FEI Tribunal issues Final Decision in human anti-doping case

FEI.org

03 October 2023
Author: FEI

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a human anti-doping case.

A sample taken from the Brazilian athlete Pedro Stefani Marino (FEI ID 10017829) on 5 December 2021 during the CEI3* 160 Punta del Este (URU), returned positive for the Prohibited Substance Carboxy-THC. Carboxy-THC is a metabolite of THC (Cannabis) and is included in the Class “S8 Cannabinoids” of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List 2021. The athlete was notified of the violation of the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) on 2 February 2022.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal decided to suspend the athlete for a period of two years, starting from the date of the Final Decision (2 October 2023). Additionally, all competitive results of the Athlete obtained at the Event and from the date of the hearing onwards (15 May 2023) were disqualified with all the relevant consequences (forfeiture of any medals, points and prizes, etc.). Any competitive results from the conclusion of the Event up until the date of the hearing remained valid. Finally, the Athlete was imposed a fine of CHF 7,500 and ordered to pay costs of CHF 5,000.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision.

The full text of the FEI Tribunal’s Final Decision is available here.

Podcast: The Longest & Toughest Horse Race in the World – Racing the Mongol Derby

StandleeForage.com - Beyond the Barn Podcast - Listen

New Beyond the Barn Podcast Episode


Episode 67: The Longest & Toughest Horse Race in the World – Racing the Mongol Derby On this episode, co-host Katy Starr chats with horse trainer and back country pilot, Lena Haug, about her multi-worldly equine adventures, mainly surrounding her time competing in the longest and toughest horse race in the world, the Mongol Derby, including:

• Being completely immersed in the honorable Mongolian culture
• Self-navigating horses who are racing at top speed, all the while dodging military fields and wild dogs
• Getting kicked in the face from an unintentional dismount, only to get immediately back on for what felt like a rocket headed to space

Listen at:
https://www.standleeforage.com/podcast/episodes/ep-067-the-longest-toughest-horse-race-in-the-world-racing-the-mongol-derby/

Rider Charlotte gets England call for Home International Championships

Market Rasen rider Charlotte Scott has been ​selected to represent the England Endurance Riding Squad at the prestigious Home International Championships.

By Sports Reporter
Published 19th Sep 2023

The championship is set to take place at the iconic British Horse Feeds & Golden Paste Company Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, scheduled for September 29th to October 1st, at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.

Charlotte, accompanied by her trusty equine partner Broomstone Red Adare, affectionately known as Oakley, will be part of the England squad competing against teams from Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The event is expected to bring together more than 600 horses and riders from all four countries for four days of intense competition and camaraderie.

Charlotte and Oakley's journey in endurance riding is a testament to their dedication and hard work. Oakley, a remarkable 17.2hh horse, has defied expectations and demonstrated a true passion for endurance riding. Charlotte's unique bond with Oakley, built over years of training, has contributed to their success as a team...

Reaed more here:
https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/sport/other-sport/rider-charlotte-gets-england-call-for-home-international-championships-4340953

It’s Gold for Germany and France at the FEI Endurance European Championship

Inside.FEI.org

07 September 2023
Author: Stacey Stearns

After a thrilling final kilometers, Sabrina Arnold of Germany on Easy El Boheira won a thrilling ride in the final kilometers to win the individual gold medal at the FEI Endurance European Championship 2023 today, in Ermelo, the Netherlands.

María Álvarez Pontón of Spain and Bolchoi El Akim were the silver medal winners, a mere two seconds behind the winners, and Philippe Tomas of France and Biwaka De Chalendrat earned the individual bronze medal.

France captured team gold with four riders in the top 10. Spain, the defending champion, won the team silver medal. Germany sealed the team bronze. This event is the pinnacle of the season for European Endurance athletes, with many focusing their entire competitive season on it.

Sabrina and Easy El Boheira, a nine-year-old bay mare, maintained a steady pace throughout the day, at their own pace, quietly staying with the leaders. They left for the final loop in fourth place and then won in the thrilling ride against María and Bolchoi El Akim, a 12-year-old grey gelding. Both women are powerhouses in the sport of Endurance, with numerous wins and championship titles.

Meanwhile, France has consistently built their reputation for riding strategically and as a team. They won the silver at the FEI Endurance European Championships in 2021, also in Ermelo, and gold earlier this year in Butheeb (UAE) at the FEI Endurance World Championship. Three of their horse and athlete combinations from Butheeb were on the team in Ermelo.

“It was difficult, but it was our strategy to stay all together and have a safe ride with speed,” says Jean-Michel Grimal, France chef d’equipe. “I was very happy with my team; they did a very good job. Spain is very strong and have been leading this sport for 15 years now, I have respect for them, but we are very happy to be in front. We are the World Champions at the start of the year and European Champions now.”

Endurance is a distance equestrian sport that tests horses and athletes physically and mentally. It involves strategy and tactics, with the welfare of the horse coming first. The athletes and their horses train carefully for events such as the FEI Endurance European Championship with assistance from the Chef d’Equipe, team veterinarian, and farrier.

75 horse and athlete combinations started the event. The loop distances were 38-km, 22-km, 29 km, 20-km, 31-km and 20-km respectively, with mandatory rest periods after each loop.

The six tracks went through forests, past open pastures on tree-lined roads, and along beautiful heather-filled moors. Riders maintained a steady pace throughout the day, working with their horses to get through each phase of the competition, before increasing the pace on the final phase. Crew members met their horses and riders at various points throughout the course to offer additional cooling, and riders cheerfully greeted spectators as they passed by.

