U.S. Team Makes a Strong Finish a the 2017 FEI World Endurance Championship for Young Riders and Juniors

Photo by: Josie Whelan
USEF.org

by US Equestrian Communications Department | Sep 23, 2017

Valeggio sul Mincio, Verona, Italy – The Distance Depot/U.S. Endurance Team met the substantial challenges of Saturday’s 2017 FEI World Endurance Championships for Young Riders and Juniors, with three riders completing the course for a successful U.S. team finish. Leading the U.S. team to finish in the 11th position against 16 other national teams, was Chef D’Equipe Mark Dial.

“The entire Team showed a lot of maturity in their riding and professionalism throughout the entirety. There were several obstacles and challenges that were overcome by the athletes and their support staff which led to the success of finishing as a team. The entire team’s preparation was outstanding and I am can’t say enough about their willingness to improve upon their previous successes. Thank you isn’t enough to the Road Crew, Crewmembers, Selectors, and the Veterinary Advisory Group for their unwavering support of the U.S. Endurance Program,” said Dial.

Leading the U.S. across the finish line was Ainsley Suskey (Iola, Wisc.). Riding Julie Jackson’s Princess Deelites MHF, a 10-year-old Arabian mare, Suskey finished 49th overall with a time of 7:40:32. Teammates Annie Whelan (Louisa, Ky.), aboard Amy Wallace-Whelan’s Wallace Hill Leo, a 13-year-old Half-Arabian gelding, and Ragan Kelly (Waco, Texas), riding Tracy Kelly’s HK Kruzier, a 10-year-old Arabian gelding, were not far behind. Whelan completed the course in 8:16:38, finishing in the 53rd position. Overcoming a mishap at the second rest period, Kelly and HK Kruzier finished on a time of 8:16:39, finishing 54th.

Katelyn Baldino (Marietta, Ga.) and Melody Blittersdorf’s Synthetic were unable to complete the race after the third vet check. Dial stated, “Katelyn and Synthetic were primed for this Championship but unfortunately, we had stroke of bad luck which led to their pull for lameness. The pair showed a strong presentation throughout their time here and we can’t thank the Blittersdorf’s and Misty McAdams enough for their care of Synthetic.”

The United Arab Emirates won the 2017 FEI World Endurance Championships for Young Riders and Juniors. Saeed Salem Atiq Khamis Almuhairi of the United Arab Emirates is the individual world champion aboard Rabdan.

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The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.

Suspensions imposed over endurance drug breaches in Qatar

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

September 23, 2017
Horsetalk.co.nz

Three endurance riders and a trainer have received suspensions over drug infractions in Qatar in November last year.

The three horses all tested positive to diisopropylamine, a vasodilator used to treat peripheral and cerebral vascular disorders. It is a banned substance under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations.

The three riders − Matter Said Khalfan Al Saadi, who is registered in Oman; Gaje Singh Hari Singh, who is registered in India; and Maryam Ahmad S A Al Boinin, who is registered in Qatar − explained to the FEI Tribunal that they had no involvement in the preparation of the horses...

Read more at https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2017/09/23/suspensions-endurance-drug-breaches-qatar/#2uertoW03Q1gx0Uq.99

The Italia Endurance Festival - Opening Ceremony

ItaliaEnduranceFestival.com

22/09/2017 - evento sportivo

A magnificent choreography charmed the audience of the Italia Endurance Festival and definitely left a beautiful souvenir in the minds and hearts of those who were lucky enough to witness it.

When the main authorities concluded their welcoming speeches, the 33 participating teams present in Valeggio sul Mincio began their parade, just after setting of the sun.

Daniele Polato, city councillor of Verona, and Maurizio Danese, President of VeronaFiere, have underlined the economic benefits brought about by the Festival.

The riders of the nations that will be competing next Saturday and Sunday on the tracks developing accross the territories of Mantua and Verona, stepped on stage in alphabetical order.

Just before the dancing and horse acrobatics show, Mr. Mohammed Essa Aladhab, Manager of the Dubai Equestrian Club, collected a beautiful prize, a painting for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Almaktoum. The work of art is signed by the artist Mauro Malacarne, specialized in equine subjects.

When the painting was unveiled, the Italian National Anthem began to accompany the Italian Team on stage. Italy, the host country, won silver medal at the Senior European Championship in Belgium (August 2017).

Beautiful fireworks concluded this magnificent opening ceremony, lighting up the majestic castle of Valeggio sul Mincio that faces Parco Giardino Sigurtà.

Ramon Lopez Lax, FEI ride President of Ground Jury, officially starts the games, proclaiming the beginning of the Championship.

