Adventures on Horseback: Horses from around the world, in our backyard

TryonDailyBulletin.com - Full Article

By Catherine Hunter
May 2, 2018

Wow!

This weekend, I met people from Denmark, Dubai, Guatemala, Japan, Ireland, Oman, Lebanon, Iraq and other places from around the world. They were all speaking different languages and all working to help each other.

It occurred to me again what an amazing place we live in. Here, in Tryon and the Foothills, we welcome horse lovers from all over the planet. We take in those fleeing hurricanes and we open our very doors to volunteers coming here for the World Equestrian Games.

On Saturday, I was able to witness a checkpoint for the Endurance qualifying event for the World Equestrian Games. It was amazing to see these riders and horses from all over the world. Hot blooded Arabs on the muscle, slender riders making sure their horses get water, stewards and volunteers directing the horses and riders onto the right trail.

I was especially appreciative of the Columbus Fire Department who was on duty from early in the morning until late in the evening. They stood out in the sun all day, handling the traffic to be sure the horses could cross the roads safely.

There was a film crew from Dubai with a cameraman from Lebanon and an assistant from Asheville, working on a documentary. Just think, people on the other side of the globe will be seeing pictures of Green Creek...

Read more here:
https://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2018/05/02/adventures-on-horseback-horses-from-around-the-world-in-our-backyard/

Home to FEI World Equestrian Games, WNC's horse culture runs deep

Citizen-Times.com - Full Article

Dillon Davis, dwdavis@citizen-times.com
Published 8:25 a.m. ET April 30, 2018

MAGGIE VALLEY — The morning fog settles over the mountains surrounding Maggie Valley's Cataloochee Ranch. It's the last week of April and Judy Sutton is readying the property for the onslaught of visitors certain to make the summer trek there.

Sutton's family has called this property at the peak of Fie Top Mountain home for 80 years. It's part of her, just as it was for her grandparents, Tom and Judy Alexander, who first purchased the property from Haywood County's "Potato King," Verlin Campbell.

They've built a memorable life there, a steep and winding jaunt from the town's main drag. It consists of numerous trails adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, cabins for visitors as well as more than two dozen horses on-site.

The horses, in particular, have played a huge role in Sutton's life...

Read more here:
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/04/30/not-horsin-around-horse-culture-runs-deep-wnc-ahead-fei-world-equestrian-games/528243002/

Road To The Mongol Derby: The Guru

Thoroughbreddailynews.com - Full Article

Sunday, April 29, 2018

By Kelsey Riley

TDN International Editor Kelsey Riley will be riding in the Mongol Derby in August 2018, and will be regularly blogging about her preparations and ultimately, her 1000-kilometer, 10-day ride across Outer Mongolia. Every rider chooses a charity for which they raise money as part of the process. Kelsey has chosen the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances Program at the Blackburn Correctional Complex in Lexington, KY. To learn more about Blackburn, click here.

“Don’t worry, you won’t even notice how bad you smell until you get back to the city.”

That was just one of the pearls of wisdom afforded me last week by 2013 Mongol Derby veteran Shelley Bates, shortly after she informed me that my plan of three clothing changes over my 10 day, 1000 kilometre journey across the Mongolian steppe was far too many–one at most, maybe none, but a change of socks every day, she suggested. What luxury.

While in England last week for the event of the year–no, not the Craven meeting, but rather the wedding of my friends Matt and Amanda Prior–I took the opportunity to travel down to Surrey to meet the woman known simply among Derbyists as The Guru: endurance trainer Maggie Pattinson, who operates On The Hoof Distance Training and has been at the forefront of the Derby organization and crew since the event was inaugurated nine years ago...

Read more here:
http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/road-to-the-mongol-derby-the-guru/

Waikato man Eion Kemp prepares for world's toughest horse race in Mongolia

Stuff.co.nz - Full Article

REXINE HAWES
Last updated 12:00, April 30 201

Waikato man Eion Kemp is always up for a challenge.

And in August he'll leave his home in Matamata to compete in the world's toughest horse race, the Mongol Derby.

The 1000 kilometre derby, in Mongolia, is run across high valleys and open passes, semi-arid dunes, wetland and river crossings.

Temperatures can drop to -8 degrees Celsius and soar to 50deg C in one day.

In the past, riders had suffered dehydration, hypothermia, broken bones and concussion...

Read more here:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/103451395/waikato-man-eion-kemp-prepares-for-worlds-toughest-horse-race-in-mongolia

Tryon 2018 World Equestrian Games Endurance Test Event Held

April 29 2018

73 starters representing 24 nations tackled the 120-km CEI 2* endurance event Saturday April 28 at Tryon, North Carolina. It was the Test Event for the World Equestrian Games 160-km endurance event to be held on September 12.

