Great Britain: Borden horse trainer to take on Mongol Derby in Mongolia

Kentonline.co.uk - Full Article

By Ellis Stephenson
estephenson@thekmgroup.co.uk
Published: 12:12, 01 August 2019

A horse trainer will take on the challenge of a lifetime as she prepares to ride in the world's toughest horse race.

Michelle Brister, 38, of Eyehorn Farm in Borden, is undergoing a regime of hypnotherapy to get in the right mindset for the Mongol Derby, as well as meeting regularly with a personal trainer.

The competition sees 40 horse riders from around the world travel 1,000km on semi-wild ponies across Mongolia for 10 days from Wednesday, August 7.

There will not be any signage to guide the participants, who will each be given a GPS tracker to wear and an emergency beacon.

It is expected to take between eight and 10 days to complete.

Every 40km the participants will change the animals they will be riding from 6.30am until 8pm each day.

She will be completing the challenge in a bid to collect £50,000, which includes £10,000 to cover entry costs and £40,000 for Cancer Research UK...

Read more here:
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/horse-trainer-to-take-on-mongolia-derby-209665/

Australia: Undusting the Pevy power couple on the Horses' birthday

Singletonargus.com.au - Full Article

Alex Tigani
August 1 2019

This week the Singleton Argus caught up with local endurance riding stars Gary and Debbie Pevy of Jerrys Plains.

In Australia, every horse has its birthday on the first day of August each year - known as the horses' birthday.

Fittingly, the pair invited us to their home to share some stories from their careers while also exploring the sentimental features of their property.

MEET DEBBIE PEVY - OUR ENDURANCE RIDING HERO...

Read more here:
https://www.singletonargus.com.au/story/6306322/undusting-the-pevy-power-couple/

Australia: Nelligen ready for horse invasion for annual Currowan Endurance Ride

Naroomanewsonline.com.au - Full Article

Joel Erickson
July 31 2019

The Currowan Endurance Ride continues to grow, with 2019 expected to be the biggest year yet.

The ride, which is held near the Clyde River in Nelligen, is expected to crack 150 riders for the first time this year according to organiser Jenny Shepheard.

"We're looking at about 155 riders at this stage, and we had 140 last year," she said. "We're also expecting a few late entries on the day, so it'll be quite bigger than last year.

"We're currently trying to chase up another vet to accommodate the increased numbers.

"When we started, the 10-kilometre ride only had six riders, but this year we've got 38. It's a very popular ride with locals who want to bring their children to have a go, or adults who want to get in to endurance riding..."

Read more here:
https://www.naroomanewsonline.com.au/story/6303425/nelligen-ready-for-horse-invasion-for-annual-currowan-endurance-ride/?cs=1615

Riders warned against using dry ice for cooling horses after video goes viral

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson
27 July, 2019 13:05

The FEI has “strongly recommended” riders do not use dry ice as a cooling agent, following outcry over a video of an endurance horse standing amid dramatic clouds of vapour.

Immediately after the incident in France on May 9, the FEI advised the “possibility” of bringing a case of abuse against the horse’s Spanish rider Arkaitz Arakistain Aristi.

But further investigations have revealed the horse was standing in buckets of water mixed with dry ice, and as the liquid temperature did not drop below 0C, no FEI rules had been broken and no disciplinary case will be pursued.

The FEI did, though, stress it would be harmful if dry ice directly contacted the horse’s skin.

A FEI spokesman said: “The FEI veterinary department stresses that there is no benefit to using dry ice in combination with water; however, it is very clear that the use of dry ice without water is dangerous and, in the event of direct contact with skin and other tissues, could cause freeze burns, which would be a major horse welfare issue and would be a clear breach of the FEI veterinary regulations.

“Due to the associated risks of using dry ice, the FEI veterinary department strongly recommends that it should not be used as a cooling agent...”

Read more here:
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/riders-warned-using-dry-ice-cooling-horses-video-goes-viral-692704

Mongol Derby to welcome 45 competitors from around the world

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

July 29 2019

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Tuesday 29 July 2019. Featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race, this is the 11th year that 45 men and women from the four corners of the earth will race 1,000km across Mongolia on semi-wild horses.

This year’s edition will start on 7 August and the riders are expected to finish on 16 August.

The race recreates Chinggis Khaan’s ancient horse messenger system in epic fashion.

In 1224, Man of the Millennium Genghis Khan set up the world’s first long-distance postal transmission system. Using a massive network of horse stations his messengers could gallop from his capital Kharkhorin to the Caspian sea in a few days. It’s thought the speed of this communications was one of the great tactical advantages of the Mongol warriors.

Riders carrying messages directly from the Khan would ride non-stop wearing a gergel (metal plates showing the authenticity of the message) on their belts. Messengers would leap onto their new ride at each Urtuu at full tilt. Not even the call of nature or hunger would stop them. The remnants of this horse-wise-web carried on delivering post and messages right into the 1950’s.

The hardy & semi-wild native horses of Mongolia reprise their traditional role as the legs and lungs of the adventure and the horse stations, or morin urtuus, will be manned by nomadic herding families as they traditionally were. The messengers themselves will be played by horsemen and adventurers from around the world all riding up to 160km a day, navigating independently and changing horses at 40 kilometre intervals.

Cool Earth is once again the race’s official charity, although riders can also raise money for causes close to their saddles, and hearts.

Riders range from a 56-year-old Texan cowboy to a helicopter pilot from Alice Springs, a paleo-botanist from The Netherlands and a management consultant from South Africa, via a host of saddle-hardened (they’ll need to be) girls and boys from the racing world. All think they are fearless and ready for the most extreme adventure of their lives – we’ll see… Some will crash and burn...

See the competitors here:
https://endurance-world.com/mongol-derby-to-welcome-45-competitors-from-around-the-world/

Australia: Miranda Hodges' Tom Quilty Gold Cup success

Inverelltimes.com.au - Full Article

July 29 2019
Laini Kirkman

Inverell horse rider Miranda Hodges, who has only been riding for around 18 months, placed seventh in her first Stirling's Crossing Tom Quilty Gold Cup.

The 17-year-old qualified for the 160 kilometre endurance ride last year. Competing in the junior division against 30 other riders, Hodges started riding at midnight on the Friday, July 12.

Riders have 24 hours to complete the complex endurance ride that has a strong focus on horse safety with regular vet checking. She finished at 6.30pm on Saturday evening in equal seventh place...

Read more here:
https://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/6290728/miranda-hodges-tom-quilty-gold-cup-success/

Australia: Last muster on NT cattle station before heading to Mongol Derby

ABC.net.au - Listen

On NT Country Hour with Matt Brann
25 July 2019

Sam Chisholm, who grew up on Napperby Station in the Northern Territory, is getting ready for the world's longest and toughest horse race — the Mongol Derby.

The helicopter pilot, who admits he hasn't done too much practice apart from some mustering on a Top End station, is just weeks away from taking on the 1,000 kilometre race through Mongolia.

"I've been at work for the last three weeks, so I haven't done a great deal of riding," he said.

"I've been riding my pushbike around and will be heading back to Auvernge Station to do a couple of more rides on the horse and get back to being saddle-fit, and then I'm on the plane.

"There's a lot of professionals in the field [for the Mongol Derby] and I'm pretty glad they let a few hacks from the bush have a go and hopefully we can hold our own."

Along with his cousin Pip, the two will be taking on the endurance ride while also raising money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

He spoke to ABC Rural about the challenge ahead...

Listen at:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/nt-country-hour/territorian-sam-chisholm-prepares-for-mongol-derby-2019/11346524