US Equestrian Begins the Countdown to the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 on Native Soil

USEF.org

An estimated 500,000 spectators expected for 14 days as the best-of-the-best compete in equestrian sport

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 12, 2017

Lexington, Ky. – The FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG), which take place Sept. 11-23, 2018, at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, N.C., US Equestrian, in conjunction with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and TIEC, are beginning to prepare spectators and athletes alike for the phenomenon that is the WEG.

Since 1990, the WEG has been held every four years, halfway between the Summer Olympic Games cycle, and brings together the world’s elite equestrian athletes from eight FEI equestrian disciplines – including the Olympic disciplines of dressage, eventing, and jumping.

The FEI serves as the worldwide governing body of equestrian sport, while US Equestrian is the national governing body for equestrian sport in the United States. With the WEG hosted on home soil, US Equestrian will be instrumental in preparing and coordinating with the athletes that are selected to represent the United States in Tryon in 2018.

“We are thrilled that the WEG is being hosted in the U.S.,” says US Equestrian President Murray Kessler. “[WEG] gives US Equestrian a great opportunity to celebrate the joy of horse sports with millions of Americans in a way that will help grow engagement and participation in all equestrian sports in this country."

Expected to be one of the largest sports-related spectator events in the U.S. in 2018, the WEG is expected to draw nearly 500,000 people during the 11 days of competition, with 40,000-50,000 spectators each day. The 2014 Games in Normandy brought an estimated economic impact of over $14 million and attracted almost 1,000 athletes, over 1,000 horses, 74 nations, 1,900 credentialed media from 52 countries, and approximately 575,000 spectators to the event. Similar statistics are projected for the Tryon 2018 Games.

The WEG returns to U.S. soil following the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., in 2010. The Tryon 2018 Games will be only the second on U.S. soil. The full history of the WEG is available on the FEI’s website.

Team and individual gold, silver, and bronze medals will be at stake in eight FEI disciplines during the Games. Following are the FEI descriptions of each discipline represented:

• Jumping: a spectacular mix of courage, control, and technical ability that make it easy to see why it is one of the three equestrian Olympic sports
• Dressage: the ultimate expression of horse training and elegance. Often compared to a ballet, dressage features an intense connection between both human and equine athlete that is a thing of beauty to behold
• Para-equestrian dressage: para, meaning ‘parallel,’ is dressage for athletes with disabilities and is evidence of the incredible bond, trust, and communication between horse and rider; a regular fixture at the Paralympic Games
• Eventing: a formidable combination of cross-country, jumping, and dressage; known as the triathlon of the equestrian world. A truly complete sport that tests both the horse and rider in all aspects of horsemanship
• Driving: also known as combined driving, is three days of competition (dressage, marathon, and cones), and an incredible display of fitness and stamina for both horse and driver
• Endurance: an ultra-marathon with horses on a 160-km course in one day, endurance racing is the ultimate test of stamina for both horse and rider
• Vaulting: simply described as gymnastics on horseback, vaulting is a harmonious bond between horse and athlete that creates awe-inspiring acrobatic displays of skill and precision
• Reining: with a history based on the skills that ranching horses would have needed, including large, fast circles, flying lead changes, 360-degree spins, and sliding stops, reining is one of the most exciting, thrilling, and breathtaking equestrian sports to witness

Opening ceremonies will take place Tuesday, September 11, with competition beginning on Wednesday, September 12, 2018. A competition schedule is currently available online, and tickets are expected to go on sale later this month via tryon2018.com.

UAE: Video: Meet Emirati endurance rider Fatima Al Harthi

Emirateswoman.com - Full Article & Video

This up-and-coming equestrian athlete has a simple message for other young women: “Never stop.”

We’ve got another incredible young Emirati athlete for you to cheer on, and this one’s coming on horseback.

Fatima Al Harthi first got into riding as a child, inspired by her mother’s love of the sport. Now, at 27, she’s making a name for herself in the challenging field of endurance riding. That means racing distances of 80, 100 or even 120 kilometres, and spending up to 15 hours in the saddle.

