South Africa: Gear up for world’s toughest horse race

GoExpress.co.za - Full Article

By Matthew Field - May 2, 2019

The third iteration of Race the Wild Coast (RTWC) – billed as the toughest horse race in the world – will be starting on October 19 and is now open for registration.

The event is limited-access only with and only 20 riders will be allowed to take part.

The 350km ride sees participants travel on horseback from Port Edward to Kei Mouth over a period of four to five days. Each participant will ride three horses over the course of the race, with each horse covering on average of 50km per day.

In addition, there will be 12 scheduled veterinary checks every 29km to ensure the well-being of the horses.

According to race organiser and 2017 Mongol Derby winner Barry Armitage, RTWC is sure to prove a challenge to experienced riders.

“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,” Armitage said...

Read more here:
https://www.goexpress.co.za/2019/05/02/gear-up-for-worlds-toughest-horse-race/

Endurance GB expands Championship series with backing from new Sponsor

EverythingHorseuk.co.uk - Full Article

03/05/2019
ehuknews

Endurance GB’s popular 2019 Championship series is to be expanded this year and sponsored by Rider Fitness & Conditioning Specialists, RiderCise®. The series, which includes the Southern and Northern Championships is this year joined by a third event, a new Welsh Championship to be held at Pen Ddol Y Gader, Carmarthenshire (31st Aug-1st Sept).

This year’s RiderCise Southern Championship takes place at Three Rivers on Saturday 15th June, while the RiderCise Northern Championships are being held at the Cumbria Challenge Ride on Sunday 15th August.

All three Championships are open to Advanced and Open horses and take place over contrasting landscapes, each comprising an 80k CER or GER with the winner being decided on performance formula.

The Three Rivers route covers a section of Wiltshire downland with stone tracks and bridleways as well as roadwork through picturesque villages along the Wyle Valley, while the Cumbria Challenge crosses gently undulating limestone moorland with around 20% being on tarmac over mostly unfenced roads. The RiderCise Welsh Championship will take riders over sections of forestry and then miles of open, grassland mountainside...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/endurance-gb-expands-championship-series-with-backing-from-new-sponsor/

Local NY equestrian to compete in world's longest horse race

WGRZ.com - Full Article

A woman from Orchard Park was one of 40 riders internationally chosen to compete.

Author: Leanne Stuck
Published: 11:29 PM EDT May 1, 2019

EAST AURORA, N.Y. — 26-year-old Claire Taberski grew up in Orchard Park riding horses.

"I started riding at the age of 10 at a farm in Orchard Park," she said.

"I think I was just one of those girls that always loved horses and loved ponies like every little girl's dream, but I never grew out of it," the equestrian added.

Taberski was the captain of the Equestrian Team at Canisius College and works with horses every day. She is a life-long equestrian and is always looking for her next adventure.

When an internet search led Taberski to discover the longest and toughest horse race in the world, she knew she found her next adventure.

"I thought this is the craziest thing I've ever heard of and thought I would apply," she said...

Read more here:
https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local-equestrian-to-compete-in-worlds-longest-horse-race/71-1b198d52-f9c5-4cff-8323-e61c4828b7b5

New Zealand: Horse rider wins championships in Taupō over Easter Weekend

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

May 1 2019
Stratford Press
By: Alyssa Smith

Pip Mutch and her daughter Isla are proof the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

The mother and daughter from Kohuratahi each claimed New Zealand endurance horse riding titles in Taupō over the Easter weekend.

Pip won the 160km event for the 2019 Dunstan Horsefeeds ESNZ Endurance and CTR National Championships, while nine-year-old Isla won the 60km championship at the same event.

Pip says has been riding horses since she was a toddler and prepared for this event with lots of slow walks around the hills in Kohuratahi (near Whangamomona)...

Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/stratford-press/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503390&objectid=12224511

Ireland: Wintry hints in the air at endurance rides at Florencecourt Estate

Farmweek.co - Full Article

By Robert Irwin - May 1, 2019

THE Irish Long Distance Riding Association (ILDRA) headed to the west of the country for their first ride at the sprawling Florencecourt Estate on April 14.

A wintry chill was in the air with hints of rain, although many riders made their way around the trails before the rains began.

Both CTR (Competitive Trail Rides) and Pleasure riders enjoyed the varied trails at Florencecourt, which meander through streams and over quaint wooden bridges of the Claddagh River. The riders then made their way towards the mountainous section of the trails of Benaughlin Mountain before descending along the Cuilcagh Way, which offers superb views across County Fermanagh and County Monaghan.

The attending veterinary officer on the day was David Nealon MRCVS, with all horses passing their respective endurance distances.

An endurance rider, Hannah Catterall introduced her new horse ‘Hugo’, to his first ever pleasure ride and even tried out a vetting...

Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/wintry-hints-in-the-air-at-endurance-rides-at-florencecourt-estate/

Mongolia: Gobi Gallop 2020 Screenings Begin in July

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (April 30, 2019) - Do you have what it takes to become one of a Magnificent Ten? Like Kurosawa’s intrepid characters on a noble mission, the Veloo Foundation’s Gobi Gallop pairs 10 riders, screened from 100s of applicants from around the world with Mongolian horses and guides, and gives them 10 days, riding 8-14 hours daily, to traverse 700 kilometers (435 miles) of the wild Mongolian Steppes before concluding with an annual Gobi Gallop Gala.

Julie Veloo, founder of the Veloo Foundation, estimates the continued success since 2013 of the world’s longest charity horseback ride has raised more than $450 thousand dollars for orphans and disadvantaged children in the developing world, and supports operation of Narnii Huuhduud Kindergarten (Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project), serving 150 children from impoverished families who scavenge Ulaanbaatar garbage heaps to survive.

Gobi Gallop rider screenings begin in July and are finalized by October. Fully 50% of each rider entrance fee goes to help three- to five-year-olds entering the charity kindergarten.

Are you warrior enough for the longest annual charity horseback ride on earth? Apply now at www.horsetrekmongolia.com/gobi-gallop and learn more about sponsorships at www.veloofoundation.com.

Australia: Close to 200 entries at Table Top Endurance

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

28 April 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Tahlia Franke

Oso Arabians, New South Wales, Australia. 19, 20 and 21 April 2019. With close to 200 entries over the weekend Table Top Endurance hosted their third event. The ride was held in southern New South Wales, Australia, at Oso Arabians.

Oso is an Arabian breeding and training facility that specialises in endurance while still demonstrating the versatility of the Arabian horse for other disciplines. The ride was run mainly over undulating farmland and around the Hume Weir. National and FEI events were held, ranging from 40km-120km. All events over 80km run under FEI VGIH rules. This was the first of Australia’s FEI events for the year, giving the opportunity to continue FEI qualifications for horses and riders including those aiming for future championship events. The ride also had an international feels with riders not only from 4 states of Australia but also from Belgium, Hong Kong, Iraq, Scotland and Switzerland...

Read more here:
http://endurance-world.com/close-to-200-entries-at-table-top-endurance/