Endurance Temporary Committee meets with stakeholders at FEI HQ

Inside.FEI.org

21 Feb 2019

The Endurance Temporary Committee, set up by the FEI Board in October 2018 to review the discipline with the remit of bringing the sport back to its original roots of Endurance riding rather than Endurance racing, has met with a total of 26 stakeholders representing each of the FEI Regional Groups, World Horse Welfare and the Alliance of Endurance Organisers.

The purpose of the meetings was to allow stakeholders to provide the Temporary Committee with feedback on a series of topics, including the qualification system, mandatory rest periods, track design covering natural features, number of loops, access to water and proximity of cars, elimination codes, heart rates and presentation times, weight of athletes, officials, increased sanctions for anti-doping violations, limits on number of starters and continuous crewing.

The European Equestrian Federation (former FEI Groups I and II), together with FEI Group III, was represented in the first of five sessions which took place today.

“It was a very positive meeting and it was very important for those who participated, that they were being asked for their contributions”, said Quentin Simonet (FRA), Chair of the EEF Endurance Working Group. “Our position is that we have to tackle the real problems which concern a fairly limited number of people. There are plenty of places where the sport of endurance is going very well.”

Also at FEI HQ today for meetings with the Temporary Committee were representatives from Groups IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX.

World Horse Welfare also met the Committee, together with representatives of the Alliance of Endurance Organisers, an affiliate of the International Equestrian Organisers Alliance.

“We are heartened that the FEI is taking the strong initiative to “take back”, in the FEI President’s words, the sport of endurance, placing far greater emphasis on equine welfare in what has been a rapidly growing, but all too often, controversial discipline”, said Roly Owers, Chief Executive Officer of World Horse Welfare. “We hope the committee will come up with substantive, and in places radical, changes to better protect equine welfare and so secure the future of endurance.”

The Endurance Temporary Committee will hold its third in-person meeting at FEI HQ tomorrow to further discuss the input from today’s stakeholder group meetings and prepare for the FEI Sports Forum 2019 (15-16 April) as the second day will be dedicated to Endurance.

The European Equestrian Community Focuses on Endurance

EuroEquestrian.eu

20 February 2019

EEF Working Group has been established to define principles, proposals and a vision for the future

The first meeting of the EEF (European Equestrian Federation) Endurance Working Group provided plenty of positive momentum when representatives from a wide range of active stakeholders in the continental Endurance landscape gathered in Paris, France on 19 December 2018.

They have come together in a “think tank” that reported to the EEF Board, EEF member NFs and FEI stakeholders. As newly-appointed EEF President Theo Ploegmakers explained in his opening address that their brief is to provide guiding principles with rational solutions that will strengthen the sport across Europe and ensure its credibility worldwide.

The EEF Endurance Working Group, chaired by Quentin Simonet, International Relations Coordinator for the French NF, believes that Endurance has a positive future, provided the unacceptable behaviours of a few in the community are addressed and rectified. It is true sport when practiced in a fair way, giving access to all, from beginners to the most experienced and talented athletes, and with the emphasis on the partnership between an educated rider and a well-trained horse.

On almost all of the most important topics the participants shared the same vision to counter current drifts (doping, corruption and any other kind of cheating) and provide a sustainable future for this discipline.

The core statement was to underline that when the current regulations are applied, as it is the case in most of the European events, there is nearly no room for drifts.

By consequence they first agree on the strict application of these regulations and on the reinforcement of the points which will help to do so: consistent application of sanctions, reinforcement of anti-doping program, limitation of crew members, imposition of strict weight control, certification of timing and heart-rate providers, upgrade of a strong FEI officials monitoring program.

Working Group members also addressed veterinarian suggestions, such as: the decrease of intermediate presentation times to 15 minutes, conservation of current heart rate principles and the extension of the rules to avoid horses being transported immediately after competition from 2 Star events. Moreover they agreed upon being against the eventual reintroduction of the 2 hours invasive treatment rule.

This is a progress report and the EEF Endurance Working Group will come up with more details and new recommendations in due time. The Group is looking forward to cooperating with many other stakeholders who have a similar vision.

The participants list and minutes of the first meeting of the EEF Endurance Working Group are available on: http://www.euroequestrian.eu/documents/wg-endurance

Mongolia: 2019 Gobi Desert Cup Scheduled for 27 August to 6 September

GobiDesertCup.com

Please join us for a 480-kilometer ride across the Gobi Desert on Mongolian horses over six days. We are an endurance race that prioritizes horse welfare and the sustainability of the nomadic Mongol culture through our event. Challenge your horsemanship will embarking on the cultural experience of a lifetime. We are now accepting a limited number of applications at www.gobidesertcup.com.

The Mongolian Horse

Mongolian horses are semi-wild and handled differently then the horses you are used to riding. Sturdy and strong with a lot of heart, they will teach you and test you. The horses selected for the cup qualify based on age, health, quietness, experience and ability to cover long distances. Once qualified, the horses go to our training center to be trained and conditioned for the race. Our herdsmen will be on hand every day to help you and support you as you navigate the course.