This isn’t exactly a casual weekend ride.

Al Harthi, who’s based in Abu Dhabi, says that what keeps her going on those long distances is the bond she has with her horses.

“Horses are very beautiful and lovely to communicate with. They have a unique characters and feelings,” she says...

Read more & see video here:
http://emirateswoman.com/video-meet-emirati-endurance-rider-fatima-al-harthi/

Royal Cavalry of Oman win third place in French Florac Endurance Race

Timesofoman.com - Full Article

September 11, 2017 | 3:12 PM by Times News Service

Muscat: Royal Cavalry of Oman clinched third place in the 160km French Florac Endurance Race in France.

The latest achievement of Royal Cavalry of Oman was made possible by Ali Hassan Al Farsi, who rode ‘Khanjar’ to the third place after overcoming difficult conditions and stiff competition.

The result helped the Royal Cavalry to take the number of Omanis achieving qualifying berths in the World Equestrian Games to five.

The World Equestrian Games will take place at the Tyron International Equestrian Center in North Carolina, U.S., from September 11 to September 23, 2018.

More at:
http://timesofoman.com/article/116867/Sports/More-sports/Horse-racing-Royal-Cavalry-of-Oman-win-third-place-in-French-Florac-Endurance-Race

France: 2017 Florac

Boudheib Initiative

FLORAC 9th September 2017 - 160km CEI/CEN***


When one thinks of world class endurance, there are only 3 venues which spring to mind, Tevis, Quilty & Florac. So it was a huge priviledge to combine the philosophy of the Boudheib Initiative (BI) with this year's Florac CEI/CEN*** 160km. Event organiser, Jean-Paul Boudon's vision to invite Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nayhan's BI protocol strengthening the focus of the welfare of the endurance horse has been widely applauded.

The oldest 160km endurance ride in Europe & steeped in equestrian history, Florac, based in the heart of Persikland in the beautiful Cevennes region of Southern France, celebrated its 42nd year at the helm of international endurance this weekend and the crowds and participants were not disappointed! 54 competitors and their trusted horses set off at 4.30 am on Saturday morning to tackle the immensely challenging 160km 5 loop course set amongst some of the most spectacular scenery France has to offer, climbing and descending enormous hills and valleys - the weather also proved challenging with temperatures around 11 degrees and rain settling in around late morning. Fortunately conditions improved for most of the afternoon and 29 competitors (more than 50% completion rate) arrived home safely to enormous cheers, and some tears of joy as the atmosphere at Florac is exceptionally moving - to complete this course reveals the necessity for strong partnerships between horses & their riders.


Competitors from 9 countries from as far afield as Australia, Colombia, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, & the UAE. together with 5 entries representing the Royal Cavalry of Oman set out to win the coveted prize at Florac, but the overall winner with an average speed of 16.288 kph was Spain's Robert Diez Noguera riding 9 year old Sunit Du Colombier.

Huge respect and many congratulations go to Robert & Sunit Du Colombier who also won Florac's 160km together in 2016, a wonderful role model for sustainable endurance. 66 year old Daniel Ollivier and Pot Made led the way throughout the first 4 loops and were only beaten during the last 23km leg to come home 2nd with an average speed of 16.029 kph in Daniel's first participation at Florac - Daniel was delighted though to win the Boudheib Initiative's BECA (Best Endurance Challenge Award) 1st prize and received a cheque for 2,000 euros together with a Gaston Mercier endurance saddle & handsome trophy.

BECA's 2nd place went to French rider Virginie Atger with her lovely grey Tonik Armor in an average speed of 15.130kph and in BECA's 3rd position was Ali Hassan Yousaf Al Farsi riding Khandjar Du Boulve from the Royal Cavalry of Oman who also took 3rd place in the CEI3* event.

