UAE: MRM Stables dominant in Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup

www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2026CrownPrinceofDubaiEnduranceFestival

April 1 2026

MRM Stables lifted the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup at Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Al Salam on Wednesday after Abdulla Abdulrahman Al Bastaki sealed the fate of the showpiece event of the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival just past the half-way stage of the competition.

Riding Bullio Charles, Al Bastaki turned up the heat during the third and penultimate phase of the 120 km ride and took over the summit, thereafter doing just enough to ensure a simple but commanding 29 second victory.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup brought the curtains down on the annual Festival of endurance riding held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.

Al Bastaki began the day placed 23rd, but knew there was no reason to fret even though Fatma Jassem Al Marri, winner of the Private Stables Competition the day before, seized the initiative at the end of the first phase spanning 40 km when riding the Al Bawadi Stables-owned Dja De Beders.

Al Marri failed to hold on to the lead during the course of the second loop over 35 kms and dropped one spot leaving Mohammed Rashed Mugheer on M7 Endurance Stables’ Zeus FF in command.

Al Bastaki had moved up to 15th during the second loop and decided to push hard during the third phase over 25 km, a manoeuvre that yielded fruit immediately with the MRM Stables rider finding himself in command of the competition.

Maintaining the lead was going to be tricky, but both Al Bastaki and Bullio Charles were up to it and ensured nothing came in between them and a well-deserved success as they finished with 29 seconds to spare having scripted a time of four hours 23 minutes and 28 seconds (4:23:28).

Finishing second with a time of 4:23:57 was F3 Stables’ French lady rider Lea Vandekerckhove on A’Bandom’s Moonshadow, even as the UAE’s Mohamed Adel Al Hosani took third for Al Reef Ajban II Stables aboard SC Bonito with 4:24:16 on the clock.

Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Equestrian Club, Ahmed Rashid Al Kaabi, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club, and Ahmad Saeed Al Falasi, Director of Joint Ventures and Strategic Relations, were present at the trophy presentation ceremony.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival comprised four rides and began on 23 March with the 120 km Ladies Ride won by ABH Stables’ Sara Hasan Ahmed on Wayward. The festival resumed after a bout of inclement weather with the Al Yamamah Cup for Mares on 30 March, an event won narrowly by M7 Endurance Stables after Hamdan Ahmad Al Mansoori’s success in the saddle aboard SW Jashfiya AA 50. The third event on the Festival’s schedule was the Private Stables Ride held on 31 March, where riding with absolute consistency Fatma Jassem Al Marri claimed a facile victory for SM Private Stables on the back of Celebryta.

Great Britain: Jo Chisholm Appointed England Chef d’Equipe Ahead of 2026 Home International

March 31 2026

Endurance GB has announced the appointment of Jo Chisholm as Chef d’Equipe for the England Squad ahead of the 2026 Home International, which will take place in Scotland on 5–6th September.

With a lifelong involvement in endurance riding spanning more than four decades, Chisholm brings extensive competitive and team experience to the role. Having started in the sport in 1989, she has amassed over 17,000km of competition mileage and completed eight 160km rides, alongside representing England as a rider at Home International level.

“I am very honoured to be appointed HI Chef,” said Chisholm. “This gives me another opportunity to give more back to the sport I love using all my experiences, and I hope to do my country and team proud.”

Chisholm is perhaps best known for her long-standing partnership with Grey Medlar, with whom she achieved multiple top results, including success at the Golden Horseshoe Ride and a BERA National Championship title in 2002.

Reflecting on her experience at the highest levels of the sport, she added: “Endurance riding involves the combination of athleticism and the ability to manage your pace over varying terrain and distances, whilst keeping your horse’s welfare as your top priority.”

In addition to her competitive career, Chisholm has previously held team management roles, including working with Young Riders and supporting squad leadership. Her appointment as Chef d’Equipe marks a return to a key leadership position within the England set-up.

“I wanted to make sure I could give 100% to the role,” she explained. “I’m looking forward to working with members of the England Squad—both familiar faces and new combinations—and supporting them to achieve their goals.”

The Home International is an annual fixture in the endurance calendar, bringing together teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Combining competition with a strong sense of camaraderie, it is widely recognised as a key development opportunity for riders progressing through the sport.

Chisholm believes the event plays an important role in building both performance and team culture.

“Team spirit is very important in endurance,” she said. “When the going gets tough, the team will rally behind a rider and provide the motivation needed to finish. That sense of support is invaluable.”

Looking ahead to the 2026 event, Chisholm’s focus is on creating a cohesive and supportive team environment.

“My priority is to get the best out of all our team members and to support each other with a real feeling of cooperation and encouragement,” she said. “A successful Home International is one where every rider achieves their aims to the best of their ability, alongside their horse.”

She also highlighted the accessibility of the Home International format, which enables riders at a range of levels to represent their country.

“Even our Elite riders started somewhere,” she said. “The Home International allows riders to experience being part of a squad and take that next step in their endurance journey.”

Chisholm’s appointment comes as Endurance GB continues to strengthen its pathway for riders, with the Home International serving as a stepping stone towards future international competition.

Encouraging riders to put themselves forward for selection, she added: “Go for it—you will receive support from the squad management to help you take that next step.”

