St Patrick’s Coast Endurance Ride 2018 – The Emerald Jewel of Endurance and Pleasure Riding in Ireland

Farmweek.com - Full Article

By Bree Rutledge - August 27, 2018

THE annual must-do horse riding event is coming up soon, whether you are an avid dressage rider, a keen show jumper or simply someone who just enjoys hacking out, St. Patrick’s Coast is the ride for you! Now in its fifth year, this event hosted by the Irish Long Distance Riding Association (ILDRA) has become established as Ireland’s premier endurance event offering stunning off-road riding in the scenic County Down landscape.

On Saturday, September 1, the ride will commence at Downpatrick Racecourse, heading out across the rolling drumlins of County Down through numerous fields before reaching the East Down Gallops. From here you’ll descend towards the endless sandy beaches of Tyrella, perfect for a gallop or two. The beautiful Mourne Mountains are a perfect backdrop across this scenic ride, as you head back along further fields and grassy laneways to reach Tullymurray Equestrian Centre. A jaunt along the old County Down railway line awaits before a shaded hack through the peaceful Hollymount Forest. A final stretch across an open field leads back to Downpatrick Racecourse, with the perfect opportunity for a galloping finish past the post...

Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/st-patricks-coast-endurance-ride-2018-the-emerald-jewel-of-endurance-and-pleasure-riding-in-ireland/

Ireland: Fitness preparation for Endurance Riders at Knockmany Forest

Farmweek.com - Full Article

By Bree Rutledge - August 27, 2018

ILDRA (Irish Long Distance Riding Association) headed to the West of the country to the hidden gem of Knockmany Forest Park near Augher on August 19. Pleasure rides and Competitive Trail Rides were on offer on the day for the riders. A drizzly start to the day soon warmed up to what became quite humid riding conditions.

The attending vet on the day was Quirine Tettelaar, MVetMed, MRCVS. Quirine is new to the sport of endurance and she did a brilliant job of checking all of the CTR horses before and after the completion of their respective rides. Many of the riders attending the Knockmany Forest Park ride were putting in some conditioning and fitness training before the St. Patrick’s Coast Endurance Ride on September 1. Offering some of the most stunning views of the County Down landscape, this ride offers something for everyone, both pleasure and endurance riders!...

Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/fitness-preparation-for-endurance-riders-at-knockmany-forest/

Clean Endurance: A Guide For Spotting Cheating and Abuse

27 August 2018

How to spot cheating and abuse – and what to do about it 1 A guide to spotting rule breaches and cheating in equestrian endurance is published today (August 25, 2018) by Clean Endurance. The informal “A to Z” format aims to make this very serious subject accessible. Clean Endurance has produced the A to Z in response to the many enquiries it is now receiving from observers and volunteer helpers at endurance rides who think they saw a violation taking place, but were unsure how to respond or whom to alert.

In recent years the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has acted to address welfare issues, doping and rule-breaking on the field of play. The FEI is constantly reviewing endurance rules to combat the types of foul play highlighted in the A to Z. Sadly, the accompanying picture collages and press archives which can be found on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cleanendurance/ show that many FEI rules are still being openly and routinely broken.

More Yellow Warning Cards are awarded for “not conforming to applicable sport rules” and horse abuse (in conjunction with disqualification) than for any other offence in endurance. Disrespect of officials has increased, causing the FEI Endurance Department to introduce special measures to deal with this. Receipt of an Endurance Incorrect Behaviour Yellow Warning Card triggers an automatic two-month suspension. This topic appears in the A to Z under U for Unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Another major issue is dealt with under K for Knowing the 30-minute rule and Keeping proof. A particular barrier to fair play is that endurance is subject to the same 30-minute rule for lodging protests as the arena-based sports. But because endurance can span 160km (100 miles) of unsupervised open country, photographic or video evidence often only emerges hours or days later – too late for the Ground Jury to act upon. Only the reporting of alleged horse abuse is not time-limited (see A for Abuse).

O is for Obstructing the horse from view in grooming areas and vet-gates - against FEI rules. Why a horse might be concealed is explained in C for Crew, I for Invasive treatment and N for Nerve-blocking.

For those not involved in endurance, training for heart rate recovery is fundamental to the sport since the clock only stops once the horse drops below a maximum heart rate. While the naked eye cannot spot a horse that has been medicated to reduce its heart-rate (D for Doping), there are plenty of other visible tricks to gain an unfair advantage before or after entering the vet-gate: see E for Ear-twitching, G for Gaining time, J for Jammed heart-rate monitors and Q for Queuing for a favourite veterinarian.

Clean Endurance is a global collective of volunteers who are pledged to restoring the traditional values of their sport.
They have an informal working relationship with the FEI; several recent FEI rule changes, procedures as well as sanctions have been developed from matters they have raised.

Clean Endurance is happy to supply links for further reading, including coverage in bona fide news media about many of the field-of-play incidents highlighted in our A to Z.

The A to Z is by no means exhaustive and will be revised and updated from time to time. Clean Endurance welcomes comments and suggestions.

Find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cleanendurance/ and contact them through the message button or email contact.cleanendurance@gmail.com.

The Clean Endurance A to Z Guide can be seen here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/CleanEnduranceAtoZCheatSheet_25_08_2018.pdf

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/