FEI decision-making: is one country, one vote sustainable?

Horsesport.com - Full Article

The rights of countries with a minimal international presence to decide upon FEI rules are under the spotlight

By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson

There was an awkward moment at the FEI’s General Assembly in Moscow last month when the rights of new countries to join were challenged by Norway, a FEI founder member in 1921.

President of the Norwegian federation, Tore Sannum, spoke out as Mongolia, Ivory Coast and the Bahamas were being welcomed to the FEI family. The addition brings FEI membership to 137 national federations (NFs). In future, he asked the FEI to insist upon a minimum level of domestic participation, as other sports governing bodies do; without this, the FEI has “credibility” issues, he warned.

Mr. Sannum’s suggestion that countries should not be allowed to join unless they have riders at world championship level slightly backfired, because world championships cannot be entered UNTIL a country belongs to the FEI. The day’s business moved swiftly on – but nonetheless, Mr. Sannum was articulating what delegates from leading NFs often discuss in the bars and lobbies away from the conference hall.

It has always been one-country, one-vote at the FEI, whether you are as established and well medalled as the US (another FEI founder member), Canada (joined 1950), Germany (1927), Great Britain (1925), or as new as Mongolia, Ivory Coast and the Bahamas. That’s democracy – but is it common sense?...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/fei-decision-making-one-country-one-vote-sustainable/

Under starter’s orders for toughest horse race

TeesdaleMercury.co.uk - Full Article

8 December 2019

Only about 40 competitors worldwide are selected to take part in the annual Mongol Derby, which is described as “the world's toughest horse race”. Teesdale’s own Fiona Kearton will be taking part in 2020 and Wendy Short went to meet her on her smallholding near Bowes.

THE Mongol Derby covers 1,000km across the Mongolian Steppes, with riders racing across the gruelling terrain in just ten days. Competitors navigate the route with minimal assistance on the local Mongolian horses, which are switched every 40km and spend each night with the native horse herders.

Fiona Kearton has been involved in endurance riding for several years and first heard about the Mongol Derby in 2014...

Read more here:
https://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/country-life/under-starters-orders-for-toughest-horse-race

Team Mexico claims historic Gold and Silver at the North American Endurance Championship

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

6 December 2019

Broxton Bridge Plantation, Ehrhardt, SC, United States of America. Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 November 2019. This year’s NAECH counted with a much larger Mexican team representation.

One 5-rider team for the CEI 1*, a 4-rider team for the CEI 2* and one Young Rider in one of the 25mi CEN AERC rides. In past editions and other WEC, and WEG events Mexico had presented a maximum of 3 riders but failed to ever finish as a team to score, so they took the opportunity to vindicate themselves and show the team strength.

On Thursday 14 November, riders José L Flores, Mercedes Acuña, Camila Gutiérrez, Carolina Galán, and Enrique Partida along with chef d’équipe Ricardo Galán started their CEI 1* 80km ride at Broxton Bridge Plantation with a clear objective: to finish at least three riders as a team preferably all five without risking any horse for a better individual position.
Endurance World Team Mexico.03The ride started 7am under cold conditions but no rain yet at the venue. The team rode together as a pack from the beginning and it wasn’t until gate 3 that they lost 2 of their horses due to slight lameness most likely as a result of the cold conditions. “It was important to ride as a pack as we knew our horse’s strength was based on their reliability to finish, not that so much on speed. I asked the team to hold a steady pace and keep together most of the entire ride as we had lost two mounts it was of the upmost importance to be cautious.” Said Ricardo Galán, chef d’équipe...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/team-mexico-claims-historic-gold-and-silver-at-the-north-american-endurance-championship/

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/