Australia: Drought won't stop the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride

GympieTimes.com.au

21st Sep 2017
by Shelley Strachan

DESPITE the persistent drought, or perhaps because of it, Kilkivan Great Horse Ride event organisers are confident next weekend's muster of trail riders, campers and spectators will be a huge success.

President Steve Horseman said yesterday he and his management team had been heartened by the strong, unexpected support of many locals who have gone beyond the usual level of contribution to help ensure the event's success.

"Every day now we are receiving offers from locals which demonstrate the fantastic spirit that's still alive and well around here, despite the recent lousy weather pattern," he said.

"From the local camping ground owners who have made their premises available for a trail lunch site - despite it being one of their biggest weekends of the year - to the people baking extra quantities of goodies for the trail smokos and the craftspeople rallying their neighbours for extra display items while they are all also adversely affected by the drought, we are witnessing a wonderful display of country generosity...

Read more here:
https://www.gympietimes.com.au/news/drought-wont-stop-the-kilkivan-great-horse-ride/3226448/

UAE: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | September 19, 2017

The UAE desert endurance season is chugging into gear. It is accompanied by the annual spike in FEI horse registrations, mostly of the plane-loads of imported unfortunates set to hustle round the early 40km and 80km desert rides to “qualify” for the more onerous winter races to come. How much easier it must have been to invent the qualifying results in times past.

Current UAE endurance FEI registrations stand at 6,091 today, September 19th, out of 13,016 current FEI endurance horses worldwide. This is a 600% growth in 10 years, compared with 947 UAE horses in 2006. The biggest spurt was 2014-2015, around 1,500 extra horses year to year. That is depressing when you consider that by 2014 the abuses were more widely known, and that it might have occurred to people not to sell.

Last year, UAE registrations represented 46% of FEI endurance horses worldwide. Now it is 46.79%. No other country dominates horse ownership in any other discipline on this scale.

Worryingly, this figure taken in isolation makes it easy for the folks who support the warped notion of race-till-it-breaks to suggest that UAE domination means “best practice” and that they should be allowed to do what they want.

Even the FEI flags up that endurance is the world’s second fastest-growing horse sport: who they are trying to impress with that factoid, I don’t know. But it isn’t, anyway. Endurance is the fastest-growing sport in the UAE, but the UAE is just one of 130-odd countries affiliated to the FEI. The rest are not following at the same rate. Nothing like, in fact, and even if they wanted to, their best horses will quickly be sold to the UAE. What was it Benjamin Disraeli and Mark Twain said about Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics?...

Read more here:
https://www.horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/lies-damned-lies-and-statistics/

Great Britain: Annie Joppe’s endurance blog: talk about withdrawal symptoms, I am almost twitching

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Annie Joppe
10:55 - 19 September, 2017

It has now been two weeks since I sat on a horse. Talk about withdrawal symptoms, I am almost twitching. This is because it’s rest time for the horses. My winter plans include a five week break (expedition to Antarctica) during January and some of February which means that the rest breaks for the horses in some cases, of necessity is rather long and in the case of Chiara she will have two shorter ones.

Chiara is now on a two months’ break with six weeks to go before coming back into work for general conditioning and in particular schooling. There are several aspects of her work that need improving. One particular target will be working on her stiff side; her right side, especially right canter which she is always reluctant to strike off on her own accord. It is important that when competing she changes lead regularly and particularly useful if it becomes automatic for her without me having to nag her all the time...

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/annie-joppes-endurance-blog-talk-withdrawal-symptoms-almost-twitching-632684#oimxVfaYIKcSzRIW.99

Italy: 16 Teams to contend the World Title

ItaliaEnduranceFestival.com

18/09/2017 - evento sportivo

FEI MEYDAN Endurance Championship for athletes under 21 years of age; the curtain will lift shortly.
Lake Garda's bank watching toward Valeggio sul Mincio begins to come to life with the first arrivals, mostly from the more distant Countries.

33 Nations will be present at the big venue organized in and around Sigurtà Garden Park, and 16 of these Nations have been able to present a Team with at least 3 pairs.

We're now waiting for everyone to make their choices and designate those who will defend their Country's colors, and who will be in reserve as well.

The 4 USA riders are: Katelyn Baldino aboard Synthetic, Regan Kelly riding Kharismas Grace, Ainsley Suskey aboard and Princess Deelites MHF, and Annie Whelan riding Wallace Hill Leo.

Anya Levermann will represent Canada aboard Kataki.

Start list is here:
http://www.enduranceonline.it/events/events_details_n.php?gara_id=984&cat=V4_5