Mongolia: Gobi Gallop 2019 Sets New Record(s)

July 4 2019

Nine intrepid riders from around the world met in Mongolia in early June to ride The Gobi Gallop -the longest annual charity endurance ride on the planet. Billed as a ride covering a minimum of 700 kilometers in 10 days of riding, the Gobi Gallop this year exceeded all expectations and ran for a full 770 kilometers covering Arkhangai, Overhangai, Bulgan and Tov provinces. The riders faced rain, sand storms, cold nights and searing heat in the day and miles and miles and miles of desert in addition to amazing rivers, wonderful rocky outcrops and outstanding cultural and historical sites. The Gobi Gallop this year was aptly named the Ride to Kharkhorin and the riders had a wonderful morning on their “rest day” touring the famed Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin which is the home of the oldest working monastery in Mongolia where they were treated to not only the peace and tranquility of the monastery but got to witness monks chanting their prayers.

In addition to riding farther than any previous Gobi Gallops, this international group with riders from America, Canada, Australia, Belgium and England also crossed the 700 kilometer line a day early!

Susan Smith from New Zealand, 67, became the oldest woman to ever finish the Gobi Gallop. Considering this was the longest Gobi Gallop on record this is no mean feat and she undertook it with grace and dignity and great humour and set the bar high for future Gobi Gallopers who are looking to break this record. In addition to riding the longest ever Gobi Gallop Sue had the added challenge of riding after her friend and co Gobi Galloper came off hard when her horse went through a soft spot in the ground and ended up being sent into Ulaanbaatar by ambulance to be looked at. Fortunately, she ended up with only a cracked collar bone and assorted bruises and was able to greet Sue a day and a half later back at the finish line for the Gobi Gallop. This was the first time in Gobi Gallop history that anyone was sent off in an ambulance and not a happy record to break. Michele herself was very impressed with the majestic Mongolian guides, their horses their amazing endurance abilities. As she puts it, “These are not horses that have had their spirits broken by man and work. These are horses whose spirits and hearts have been embraced and revered by their handlers and those handlers are the Mongolian horsemen who guided us safely across some of the harshest riding terrain in the world....”

Another amazing record that fell to Martin Ruppert of Belgium was the record for the most kilometers logged in the traditional Mongolian wooden saddle, an unusual looking hand carved wooden saddle which all the Mongolians ( and some of the foreign guides) traditionally ride in and which each rider is required to log at least 20 kms in. This year Martin set the stage by actually preferring the Mongolian saddle and he ended up spending 408 kms in it. In fact, whenever anyone else was not in it, you could find Martin trotting along on “Rocket” out in the lead of the pack taking care of business. In his own words, the Gobi Gallop was “an experience so beautiful it makes you want to go back there every moment of the days in memories within yourself or by talking about it to others”. The Traditional Mongolian Comfort Saddle as it is called, was sold at the live auction at the Gobi Gallop Gala which tops off this amazing ride for over $3000.00 to benefit the children.

The ride is not just about the distance and the endurance component, it is a trip through time and a chance to learn about traditional horse training and care in the oldest surviving horse culture on the planet. According to Logue Williams, an experienced American endurance rider and first time Gobi Galloper describes the Gobi Gallop like this:

“You begin with recognizing the reason you are there....the precious children of the dump. Then you move on to the amazing herdsmen and guides, the fabulous horses, the tireless Julie Veloo, your equally amazing riding companions, the crew members who met you in the Yellow Bus each evening with your tent set up, your bags ready to be grabbed, the table and chairs ready to accept your tired bodies, your plastic cup filled with delicious adult libations....then you begin to gush about the tremendous views, the sure-footedness of your steed for the day, the majesty of the hundreds of horse herds headed up by a lone stallion...you then marvel at how you cantered non-stop for 15 kilometers, your horse never missing a beat, you laugh when you think of the daily joke by the herdsmen who pretend to grunt heavily when they assist you in mounting your horse for the day....you try to end your speech....the music begins playing softly, steadily rising in volume....you manage to add a few more rambling sentences about thousands of marmot holes, volcanic rocks, steep mountain climbs, a sand storm that you took unaware, the night that you slept through an entire thunderstorm, the hot springs, the trips to the monasteries, the afternoon that you got to help herd the horses,.. and you get chill-bumps when you remember listening to the melodic and soulful sounds of your guides and herdsmen, who are now your friends, sing in complete harmony a song of respect for mothers.”

