Bahamian Rider Qualifies For World Championships in the Netherlands

Tribune242.com - Full Article

March 16 2020

BAHAMIAN rider Reine Pagliaro qualified for the 2021 Young Rider World Endurance Championships in Ermelo, The Netherlands, when she finished her second 120km/75 mile endurance race at the Fun in the Sun Endurance competition held at Williston, FL, March 13-15.

#Reine and her mount, Beautiful Knightmare, a 10-year old Arabian gelding owned by Mary Kathryn and Peggy Clark of Eatonton, Georgia, added a First FEI Young Rider 2* level competition to their list of accomplishments...

Read more here:
http://www.tribune242.com/news/2020/mar/16/bahamian-rider-qualifies-world-championships/?news

Endurance GB announces cancellation of FEI King’s Forest Spring Ride as Coronavirus measures tighten in UK

Everythinghorseuk.co.uk - Full Article

16/03/2020 ehuknews

Endurance GB has announced the cancellation of the FEI King’s Forest Spring Ride following strong recommendations issued on Friday 13th March by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and a meeting of Endurance GB’s board. This year’s event was due to take place over the weekend of 10-12 April.

The popular King’s Forest Competition held over forestry tracks and open farmland near Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk, is the first big event of the Endurance GB calendar and is viewed by riders as a springboard for the season. Renowned for its superb going when the rest of the country may be suffering under wetter conditions, the ride draws entries from across the UK and last year celebrated its 25th anniversary...

Read more here:
https://everythinghorseuk.co.uk/fei-kings-forest-spring-ride-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus/

Patagonia: Gaucho Derby Race Day 9

Photographer: Richard Dunwoody
TheAdventurists.com - Full Story

March 14 2020

And just like that, we are at the end of the penultimate day of racing here in Patagonia. The riders are stopped tonight either at a rustic yet scenic puesto at VS8 or camped part way between VS8 and the finish line. Slow going on the trail between VS7 at La Maipu and the finish line put the brakes on the riders who thought they may finish today, but expecting the unexpected has become the touchstone of this race, with most choosing to see the glass half full. Clare (CK) sent in a message relatively early in the evening indicating her decision to stay at VS8, saying “Beautiful spot and will enjoy a final night in the wilderness!” Good choice. All riders will be finished tomorrow regardless of where they stayed last night. Why? Because tomorrow is Day 10 and the race is officially over and because we said so.

It wasn’t all rubbernecked-sightseeing today, however, with CP parting ways with his horse on the downward side of VS8. With a bit of gaucho-ing, his riding mates caught the wily wayward steed, reuniting CP for the final push towards the finish. At the close of business, CP was keeping company with SD DD CM CK MG LY SH LV and ZH, all tucked into some trees 3km beyond VS8. Back at VS8, CW CD JY AA HB NM SS and CKI set up camp with vets Cozy and Georgie, Medic Andy, EMs Erik and Louise, Media Ivo and Anya, and a couple of keen gauchos along for the last leg of the Gaucho Derby...

Read more here:
https://www.theadventurists.com/updates/gaucho-derby-race-day-9/

FEI recommends cancellation of FEI Events due to Coronavirus

FEI.org

March 13 2020

Following last week’s communiqué to National Federations on the recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding Mass Gatherings and the necessity of Event Organisers to conduct a full risk assessment together with local authorities, the FEI has issued a further message to the equestrian community:

“The spread of the Coronavirus Covid-19 has taken a rapid turn for the worse and sport worldwide is affected. We as a community have to make our contribution to limit the spread of this virus, as the sooner it can be contained the sooner we will be able to get back to normal life and normal sport. And this is something that every other sport is doing.

“The FEI appreciates the amount of work and incredible investment every Organiser puts into their Event. While the FEI does not itself organise any FEI Events, in light of the escalating numbers of persons affected by the virus and the restrictions imposed by national governments, the FEI strongly recommends that Organisers should cancel all events for the next four weeks until a reassessment of the situation can be made.

“The FEI and Board will work together with the International Equestrian Organisers Alliance to evaluate what can be done to try and accommodate dates for Events that have been impacted during this period.

“We are aware that this is no simple matter, as clearly no single Organiser can be favoured to the detriment of others, and we do not know how many Events will be impacted nor how long the current situation will last.

“We have decided that Calendar fees for events that have had to be cancelled because of Covid-19 will be waived. We are also assessing the impact of cancellations of Events on other areas such as ranking points and on athletes and horses seeking MERs for the Olympic or Paralympic Games and qualifications for FEI Championships.”

“We can guarantee you that we are monitoring the situation hour-by-hour and that we are constantly looking at what specific situations need to be addressed. Our thoughts are with all of you and we strongly believe that our community will do the right thing and work to support each other through this crisis.”

Gaucho Derby heads for an exciting finish in Patagonia

The Gaucho Derby has been billed as ‘the greatest test of horsemanship and survival skill on Earth’ and is certainly living up to its promise.

By: David Ferguson | March 13, 2020

The Gaucho Derby has been billed as ‘the greatest test of horsemanship and survival skill on Earth’ and the Pioneer Edition of the race is certainly living up to this promise.

Run by The Adventurists, the team behind the Mongol Derby ‘the longest and toughest horse race on the planet’, The Gaucho Derby is looking to build on the new sport of ultra-endurance. The Adventurists went in search of the next world-beating adventure. They didn’t just replicate The Mongol Derby with new scenery, but designed a new race from the ground up, based on the landscape, culture, history and horses of Patagonia and the Gauchos, and have created, what they believe, is the ‘greatest test of horsemanship and survival skill on Earth’.

So far, with still a day of racing to go, the race has delivered on all fronts. Racing through the wild landscapes of Argentina, in places the going has been technical and slow, with pack horses in tow, in others fast and furious, through flatter pampas sections; the scenery stunning throughout.

Drama unveiled as the race headed through the mountains and a ferocious snow storm swept in. Local Gauchos helped guide riders to safe passage and an emergency shelter was created in a forest, with some riders (most to re-join the race later) air lifted out as a precaution.

And it’s still not over…to follow the race to the finish visit on Twitter or Facebook.

Kyrgyzstan: 69 Year Old Woman Makes Cross Country Trip Horseback

Watch.Horse.Tv

Taking to the saddle for the first time in 12 years, this 69-year-old woman will brave below-zero temperatures and wolves of Kyrgyz mountain ranges in order to settle the wrangling question of the Appaloosas' origin and prove other American horse breeders wrong. "For 40 years I've claimed they came from Asia, and for 40 years they've laughed at me", she says. Not anymore.

Watch the preview here:
https://watch.horse.tv/true-appaloosa37063148

Patagonia: Gaucho Derby Race Day 7

Photographer: Anya Campbell
TheAdventurists.com - Full Story

March 12 2020

With weather once again looking a bit grim at the higher elevations, Day 7’s course was reset to avoid the high country and instead include a scenic circular route down the Tucu Tucu valley from VS5, back along Arroyo Potrancas and Laguna Govido. The riders made the return trip in times ranging from between 6.5 to 9.5 hours with most commenting on, yet again, the incredible scenery. If nothing else, these riders will go home with some indelible images imprinted in their memory banks.

The scenery will continue to improve (is that even possible?) as the riders transfer from VS5 to La Maipu on March 12 to begin their final push towards the finish line at Estancia La Quinta (near El Chalten) on March 13. Mount Fitz Roy sits just above El Chalten, making for some iconic photo ops – will the riders take that opportunity or blast on by, finish line in their sights, hot shower on their minds?...

Read more here:
https://www.theadventurists.com/updates/gaucho-derby-race-day-7/