Cambodia: Kingdom’s equestrians ramp up SEA Games prep

Khmertimeskh.com - Full Article

September 18 2019
Ismail Vorajee / Khmer Times

The Cambodian Equestrian Federation have the SEA Games on their mind and are ramping up preparations ahead of the December showpiece.

The Federation hosted an Endurance competition last Thursday, as part of an initiative to help develop riders from very young ages to prepare for the trials of international competition.

The Endurance Event, at distances of 20kms and 40kms, was held in Kompong Chnang province at Rithysen Club (a big thanks to Mr Kao Vannarin club owner). Twelve riders took part, 10 of whom were young to junior riders from the national team.

“We are trying to do this event every 6 weeks as this is so important to help develop our youth in the sport,” explained Mona Tep, President of the Cambodian Equestrian Federation.

The twelve riders started their journey at 3.30 am, mostly aged just 13-15 years old, and from the national reserve...

Read more here:
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50644141/kingdoms-equestrians-ramp-up-sea-games-prep/

Mongolia: Gobi Desert Cup 2019

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

15th September 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of Heather Wallace
Photo credit: Gobi Desert Cup / Heather Wallace

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 6 September 2019. 21 international riders with a thirst for adventure and desire to ride a Mongolian horse 480 kilometers met for the first time in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. This was the start of their life-changing experience.

To live like a nomad, immerse themselves in the culture, and ride six Mongolian horses over six days across the eastern reaches of the vast country all while supporting the Mongolian Horse and Nomad Foundation was a dream come true for all.

The annual event brings together riders of all disciplines in a multi-day points-based endurance race beginning in the Khentii Province, the birthplace of infamous horseman Ghenghis Khan. The participants have two days to experience a taste of nomadic life, learn to ride a native and semi-wild horse, and have two introductory rides of approximately ten kilometers, all this under the guidance of the officials, veterinarians, and local horse trainers.

160 horses were trained and conditioned for this year’s event, a huge number to manage for three months. Each horse trainer was assigned a horse line of 10-15 horses, some their own and others from local families who support the event and are paid for the use of their animals.

On Friday, August 30th the participants from seven countries and six continents began their race across the steppe and competed both individually as well as in teams...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/gobi-desert-cup-2019/

Malaysian Riders' Target set for Italian job

NST.com.my - Full Article

By Fadhli Ishak - September 16, 2019

A TOP-FIVE target has been set for the national riders for the FEI World Endurance Championships for Young Riders and Juniors, which starts on Wednesday, in Italy.

The team, comprising Faris Haikal Hassan Sa'ari, Aimin Azfar Nazulki, Nur Qasrina Amani Zakaria and Yusuf Luqman Zakaria, left for Under-21 competition in San Rossore, Italy, yesterday.

Team manager Mohamad Din Mat said if all goes smoothly a top-five finish in the team category will be achievable.

“The race will be split into four phases, and there will be a veterinary inspection after each phase.

“The first inspection will be done after 40km. The second (inspection) is after the next 33km, the third after another 27km and the final inspection at the end of the race,” said Mohamad yesterday.

“During the inspections, the horses’ physical condition will be examined. Horses need to pass each inspection to complete the race.

“It is thus important for our riders to know when they can push their horses during the race. Otherwise, they may risk being eliminated.

“We will be using the same horses as we did in France recently and they should arrive in San Rossore today (yesterday) from France..."

Read more here:
https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2019/09/521732/target-set-italian-job

Bahrain ready for world endurance challenge

GDNOnline.com - Full Article

17 Setember 2019

The Royal Bahrain Endurance Team is taking part in the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors, which opened yesterday in Italy.

Riders from the UAE and other countries are also taking part in the 120-kilometre race at Pisa, Italy. An exhibition showcasing different teams is being held on the sidelines of the event...

Read more here:
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/608605/Bahrain-ready-for-world-endurance-challenge

Qatari riders deliver sterling performance

ThePeninsulaQatar.com - Full Article

16 September 2019

The Peninsula
Doha: Three riders and horses from the Endurance Department of Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation, delivered a sterling performance at the prestigious Endurance Equestre Monpazier event recently held in France.

As a result, the successful horses have qualified to participate in the higher categories of Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) races that would eventually qualify them for next year’s Endurance World Cup.

Al Shaqab’s Sultan Salim Al Shamousi, astride RV Sultan, and Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi, riding IFO LR Polino, competed successfully in the CEI2* 125km while Marine Faucon, on CA’Saddam Al Shaqab, completed the CEI1* 80km race.

The results of these marathon horses and their riders have come at the peak of the international endurance horse racing season...

Read more here:
https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/16/09/2019/Qatari-riders-deliver-sterling-performance

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