A Golden Trifecta for UAE's Saeed

FEI.org - full story

08 June 2024
Words by Stacey Stearns

There's no stopping this young Endurance talent...

Saeed Salem Atiq Khamis Al Muhairi already has three Individual gold medals in Endurance on his resume at just 22 years old. His Endurance involvement spans more than a decade of riding, first in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), his home country, and then internationally as well.

Saeed is focused on the future though, as he continues pursuing Endurance goals.

“Representing my country is a privilege coveted by many riders, making it a special opportunity.”

Saeed’s golden run

His gold medals were in 2017, 2019, and 2021, winning the FEI Endurance World Championships for Junior and Young Riders three times consecutively before ageing out. First, he rode Rabdan for the gold at the 2017 Championships in Italy. Next, in 2019, Saeed rode Theeban in Italy and claimed the Individual gold again. Saeed and Haleh claimed the 2021 individual gold medal in his last year as a young rider at the competition in the Netherlands...

Read more here:
https://www.fei.org/stories/sport/endurance/golden-trifecta-uaes-saeed-salem-al-muhairi-profile-2024

Great Britain: Two Achieve Silver Awards at the 160km Golden Horseshoe Ride

EnduranceGB.co.uk

by Web Admin
Wednesday, 22 May 2024

Georgina Vaughan riding Vlacq Elladora and Amie Grainger riding Sheraani successfully navigated tough terrain, surprisingly hot conditions and rigorous veterinary checks to achieve a coveted Silver Award in the top class at the annual Golden Horseshoe Ride.

Whilst almost 100 riders attended the ride over the weekend, just three came forward to attempt 160km over two days in Exmoor based from the popular village of Exford. The low numbers for this class were an indication of how tough it had been to qualify for any of the classes due to the prolonged wet weather. Many rides have been cancelled or postponed and training for those distances in the conditions is difficult. Sadly the third combination to start were eliminated at the first vet gate, but Georgina and Amie worked together to complete the course. Their horses looked strong at the final vetting and in an unusual twist the vet team awarded equal points for the Premier Award, which resulted in a tie. This prize rewards horsemanship of both rider and crew and is the most coveted accolade.

Georgina Vaughan was awarded the Top Lady by the smallest margin based on the heart rate at the final vetting – just 1 bpm split the two.

Just three Gold awards were achieved, two in the 2 Day 80km class; Fiona Griffiths riding Warrens Hill Caszidy and Maisie Denham riding the Red Baron. Maisie, 14, also won the Top Young Rider award as the highest placed under 21 year old. Paul Simmons on his performance and ex-racing stallion, Zayin Zachilles achieved Gold in the 40km class.

Full results and more here:
https://www.endurancegb.co.uk/Cms/Spaces/NEWS/News/Two+Achieve+Silver+Awards+at+the+160km+Golden+Horseshoe+Ride+

St. George horseman completes one of the world’s toughest endurance races

StGeorgeUtah.com - Full Story

Written by E. George Goold
May 10, 2024

ST. GEORGE — The Gaucho Derby is a 500-kilometer horse race through some of the most rugged mountain terrain in the world, and it was conquered by a St. George local.

Scott Nielsen, a project manager at Black Desert Resort, competed in the 2023 event in nine days to finish the endurance race, a test of skill and spirit for both man and beast.

“Participating in the Gaucho Derby has been an incredible journey of self-discovery and perseverance. It was about pushing my limits and embracing the spirit of adventure that defines such extreme challenges,” Nielsen said in a press release.

The derby is run in southern Argentina, near the Andes Mountains. Riders tackle unmarked paths and daunting scenery...

Read more here:
https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2024/05/10/ggg-spo-st-george-horseman-completes-one-of-the-worlds-toughest-endurance-races/

Royal Bahrain Endurance Team to participate in Royal Windsor Endurance

BNA.bh - Full Article

02 May 2024

London, May. 2 (BNA): The Royal Endurance Team, represented by Victorious, Al Zaeem, and Al Ru'ood teams, is participating in the Royal Windsor Endurance horse show in the United Kingdom. The event, featuring riders from around the world, will commence tomorrow at Windsor Castle.

Dr. Khalid Ahmed Hassan, Royal Endurance Team Director, emphasised the team's goals of achieving outstanding results, especially with experienced elements participating in European races. He stated, "We have included young riders to gain experience in European races. We are optimistic that the team will consistently achieve accomplishments abroad..."

Read more here:
https://www.bna.bh/en/RoyalEnduranceTeamtoparticipateinRoyalWindsorEndurance.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDuVyaJ3Wwy2VODKCwA1DbQI%3D

FEI Goes Quiet on Sanctions Against Countries with a Doping Problem

HorseSport.com - Full Article

After a huge spike in positives in Saudi Arabia, last year the FEI told HorseSport.com it would discuss a counter-measure — but we cannot obtain an update.

By Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson | April 18, 2024

The FEI has apparently rowed back on its own proposal to sanction national equestrian federations with a “prevalence” of doping. If the measure had gone forward it would most likely have penalised the sport’s wealthiest benefactors; Middle Eastern endurance racing still returns more positives than any other region or any other FEI discipline.

New sanctions were suggested last year following a significant spike in positives in Saudi Arabia. But despite enquiries by HorseSport.com over the past seven weeks, the FEI has declined to confirm if new sanctions are in the draft EADCMP (anti-doping) rules for 2025, slated for debate at the FEI Sport Forum on April 29-30.

The FEI already stands accused of succumbing to “sportswashing” through allocating this week’s World Cup jumping and dressage finals to Saudi Arabia. Three leading equestrian news organisations, The Horse Magazine, Reiten St Georg and WorldofShowjumping.com announced a boycott, largely citing Saudi Arabia’s attitude to human rights.

Simultaneously, HorseSport.com has pressed the FEI on the contradiction of allocating “big-ticket” championships to countries with known equine doping and cheating problems at a time when the FEI is focussed on public concern about sport horse welfare and the Social Licence to Operate (SLO)...

Read the rest here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/fei-goes-quiet-sanctions-against-countries-with-doping-problem/

Four Omani riders qualify for Endurance World Championship

MuscatDaily.com - Full Article

16 April 2024

Muscat – Oman’s equestrian prowess will be in the spotlight at the upcoming Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Endurance World Championship 2024, with four riders from the sultanate qualifying to compete in this prestigious event in France come September.

Royal Equestrian Team’s Hisham bin Saleh al Farsi and Ahmed bin Salem al Hamadani have won the FEI-recognised 160km French Soumoul race to qualify for the world event...

Read more here:
https://www.muscatdaily.com/2024/04/16/four-omani-riders-qualify-for-endurance-world-championship/

Australia: A true test for riders at Imbil

NoosaToday.com.au - Full Story

11/04/2024

Imbil’s Far-A-Way Endurance Ride lived up to its name and proved to be a good test of horses and riders. ERLE LEVEY was there to capture some of the challenges and achievements of this well-regarded event on the equestrian calendar.

“The event is massive. It’s a matter of building up the endurance of horse and rider.’’

From flooded roads early in the week to sun, showers and humidity, the four-day Far-A-Way Easter Endurance Challenge at Imbil proved to be a test of horses and riders.

Well regarded on the equestrian calendar due to the number of rides held on the weekend, the Far-A-Way also has the appeal of running a 320km marathon and 120km mini-marathon.

The marathon is an event that needs a different approach – the longest of its type in Queensland and twice the length of the famed 160km Tom Quilty Gold Cup...

Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/11-04-2024/a-true-test-for-riders/