Scotland: Dunning-based horseman Iain Paterson rode 100 miles through the Cairngorms – in 21 hours

KDM Photography

TheCourier.co.uk - Full Article

June 18 2023
by Gayle Ritchie

Iain Paterson and his horse Primo tackled 100 miles of tough, tricky terrain in less than a day. Gayle Ritchie reports.

Darkness was falling as Iain Paterson trotted through the ancient Caledonian pine forest, glow sticks lighting the way.

He and his horse, Primo, were nearing the end of their epic 100-mile endurance ride through the Cairngorms, and, while they were weary, their spirits were high.

They were in the heart of Abernethy forest, having set off from Glen Clova at 4am with the ambition of finishing the Cairngorm 100 race within 24 hours. They nailed it, completing in 21 hours – winning the 2017 event to boot.

However, it wasn’t just speed that clinched the pair the top title. The sport takes horse welfare very seriously – the overall winner needs to have passed vet checks before, during and after the ride that deem the horse to be in good health.

Relief and elation

“There’s something so magical about riding along in the half-light through this beautiful old Scottish woodland,” reflects Iain.

“You pop out at the top of Nethy Bridge and think, ‘good God, I’ve really done this’...

Read more here:
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/outdoors/4484317/100-miles-through-cairngorms-horseback-21-hours/

Saudi Arabia: AlUla partners with Italian equestrian training specialists Sistemaeventi

ArabNews.com - Full Article

June 16, 2023

• Collaboration agreements will see support in training and development of endurance race
• Riders competing against some of Europe’s best in Italian event

ALULA: The Royal Commission for AlUla and Italian equestrian training specialists Sistemaeventi have announced the signing of two strategic agreements.

The memorandums of collaboration were agreed as members of AlUla’s team took part in the Italian Endurance Championship close to the town of Castiglione del Lago.

The agreements will enable more local horse riders to join AlUla’s endurance race team and become active members of its community, a statement said.

Sistemaeventi will provide advisory, technical and professional assistance, as well as highly trained horses to support the AlUla team’s participation in competitions and events held under the umbrella of the International Equestrian Federation, including the Endurance World Championship...

Read more here:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2322861/sport

Chinese Equestrian Association Endurance Standard Competition kicks off in Yongqing

BreakingLatest.news - Full Article

June 13 2023

On the morning of June 11, it was sponsored by the Chinese Equestrian Association, undertaken by the Yongqing County People’s Government, and executed by Langfang Yuancun Equestrian Sports Co., Ltd. and Beijing Kyushu Golden Horse International Cultural Development Co., Ltd.The 2023 China Equestrian Association Endurance Standard Competition (Yongqing Station) kicked off in the equestrian town of Yongqingyuan Village.

More than one hundred teams of equestrian clubs from Beijing, Shanghai, Inner Mongolia, Tianjin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan and other dozens of equestrian clubs participated. The participating horses mainly include Arabian horses, Anglo horses, Budyonny horses, domestically improved horses, Sanhe horses, Mongolian horses, etc. In order to reflect the fairness and justice of the event, the referees and veterinarians are composed of registered veterinarians and referees of the Chinese Equestrian Association respectively...

Read more here:
https://www.breakinglatest.news/sports/chinese-equestrian-association-endurance-standard-competition-kicks-off-in-yongqing-fei-elite-rider-jia-huilin-serves-as-the-chief-commander-of-the-event_tom-news/

Saudi Arabia Endurance Event has 47% Positive Drug Tests

HorseSport.com - Full Article

The FEI is considering sanctions for countries with a ‘prevalence’ of doping following the world’s richest endurance race in March.

By: Pippa Cuckson | June 12, 2023

Countries who fail to address their equine doping problem may face sanctions from the FEI in the future.

The FEI will discuss that option next year, following concerns about a spike in doping cases in Saudi Arabia, notably from the world’s richest FEI endurance ride in Al Ula. The 2023 ride, known as the “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup,” saw 15 of 32 horses sampled test positive. This is the greatest number of positives ever returned from a single FEI event in any discipline ‒ a rate of 47%.

Saudi Arabia is due to stage the show jumping and dressage World Cup finals next year, the first time an FEI title event in the Olympic disciplines is staged in the Middle East. Bearing in mind growing concern about equestrianism’s social licence to operate, Horsesport.com asked the FEI if it was wise or fair to other federations that a country with a poor doping record be “rewarded” with a prestigious championship...

https://horsesport.com/horse-news/saudi-arabia-endurance-event-47-positive-drug-tests/

Wales: Man V Horse record broken on sweltering hot day

Peter Barnett photo

Highlight.pr.co - Full Article & Photos

12 June 2023

Historic victory for Daniel Connolly as the fourth person ever to beat the horse

Daniel Connolly has become the latest winner of the Whole Earth Man V Horse race, finishing the course in just two hours, 24 minutes and 38 seconds – a whole 10 minutes before the first horse.

In amongst over 1200 runners and 60 horse riders, Daniel Connolly was the first person to cross the finish line.

Daniel’s victory comes hot off the heels of last year’s winner, Ricky Lightfoot, making Man V Horse history for a runner to beat the horse in two consecutive years. In the event’s long 42-year history, Daniel is the fourth person ever to win the challenging 22-mile course.

The winner amongst the horses was DNS Ronaldo, was ridden by Kate Atkinson and took two hours, 34 minutes and 25 seconds...

Read more here:
https://highlight.pr.co/226915-man-v-horse-record-broken-on-sweltering-hot-day

Meet the 70-year-old from Inverness who cleaned up in this year’s Golden Horseshoe

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Alex Robinson
10 June, 2023

A 70-year-old endurance specialist who won four awards, including the premier and top lady titles, at the famous Golden Horseshoe ride (21–22 May) has proved that age is no barrier if you have the right ingredients, including the right horse.

Candy Cameron, who is a British Horse Society stage four coach, runs Loch Ness Riding in Inverness and she has been riding and training endurance horses since the 1980s. She first rode in the Golden Horseshoe, a 160 km endurance ride across Exmoor National Park, 35 years ago in 1988.

In 2023, Candy’s horse Ell Daam (Al) also won the highly-regarded Best Condition award at the event, replicating the result of her former horse, White Trooper, who took home the Best Condition prize once during his career...

Read more here:
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/candy-cameron-golden-horseshoe-2023-827823

Syrian Equestrian Masa Tanbekji qualifies for FEI Endurance World Championship

Eng.Belta.by - Full Article

6 June 2023

DAMASCUS, 6 June (BelTA - SANA). - Syrian Equestrian Masa Tanbekji has qualified for the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses.

The championship will be hosted by the city of Padise in Estonia in the period between Aug. 10th and Aug. 14th with the participation of a large number of international male and female equestrians.

Masa expressed her happiness with this qualification for the second year in a row, wishing to continue her career successfully, after she was able to raise the Syrian flag in international forums...

Read more here:
https://eng.belta.by/partner_news/view/equestrian-masa-tanbekji-qualifies-for-fei-endurance-world-championship-159396-2023/