Gruver, Texas man recounts racing in Mongol Derby 2019

abc7amarillo.com - Full Story

by Tiffany LesterWednesday, September 11th 2019

GRUVER, Texas — The Mongol Derby is known as the world's longest and toughest horse race. One Texas Panhandle man found that out first-hand when he competed in this year's race. Frank Winters, 57, of Gruver, told ABC 7 News Wednesday afternoon that he grew up riding horses and has always been fascinated by Mongolia.

“When I was about 14, I read a book and it talked about the Mongolian Steppe and in that book the hero went across that part of Asia and ever since then I've been intrigued with the wide open spaces in Mongolia,” Winters said.

In 2018, Winters read about someone competing in the Mongol Derby in the American Quarter Horse magazine. The Adventurist hosts the event every year.

“I looked it up and it was going on so, I started tracking it, started watching it. So, I was hooked on this,” Winters said...

Read more here:
https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/gruver-man-recounts-racing-in-mongol-derby-2019

France's Endurance Family

FEI.org - Full Story

French athlete Julien Lafaure, a champion athlete and trainer, tells us about the unique wonders of Endurance horses...

12 September 2019

Endurance is all about the relationship and trust between horse and human as the two courageously race together for kilometre after kilometre and hour after hour.

It is arguably the most physically and mentally challenging of all equestrian disciplines, with competitors racing for up to 160km in major competitions, battling tough terrain and the elements for perhaps up to nine hours.

Julien Lafaure knows all about that special relationship, having risen to become one of France’s best Endurance athletes while also breeding horses that have enjoyed great success.

And he also knows the importance of comradeship among human athletes in this discipline, being a member of one of Europe’s most notable Endurance families. His father, Jean Noel Lafaure, and siblings, Morgane and Roman, have all represented France in international competitions, with the latter having achieved a Team silver medal in the recent FEI European Endurance Championships in England...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/courage-endurance-horses-julien-lafaure

Ex-amateur jockey takes on 'wildest horserace on Earth' to raise funds for IJF

RacingPost.com - Full Story

'Committing to the race and raising money for the IJF has reminded me of how exciting the industry is'

By Matt Butler
6:15PM, SEP 10 2019

Former amateur jockey Otto Hopkins-Fagan is raising money for the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF) by tackling the "wildest horserace on earth" in South Africa next month.

Race the Wild Coast, created in 2016 in the style of the famous Mongol Derby, lasts five days taking in 350 kilometres and featuring 33 river crossings.

Hopkins-Fagan, 27, worked for trainers including Sir Mark Prescott, David Elsworth, Henrietta Knight and Tom George before retiring from the saddle due to injury and weight issues.

Dubbed the "wildest horserace on earth" by race organisers, Race the Wild Coast begins on October 22 with participants setting off from Port Edward and heading along the eastern seaboard of South Africa to the finish line in Kei Mouth...

Read more here:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/ex-amateur-jockey-takes-on-wildest-horserace-on-earth-to-raise-funds-for-ijf/399088

Spain: Sabotage blamed for positive drug test in Endurance horse

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

September 11, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

An Endurance rider from Spain whose horse tested positive for a controlled medication blames sabotage, but says he cannot prove it.

Miguel Vila Ubach was suspended for six months and fined 3000 Swiss francs over the drugs breach. He was ordered to contribute a further 1500 francs towards the cost of the case, heard by the FEI Tribunal.

Ubach had ridden TBO Joy in a CEI3* 160km ride at Fontainebleau, France, on March 30 last year.

TBO Joy was selected for testing and returned a positive urine test for salbutamol, a bronchodilator used in the treatment of inflammatory airway disease. It is classified as a controlled medication under the FEI’s anti-doping regulations.

Ubach was advised of the drugs breach through the Spanish Equestrian Federation.

He explained to the tribunal that the horse was usually stabled in a private stable. TBO Joy has always been “in perfect condition” without any respiratory problems or allergies.

He talked of a 30-year involvement in endurance, and said he had never used salbutamol in his entire career for any of his horses...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/09/11/sabotage-blamed-positive-drug-endurance-horse/

From the Eastern Shore to East Asia

Stardem.com - Full Article

September 8 2019
By CHRISTINA ACOSTA cacosta@chespub.com

EASTON — Eastern Shore native Rachel Roman, an avid equestrian, wanted a riding journey unlike any other she has participated before, and the Mongol Derby gave her the opportunity of a lifetime.

“I got to witness the rolling steppe with no trees, marshy bogs, jagged mountains, the mini gobi (desert plateau), and some forested mountain areas that made you think you were in Switzerland,” said Roman.

Before participating in the grueling derby, Roman spent her entire life riding, training, competing and caring for horses. When she discovered what the Mongol Derby was and what it entailed: “horses, wilderness and adventure,” she said. She vied for a chance to compete, along with hundreds of applicants from around the world...

Read more here:
https://www.stardem.com/life/from-the-eastern-shore-to-east-asia/article_e6bf43ed-1215-5013-a0db-5a18cbf21bcc.html

Great Britain's Jeni Gilbert Talks Endurance with Everything Horse

EverythingHorseuk.co.uk - Full Story

22/08/2019
ehuknews

In this article we talk to HorseHage & Mollichaff-sponsored endurance rider, Jeni Gilbert, who is based in West Yorkshire, to find out how she became involved in the sport of endurance. Jeni is a former Novice Champion, Endurance GB Senior and Supreme Champion (2007, 2011) and winner of several other titles. She competes on her Connemara, Ballydoolagh Alfie, who has now completed more than 2300km in 48 competitions in his five year endurance career – an impressive feat for a native breed in a discipline that is dominated with Arab horses.

When and how did you first discover your love of riding?

I started riding as a youngster but due to moving around a lot it was difficult to continue so it was in the background until middle age arrived with the right job, money and time! I started riding at a riding school with lots of other adults and we had a great time, then one by one we bought our own horses.

How did you first get involved with endurance?

I started endurance riding in the early 80’s, spurred on my reading about the Golden Horseshoe Ride on Exmoor and being fully aware I wasn’t brave or talented enough for jumping and dressage. However, we did like riding for hours and exploring. I could also map read!...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/jeni-gilbert-talks-endurance-with-everything-horse/

Seeing the world on horseback

ICL.co.za - Full Article

6 SEPTEMBER 2019, 12:00PM / CLINTON MOODLEY

South African Wiesman Nels wears many hats. Not only is he the owner of Moolmanshoek Private Game Reserve in Ficksburg, but he also loves “travelling on a horse.”

The 40-year-old recently participated in Mongol Derby, known as the world’s longest and toughest horse race.

The course started south-west of Arvaikheer in Mongolia and ended north of Jargalthaan in Mongolia. At 1000km, the race is believed to be the toughest test on the planet for equestrian endurance riders...

Read more here:
https://www.iol.co.za/travel/world/asia/seeing-the-world-on-horseback-32256438