The UAE took the top 4 places, all finishing together in a group, with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum taking first aboard Upedro, a 10-year-old gelding, in a ride time of 7:21.44. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum was second aboard Toumani Eureka, an 11-year-old gelding.

Former multiple European and World Endurance Champion Maria Alvarez Ponton of Spain finished 5th riding Upsala El Saad, a 10-year-old gelding, in a ride time of 7:40.41.

Canadians Robert Gielen (riding his 9-year-old gelding More Bang For Your Buck) and Wendy MacCoubrey (riding her 9-year-old mare Black Barts Louta) finished 8th and 9th, in 8:52 and change.

USA's Heather Reynolds was 10th aboard the 11-year-old mare RTR Rimfires Etta. Ellen Olson was 12th riding the 7-year-old gelding Noslos Tuff Enuff. Kelsey Russell finished 17th riding the 8-year-old gelding Fireman Gold. Melody Blittersdorf finished 20th aboard the 18-year-old gelding Synthetic.

The other USA riders who were eliminated were Cheryl Van Deusen riding Nazeefs Flashy Rose, Gwen Gall riding TA Kwik Dance, Jeremy Reynolds riding Treasured Moments, Erin Lemmons-Innes riding Highh Treason, Tracy Hofstrand riding FLF Forever Champion, Erin Champion riding Landroval, Meg Sleeper aboard Syrocco Madrigal, and Holly Corcoran riding Authentika.

24 finished the race, and 49 were eliminated, and consensus is that the trail was tough and the vetting very strict.

USA rider Gwen Hall commented: "The hills are relentless and the rains as recent as Thursday evening made footing challenging in areas. Many eliminations due to lameness and despite our riding “back of the pack” the trail beat us today. This trail reminded me of another certain 100 – never hurry, never tarry. I learned a lot on this ride and am thankful for the opportunity to have participated."

Crew person Devan Horn commented: "So it turned out to be about a 32% completion rate. I truly feel in this case the vets were demanding perfection. Not 100% perfect and fresh, you were out. Also, the footing was rough being a newly cut trail, which effected a lot of riders." 

For complete ride results, see:
http://tawqeet.ae/ride?id=12020180428

To stay up to date with the upcoming WEG Endurance, see:
http://www.endurance.net/international/USA/2018WEG/

Monte Hermoso celebrates 20 years of endurance in Argentina

Endurance-world.com - Article & Photos

27 Apeil 2018
Race Report made with the assistance of Debbie López for Equestrian Federation of Argentina

Monte Hermoso, Argentina. Friday 20 and Saturday 21 April 2018.

The Argentinean Equestrian Federation celebrated 20 years of endurance with several international racesin the city of Monte Hermoso. Two days of racing was on the agenda and more than a hundred combinations participated. Argentinian entries were joined by riders from Belgium, England, Slovakia, Chile and Uruguay who raced with local horses.

On Friday at 6.30 the start for the 160km race was given and an hour later in was the turn for those riding in the 80km juniors and seniors. The beach was the main attraction of the event and also proved the most difficult part of the different loops.

Saturday also started very early, with first the young riders and seniors for 120km race followed by the participants of 100km. In the afternoon a race for the locals was scheduled over 20km to encourage sports in the area...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/monte-hermoso-celebrates-20-years-of-endurance-in-argentina/

South Africa: Three local riders to tackle endurance ride

News24.com

THREE local sportswomen are set to put their endurance and horse riding skills to the ultimate test.

Riana Griebenouw, Kirsty Masterson and Anri Wolmarans will compete in the 160km South African International Endurance Riding Challenge at the Bona Bona Nature Reserve near Klerksdorp in North West Province.

The 160km ride will be divided into six legs: two legs of 40km each and four legs of 20km each. After each leg the horse will be thoroughly inspected by international accredited veterinarians, who decide whether the horse is fit to continue.

“This is not only a fitness challenge, but also a test of mental strength for both horse and rider,” says Wolmarans.

Masterson will ride Delmar Nadra, an 8-year-old mare bred by Daan Landman from Tsitsikamma, while Wolmarans will saddle up 8-year-old gelding Delmar Hasan - also bred by Landman. Griebenouw will take on the challenge on the back of Welbech Hurst Lienka, a 7-year-old from the Welbech Stud in Middelburg.

They will, along with seven other riders, represent the Eastern Cape at this annual challenge. Other team members are Leanne Wels, Antoinette van Zyl, Peet Diedericks, Megan Botha, Nicara Diedericks, Marti Geldenhuys and Xander Diedericks - all from different areas in the Eastern Cape.