Mongolia: Gobi Desert Cup: Day 3

August 26 2018

The riders are all in for Day 3! What an exciting day for all.

The day started cold and raining but by the time we began, a rainbow promised good luck to the riders.

At the 15km mark, Cele Stone was having knee problems and Howard Kent had a slow horse keeping them in the back. Cele decided to withdraw and the officials made the decision to switch horses for Howard, so he trotted off happily.

Until his horse decided he didn’t want to go forward anymore and he had to withdraw at the 30km.

With two riders out we checked in at the halfway point with the other riders to find the US team member Bob Gauthier had a fall when his horse tripped and rolled. Bob was okay but when taking the reins to mount his horse spun and kicked him in the abdomen. He mounted and continued to the checkpoint where the doctor examined him and approved him to continue. Sore but determined, Bob powered through to finish in 4th place.

Unable to complete the course yesterday, Tania Orlov stuck with the leading group of riders and came whooping across the finish line wit arms outspread at a gallop.

She was quickly followed by the remaining riders to take their places.

Once part of the lead group of riders, Peter Breidahl walked his horse 12km after being thrown off and met with Michael Shaw and Ruth Benney on their horses. Traveling together to the end, they all tied. But then there had to convince their horses to trot again for the vet check.

Leading up to the 55km checkpoint, one of the herdsman working with the Gobi Desert Cup met up with slower riders Stephanie Scott, Kasmira Graham, and Amy Eighteen on the horse ridden by both Cecilia Stone and Howard Kent, and showed us all how Mongolians ha dale horses effortlessly. They continued to ride together to the end of the course tying for last place.

The final placing are as follows:
Tania Orlov

Allan Horn

Mathilde Schwartz

Bob Gauthier

Jon Heeboll

Jeff Stuart

Christoph Schork

Elodie Maillard

Claire McManus

Tie: Michael Shaw, Ruth Benney, and Peter Breidahl

Tie: Stephanie Scott, Kasmira Graham, and Amy Eighteen

More at:
http://www.endurance.net/international/Mongolia/2018GobiDesertCup/

Australia: 38th Shahzada Begins Tomorrow

Shahzada400.com

August 26 2018

The 400-km Shahzada Memorial Endurance Ride will be held from Monday, 27th August to Friday, 31st August 2018, in St Albans, New South Wales.

45 riders have been nominated to start the 400-km ride (a horse and rider finish the Shahzada only if they complete all 5 days), and 65 have been nominated to start the 120-km mini marathon.

More info at:
https://www.shahzada400.com/

UAE: Groom’s error led to endurance horse’s positive drug test, tribunal told

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

August 26, 2018 Horsetalk.co.nz

A mistake by a groom was behind a failed drug test in an endurance horse who competed in an 80km race in the United Arab Emirates last February, the FEI Tribunal was told.

The horse Maximal Phoenix Sterling was ridden by Aqal Muhammad Said Muhammad in the CEI1* event at Bou Thib in mid-February.

The horse subsequently tested positive for dexamethasone and betamethasone, which are corticosteroids with anti-inflammatory effects...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2018/08/26/grooms-error-endurance-horse-drug-tribunal/

Mongolia: Gobi Desert Cup: Days 1 and 2

August 25 2018

18 riders started The Gobi Desert Cup on August 22. The 480-km endurance race across the Gobi Desert covers 80 kilometers a day.

Here's an update from The Gobi Desert Cup on Facebook

The moment you’ve all been waiting for: the Day 1 finishers!
Tied in first place are: Christoph Schork (US), Howard Kent (US), Allan Horn (US), Bob Gauthier (US), Peter Breidahl (NZ), and Mathilde Schwartz (NZ)

Next over the line was a tie as well for Tania Orlov (AUS) and Jon Heeboll (Denmark/ Sweden) both award winners for day 1 for Best Managed and Best Sportsmanship! Congratulations!

Next was a tie for Lorie Duff (CAN) and Amy Eighteen.(AUS) followed by:
Jeff Stuart (US)
Cecilia Stone (AUS)
Michael Shaw (AUS)
Kashmira Graham and Stephanie Scott (NZ)
Elodie Maillard (FRA)
Ruth Benney (AUS)
Claire McManus (AUS)

Unfortunately Stephanie Scott’s horse vetted out for heart rate and although she completed the course, she received no points for Day 1. Her horse was treated by vets and happily resting today. Bad luck as all the horses were managed very well by the riders all day and the vets were extremely happy!

While all riders and horses finished well, unfortunately both Howard Kent and Lorie Duff were dehydrated and showed mild symptoms of heat exhaustion by not drinking enough water and electrolytes on course. They were treated by our doctor and given Tailwind Electrolytes to restore their systems.

The doctor has cleared them for riding and while Howard has chosen to rest today, Lorie is determined to ride the course for the CHEO foundation. Don’t worry, we’ll be keeping a close eye on her and she’s happy to go at her own pace.

