Great Britain: Fancy a ride in the Queen’s back garden? Endurance is doing just that

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

April 13, 2017
Horsetalk.co.nz

It’s definitely one for the bucket list: Endurance riding at the Royal Windsor Horse Show is something very few equestrians will get the chance to experience.

With only four weeks to go to the show, British endurance rider Anna Williams shares what it is like to ride at Windsor, what the sport entails, and her preparations.

On Friday, May 12 competitors will take to Windsor Great Park for the CEI2* 120km and new CEI1* 80km endurance rides. Alongside these international rides, Royal Windsor now offers national riders the opportunity to qualify for the Endurance GB Cup, through the introduction of a 40km National Ride. Run in accordance with FEI rules, the event will give national competitors a taste of international competition...

Read more at http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2017/04/13/horse-ride-queen-garden-endurance/#lIO2f2kWzfeLl4vR.99

New Zealand: Marahau kindergarten teacher to take on 1000km wild Mongol Derby adventure

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

JESSICA LONG
Last updated 11:42, April 12 2017

Marahau adventurer Marie Palzer is readying herself for the world's longest, toughest horse race – the Mongol Derby.

Come August, the 22-year-old kindergarten teacher will strap her gear to a semi-wild Mongolian Pony alongside 40 riders in a race that traces a path of military leader Genghis Khan.

Palzer will rely on her own navigational skills, and the kindness of locals, to traverse 1000km in 10 days over rugged terrain.

She will be confronted by vast grassy steppes, looming mountains, marshy plains and deserted wilderness that is home to some of the oldest nomadic tribes.

Only a third of the riders complete the journey and Palzer intends to be one. "I'm pretty determined I'm getting myself across the finish line and I wouldn't be disappointed if I won..."

Read more here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/adventure/90919046/marahau-kindergarten-teacher-to-take-on-1000km-wild-mongol-derby-adventure

Bahrain: Flying Without Wings

Pwerup-mag.com - Ful Story

ByPowerUp
Posted on April 10, 2017

While most of her classmates were probably playing at the age of 6, Manal Fakhrawi was in training already seeing herself at the race course. The International Equestrian, the first and only female Bahraini jockey with lofty ambitions is making history. Her achievements in the Equestrian world were ground-breaking moments not only for racing in the kingdom, but women in sport. She is a role model for a reason and has a story to share that should never be untold.

ROAD TO THE ROYAL ENDURANCE TEAM

Riding race horses is a demanding sport. Jockeys are some of the strongest athletes on earth. One must be physically fit and strong. It requires strong legs, strong core, strong upper body, and great balance. From a young age, Manal was always around horses. She would accompany her elder sisters who took riding lessons and would spend the whole day at the stables. She then took up her first lesson at the age of six. After spending several summers hopping from one stable to another, she finally settled with the one who found determination and potential in her. She was riding on a daily basis after school and it led to one thing- training for competitions! The first competition was when she was at the age of 10. She started as a show jumper and it wasn’t until 1999 that the federation introduced endurance racing. That was when she has built an interest and decided to explore endurance. “I still remember how frightening my first race was, a 13 year old girl competing against hundreds of men. Being the youngest rider in Bahrain, I got a lot of attention and wasn’t long till I was asked to join the Royal Endurance Team of Bahrain,” Manal recalled...

Read more here:
http://powerup-mag.com/flying-without-wings/

GB: Annie Joppe’s endurance blog: cowpats, fitness and forgotten milk

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Story

Annie Joppe
10:55 - 11 April, 2017

Spring not only means endurance, but it also means repairing land, washing dirt-encrusted horses, cleaning terminally stained rugs and thinking about clearing out the tack room. OK, enough of that, back to endurance.

After Chiara’s competition, she was given a week off to fully recover from her exertions. I tend to give all my horses plenty of recovery time following a competition, perhaps more than is necessary, but it is far better that way round; I want my horses to last. Last week she had some light work, mostly schooling and walking over poles on the ground to encourage her to stretch down which is something that doesn’t come naturally to her.

Now it was Dilmun’s turn. The plan was to run him over 45km to see how he felt with a view to entering the one-star competition at Royal Windsor. Dilmun is now 18-years-old and has been there and done it and for last season and this season, his desires have dictated his competition schedule to some extent. Last year he only ran three times, winning a performance formula competition at the same ride we went to last weekend, being the best Brit in the one-star at Euston Park and finishing with a steady one-star completion at Keysoe.

So with this plan in mind, we set off for the heart of Dorset in beautiful Hardy country (pictured throughout). This was to be our first stay away this season where the horse corrals and we sleep next to him in our trailer (it does have living). Naturally, this was on top of a hill open to all the elements and the enormous field had clearly been recently occupied by cows...

Read more here:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/annie-joppes-endurance-blog-cowpats-fitness-forgotten-milk-617353

Argentina’s Mercedes Tapia Awarded Best International Endurance Rider

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

Mercedes Tapia speaks with Horsereporter

April 8 2017
by Pamela Burton

8 April 2017, USA ~ Mercedes, congratulations on winning the 2016 HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Darley Best Endurance Rider Award. We would say you were born in the saddle. Can you tell us about your passion for horse riding and healing?

