It's Time to Wind Endurance Back to Zero

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

Cuckson Report | March 8, 2019

Meetings of the FEI’s Endurance Temporary Committee – tasked with reviewing their sport for the umpteenth time – are always followed up with a press release. These missives include a quote about the new feeling of optimism and cooperation by everyone in the endurance community.

Sorry for my cynicism, but can someone enlighten me as to when FEI Group 7 (Middle East) underwent this amazing epiphany and agreed that high-speed horse-wrecking must stop? I must have been in a coma that day. The national federations might be saying it and meaning it, but the out on the piste it is a very different story.

We were spoon-fed the same feel-good mantra in 2013 and 2014 by the FEI Endurance Strategic Planning Group (remember them, anyone?) They too enthused about goodwill and engagement (an over-used catch-all term, in my view) toward reform. Yet within a year of the ESPG’s final report in April 2014, recommendations were mostly gathering dust, and the UAE federation had been suspended.

The UAE was let back into the FEI “family” by signing a legal agreement that was then scarcely observed in the 2015-16 winter season. By February 2016 the FEI was seeking further assurances about compliance. In April the UAE was stripped of running the 2016 world endurance championship because “horse welfare could not be guaranteed.”

Speeds got even faster, completion rates no better: so many horses’ careers (and probably lives) over by the age of eight or nine...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/cuckson-report/wind-endurance-back-to-zero/?fbclid=IwAR24ZU27-m8KchLwsYC47uJzxsZ8wXSl-3KIIlhLr7PSBh2BoeEgylPpQlc

Finding of horse abuse in Dubai endurance race: Fine and suspension imposed

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

March 8, 2019 Horsetalk.co.nz

A rider who competed in a major Endurance race in Dubai in January has been suspended and fined after the FEI Tribunal found that his striking of his horse on the neck with a water bottle amounted to horse abuse.

The tribunal considered the case against Ali Mohd Ali Al Hosani following a formal protest by journalist Pippa Cuckson.

England-based Cuckson provided video footage of the incident in support of her protest.

The tribunal suspended Al Hosani for six months, fined him 2000 Swiss francs, and ordered him to contribute 1000 francs towards the cost of the judicial procedure.

Al Hosani, registered with the Emirates Equestrian Federation, was competing on the horse LCE Corleone in the Sheikh Mohammed Cup CEI 160km race on January 4...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/03/08/finding-horse-abuse-dubai-endurance/

Dubai: Endurance Rider Suspended for Striking Horse with Slosh Bottle

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

March 7, 2019

An endurance rider who struck his tiring horse with a slosh bottle has today been suspended six months for horse abuse by a three-member panel of the FEI Tribunal.

The incident involving UAE rider Ali Mohd Ali Al Hosani was captured on the official livestream from the Sheikh Mohammed Cup CEI 160km at Dubai International Endurance City on January 4. Al Hosani also been fined 2000 Swiss francs and disqualified from 16th place.

The protest was lodged by Horse-Canada.com contributor Pippa Cuckson, after the video clip below went viral...

Read more and see video here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/endurance-rider-suspended-striking-horse-slosh-bottle/

Bahrain: Shocking Video Emerges of Horse Being Injected During Endurance Event

Grandprix-replay.com

Tuesday 05 March - 08h24 | Lulu Kyriacou

To add to the troubles besetting endurance, a video has emerged of a horse being injected during an international event in Bahrain at the weekend.

Making a change from the constant news of horse deaths is perhaps the only positive thing to be said about the video which clearly shows an against the rules injection taking place during the H.M. The King's Cup CEI*** 160km in Bahrain on March 2, 2019. The horse is then shown being presented at a vet gate...

Read and see more at:
http://www.grandprix-replay.com/uk/article/6033/shocking-video-emerges-of-horse-being-injected-during-endurance-evenrt?fbclid=IwAR1B8p-j5YRsDyK1BM1P_pLTWt-6ohzvObwpKtgbUFpluMciJFEkErFODuo

A Packed Endurance Season for Great Britain Gets Underway

Everythinghorseuk.co.uk - Full Article

05/03/2019
ehuknews

Endurance riders across the country completed their first competitive miles of 2019 at events in the New Forest (3 March). This weekend will see competition in Staffordshire, Surrey and Carmarthenshire, at the start of what looks set to be a busy Endurance GB season.

The endurance calendar opened with a new competitive ride, the New Forest Runway. Formerly a pleasure ride, this event was based from an old WW2 airfield, which takes place from Fritham near Lyndhurst.

Biosecurity measures will be in place and at other Endurance GB rides in March, in the light of guidance from the British Equestrian Federation concerning the recent Equine Flu outbreak. The guidance included the go-ahead for competition on the consideration that all horses taking part should have vaccinations fully up to date.

With a number of new rides, including two additions to the FEI calendar and an extended season which continues until 20th October for the first time, the 2019 Endurance GB season sees the sport poised for growth.

The Golden Horseshoe on Exmoor, now in its 54th year and being staged for the third time over a weekend (18-19 May) retains its iconic place in the sport’s calendar as the UK’s oldest and arguably one of the toughest competitive endurance rides...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/a-packed-endurance-season-for-great-britain-gets-underway/

Australia: Glen Innes to host another endurance ride

Gleninnesexaminer.com.au - Full Article

Ellen Dunger
March 6 2019

Endurance riding returned to the Glen Innes region last year and is set to be back again this year.

The Glen Innes Endurance Riding Club held an event in Glen Elgin in January last year and have planned another weekend on March 23 and 24 for Red Range.

The 2018 event saw 20 kilometre and 40km rides take place but this year they will add an 80km ride into the schedule.

Club committee member Jenny Johansen said the feedback they had from 2018 was excellent.

"Everyone said last year's event was fantastic," she said.

"A really great atmosphere and lots of fun."

The coming event has already had plenty of interest through the club's Facebook page and Johansen is hoping to attract more riders outside of endurance circles...

Read more at:
https://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/story/5939577/riders-to-stride-out-on-the-track/

South Africa: World's toughest horse race looking for riders!

Sport24.co.za - Full Article

2019-03-05

Cape Town - Now in its third edition, Race the Wild Coast (RTWC) has rapidly become known as the toughest horse race on the planet.

The event takes place from October 19-27, 2019 and only 20 riders compete in this prestigious limited-access event. RTWC is now open for global entries.

This new breed of long-distance adventure horse racing is set amid the breathtaking scenery of the South African East Coast. Over the course of five days a host of experienced international riders, each riding three horses in the course of the race, will compete for victory over 350km of rugged paradise from Port Edward to Kei Mouth. RTWC blends the spirit of the frontiersman and the modern horseback adventurer - a test of endurance, horsemanship, survival and navigational skills.

Says race organiser and 2017 Mongol Derby winner, Barry Armitage: “RTWC is a complex multi-stage race, in which riders must brave this challenging wilderness and swim rivers while keeping horses fit for vet checks. It is no doubt the ultimate test of endurance and horsemanship for any long-distance rider!”

This is indeed the case, as supported by the comments of RTWC veteran Stevie Murray (USA) made at the RTWC 2016 finish line: “When you’ve done the Mongol Derby you get to thinking that nothing will ever compare again; I was wrong. RTWC is far more technically and physically challenging, and the hectic but breathtaking terrain has no comparison. I have never experienced such remote and enchanting beauty in all my life...”

Read more here:
https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/South-Africa/worlds-toughest-horse-race-looking-for-riders-20190305