An ‘indomitable will’ and great love for his sport: farewell to top Irish horse aged 29

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Eleanor Jones 26
October, 2024

The owner of the top endurance horse J St Jake has paid tribute to his “indomitable will” and love of his sport after his death aged 29.

In 18 consecutive seasons, Jake and Helen McFarland represented Ireland over some of the toughest rides there and in Britain. They completed 19 160km/100-mile rides, Jake’s last at the age of 24. Among their most notable achievements were winning the Scottish and northern championships and a premier award at the Golden Horseshoe Ride.

Helen told H&H she bought 14.2hh Jake, who was by an Arab stallion and out of a traditional Connemara mare, when he was seven...

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https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/farewell-to-top-horse-j-st-jake-aged-29-876035

‘He’s a bit famous’ – rescue pony steps in to help young rider take Great Britain national title

West End Photography

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Eleanor Jones
6 October, 2024 19:21

A rescued pony stepped in at the last minute to help a young rider to a dream win in the national para endurance championship.

Alfie-Jay Errington won the 23km Endurance GB Emerald Championship with Redwings Milky Way, a 20-year-old Welsh pony who has been taking part in endurance rides for over a decade with his rehomers Niamh and Sarah Richardson.

“Niamh Richardson, 16, and her mum Sarah were attending the Lion’s Tail Endurance Ride in Leicestershire on 24 September when they heard that Alfie-Jay was sadly unable to take part in Endurance GB’s para endurance national championships because his pony was lame,” a spokesperson for Redwings said.

“Not wanting Alfie to miss his shot at the championship, Niamh offered Alfie the ride on Redwings Milky Way...”

Read more here:
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/rescue-pony-steps-in-help-young-rider-national-title-873900

Italy Wins Bronze in Team Endurance at European and World Championships

IlMessaggero.it - Full Article

Monday 30 September 2024, 09:45

Bronze for Italy in team endurance at the European Under-21 Championship and the World Championship for young horses. A competitiveness that hit the mark, according to FISE president Marco Di Paola, 'thanks to the teamwork of technicians, trainers, grooms, and families, in the perspective of a comprehensive support for the talent of the athletes and their horses.'

EUROPEAN, THIRD PLACE FOR ITALY - Team Italy, composed of Mauro Fedriga on Kimono Dell’Orsetta, Lucrezia Romina Mondini on Twilight La Roncola, Martina Pisano on Zagaia Dei Laghi, Maria Chiara Fagiani on Elka Du Barthas, and Carlotta Ganelli on Free Gemma, secured the 6th tricolor medal in the continental youth medal tally, which awards them a total of 3 silvers and 3 bronzes in 10 editions. The continental challenge, hosted during the Sardegna Endurance Festival, awarded gold, the 5th in their career, to Spain, allowing them to reach France in the Hall of Fame. The silver went to the Marseille team, which, however, triumphed individually with Carla Mosti riding Gino D’Armani. The second and third steps of the podium were taken by the Spaniards Joana Ullastre Niubò (Balma Peu) and Celia Soler Capdevila (F Hazfat Al Shaqab)...

Read more here:
https://www.ilmessaggero.it/en/italy_wins_bronze_in_team_endurance_at_european_and_world_championships-8385406.html

UAE win FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses in Italy

WAM.ae - full story

September 29, 2024

SARDINIA, Italy, 29th September, 2024 (WAM) -- The Emirati riders clinched the team and individual gold medals at the 120-kilometer FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses at the Arborea fields on the Italian island of Sardinia.

The event was organised under the supervision of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and witnessed the participation of around 100 riders from 22 countries worldwide.

Emirati rider Rashid Saeed Hamad Al Ketbi added the individual title for the fifth time in the history of the UAE’s participation in the championship after winning the individual category on his horse with a time of 4:53:08 hours. Bahraini rider Ma'youf Abdulaziz Al Rumaihi finished second with a time of 5:02:46 hours, while a French rider came in third with 5:18:08 hours...

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https://www.wam.ae/en/article/b5fj3o5-uae-win-fei-endurance-world-championship-for-young

Sardinia Endurance Festival: European U21 and World Young Horses Championships

ilmessaggero.it - Full Article

Friday 27 September 2024, 08:34

One hundred and thirty-eight athletes and 153 horses are ready to take to the track at the Horse Country Resort facilities in Arborea for the Sardinia Endurance Festival. At stake are the titles of European Under 21 and World Young Horses champions, both individual and team. Twenty-nine nations are competing: Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Jordan, Great Britain, Italy, Kuwait, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Syria, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, Hungary, and Uruguay...

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https://www.ilmessaggero.it/en/sardinia_endurance_festival_european_u21_and_world_young_horses_championships-8379805.html?next_page=1

France dominate at the Worlds - in more ways than you first thought

BellaFricker.co.uk - Full Article

Bella Fricker
September 11 2024

Well, well, well, quelle surprise, the French medalled. And not only did they take home team Gold but they also secured the individual Bronze medal in Melody Theolissat 👏

Ahead of the competition, national coach Jean-Michel Grimal admitted he had a tough time selecting his final team of five from the seven rider-horse combinations available. “They’re all good, and the horses are in perfect condition. There’s no reason to favour one combination over another. But only five can compete, so I had to choose. I based my decision on instinct." Well it was a good job he followed his gut!

As anticipated, the French riders executed an absolutely stunning tactical race. While there might have been a home advantage, with most of the team having previously competed at Monpazier, no one could have predicted the torrential rain. And boy, did it rain! We experienced a thunderstorm like no other. It's a mystery how there weren't any serious injuries to horses or riders on that first loop.

But what happened to Spain? Italy? Portugal? even Brazil?...

Read more here:
https://www.bellafricker.co.uk/post/france-dominate-at-the-worlds-in-more-ways-than-you-first-thought

Young British equestrian star gallops to national championships in Spain after regional victory

Surinenglish.com - Full Article

Sixteen-year-old Jazmin Grahm won an 80km endurance event in Andalucía at the weekend and is one of just five riders selected to represent the region

Anthony Piovesan
Malaga
Tuesday, 10 September 2024,

At just 16 years old, British girl Jazmin Grahm has been crowned the Andalusian champion in horse endurance riding.

The equestrian fanatic who resides in Estepona won the 80km ride in Granada on Sunday 8 September and was "all smiles" after her victory.

"She's been training so hard for the past couple of years and her win on Sunday meant so much to her, she couldn't stop smiling," her mother Caroline Grahm told SUR in English.

As a result of her win in the under 21s category on Sunday, Grahm is one of five riders selected to represent Andalucía at the national championships in Ávila, near Madrid...

Read more here:
https://www.surinenglish.com/sport/young-equestrian-star-gallops-national-championships-after-20240910181102-nt.html