India: Marwari horses to prove their mettle this weekend

Timesofindia - Full Article

Shiladitya Pandit | TNN | Updated: Jan 25, 2018

PUNE: For a while now, Mumbai-based property consultant Ajay Shah has been spending nearly half the week at his stable in Lonavla to look after his horses. On January 26, he will be taking part in The Marwari Horse Endurance Championship, an equestrian sport, all for his passion for riding.

"I attend to my five horses in Lonavla at least thrice a week. Horses and equestrian sports are my passion. I have been riding since 1972 and the Endurance Championship is just an extension of that passion. Riding has helped me keep fit because of the concentration and balancing skills that go into it," the 67-year-old remarked.
Besides, he is participating "not for the prize", but for the thrill. "I am one of the oldest participants. So I am happy to have qualified and I will compete on the 20km course," said Shah...

Read more here:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/marwari-horses-to-prove-their-mettle-this-weekend/articleshow/62641429.cms

Spanish Endurance Rider Takes on Desert Races That Are 100 Miles Long

WideOpenPets.com - More

January 22 2018
Posted by Paige Cerulli

When most people go horseback riding, they head out for about an hour, but for Uma Mencia Uranga, a one-hour ride is nothing.
Uma, a professional endurance rider, grew up in northern Spain before moving to Dubai at age 18. She’s now lived in Dubai for 10 years and loves that she can spend time in the city before quickly heading out into the desert for a ride...

Read more and see video here:
http://www.wideopenpets.com/endurance-rider-takes-desert-races-100-miles-long/

Is It Too Easy to Become an 'International?'

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | January 19, 2018

Scores of evolving equestrian nations belong to the FEI. There are over 130 member countries, at least half without the remotest chance of ever sending a rider to the Olympic Games.

There are altruistic reasons for the FEI to oversee the expansion of horse sport globally, even in countries that are geographically horse-unfriendly. A country with a budding equestrian program is better off inside the FEI, which will provide guidance, support and expertise, than trying to do its own thing.

In those terms, I hope the FEI’s new collaboration with China has a supervisory motive as well as a promotional one, in the light of what has happened to desert endurance. The Middle East was another enormous land-mass with a newly found, whopping disposable income enabling it to develop its own abusive sporting aberration, one now proving impossible to rein-in...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/easy-become-international/

Team spirit” and “new policy for selections”…the right way for the bronze medal at the 2017 European Championship

Sportendurance-evo.com - Full Article

7 January 2018
sportendurance@gmail.com

By Leonard Liesens, coach of the Swedish team

Another big goal to me was to create a real ‘team spirit’ Obviously the Team Bronze was like the ‘icing on the cake’ for the Team Sweden.

It was not my goal to go for a medal at the European. I started my duty as the coach of Sweden only in April.

I wanted to review the whole elite system. Like in any situation, a first study of the existing situation was mandatory to me. I was already able to pick a list of rider/horse combinations which could pretend to a better speed on the distance of 160 km. But these amazons – almost all endurance riders in Sweden are females – didn’t really believe in their ability to perform better and faster.

A first gathering with the riders, followed by a couple of clinics in the spring were organized. Some changes were introduced in the training program, in the management of the horses, and so on. Also a major change was brought to the selection system: no minimum speed – except the 14 km/h FEI threshold which was required to enter the long list.

All in all, we were able to reach a total of 15 horse/rider combinations qualified on 160 km. While only 5 were qualified at the start of the season. So the new policy was working...

Read more here:
http://www.sportendurance-evo.com/team-spirit-and-new-policy-for-selections-the-right-way-for-the-bronze-medal/

Australian Endurance Riders Long Listed for WEG 2018

Equestrian.org.au

Equestrian Australia (EA) is pleased to announce its long list of Endurance riders for the FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Tryon this September.

The list of riders is as follows:

Brook Sample
Christine Stomps
Jodie Salinas
Naomi O'Shaughnessy
Penny Toft
Rebecca Pinder
Stella Harbison
Tahlia Franke

Penny Toft and Brook Sample are no strangers to this list and there are some new names that feature on this occasion. Whilst Rebecca Pinder and Jodie Salinas competed at the World Championships last year, they are WEG contenders for the first time. Other WEG long list debutants are Christina Stomps, Naomi O’Shaughnessy, Stella Harbison and Tahlia Franke.

We congratulate all riders on their selection and wish them the best of luck with their preparations over the coming months.