Not only is the Florac 160km race a resounding endurance success but was also an exceptional result for descendants of the famous horse Persik with the 1st four home all being Persik descendants:-


1st place - Sunit Du Colombier (Persik dam lines)

2nd place - Pot Made (Persik sire lines)

3rd place - Khandjar Du Boulve (Persik sire lines)

4th place - Papillon Du Parc (Persik dam lines)


Many great achievements are made in Florac but one of the most incredible tests of sustainable endurance has to be the continueing participation of Frenchman Denis Pesce who has taken part for the last 30 years and won Florac's formidable 160km eight times with five different horses and is still competing this year with his wife, Marilyn Lemoine, riding Ultimatum Mirbel.


The Boudheib Initiative is delighted to be part of Florac 2017 and offers very many congratulations to all who completed and we hope to see you all again next year.


Many thanks go to Jean-Paul Boudon and his team for the excellent event organisation and to the highly professional team of veterinary staff and ground jury who all helped to ensure Florac 2017 was a huge success.

BOUDHEIB INITIATIVE - DRIVING THE FUTURE OF ENDURANCE
www.facebook@boudheib

For full FEI results go to www.atrm-systems.fr

Article & photos by Leigh Young

Sweetwater County public defender competes in the 'toughest horse race in the world'

The Adventurists photo
Trib.com - Full Story

Elise Schmelzer 307-266-0574, elise.schmelzer@trib.com
Sep 10, 2017

It was pure joy galloping across the Mongolian grassland through cold rain and wind, a freedom unlike any other Rick Helson had experienced, a freedom worth the bowel issues to come.

Helson, a public defender from Sweetwater County, had traveled thousands of miles to try his hand at the self-proclaimed toughest horse race in the world. The event’s premise is simple and insane: draw a handful of riders from around the world, supply them with a fleet of semi-wild horses and give them 10 days to race 600 miles across the Mongolian steppe.

“The horses just ran and ran, that was an incredible feeling,” Helson recalled Wednesday, safely back in his Rock Springs office. “They just have heart like you haven’t seen.”

Helson had few expectations when he arrived for the race, modeled after a postal route created by Genghis Khan in the year 1224. Competitors even ride the same small, sturdy breed of horses that carried Khan to victories across the continent.

“I’m just old enough to know that it’s not going to be like I expect,” the 59-year-old said with a chuckle...

Read more here:
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/sweetwater-county-public-defender-competes-in-the-toughest-horse-race/article_9cc39c3f-9a77-50f4-a909-554f3128b056.html

Cambodia: KL success spurs CEF activities at home

Phnompenhpost.com - Full Article

Mon, 11 September 2017
H S Manjunath

The Cambodian Equestrian Federation is to launch a nationwide drive to spot talented young riders who can build on the goodwill and competitive interest whipped up by the success of the men’s national endurance team at the recent 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

On its first big mission in the region, the six-member Cambodian squad of Ly Sovanachandara, Lon Sopheaktra, Phay Visal, Moeung Sochea and Sim Narith, along with team leader Hoy Sopharith, returned with a team bronze medal to reward the CEF with a fitting gift to mark its 10th anniversary, formed, as it was, in 2007.

“We can not sit on the glory of this medal. We have to secure our future and build a much stronger endurance team that can aim higher,” said CEF President Mona Tep at a meet the press programme arranged by the federation for interaction with the members of the winning team at the Cambodian Country Club, the home of the City’s equestrian community, on Friday...

Read more here:
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/sport/kl-success-spurs-cef-activities-home

Australia: Melissa Longhurst and Pioneer Park Wings of Sudan win 2017 Shahzada

www.shahzada400.com

Melissa Longhurst and Pioneer Park Wings of Sudan repeated their 2016 feat of winning the 400-km, 5-day Shahzada over the week of August 21-25, 2017. The pair finished in an overall time of 38 hours. Melissa was also first Lightweight.

Finishing first Heavyweight was Robert Catlin aboard Avita in a ride time of 41:37. First Middleweight was Debbie Pevy riding Galaxy Mi in a ride time of 40:19.

44 started and 20 completed the ride.

More at:
www.shahzada400.com