The Gobi Gallop is the brainchild of Julie Veloo, Vice President of Veloo Foundation and 7 time Gobi Galloper. Coming to riding late in life when she moved to Mongolia, Julie did her first Gobi Gallop at 52, a scant year and a half after the first time she sat on a horse. She learned to ride in Mongolia and now leads treks and adventures, including the Gobi Gallop, across Mongolia to raise money to care for Veloo Foundation’s projects in Mongolia. The Gobi Gallop riders this year raised in excess of $48,000 USD all of which will go to support Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak Sanctuary Project which feeds, cares for and educates hundreds of Mongolian children who would otherwise be scavenging in the garbage to survive or home alone. This total combined with the money raised at the Gobi Gallop Gala in Ulaanbaatar and the sister Gala in Brisbane brought the 2019 total raised to a whopping $92,000 USD.

The current total for money raised for Veloo Foundation’s Children of the Peak / Narnii Huuhduud project over the 7 years of the Gobi Gallop stands at almost $550,000 USD all of which has gone directly to help the children. This total makes The Gobi Gallop one of the highest netting charity rides in history. In addition to the money raised for the charity, 100% of the riders fees paid to participate in the Gobi Gallop over the years have stayed in Mongolia and has gone to help support crew along with numerous traditional herder families as they train the horses in the traditional Mongolian endurance riding so they are able to take on this epic endurance challenge. A staggeringly beautiful ride, amazing horses, the oldest horse culture on the planet, raising money for an excellent cause and providing a demand for traditional training techniques which are under threat make the Gobi Gallop a truly one of a kind endurance adventure.

More information & photographs about the ride, the route, the participants and the charity available on request or visit http://www.horsetrekmongolia.com/gobi-gallop.html

Veloo Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit in the United States and a registered Canadian charity or visit http://www.veloofoundation.com/

Qatar: Trainer, rider banned after Endurance horse was not presented for drugs test

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

July 5, 2019 Horsetalk.co.nz

The failure to present a horse for drug testing after an Endurance ride in Qatar has resulted in a 30-month ban on the trainer and a 24-month ban on the rider.

The case, heard by the FEI Tribunal, involved the Qatar-registered mare Gavotte Des Pins, ridden in a CEI1* 80km Endurance ride in Doha by Ahmed Mubarak Ahmed Al Kuwari on February 3 last year.

The horse’s registered trainer at the event was Mohammed Misfer M D Al Habibi.

While accounts of the day varied, tribunal member Henrik Arle was satisfied that the FEI had proven the allegation against the pair – that of evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection.

He suspended them both and fined each of them 3000 Swiss francs. Each man was ordered to contribute 1500 francs towards the cost of the judicial procedure.

The horse had been selected for sampling at the event, none of which were ultimately taken...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/07/05/trainer-rider-banned-endurance-drugs-test/

Germany: Endurance Festival Bavaria 2019

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

28th June 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Ursula Klingbeil

Endurance Festival Bavaria, Buch, Germany. Friday 14 and Saturday 15 June 2019. The new location in Buch for the Endurance Festival Bavaria is a beautiful place with enough space to receive a big number of riders and horses.

The new-made concept, a race weekend of two days covering nearly all competitions, was very successful and the varied landscape took the riders along forests, lakes, chapels and even wild animals. Organiser of the event is Ursula Klingbeil (trainer, rider and owner of the Bavarian endurance stable Endurance Team Klingbeil) together with her team.

Scheduled over Friday and Saturday were CEI1*, CEI2*, CEI3* and CEN races, by a lack of interest the 2 day race 80+ and the CEiO`s were cancelled.

Friday at 05:30am the CEI3* 160km started with four riders; Bernhard Dornsiepen (Bekele el Djem) and Tanja Kraft (Atoum’Re) from Germany, Ralph Dürler from Switzerland and Romane Yernaux (Sichen Des Sauvions) from Belgium. Unfortunately Ralph got a heat stress at 120km, the others finished very well with first place for Bernhard, second position for Tanja and Romane came third...

Read more at:
https://endurance-world.com/endurance-festival-bavaria-2019/

Australia: 2016 champion Debbie Grull heads North-West crop at Tom Quilty Gold Cup

TheAdvocate.com.u - Full Article

Juy 3 2019
Jarryd McGuane

Staverton's Debbie Grull will be part of strong contingent of North-West riders battling it out at the Tom Quilty Gold Cup endurance race starting in Queensland on July 11.

The 2016 champion will be joined at the event by Natone's Angela Hawks and Blaine Astell, Wynyard's Angie Clark and Elliott's Megan Finn and will be ready to compete over the 160km track at Stirling's Crossing.

Grull said she was going to race with no expectations, although she was still hopeful of being in contention at the business end of the race.

"I don't haven't got any expectations, I am loyal to my horse by treating well and then I will take whatever happens after that, but it would be great to be a chance," she said...