*****
Day 2

Our first rider is over the finish line on Day 2! Congratulations to Cele Stone!

Our second group has finished Day 2 with a tie of 10 riders! Congratulations to Bob Gauthier, Jeff Stuart, Peter Breidahl, Allan Horn, Mathilde Schwartz, Elodie Maillard, Stephanie Chase, Michael Shaw, and Kashmira Graham!

All our riders are home safe at camp! Our last two riders, Amy Eighteen and Clare McManus, arrived together an hour ago to much applause from the other riders and officials.

They rode slowly and safely at the back of the pack but came in well under the time limit. Great job ladies!

Unfortunately a few riders did not make it to the 40k checkpoint today: Lorie Duff pulled out at 5k due to a sore knee, while Jon had bad luck on the track with not one but two horses. His first horse had some bleeding in the mouth at 5k while his second went lame on track at 10k and he had to walk him into the checkpoint. His horse got loose on the way but with the help of a local family was able to catch his horse and find the track again to be picked up.

On their way also was our Australian moms, Tania and Ruth who took too long to the 40k check point and were unable to continue.
All riders and horses are safe and sound at camp awaiting the rest of the riders at end of day.

More info at:
https://www.gobidesertcup.com/

Equestrian Canada Announces Nominated Entries for WEG 2018

Equestrian.ca

August 25 2018

Canada's Nominated Entries for the World Equestrian Games Endurance event, to be held on September 23, 2018 at Tryon, North Carolina, have been announced.

The final Canadian Equestrian Team (CET) members for WEG 2018 will be selected from the following nominated entries officially submitted to the FEI:
*Athletes listed in alphabetical order.

Wendy Benns, from Campbellcroft, ON, aboard 10-year-old Arabian gelding Synthetic, owned by Melody Blittersdorf.

Colleen DeVry, from Bruderheim, AB, aboard 16-year-old Arabian gelding Nightwind's Indigo Bey, owned by Colleen DeVry.

Robert Gielen, from Flesherton, ON, aboard 9-year-old Arabian gelding More Bang For Your Buck, owned by Robert Gielend.

Jaylene Janzen, from Spruce Grove, AB, aboard 16-year-old Arabian gelding Sakic, owned by Christine Janzen.

Wendy MacCoubrey, from St Justine de Newton, QC, aboard 9-year-old Part-Arabian mare Black Bart's Lolita, owned by Wendy MacCoubrey.

Ariel Macleod, from Montney, BC, aboard 13-year-old Arabian gelding Driftwood's Lancelot, owned by Ariel Macleod.

Tracy Vollman, from Regina, SK, aboard 16-year-old Arabian gelding Ra Karim, owned by Tracy Vollman.

Lexi Vollman, from Regina, SK, aboard 9-year-old Arabian gelding Alwayz Fame PW, owned by Tracy Vollman.

Kimberley Woolley, from Finch, ON, aboard 12-year-old Arabian mare Schakka Khan, owned by Kimberley Woolley.

Endurance horse tested positive for “cocktail” of five controlled medications

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

August 25, 2018 Horsetalk.co.nz

A stable has blamed miscalculation and miscommunication for an endurance horse entered in a 120km race in Dubai testing positive to five prohibited substances.

The horse Al Wafyah, registered in the United Arab Emirates, was ridden by a Pakistan-registered rider, Asghar Ali Muhammad Faiz, in the CEI2* event.

Al Wafyah tested positive for flunixin, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, dexamethasone and clenbuterol, all of which are classified as controlled medications under the FEI’s anti-doping rules.

Flunixin, phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone are anti-inflammatory drugs with pain-killing effects. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory effects. Clenbuterol is a bronchodilator used to treat bronchitis and allergic airway disease...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2018/08/25/endurance-horse-cocktail-controlled-medications/

Tasmania: Tom Quilty Gold Cup: Going the distance for home hat-trick

WeeklyTimesNow.com.au - Full Article

KAROLIN MACGREGOR, Tasmanian Country
August 23, 2018

TASMANIAN riders are out to make it a hat-trick at home in the Tom Quilty Gold Cup national endurance championships.

Horse-and-rider combinations from Tasmania have won the prestigious 160km event for the past two years and with a field of strong entrants again this year, the state is in with a good chance.

Last year’s Quilty in South Australia was won by Tasmanian Brooke Brown-Cordell aboard
Tierview Salama from Tunnel.

Miss Brown-Cordell is expected to be one of the frontrunners again this year.

This year’s event, at Jetsonville near Scottsdale in the North-East, will be the 53rd Quilty...

Read more here:
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/tasmanian-country/tom-quilty-gold-cup-going-the-distance-for-home-hattrick/news-story/50593709aa8a848c29c4dfd0635b93f2