Race Details

Following a marked course, starting every morning at 7AM, riders must complete the course before 7 PM. Two vet checks are held a day; one at 40 km and one at the end of the 80km. When entering the vetting area, riders will have maximum 30 minutes to get their horse's heart rate to 64bpm or below. At each vet check, the horses will be trotted out under saddle and checked for lameness. After passing the vet check, a compulsory vet hold of 40min will allow both riders and horses to rest, eat and drink.

Away from the modern world, GET BACK TO BASICS.

Riders will be camping in tents each night in a traditional Mongolian camp. You will wake up each morning to the herders bringing in the horses to the horse line as the sun rises over the horizon. Leave your modern amenities behind because without electricity you will learn to live as the herders have since the time of Ghenghis Khan.

But no open fires here, you will be immersed in the nomadic lifestyle while enjoying catered food prepared by our chef and his team.

Itinerary

The itinerary includes a half day briefing with officials in Ulaanbaatar at the hotel. You will then be picked up the following morning at the hotel to travel to base camp where you will receive two days of training before the race; discovering the horses, the rules, and try your gear. Then the race begins after a Starting Ceremony! Each night awards will be present for Best Managed Horse and Best Sportsmanship. At the end of six days and 480 kilometers, the Individual Winner, Overall Best Managed, and Team winners will be announced, following by a Closing Ceremony.

For more information and to apply, see
https://www.gobidesertcup.com/

Canadian Rider on the storm: Jasper woman plans Mongolia charity ride

Fitzhugh.ca - Full Article

Craig Gilbert | publisher@fitzhugh.ca
February 19 2019

Sandra Coombe plans to spend some of her spring standing tall in the saddle.

The longtime local was the 12th and final rider selected for the seventh annual Gobi Gallop, a 10-day, 700-kilometre traditional ride on herd-minded Mongolian stallions from the steppe into the mountains and back down again at the end of May.

She plans to get all four of the innoculations recommended for travel to the region, including typhoid and rabies, but she seemed more concerned about altitude sickness.

She reached the race’s organizer, Julie Veloo, through a video chat Tuesday afternoon.

“We’re technically skirting around the limits of it,” she said, with the riders starting at 7,200 metres in the western Gobi Desert, ascending to 8,600 metres then descending to about 5,000 metres. “Many people could have other issues.”

Coombe was selected after a three-hour interview process...

Read more here:
https://www.fitzhugh.ca/rider-on-the-storm-jasper-woman-plans-mongolia-charity-ride/

Will there be a WEG 2022? FEI to keep close eye on world champs bids

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

February 19, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

Horse sport’s world governing body has acknowledged that because of the globalisation of equestrian sport there are few countries with the ability to host a World Equestrian Games championships in all disciplines.

Following last year’s WEG in the USA which was beset with issues, the FEI will work closely with those bidding to host championships in 2022 in order to create “a unified vision and establish an achievable set of goals” to work towards.

When it opened the bidding process late last year for individual world championships for 2022, the FEI said preference would be given to multi-discipline bids. FEI President Ingmar De Vos stressed at the time that it did not necessarily mean the end of the FEI World Equestrian Games concept.

“The new bid process allows for the sustainable and cost-effective use of existing equestrian sports facilities and for the FEI to partner with National Federations that may have hesitated in putting forward multi-discipline bids in the past...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/02/19/weg-2022-fei-world-champs-bids/?utm_medium=40digest.7days3.20190219.home&utm_source=email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=campaign

New Zealand’s North Island Championships a victory for the ‘Pip’s’

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

15 February 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Jane Ferguson

Whareama Domain, half an hour out of Masterton on New Zealand’s scenic east coast was the location for the running of the Toft Endurance ESNZ Endurance North Island Championships from 1 to 3 February 2019.

With the track crossing over 16 privately owned farms, it was a logistical triumph for the organising committee, who had been working extremely hard for many months in the lead-up to ensure a world-class event. Farmers were incredibly supportive, shifting thousands of head of stock, resulting in only two gates on course and a flowing track.

The ride base was picture perfect; sponsors signage was prominently displayed, and with fairy lights running up the vet lanes for the night loops it was a magical experience for all involved. Overseas officials hailed from Botswana, the United States, Costa Rica and Malaysia, and China and Australia were represented among the competitors...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/new-zealands-north-island-championships-a-victory-for-the-pips/

The UK Horse World Prepares for Brexit

HorseReporter.com - Full Article

24/01/2019
by Pamela Burton


The UK Horse World Prepares for Brexit
24/01/2019

Leaders in equestrian sport, vets and government have been working closely to prepare plans for the UK leaving the EU
Although the outcomes of Parliamentary negotiations surrounding Brexit remain uncertain, the horse world has been working closely together to understand the implications for horse owners when the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019.

Leaders from a number of organisations from horse sport, racing, vets, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) have been developing plans for what needs to be done in case the UK leaves with no deal.

The chief concern for horse owners will be transportation. Our focus has been on the following areas:...

Read more here:
https://www.horsereporter.com/the-uk-horse-world-prepares-for-brexit/