Abu Dhabi: Top riders eye big prizes at National Day Cup

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Eleven 4WD cars on offer in prestigious 120km event

December 4, 2015
Staff Report

Abu Dhabi: Around 150 riders will be seen in action in the 120-km National Day Cup endurance ride held to mark the 44th UAE National Day.

Adnan Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director General of the ADEC said. “The National Day Cup ride is very prestigious and a large number of top stars, both local and international, will be participating.”

“There will be 11 4WD cars on offer for the top 11 who successfully complete the 120-km ride which will be run in four stages of 40km, 35km, 25km and 20km,” he said...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/top-riders-eye-big-prizes-at-national-day-cup-1.1631566

Regulated Endurance Rides in Abu Dhabi Support Responsible Riding

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

December 1 2015

Endurance Rule Change for Boudhieb Endurance

1 December 2015, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ For the remainder of 2015 and in advance of the Endurance season of 2016, His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has taken the state of affairs in Group 7 endurance racing extremely seriously, in particular in the UAE, and for some time has been in discussion with a number of people and bodies concerning the welfare of endurance horses and how to bring back respect for the horse and skill of the rider in successfully completing endurance competitions.

It is the considered opinion of HH Sheikh Sultan that speeds now reached in local endurance rides have exceeded the natural capacity of the average Arabian horse and that allowing speed, and therefore the culture of First past the post as the sole winning factor, has led to many problems...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2015/12/01/regulated-endurance-rides-in-abu-dhabi-support-responsible-riding/

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