions.