FEI Board makes key Championship decisions for 2021 and 2022

Inside.fei.org

17 December 2020

The FEI Board took a series of key decisions on allocation, cancellation, and reopening of bids for FEI Championships at its videoconference meeting this week.

The Board agreed to allocate the FEI Endurance World Championship 2022 to Isola della Scala in Verona (ITA).

“We are pleased to have the experience and passion of the Verona Organising Committee for the FEI Endurance World Championship in 2022,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “We will be working closely with the Organisers and the Italian Equestrian Federation to ensure that this is a top-notch sporting event that challenges the strategic skills of our athletes and brings the sport back to its original roots of Endurance riding rather than Endurance racing.”

Separately, the Board agreed to reopen the bid process for the FEI Eventing European Championship 2021, following numerous requests from a number of European Eventing stakeholders, including National Federations and Athletes, and with the full support of the European Equestrian Federation and the FEI Eventing Committee. The bid process will open on 18 December 2020 and National Federations and Organisers have until 15 January 2021 to apply to the FEI. The FEI Board will take a decision on the allocation of this Championship at its March 2021 teleconference.

Following the cancellation by the Organiser of the FEI Dressage European Championship U25 2021 in Donaueschingen (GER), the Board agreed to reopen the bidding process for the Championship. The deadline for expressions of interest to be submitted to the FEI (bidding@fei.org) is 15 January 2021 and the FEI Board will take a decision on the allocation of this Championship at its February 2021 teleconference.

Due to the Covid-19 related cancellation of the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses 2020 in Verden (GER), and following consultation with all parties involved, the Board agreed to reallocate the 2021 Championship to Verden. The 2021 Championship had originally been allocated to Ermelo (NED) for the three-year cycle, 2021-2023. The Board has now agreed to allocate the 2024 Championship to Ermelo, meaning that the Dutch venue will host the Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Based on the recommendation of the FEI Endurance Committee, and in consultation and with the support of the Netherlands National Federation, the Board agreed to terminate the Host Agreement with the Organiser of the FEI Endurance European Championship 2021 and FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2021.

Both these Endurance Championships were scheduled to be held at the Netherlands National Federation-owned venue at Ermelo (NED), and the FEI will now consult with the National Federation about a potential alternative Organiser to host the Championships at the Ermelo venue on the original dates (6-11 September 2021).

FEI appoints new Endurance Director

Inside.fei.org

16 December 2020

Christina Abu-Dayyeh (JOR) has been appointed as Endurance Director for the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the global governing body for equestrian sports.

Ms Abu-Dayyeh, 31, has been Secretary General of the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation since 2017 and will start in her new role at the FEI on 1 April 2021. Her arrival in Lausanne (SUI) will further improve the gender balance in the FEI management team, with seven females and eight males.

During her time at the Jordanian National Federation, Ms Abu-Dayyeh was responsible for the management of all equestrian disciplines in the country, as well as heading up the Organising Committees for the biggest equestrian events in Jordan across all disciplines. She also worked directly with the Ministry of Agriculture on all equestrian matters, including quarantine procedures, animal welfare and the import/export of horses.

Prior to taking on the role at the National Federation, she worked as a marketing and communications consultant at the Princess Alia Foundation, and Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife in the Jordanian capital, Amman, the only wildlife sanctuary in the Middle East. She was a research analyst at a political consulting start-up in Abu Dhabi, and also worked in consulting and recruitment roles in Vancouver (CAN).

Ms Abu-Dayyeh has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada and a Masters in Management and International Business from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

“We are very happy to welcome Christina Abu-Dayyeh to the FEI to take on this really important role”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “The discipline of Endurance needs strong governance and we are confident that Christina is the right person to deliver the right mix of firmness and tact. She comes to us with a wealth of experience, not just in equestrian sport, but also in marketing and communications, skill sets that she will need for this post. Her knowledge of our sport in the Middle East, where Endurance is such a key part of the local culture, has given her a crucial insight and a vision that will undoubtedly benefit both the FEI and the discipline itself.”

“One of my proudest achievements at the Royal Jordanian Equestrian Federation has been creating open lines of communication and the transparency that was needed to inspire the trust of the community and stakeholders, which ultimately gave me a credible voice to move the sport forward in Jordan”, Christina Abu-Dayyeh said. “Leaning in and actively listening to those in the field who have mastered so many elements of it kept me humble.

Ms Abu-Dayyeh has strong Endurance experience, both at a national and international level, as the Jordanian National Federation is the main organiser of Endurance events in the country. She singles out Endurance as her favourite of all the disciplines that she is currently responsible for in her role as Secretary General in Jordan.

“I was aware that our Endurance Officials were having trouble fulfilling their crucial role of officiating at events and quickly realised that the main issue was miscommunication and the athletes’ lack of education on the rules. We made a huge effort to improve the knowledge base of our athletes, educating all stakeholders on the technical aspects of the sport and what it means to be a true horseperson, with the result that numbers increased by over 120% for our national rides.

“I believe that education and communication with the athletes and their entourage are key to improving horse welfare in the discipline internationally, continuing the fantastic work already done by the Endurance Temporary Committee.”

The FEI has been actively seeking a replacement Endurance Director since the announcement in March of this year that the Endurance & Driving Department was to be restructured with the aim of further streamlining management of the Endurance discipline. The restructuring was to allow for a special focus on a discipline that requires stringent oversight, although plans for the speedy recruitment of a new Endurance Director were significantly slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Abu-Dayyeh will replace Manuel Bandeira De Mello (POR), who joined the FEI in 2014 as Endurance Director. He will stay on in the role until Ms Abu-Dayyeh arrives in Switzerland and will remain at the FEI with the new title of Director Driving, Para Driving & Special Projects, allowing for an optimal handover to the new Endurance Director.

Bahrain: Al Hashemi triumphs

GDNonline.com - Full Article

GDN Online Desk
Sat, 12 Dec 2020

Al Rau’d Team jockey Mohammed Abdulhamid Al Hashemi clinched the 120km National Day Endurance Championship yesterday.

His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs, and Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) honorary president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa presented the winner of the four-stage race with the coveted trophy.

Present were Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) vice-president, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) Co-ordination, Implementation and Follow-up Committee vice-chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Breef chairman Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa and Endurance Committee chairman Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa attended...

Read more here:
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/910065

Malaysia: Mom takes up endurance riding after equine therapy helps son

FreeMalaysiaToday.com - Full Article

Bernama - December 11, 2020 6:29 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: A 38-year-old mother from Kuala Kangsar, Perak threw herself into horse riding after she saw how equine therapy had significantly improved the life of her son, Harith Danial Heazar Ismail, 14, who was diagnosed with hyperactivity and autism.

Sharifah Noorfaslina says Harith Danial greatly benefitted from several sessions of equine therapy at Cape Cavallho Equestrian Club in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan

“After his first equine therapy session, he could speak in one short complete sentence compared to before where it was only one or two words.

“In fact, my son is significantly calmer after each session,” she says, explaining to Bernama that he is usually very hyperactive and prone to putting himself in physical danger...

Read more here:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2020/12/11/mom-takes-up-endurance-riding-after-equine-therapy-helps-son/

Key Dates for the 2021 FEI Senior World, FEI Young Rider World, and FEI Pan American Endurance Championships

USEF.org

by USEF Endurance | Dec 8, 2020, 8:54 AM EST

The following application deadlines have been announced for the 2021 FEI Senior World, FEI Young Rider World, and FEI Pan American Endurance Championships.

2021 FEI SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Application Opening Date: Opened 1st September 2020

Early Application Deadline: 12th February 2021

Late Application Deadline: 17th March 2021

The 2021 FEI Senior World Championships will be held on May 22, 2021 in San Rossore, ITA. Additional information for these Championships can be found here.

The Selection Procedures for the 2021 Senior World Championships can be found here.

Applications for the 2021 Senior World Championships can be found on your USEF Athlete Dashboard here. Applications opened on 1st September 2020 and have an early application deadline of 12th February 2021 at 11:59 PM ET and a late application deadline of 17th March 2021 at 11:59 PM ET.

2021 FEI PAN AMERICAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Application Opening Date: Opened 1st November 2020

Early Application Deadline: 31st March 2021

Late Application Deadline: 29th April 2021

The 2021 FEI Pan American Endurance Championships will be held on July 28-29, 2021 in Campinas, BRA. Additional information for these Championships can be found here.

The Selection Procedures for the 2021 Pan American Endurance Championships can be found here.

Applications for the 2021 Pan American Endurance Championships can be found on your USEF Athlete Dashboard here. Applications opened on 1st November 2020 and have an early application deadline of 31st March 2021 at 11:59 PM ET and a late application deadline of 29th April 2021 at 11:59 PM ET.

2021 FEI JUNIOR & YOUNG RIDER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Application Opened: 7th December 2021

Early Application Deadline: 31st March 2021

Late Application Deadline: 29th April 2021

The 2021 FEI Junior & Young Rider World Championships will be held on September 6-11, 2021 in Ermelo, NED. Additional information for these Championships can be found here.

The Selection Procedures for the 2021 Junior & Young Rider World Championships can be found here.

Applications for the 2021 Junior & Young Rider World Championships can be found on your USEF Athlete Dashboard here. Applications opened on 7th December 2021 and have an early application deadline of 31st March 2021 at 11:59 PM ET and a late application deadline of 29th April 2021 at 11:59 PM ET.

FURTHER QUESTIONS

Please contact Project Director of High Performance Programs, Steven Morrissey, at smorrissey@usef.org should you have any questions.

Bahrain: Stage set for National Day Endurance Championship

GDNonline.com - Full Article

9 December 2020

The National Day Endurance Championship will be held tomorrow and on Friday, under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation (Breef) will organise the championship, sponsored by Batelco, at the Bahrain International Endurance Village.

Breef chairman Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla Al Khalifa stressed commitment to implement the directives of Shaikh Nasser to ensure the success of the annual event...

Read more here:
http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/909821/Stage-set-for-National-Day-Endurance-Championship

Australia: History created at state champs

TATimes.com.au - Full Article

By Jeff Hanson - December 6, 2020

Liz Moir made the long trip to Tumut from Wauchope to compete at the NSW Endurance Riding Association (NSWERA) State Championships over the weekend, and in-turn created history, helping Baribo to overall line honours in the 160km event.

What makes the win extra special is that Baribo is a thoroughbred that is by King of Prussia, out of Torriva and though he won all of $500 as a racehorse, with two lasts and a second last from three starts, he did compete in a Group 3 event at Flemington.

Far from the world of group and listed thoroughbred racing, Baribo has now completed thousands of kilometres as an endurance competitor and is the first thoroughbred to be crowned the NSW State Champion.

“There has never been another thoroughbred with their name on the cup,” Moir said...

Read more here:
https://tatimes.com.au/history-created-at-state-champs/