Rider strategies affect likelihood of Endurance eliminations, study shows

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

February 2, 2018
Horsetalk.co.nz

The judgment calls of Endurance riders over their speed, especially in the early loops, are major factors in their elimination or failure to finish 120km races, the findings of a new study show.

British researchers David Marlin and Jane Williams said race-pace strategies had been extensively studied in running, cycling and swimming. However, it appeared to have been largely ignored in equestrian sport, despite its potential to optimise performance.

The pair analysed publicly available data for electronically timed FEI 120km CEI** Endurance races that took place in Europe and the Middle East in 2016 and 2017, in what is believed to be the first peer-reviewed published study on race-pace strategy within the discipline...

Read more at https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2018/02/02/rider-strategies-endurance-elimination-study/#Ml1CDR4jiTrgK17F.99

Endurance Great Britain introduces welfare seminar series

January 30 2018 

Endurance GB, the National Governing Body for the sport of Endurance Riding, has announced the first two dates of its series of Horse Welfare Seminars it will host this winter.
 
Taking place on Saturday 3rd February at the Woodside Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, the first seminar will be hosted as part of the International seminar by the International Committee. The event, which will take place from 9am – 5pm, will feature talks from key industry figures on the issue of horse welfare in endurance. The seminar will feature talks from the following speakers and cover the following subject matter:
 
·         Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare - Welfare of the Competing Horse
·         Prof. Tim Parkin from Glasgow University – Endurance Injuries study
·         Henry Bullen, Peden Bloodstock  - Travelling your horse
·         Dr Sophie Ignarski, Boehringer Ingelheim - Muscle Development
·         Dr Mark Caldwell, FWCF - Endurance Farriery
·         Ian Williams – Former FEI Endurance Director - FEI Endurance

On Saturday 3rd March, 9am – 5:30pm, the second seminar will be hosted by the Welfare Committee at the British Racing School Conference Centre in Newmarket, Suffolk. It will focus on Use Not Abuse of the performance horse and will feature the following guest speakers and talks:
 
·         Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare - an insight into the Use not Abuse of performance horses and the global Visibility of horses
·         Dr Annamaria Nagy, Animal Health Trust - Lameness in Endurance Horses 
·         Prof. Tim Parkin from Glasgow University - Work to predict and minimise Risk in Endurance Worldwide
·         Lee Clark, Functional Physiotherapy - The importance of Saddle and Rider balance 
·         Dr David Marlin, Scientific and Equine Consultant - Training, Competition and Career Strategy
·         Tom Eaton-Evans MRCVS (Newmarket Equine Hospital) - Inside the Treatment
·         Dr Annamaria Nagy, Animal Health Trust - Q&A session on The Purpose of the Vetgate

Both seminars will end with an open Q&A with Endurance GB guest speakers.
 
Nicki Thorne, Chair of Endurance GB, said: “Our focus for Endurance GB is centred around our commitment to the positive promotion and growth of the sport, which horse welfare is absolutely an imperative part of. Through our Horse Welfare seminars, we will draw upon key issues and provide attendees with vital education to ensure the safeguarding of our sport.
 
“Horse welfare is a fundamental pillar in terms of our strategy, focus and plans for EGB and as the newly appointed Chair I hope to bring a fresh, new approach in making positive changes for the benefit of our Membership, our sport and of course for horse welfare.”
 
Spaces for each event are limited, so please book your ticket in advance to avoid disappointment. For further information or to book your ticket, visit www.endurancegb.co.uk.

For more information, please contact GUNG HO Communications:
Pippa Routledge         pippa@gunghoco.com           +44 121 6046366
Paul Phedon               paul@gunghoco.com             +44 121 6046366
 

New Zealand Championship series gets underway at Taupo National Equestrian Centre

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

26 January 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Daryl Owen

Taupo National Equestrian Centre. Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 January 2018. A select but strong field started this season’s 160km event at the ESNZ North Island Championships in Taupo.

The starting line-up suggested the probable leaders, and this was indeed the case for the first part of the event. Georgia Smith and Glenmore Vixen led strongly from the start, with Alison Higgins, Sian Reid and Amanda McConachy not far behind. As day dawned the temperature climbed, the humidity reaching 85% at one point. The field thinned out as the hard ground took its toll in gait irregularities.

As expected Georgia Smith was first across the finish line but unfortunately went out lame at the last vet check. All eyes were on the remaining three riders. Deirdre Bartlett and Craig Royston Zaria, in their first 160km, took the win in 13:28:05, and were also awarded Best Conditioned...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/new-zealand-championship-series-gets-underway-taupo-national-equestrian-centre/

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/