Discover more about the Tryon 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games on our dedicated website http://www.equestrian.org.au/weg2018

Volunteers Needed for FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018

Tryon2018.com

By: WEG Admin
Jan 16, 2018

Volunteer inquiries are currently being accepted for the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018 (WEG). Expected to be the largest event in North America in 2018, the Games will be held at Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) on September 11-September 23, 2018 in Tryon, N.C.

Currently, the WEG Volunteer Management Program is in the “Scope Phase” and receiving inquiries from prospective WEG volunteers. People interested in volunteering can fill out an inquiry form online at Tryon.com.

Submitting an online inquiry is the first in a sequence of steps required to complete a volunteer application. The additional steps can be found in the online WEG Volunteer Portal that will be launched in March. This scheduled launch will begin the “Recruitment Phase.” Volunteers who have submitted an inquiry through the existing online form will receive a link to the Volunteer Portal to begin an application. Volunteers will create a login and password, answer security and ability questions, purchase the uniform package, and sign a liability waiver.

Beginning in April 2018, volunteers selected for service will be notified of their assignment(s), during the “Selection Phase.” May 1 is the deadline for all volunteers to complete applications through the online Volunteer Portal. “Orientation” and “Pilot Training Phases” will occur June through September.

Anyone who has previously filled out the online inquiry form on the Tryon 2018 website does not need to resubmit the form to receive an invitation to the online Volunteer Portal. Interested parties who have not yet submitted an inquiry form may do so, here: https://tryon2018.com/page/volunteer-inquiry-form#top

Housing Update:

Local accommodations may be booked online at: https://tryon2018.com/page/lodging-request

The WEG Volunteer Management Committee is also pleased to announce a community hosting initiative for WEG volunteers. Volunteers may request complimentary housing through the online Volunteer Portal. Hosting families will be located regionally within proximity of TIEC. If you are a homeowner and would like more information on how to host a WEG volunteer, please contact volunteerhousing@tryonweg.com.


Click here to learn more about the WEG Volunteer Program.

For the most updated WEG information, please sign up for the newsletter online at www.tryon2018.com or follow @Tryon2018 on social media.

For even more info, see:
https://tryon2018.com/article/volunteers-needed-for-fei-world-equestrian-games-tryon-2018

Endurance GB sets out commitment to welfare

January 16 2018

Endurance GB, the National Governing Body for the sport of Endurance Riding, has set out its agenda for 2018 which defines its commitment to the positive promotion of the sport, in particular ensuring horse welfare.
 
Under the new elected Chair of Endurance GB, Nicki Thorne, the organisation has detailed its plans to lead from the front to change attitudes in regard to welfare. Endurance GB is introducing a number of initiatives to address these changes proactively, and has called on the FEI for dialogue on this vision and values which has been received positively.
 
Included in the strategy is Endurance GB’s plans to continue developing initiatives such as the Leading Rider Award and the Best Condition Award with ride organisers.  This includes HPG Endurance Ltd, organisers of the Euston Park rides where HPG Endurance Ltd and Endurance GB are working closely together to implement a number of additional measures in 2018 including increased on course veterinary presence and other innovations agreed with the FEI.
 
Central to implementing change within the sport is to ensure that Endurance GB members uphold its values on horse welfare, which has led to the development of ‘British values for British riders’ which will provide a foundation of agreement between British riders abroad and Endurance GB, to ensure standards and welfare meet requirements at all times.
 
Endurance GB will also continue to conduct regular research with its own national database to further their training and development plans, which will be furthered with the recent appointment of Dr David Marlin, a Scientific and Equine Consultant.
 
Nicki Thorne, Chair of Endurance GB, said: “Welfare is at the heart of our sport and a fundamental pillar for all of our activities. Safeguarding the future of Endurance in this country is pivotal for all of us and we hold horse welfare in the highest regard. We are justly proud of our excellent welfare record within the UK and we wish to reiterate Endurance GB’s firm commitment as a leader in welfare practices, with research, innovation and development driven from the UK.”
 
New for 2018, Endurance GB will be hosting a series of Horse Welfare seminars, kicking off in February 2018 with a talk on Welfare of the Competing Horse from Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare, and a presentation from Prof. Tim Parkin from Glasgow University. For more information visit endurancegb.co.uk.
ENDS
 
For more information contact GUNG HO Communications on 0121 6046366
Paul Phedon              Paul@gunghoco.com
Pippa Routledge       Pippa@gunghoco.com