Australia: Horsing around has taken Irvine across the globe

Sunshinecoastdaily.com.au - Full Article

A LOVE of horses has opened many doors for Kelsey Irvine.

The 25-year-old elite endurance rider and horse trainer has been a polo groom at Kerry Packer’s property in the Hunter Valley, trained Arabian horses in Dubai and ridden the Canadian Rockies as a horseback tour guide.

She also worked at stables in Eumundi and Kenilworth, for champion endurance rider Brook Sample.

Between horsing around, Ms Irvine has worked the Victorian ski fields and travelled throughout Canada and America in an old blue Chevy with older sister Jess.

It’s a long way from her family’s 162-hectare farm in Central Queensland but in an industry where pedigree counts for everything, hers provides a clue to the reason for her success.

Ms Irvine’s grandfather was bush legend and horse whisperer Alwyn Torenbeek, who is a triple Hall of Fame inductee as a rodeo champion, stockman and endurance rider...

Read more here:
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/horsing-around-has-taken-irvine-across-the-globe/3006472/

Bahrain: Nasser bin Hamad endurance championship held

BNA.bh - Full Article

Manama, Apr. 23 (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 Chairman of Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) crowned Mayoof Al Rumaihi as the champion of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Night Endurance (120km) Championship in the presence of HH Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid, President of Breef.

Al Rumaihi came in the first place in 00:47:38 time and speed of 25 km/h ahead of Mohammed Al Shammari and Al Miqdad Janahi who finished second and third respectively...

Read more here:
http://bna.bh/portal/en/news/723800

South Africa: Authorities Move Swiftly To Contain AHS

Sportingpost.co.za - Full Article

Cape authorities launch testing campaign following AHS death

UPDATED ON APRIL 13, 2016

A press release from the office of Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, dated 13 April 2016 stated that vets in the Western Cape have moved swiftly to contain the spread of African Horse Sickness in a bid to protect the province’s multi-million rand horse export industry.

Last Friday, 8 April 2016, an African Horse Sickness related death was confirmed in the Western Cape and movement restrictions implemented.

Minister Winde stated, “Following the confirmation of AHS, vets immediately launched a testing campaign. We have already tested 70 horses in this surrounding area and we will continue to test until we are sure there are no other infected horses in the area. At this stage, we are in the clear.”

On Tuesday, 12 April 2016, Winde visited Schoongezicht, the Paarl farm where the AHS death occurred last week. The owner of the farm, Lodewikus Hanekom, has nine horses left, most of which are Arabians. He uses two for endurance riding competitions. None of the other animals have tested positive for AHS...

Read more here:
http://www.sportingpost.co.za/2016/04/testing-campaign-following-ahs-death/

FEI suspend United Arab Emirates from equestrianism following spate of scandals

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

Concerns over horse welfare, doping, the use of 'ringers’ and phantom races in the Middle East country lead to shock decision

By Pippa Cuckson, Equestrian Correspondent
12 Mar 2015

World equestrianism’s governing body (FEI) took the dramatic step on Thursday of suspending the United Arab Emirates from the sport following scandals over horse welfare, doping, the use of 'ringers’ and phantom races.

The full ramifications of the FEI’s shock decision to exile the UAE federation and all its athletes in the discipline of endurance racing may not emerge for weeks, but Ingmar de Vos, FEI president, said that “indeterminate suspension“ was “the only option left” after UAE riders – many from stables owned by the ruling families of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Maktoums and the Nayhans – failed to reduce catastrophic horse injuries or adhere to FEI rules during their current winter season...

Read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/11468943/FEI-suspend-United-Arab-Emirates-from-equestrianism-following-spate-of-scandals.html

South Africa: Deadly horse sickness hits Cape

IOL.co.za - Full Article

NEWS/SOUTH-AFRICA/WESTERN-CAPE /
09 April 2016
By: Yazeed Kamaldien

Cape Town - Thousands of Western Cape horse owners have been told to lock up their horses, with an indefinite quarantine announced in the province to prevent a deadly horse disease from spreading.

Alan Winde, Economic Opportunities MEC, said on Friday the quarantine had been instituted after a Paarl veterinarian detected a case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in a horse this week.

“Samples collected from the colt tested positive for the AHS virus,” said Winde.

“We activated a routine surveillance programme immediately. Our vets are working in the area to determine whether any other animals on the property are affected.”

Movement restrictions were in place and no movement of horses was allowed into the containment zone “without a movement permit from a state vet”. The quarantine is in place for a 50km radius around Paarl, and has led to the cancellation of various horse-related events planned for the weekend.

The discovery of AHS could also affect South African horse exports to the EU, state veterinarian Gary Burhmann said on Friday...

Read more here:
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/deadly-horse-sickness-hits-cape-2007243

Malaysia: Endurance Horse Riding Set To Replace Monsoon Cup As Tourist Attraction During Monsoon Season

Bernama.com.my - Full Article

April 11, 2016 14:18 PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 11 (Bernama) -- "Beautiful State, Beautiful Culture" the tagline used by Terengganu for 27 years now, remains relevant in the promotion of tourism locally and internationally.

Though the tagline will continue to be used, the tourism industry in Terengganu will be boosted by the inclusion of various activities and programmes to cater for tourists.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the state was well known among local tourists as a leading popular holiday destination with pristine beaches, islands, batik and handicraft.

However, Terengganu's position internationally as a tourism destination need to be given additional focus, especially sports tourism, as a new attraction to stimulate the tourism industry.

"The weather and geographical positioning of Terengganu have been the state's two main setbacks although hosting the Monsoon Cup had given a new impetus to the tourism industry during the monsoon season.

"But we did not see a strong impact from the Monsoon Cup towards the people of the state in general, so we are looking at other avenues, including endurance sports as an attraction.

"We are looking at Endurance Racing as one of the events to attract tourists," said Ahmad Razif during an exclusive interview with Bernama at his official residence, Seri Iman, here recently...'

Read more here:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?cat=et&id=1234013

Does a 2016 WEC Serve Anyones Best Interest?

Awarewelfare.net - Full Article

by John Crandell
April 9 2016

Many of the worlds equestrian enthusiasts are heartened by the FEI’s recent withdrawal of its 2016 World Endurance Championship (WEC) from Dubai. Before we emotionally declare a victory and hurry to re-organize a WEC in another location, some objective consideration of the current state of international endurance racing is in order. There is a lot to be gained or lost for the discipline hinged on just how we proceed.

This is a moment of great opportunity. It’s a chance to do much more than simply put the discipline back on the same tracks from which it has been derailed. We have a delicate moment here to create a fundamental shift in the guidance of international endurance racing. If we act with wise conviction now, we can ensure that the dysfunctions of the recent past cannot return, and secure an enduring future for the discipline...

Read more here:
https://awarewelfare.net/2016/04/09/does-a-2016-wec-serve-anyones-best-interest/