Read more here:
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6255174/former-champion-heads-north-west-crop/?cs=12

Former FEI President Flees United Arab Emirates

Chronofhorse.com - Full Article

By: Ann Glavan
Jul 1, 2019

Multiple news outlets have reported that Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the former president of the Fédération Equestre Internationale, has fled the United Arab Emirates with her two children, reportedly seeking asylum. She is also seeking a divorce from her husband, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Princess Haya, 45, is the daughter of Jordanian King Hussein Bin Talal. She served two terms as president of the FEI, from 2006 to 2014. Before her role with the FEI, Princess Haya competed in show jumping, representing Jordan at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Princess Haya married Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai, in 2004, becoming his sixth wife.

Sheikh Mohammed, 69, earned individual silver in endurance at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. He also owns several well-known Thoroughbred racing stables, including Godolphin. Sheikh Mohammed has been accused of doping violations with his Thoroughbreds and his endurance horses, and he was suspended from the FEI for six months in 2009 after a failed doping test in endurance with his mount Tahhan...

Read more here:
https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/former-fei-president-flees-united-arab-emirates

Endurance Officials Criticized as Tribunal Bans Three Riders for Abuse

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

July 2, 2019
by: Pippa Cuckson

Abdul Rahman Saeed Saleh al Ghailani was banned 12 months and fined 4,000 Swiss francs for his riding of Sarab during the President’s Cup 160km race.
The FEI Tribunal has slammed endurance officials who turn a blind eye to horse abuse, after handing down record fines and suspensions to three Emirati riders.

In separate decisions last week, Tribunal suggested the FEI open cases against officials who failed to act against abuse on the day, warning that the “survival” of equestrianism is at stake.

In one case, the horse Castlebar Nato sustained a cannon bone fracture on the home stretch, and the incident was caught on camera. Tribunal said he was “violently kicked until the Horse eventually collapsed from exhaustion.”

In the separate case of Songbird FF, Tribunal declared the horse was so tired that even when grooms ran onto the piste to “encourage” him, he could proceed no faster than walk.

The toughest sanction was applied to Nato’s rider Khalid Jumaa Salem Al Khatri – a 30-month suspension plus a fine of 9,000 Swiss francs ($12,000 CAD) for his alleged abuse during the CEI* 100km at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on December 8, 2018...

Read more here:
https://horse-canada.com/horse-news/endurance-officials-criticized-tribunal-bans-three-riders-abuse/

Clean Endurance commends the FEI Tribunal’s sanctions for horse abuse

July 1 2019

Clean Endurance is satisfied that the FEI Tribunal has applied exemplary sanctions in the first 3 of a series of Abuse Protests it has submitted to the FEI this year. The athletes involved all received sanctions composed of suspensions ranging from 12 to 30 months, and fines ranging from 4 to 9 thousand Swiss Francs.

All three cases involve horses being harassed, beaten and kicked to go faster on endurance competitions during the past winter season, despite showing clear signs of distress and exhaustion. One horse, Castlebar Nato, was ridden so hard that it sustained a fracture of the cannon bone. It was not humanely euthanised but merely recorded as ‘Lame’ and swiftly removed off the track. Footage of this horse (bib 89) as well as the horse Songbird ( bib 32) which was ridden to exhaustion at the same event can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7-OSLU0zI.

The third case involved the abuse of Radja D’Altus (Sarab) and can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD2EJdeWfLI

Clean Endurance acknowledges the efforts the FEI and its Endurance Temporary Committee have made in the past months to come up with an extensive list of rule proposals aimed at restructuring the sport. It is however adamant that unless endurance moves away from purely speed based competitions, the current pattern of increasing horse destruction and abuse will only worsen. It believes the current rule proposals as presented at the FEI Sports Forum 2019, although positive in many respects and long overdue, will NOT be sufficient to achieve a significant restructuring of the sport and the necessary reduction in speeds.

Clean Endurance has submitted an alternative competition format proposal to the FEI, based on the long-standing French and Swiss national systems which rank horses based on their speed in the competition AND their final recovery (heart rate). In their opinion, this simple and well proven system is the only option to move the sport away from the still ever increasing and destructive speeds, and back to

rewarding strategic riding skills, horsemanship and the respect of horse welfare.

Clean Endurance regrets that it has had to file a series of Abuse Protests with the FEI in order to avoid that the athletes in question remain unpunished – had the Officials done their jobs on the day, this would not have been necessary.

It has therefore asked the FEI (again) to start publishing the records of Officials on their public database, similar to what is currently available for athletes and horses. It is vital in their opinion that Organising Committees, Officials and other stakeholders have the basic information on where and in which capacity Officials have been active. This information is key for enabling OC’s to choose the best Officials for their event, to respect minimal rotation requirements and to avoid conflicts of interest. Clean Endurance firmly believes that the FEI must provide transparency about Officials, urgently, as a first step in this no doubt long and complicated improvement process.

The decision notices (attached) for the 3 cases are published on the FEI Tribunal, here: https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/athletes/fei-tribunal/other-decisions

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

Clean Endurance is happy to supply further information, and 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