Ireland: Endurance ride at Cullinagh Stables

Munster-express.ie - Full Article

December 1 2015

After huge success last month at the annual Red Dragon Festival of Endurance at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Wales, members of the Irish Long Distance Riding Association travelled to County Waterford on Sunday, 15th November to participate in the ILDRA’s End of Year Ride at Cullinagh Stables, Kilmeaden.

The Irish Long Distance Riding Association (ILDRA) is the governing body for Endurance Riding in Ireland and it is affiliated to Horse Sport Ireland. There are two regional groups based in Ulster and Leinster.

The association organises endurance events throughout the country, many of which are ‘pleasure rides’. These rides normally cover distances of about eight miles and are open to members and non-members.

Competitive Trail Rides and Endurance Races are also regular features of the ILDRA calendar and these events cover distances of 50 miles and upwards.

Endurance riding is growing in popularity in Munster as was clearly evident from the large turnout at last week’s pleasure ride at Cullinagh Stables.

Participants from across the south followed pre-marked trails, taking them through woodland and along the River Dawn, flanked by historic sites such as the old cotton mill and chimney at Fairbrook, the Queen Anne Way and the Spa Fields at Gortnaclode...

Read more here:
http://www.munster-express.ie/sports/endurance-ride-at-cullinagh-stables/

South Africa: Horse exports to UAE boost Western Cape economy

BDLive.co.za - Full Article

BY BEKEZELA PHAKATHI, 30 NOVEMBER 2015

THE Western Cape horse export industry has received a major boost following the export of the largest consignment of horses from the province to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The development comes after Economic Opportunities MEC Alan Winde earlier this year led a Western Cape delegation to the Arabian Peninsula nation. Increasing the trade of horses between the two regions was noted as a key priority during Mr Winde’s official visit.

The horse export industry is worth over R200m to the provincial economy, but there is potential to grow it to R1bn if the right measures are in place, Mr Winde said on Monday...

Read more here:
http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/trade/2015/11/30/horse-exports-to-uae-boost-western-cape-economy

South Africa: Arabs mad for our Arabians

Timeslive.co.za - Full Article

Aron Hyman | 01 December, 2015

Where does a sheik go when he wants a really good Arabian horse? To South Africa, of course.

Foreign buyers - mostly from the Middle East - have spent almost R8-million on 58 South African bred horses, and are footing a R29-million bill for their transportation.

Buyers include the Dubai royal family, which has purchased 48 horses, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, who has bought three, and US and British interests .

It is the biggest single shipment of horses from South Africa.

The horses are mostly Arabians - including a mare sold for R4-million - but there are some American Saddlers and Warm Bloods in the mix.

The horses were flown out of Cape Town yesterday on a chartered Qatar Airlines flight on the first leg of a three-month journey...

Read more here:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2015/12/01/Arabs-mad-for-our-Arabians

Tough new local rules designed to reform UAE endurance

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
29 November, 2015

A member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family aims to reform UAE endurance with tough new local rules.

FEI rules still apply, but at the Bou Thib venue of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, prizes will only be awarded to combinations meeting new best condition-orientated criteria. These include a GPS-controlled maximum speed of 20kph, 10-minute vetting time, 50-minute compulsory hold, hypersensitivity tests to discourage nerve-blocking, and a bid to reduce “mobile crewing” by limiting following cars to one per five horses and providing official crew points every kilometre...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/tough-news-rules-reform-uae-desert-endurance-518775#wxr8tUvbM55Dxx6f.99

Bahrain: Nasser bin Hamad awards endurance race winners

BNA.bh - Full Article

28/11/2015

Manama, Nov.28 (BNA): HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee and Honorary President of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) on Saturday crowned the winners of opening 120km, 80km qualifying endurance race at Bahrain International Endurance Village.

The event was attended by HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Athletic Federation and Captain of Al Khalidya Stables...

Read more here:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/698510

Abu Dhabi: Milena partners Moreno to victory

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

November 29, 2015

Last year Moreno carried Argentina's Catalina to victory in this race and this year it was another Argentinean lady Milena Mendez who won a thrilling 100-km ride spread over four stages.

Moreno, an 11-year-old bay stallion from Al Reef Stables won the 100-km Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Endurance Cup for the second year in a row at the Emirates International Endurance Village in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Last year Moreno carried Argentina's Catalina to victory in this race and this year it was another Argentinean lady Milena Mendez who won a thrilling 100-km ride spread over four stages.

Earlier in the morning 95 lady riders started in the race which was held under the directives of Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The UAE's Mariam Jasim Al Ansaari on Horr Ibn Jahir was second with Kamila Anita Kart on Othentik Du Fausset third. Argentina's Maria Julia Sciaroni on Sugarsop De Sallaz and the UAE's Sara Mohammed Al Jaber on Highland View Dolly finished fourth and fifth and all five top riders were awarded a 4WD car each...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/sport/horse-racing/milena-partners-moreno-to-victory

Spanish Chef d'equipe Ignasi Casas Appointed to FEI Endurance Committee

November 15, 2015

Ignasi Casas, Chef d'Equipe for the Spanish endurance team, was appointed to the FEI Endurance Committee, replacing outgoing member John Robertson of Great Britain, for a term of 4 years (2015-2019).

He joins the other new appointee, Rocio Echeverri of Costa Rica, who replaces Brian Dunn of Ireland.

The appointments took place at the FEI Bureau meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in November.