The last of the FEI Endurance main events for 2023 is the Pan American Championships for Seniors, Young Riders and Juniors in Llay Llay, Chile in November. The Endurance calendar is still busy with rides until the end of the year as horses and riders look ahead to the 2024 season, which includes the FEI Endurance World Championship in September 2024 in Monpazier, France.

Full Results

Excitement builds for FEI Endurance European Championship at Ermelo, Netherlands

Inside.FEI.org

05 September 2023
Author: Stacey Stearns

The names are in and the field is set for a thrilling competition at the upcoming FEI Endurance European Championship 2023 set for September 7 at the Dutch National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo (NED).

The 160-km course consists of six loops of beautiful countryside that includes forest tracks and heather-covered moors, with a mandatory veterinary inspection after each loop, where the horses must be declared fit to continue before heading out onto the next loop of the course. The tracks have been carefully prepared to offer a balance of technical challenges, all the while keeping the safety of the horses as a priority.

“In essence, our aim is to provide an unforgettable experience that encapsulates the spirit of Endurance while prioritising the well-being of our beloved horses,” said Eric Lamsma, President of the organising committee. “We are excited about the journey ahead and can't wait to witness the enthusiasm and camaraderie that will unfold during the FEI Endurance European Championship 2023 in Ermelo.”

Looking back…

Horse and athlete combinations include individual champions from multiple countries, who competed at the FEI Endurance World Championships 2022 in Butheeb (UAE), and the FEI Endurance European Championships 2021, which were also held at the Ermelo facility. Spain and France had the top seven individual finishers in 2021, earning team gold and silver respectively, and both countries are returning multiple athletes from those teams. Italy secured the team bronze medal ahead of Belgium and the Netherlands, and all these teams are looking to either repeat or improve on their past standings.

Ones to watch

Jaume Punti Dachs of Spain riding Echo Falls was fifth individually in 2021 and earned the bronze medal at the FEI Endurance World Championships 2022 in Butheeb, while Angel Soy Coll and Maria Alvarez Ponton, the individual gold and bronze medal riders respectively at the FEI European Endurance Championships 2021 are on the team again, with competitive horses.

France will have three of their combinations from Butheeb and their 2021 silver medal team at the Championships, including Virginie Atger on Raya de Jalima, Vincent Gaudriot on Bum Baya D’Aqui, and Clementine Chaud on Winaruz el Djin. France’s goal in Butheeb was a team medal, where their strategic and tactical riding paid off, and we expect to see more of that in Ermelo this year.

| Then there’s Tiina Kuusepuu of Estonia on Gabyrel, a 13-year-old Polish Arabian gelding. The pair were fourth at the Butheeb World Championships, and along with her teammates, are looking to put Estonia Endurance on the map.

Full List

There are 21 countries represented, including 14 in the team competition: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. In total, 77 athletes and 83 horses are vying for the Championship title.

Individual entries include Tom MacGuinness of Ireland who has two horses qualified, including his mount Horseware HLM Fontana, who was 17th with him at Butheeb. Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway, and Turkey all have individual entries

Timetable

“Our opening ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday, September 5th, at 7 pm, promises to be a big event, with all the athletes of the Championship making an appearance. In alignment with our ethos of ‘Horse Comes First’, we're excited to present captivating shows featuring acts such as Jesse Drent and the talented Vaulting team De Heerevelden. These performances will undoubtedly underscore the deep bond between humans and horses,” said Imke Lamsma, Media Manager of the organising committee.

Mandatory pre-ride veterinary inspections of all horses are occurring the afternoon of September 6 and the FEI Endurance European Championship 2023 begins at 6:30 am on September 7. The Championship results will be available by 6 pm.

More information is available at: https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/endurance/main-events/european-championship-seniors-2023.

Nida Anjum Chelat becomes first Indian woman to complete Equestrian World Endurance Championship

APNLive.com - Full Article

By successfully covering the 120-km distance four times with two different combinations, Nida Anjum Chelat has surpassed this mark.

September 6, 2023
by APN Live

Nida Anjum Chelat from Tirur, Malappuram in Kerala has become the first Indian woman to complete the Equestrian World Endurance Championship in France on Saturday last. 21-year-old Chelat represented India in the championship for Juniors and Young Riders and completed the 120-km distance in 7.29 hours.

After achieving the milestone, Chelat dedicated her win to India and thanked everyone for their support. The 21-year-old said she is grateful that she could complete this championship.

A rider and her/his horse must successfully finish a 120-km distance at least twice over the course of two years to be eligible for the World Endurance Championship. By successfully covering the 120-km distance four times with two different combinations, Chelat has surpassed this mark...

Read more here:
https://apnlive.com/sports-news/nida-anjum-chelat-equestrian-world-endurance-championship/

Bahrain's Royal Endurance Team triumph FEI Endurance World Championship

GDNOnline.com - Full Article

Sun, 03 Sep 2023

The Royal Endurance Team triumphed in the team category at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors in Castelsagrat, France yesterday.

Three riders successfully completed all stages, with Isa Hameed Al Anzi, of Team Victorious, securing the third position to claim the bronze medal. Abdullah Al Shaer Al Ruwaie, of Team Victorious, took the fifth position while Sultan Abdulaziz Al Rumaihi, of Al Zaeem Team, finished sixth.

The championship featured the participation of 70 riders from various countries around the world, covering a distance of 120 kilometres. It witnessed thrilling competitions throughout the four stages. The Royal Endurance Team will be officially crowned as the world champions in the team category today...

Read more here:
https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1290101/Royal-team-Champions-#