HR: How long have you been riding horses? How long have you ridden endurance?

MT: I was born between horses as my Grandfather and my Father were breeders in Argentina, then I studied to be a Veterinarian to be sure that my life would be with horses. Our breed were Criolo horses at that moment, but in 1999 a large Arabian breeder in Argentina asked me to train his horses for endurance and there began my story with the Arabian horse, and I never left.

My first World Championship was in 2002 Jerez de la Frontera with a big and tall Arab Horse named Ras Kasal. and we finished with the best place for South America.

MT: I am the trainer and rider of my horses. If I have to choose one horse as a favorite it would be Ras Kasal (Ansata Aly Jamil x Ras Karima) because with him we did three World Championships and one Pan-American Championship. After that I have fallen in love with many other horses because they usually steal my heart! I used to ride for other breeders, but since 2012 I ride only for my own farm and breeding.

HR: Do you breed to any specific pedigree?

MT: I love the Shaklan line and I like to try to cross with the best Polo lines. I have a super-athletic AngloArab, and I also like the Polish lines as well...

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/argentinas-mercedes-tapia-awarded-best-international-endurance-rider/

Australia: Hendra vaccine in spotlight as unvaccinated event looms

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

April 9, 2017
Horsetalk.co.nz

Equestrian events in Australia exclusively for horses unvaccinated against the dangerous Hendra virus are disturbing the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).

The AVA has expressed its concern about the health and welfare of horses who have not been vaccinated against Hendra at events, including endurance races. It follows comments by Equestrian Queensland board member Peter Toft, who said the pressure on members to boycott events where vaccination was not mandatory was counterproductive.

Toft told the Gympie Times: “The reality is that this is a new vaccine and its long-term impacts are largely unknown at present, so it’s understandable that some horse owners – particularly those living in areas of the state that are free from bat colonies – are hesitant to vaccinate their animals.”

Organisers of the Easter Endurance Carnival in Gympie, Queensland, stipulate that all horses entering the competition grounds must have a current Hendra vaccination certificate.

The Queensland Endurance Riders Association has approved another event the same weekend, for unvaccinated horses. The Lockyer Valley Endurance Riders will be Australia’s first non-vaccinated only endurance ride...

Read more at http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2017/04/09/hendra-vaccine-spotlight-unvaccinated-event/#uPEzfs0KRDRCDRHA.99

Endurance Great Britain and The Pony Club collaborate over new Endurance League

Endurancegb.co.uk - Full Article

05 April 2017)

Pony Club Members who take part in Endurance GB rides at Novice (20-30km), Intermediate (31-39km) and Open (40km+) levels can now benefit from a new league where they will receive points for each kilometre completed.

The 2017 Pony Club Endurance League is now open, closing on 20 August when one lucky Member will be the first to receive a trophy kindly donated by Pony Club Endurance Chairman Robert Blane in memory of his horse, Pink Floyd.

Eligible rides can be found all over the country, and to take part Pony Club Members must either be a full member of Endurance GB (EGB) or they can register for free as an EGB Club Member which entitles them to compete up to 40km whilst paying member’s rates.

John Hudson, EGB Chairman, said: “We hope that the new league table will help reward those Pony Club Members taking part in Endurance GB rides, and increase the number of young people who enjoy the challenge and adventure of taking part in Endurance riding.”

This new league is also welcomed by The Pony Club as a benefit to its Members, and to help strengthen the mutually beneficial relationship the organisation has with EGB; with whom they are collaborating to increase participation amongst younger Endurance riders.

Robert Blane said: “We’re really excited about the new league, and we’re grateful to Endurance GB for their support. The league will offer a new level of safe competition for Pony Club Members taking part in Endurance GB competitions, and it is hoped that together we and Endurance GB can continue to increase the number of riders discovering the exciting sport of Endurance Riding.”

The three highest ranked combinations at each level will be presented with a sash, and the overall winner will receive The Pink Floyd Trophy which Robert Blane feels is a fitting tribute to his horse. Described by Robert as a true all-rounder, Pink Floyd was a 17hh Advanced Endurance horse who also competed to a high level in Dressage and Show Jumping.

Details of the new league tables can be found below:

Open

Horse and Rider combinations who receive the most EGB points in rides of 40km or above (GERs or CERs using normal EGB trophy points). Best ten rides to count.

Intermediate

Horse and Rider combinations who receive the most EGB points in rides between 31 and 39km (Vetted Pleasure rides and GERs using normal EGB points) Best ten rides to count.

Novice

Horse and Rider combinations who receive the most EGB points in rides between 20 and 30km (Vetted Pleasure rides getting one point per kilometer and Novice GERs using normal EGB points). Best ten rides to count. EGB Open/Advanced horses or riders are not eligible for this section.

The League tables will be available for viewing on the EGB website, where a list of rides and details on how to enter can also be found.

More info at:
https://endurancegb.co.uk/main/news#2017040501