In Like A Lion: Mourning the End of WEG

HeelsDownMag.com - Full Article

December 4 2019
By Erin Gilmore

In like a lion, out like a... well, the World Equestrian Games as we know it are just plain out. And Tryon 2018, now the final WEG on record, was anything but a lamb.

During a non-announcement/announcement regarding WEG disciplines at the FEI’s annual meeting two weeks ago in Moscow, it was revealed that the FEI has not awarded the 2022 World Equestrian Games to one bidder, but instead divided out disciplines to several different countries (Italy: eventing and driving, Denmark: show jumping, dressage, para dressage, vaulting). No one came out and plainly stated it, so I will translate for you: no more World Equestrian Games as we knew them.

I attended three editions of the WEG as a journalist and photographer and I’m just going to go ahead and say it: this news really bummed me out. Since 1990, the WEG concept had been built out until it became an all-encompassing, two-week championship of the eight FEI equestrian disciplines. The official party line is that the WEG format of all eight disciplines being held at one venue had become too expensive and unwieldy. It is true that WEG was expensive, and the concept of each of the eight FEI disciplines holding its world championship at the same venue over a two-week period is rather “unwieldy.” But damn, it was worth it...

Read more here:
https://heelsdownmag.com/in-like-a-lion-mourning-the-end-of-weg/

New Zealand: Trans Tasman Endurance Challenge hosts more than 50 horse riders near Waiouru

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article

4 December 2019
By: Staff Reporter
news@whanganuichronicle.co.nz

Top equestrian endurance riders had a long day in the saddle at the Trans Tasman Endurance Challenge in the central North Island.

Australian Equestrian Endurance team members on borrowed horses joined New Zealand riders at Waiouru on Sunday for a 3am start to the Trans Tasman event, riding into the darkness across hilly farmland. They competed in 80km and 120km rides over five farms between Tangiwai and Hihitahi...

Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/north-island/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503932&objectid=12290421

Great Britain: Endurance Gala Dinner Presents Over 50 Awards to Salute Achievements

EverythingHorseUK.co.uk - Full Article

04/12/2019
ehuknews

The Endurance Gala Dinner saw more than 50 awards saluting achievement across the sport in 2019. The event, held at the Village Hotel Club in Coventry, was attended by more than 200 members from across the country with Devon-based rider Judy Holloway taking the Supreme Championship (Manar Trophy) for the second time in three years.

The Supreme Championship is awarded to the overall high point horse/pony of the year gaining the most points in all types of rides. Judy took the title ahead of Saffron Bishop and Ty Shute Golden Savannah, and Ella Bunting and Aly’s Estrella De Roc (Rocky) in third place...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/endurance-gala-dinner-presents-over-50-awards-to-salute-achievements/

Ireland: Successful year for Endurance Riding in ILDRA’s Ulster Branch

Farmweek.com - Full Article

By Bree Rutledge -December 4, 2019

THE Irish Long Distance Riding Association (ILDRA) continued to grow in success in 2019, with numerous riding events across Northern Ireland, despite the wider issues in the world of Irish Endurance. Visiting venues from the rugged and remote Cam Forest in the North to the historic Florencecourt Estate in Enniskillen to a new venue for 2019 at the ever-popular riding trails around the scenic Clandeboye Estate.

ILDRA held a range of events from pleasure rides to competitive trail rides and demanding endurance races for the maddest of riders! Faces new and old attended the several events, with many new riders being introduced into the sport of endurance. ILDRA’s 2019 season kicked off at the popular venue of Gosford Forest Park for the annual New Year’s Day ride, where both riders and horses get a chance to welcome in the New Year through enjoying a relaxing ride...

Read more here:
https://farmweek.com/successful-year-for-endurance-riding-in-ildras-ulster-branch/

The epic horse race across the Mongolian steppe

BBC.com - Watch the video

In 2009 the first ever Mongol Derby was raced across the vast expanse of the Mongolian Steppe.

Riders from across the world race local, semi-wild horses in a bid to cross the finish line first.

The horses are owned by nomadic herder families and the team behind the race employ the families to host the riders.

Tom Morgan spoke to Witness History about organising the world's longest equestrian endurance competition.

Witness History: The stories of our times told by the people who were there.

Watch the video here:
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-49676573/the-epic-horse-race-across-the-mongolian-steppe

(Official) Demise of the World Equestrian Games and New Championships

HorseSport.com - Full Article

Pippa Cuckson is relieved the next world championships have been awarded to specialist organisers – though endurance 2022 may still present a dilemma.

By: Cuckson Report

Given my long-held dislike of the all-sports-in-one basket World Equestrian Games format, various friends have asked why I hadn’t immediately celebrated WEG’s demise, when the FEI announced its multiple 2022 world championship allocations on November 16th.

I’d held off, waiting for the delayed decisions on endurance and reining. Their 2022 world championships were to be announced after make-or break-votes at the FEI General Assembly (GA) in Moscow on November 19th, over new rules and retention within the FEI respectively.

But it turns out that deciding “after” November 19th did not mean while everyone is still in Moscow. The FEI board won’t finalise these last two world championships until its December tele-conference. I’ve also been half-waiting for news that bidding will be re-opened for endurance 2022, because options shrink by the day – more of that below.

The FEI has a proclivity for self-harm, so I would not have been surprised if it had gone for another full-blown WEG, despite conceding after Tryon that the format isn’t sustainable. It must have been very tempting to choose WEG Italy or Saudi Arabia.

But luckily, common sense prevailed. World championships for 2022 have so far been split between two countries with a strong heritage in the Olympic disciplines, especially. Jumping, dressage, para and vaulting goes to Herning, Denmark, and eventing and driving to Pratoni, Italy...

Read more here
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report/demise-world-equestrian-games-new-championships/

Vets talk of challenges in identifying horses as lame during Endurance competitions

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

November 30, 2019
Horsetalk.co.nz

Official veterinarians at FEI Endurance rides have confirmed to researchers how difficult it can be to detect subtle lameness in horses during evaluations in competition.

Elimination rates in Endurance competitions are high, especially so in higher-level competitions in which FEI-accredited veterinarians are required to make the call over lameness.

Such decisions can affect the race outcome and commonly draw objections from competitors.

Monica de Mira, from the University of Évora in Portugal, and her colleagues from Portugal, Australia and Britain, set out in a study to assess the views of FEI official endurance veterinarians around the challenges in assessing lameness.

They also wanted to learn about the occurrence of confrontations with riders when horses are eliminated because of lameness, and to get their thoughts on the use of user-friendly technology to help detect lameness...

Read more here:
https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2019/11/30/vets-challenges-horses-lame-endurance/