Great Strategy Ensures Top Endurance Rider Challenge Win in UAE

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

by Pamela Burton

4 January 2016, Abu Dhabi, UAE ~ Outside Abu Dhabi, the Boudhieb Endurance Village hosted several endurance rides over 3 days on the weekend of 1-3 January to celebrate both the 2016 New Year and HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s new scheme designed to support the general welfare of horses and good equestrianism. The Top Endurance Rider Challenge (ERC) makes awards placing great emphasis on the technical skill of the rider and trainer through strict management of heart rate and recovery presentation time rather than just pure speed was a great success.

The main event of the weekend was the 120km CEIYJ** ERC Endurance Cup for Juniors & Young Riders which incorporated the new Top Endurance Rider Challenge for the first time. The race was won by Ahmed Yousef Al Baloushi riding Bac Dayre for Nad Al Sheba Stables trained by Yousef Ahmed Al Baloushi. Young rider Baloushi was supervised by assistant trainer Mohammed Nasser and was carefully guided through strategy to take this prestigious award. Meanwhile the winner of the speed version of the ride was Ali Mohammed Al Hosani riding Shanelli Park Judaan for Al Reef Stables...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2016/01/04/great-strategy-ensures-top-endurance-rider-challenge-win-in-uae/

Endurance Lifestyle: Celebrating the 'Sport of Shaikhs'

Khaleejtimes.com - Full Article

December 29 2015

Endurance Lifestyle, dedicated to horse racing and riding, is a tribute to the peaceful and productive relations between Italy and the UAE

Endurance Lifestyle is a format event that takes place each year in Italy in enchanting locations throughout the amazing Italian territory. The 2015 edition took place in Tuscany; the Hippodrome of San Rossore and the Regional Park Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli were the main spots.

The most important and ancient horse competition in Italy, Endurance Lifestyle is organised by the Italian marketing, communication and event management company, SistemaEventi, and features Meydan as its main sponsor.

The aim of the international event is to merge the deepest nature with an endurance sport, and precisely with the 'Sport of Shaikhs'. Endurance Lifestyle hence is dedicated to horse riding and horse racing. In this, Endurance Lifestyle is also a tribute to the peaceful and productive relations between Italy and the UAE...

Read more here:
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/europe/endurance-lifestyle-celebrating-the-sport-of-shaikhs

New Zealand: Hawke's Bay nurse will ride for kids in the 1000 km Mongol Derby

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

MARY MCCARTY
Last updated 16:32, January 1 2016

A Hawke's Bay paediatric nurse, who once considered a career as a jockey, will race 1000km across the Mongolian steppe later this year.

Krista Donnelly was inspired to tackle the Mongol Derby in August by deeds of another Kiwi competitor, Chloe Phillips-Harris who rode in the event in 2013.

"She did really well and it was quite well covered [in the media]. I have watched it every year since and I'm now at a point where I can do it," Donnelly said.

Phillips-Harris finished fifth and at the time she completed the course 12 riders had retired from the field while a further 13 were at least a day away from the finish line.

Kiwis have a proud tradition in the race since its inception in 2009, with double Olympian Madonna Harris among those to compete the gruelling event.

Harris, who represented New Zealand at both road cycling and cross-country skiing, had led for several days in the 2010 Derby, before finishing third...

Read more here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hawkes-bay/75554143/Hawkes-Bay-nurse-will-ride-for-kids-in-the-1000-km-Mongol-Derby

Australia: Think 3200 metres is a horse race for stayers? Try 160 kilometres

TheAge.com.au - Full Article

December 26 2015
Konrad Marshall

The sport of endurance riding is not for the faint-hearted.

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses – he was worth a thousand pound, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.

Banjo Patterson's poem The Man from Snowy River was first published 125 years ago – an elegant narrative capturing the nature of hard riding in an unforgiving land.

The Verspaandonk family rides this way, too, only not chasing a brumby mob (or the colt from Old Regret) but in pursuit of a decent time and good form.

The Glengarry family competes in the obscure but fast growing sport of endurance riding, covering long distances over difficult terrain on horseback.

The motto of the pastime – "to complete is to win" – hints at what is required.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/think-3200-metres-is-a-horse-race-for-stayers-try-160-kilometres-20151110-gkv5r2.html#ixzz3vRU57mPM

Scotland: Trail riders group go for endurance

GallowayGazette.co.uk - Full Article

23 December 2015

Galloway Trail Riders Group member Annie Walker read recently about a local endurance rider’s achievements in 2015 which prompted her to put pen to paper.

In South West Scotland we have two groups of rider who are out and about, both interested in horse welfare and riding access, keeping old routes available for riders.

Annie writes: “Galloway Trail Riders Group could be classed as happy hackers and we have had many happy days in the saddles this last year. From Glenwhilly up to top of Beneraird; the beach at Sandhead; Lochinch Policies (thanks to Lord Stair); Cally Woods, Gatehouse of Fleet to mention four of our eight outings. We had cheery on foot meetings in form of our AGM with some awards for good attendance and fun and a pre-Christmas meal...

Read more: http://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/sport/local-sport/trail-riders-group-go-for-endurance-1-3982210#ixzz3vFpRiuxz

Abu Dhabi Club of the Week: Go beyond riding horses at Al Waha Equestrian Club in Al Ain

Sport360.com - Full Article

by Jay Asser
Thursday 24 December 2015

Imagine combining the physical toll of running or cycling a long distance race with the challenge of maintaining a living, breathing vehicle. That’s exactly what endurance horse riding entails, acting just as much as a relationship as it does a sport.

Rashed Al Kaabi, the activity manager at Al Waha Equestrian Club, is as aware as anyone as to just how important building that relationship with your horse is in order to be a successful endurance rider.

Since taking up the sport in 2000, Al Kaabi has focused on training beginners to qualify in endurance for the past five years. At Al Waha, that training begins first and foremost with horsemanship.

“From the beginning, you have to train on the same horse,” said Al Kaabi. “When someone comes for training, I keep them on one horse only, every day. They groom the horse, they train the horse, they make the saddle on the horse. They ride the horse for a minimum of one-and-a-half hours of riding...

Read more here:
http://sport360.com/article/other/46817/club-week-go-beyond-riding-horses-al-waha-equestrian-club-al-ain

FEI General Assembly Approves 2016 Spanish Championships

December 22 2015

The 2016 Spanish Championships, for Seniors and Young Riders, will be held on May 1 and 2 in Badajoz. The FEI General Assembly approved the event at its December 22 meeting.

http://ggjineteraid.blogspot.com/2015/12/aprobados-los-campeonatos-de-espana-de.html