Great Britain: ‘Unlikely’ Cob Secures Runner-Up Spot in Competitive Finish at Haywood Oaks

March 29 2026

An eye-catching performance from an unconventional partnership saw Jennifer Gaimster and her 14.1hh piebald cob, Striker, take second place in the 80km CER at the Haywood Oaks Endurance Ride on 28th March 2026.

Representing the West Riding Group of Endurance GB, the pair completed the course in 6 hours at an average speed of 13.3kph, delivering a confident and competitive ride capped off with a thrilling racing finish.

Striker, a 2014-born gelding with no recorded breeding, is not the typical profile of a high-level endurance horse – making the result all the more notable. The partnership only began their endurance career together in 2023 but have shown consistent progression through the ranks.

During the 2025 season, they recorded a third place at Avon Valley (62km CER), a fourth at Cirencester (80km CER at the Inter-Regional Championships), and an 11th place finish at the Red Dragon Festival of Endurance (80km CER). At Haywood Oaks, they stepped up again to secure their highest placing to date.

“Haywood Oaks was our first ‘race ride’ of the season and what a day it turned out to be,” said Jennifer. “Striker was calm and focused from the start, and we found a great rhythm early on.”

The pair rode in company with Iola Chapman, eventual winner, for the duration of the course, maintaining a steady pace across varied conditions, including sunshine, strong winds and hail. As the finish line came into sight, the competitive nature of the class came to the fore.

“We’d ridden together for the whole 80km, but when we turned for home, it was time to race. It was our first racing finish – I asked him to go, and he did. To feel that energy still there after 80km was incredible.”

As always in endurance, the result hinged on the final veterinary inspection. Having vetted out at the same venue the previous year, Jennifer admitted to feeling the pressure.

“There were definitely some nerves going into the final trot-up. But this is what the sport is about – the vets are there to ensure the horse’s welfare comes first.”

Striker passed with a heart rate of 50bpm and was awarded an ‘A’ for action, confirming an excellent recovery and securing their second-place finish.

“The relief was huge. I burst into tears – he’d done everything I could have asked of him.” Jennifer was quick to acknowledge the support behind the scenes, including organisers, volunteers and her crew, highlighting the collective effort that underpins success in the sport.

With a strong start to the 2026 season, this partnership continues to demonstrate that performance in endurance is not defined by breeding alone, but by careful training, horsemanship, and the strength of the horse-and-rider partnership.

UAE: Private Stables Ride

www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2026CrownPrinceofDubaiEnduranceFestival

March 31 2026

Consistency key to a stunning win for Al Marri and SM Private Stables

Consistency in sport is pivotal and Fatma Jassem Al Marri turned up a shining example of it when ensuring a facile victory for SM Private Stables in the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival’s Private Stables competition.

The 120 km event witnessed Al Marri make consistent leaps up the leaderboard on the back of Celebryta to bring herself to within striking distance, and then crank up the heat aboard her 12-year-old to win rather comfortably ahead of the rest of her rivals.

Al Marri and Celebryta completed the four-loop ride in four hours 14 minutes and 50 seconds (4:14:50), recording an average speed of 28.25 kph over the 120 km distance.

Finishing second, 32 seconds in arrears, were Ebraheim Ali Sabeel and Farzibus Cabirat, representing MAB Stables, who were timed at 4:15:22, while a distant third were SS Private Stables pair of Suhail Ali Al Ghailani and SW Kulmaalif, who were clocked at 4:19:12.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival is held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.

The ride began with Abdulla Abdulaziz Al Tawash and Full Options Niellans (SS Endurance Stables) seizing the initiative at the end of the first loop spanning 40 kms, with Al Marri and her mount placed 16th. The latter began her ascent during the second loop spanning 35 kms, and climbed up five spots to reach 11th even as Al Tawash ceded the advantage to his SS Endurance Stables teammate Saif Juma Al Beljafla, who rode JM Jadjmili.

Al Marri made further progress during the third loop running over 25 kms and yanked herself up five spots to reach sixth going into the final loop. At the same time, Beljafla held on to his spot at the top of the summit. Going into the final loop over 20 kms, Al Marri was 5 min 37 sec behind leader Beljafla and knew she had to go full throttle to have a chance of winning.

And Al Marri pushed hard during the course of the final phase, revving her mount and sending Celebryta flying at a pace that was nearly 8 kph quicker than the previous loop.

The end result was simply stunning as Al Marri and Celebryta ran home victorious with 32 seconds separating them from their second placed Emirati compatriots Ebraheim.

Ahmed Rashid Al Kaabi, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club, presented the winners with their trophies.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival comprises four rides and began on 23 March with the 120 km Ladies Ride won by ABH Stables’ Sara Hasan Ahmed on Wayward. The festival resumed after a bout of inclement weather with the Al Yamamah Cup for Mares on 30 March, an event won narrowly by M7 Endurance Stables after Hamdan Ahmad Al Mansoori’s success in the saddle aboard SW Jashfiya AA 50.

The Festival continues with the 120 km Private Stables Ride tomorrow followed by the main event, the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup on Wednesday, 1 April.

UAE: Yamamah Cup for Mares

www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2026CrownPrinceofDubaiEnduranceFestival

March 30 2026

Al Mansoori and SW Jashfiya AA 50 hold their nerve to win Al Yamamah Cup

The 2026 Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival resumed at Dubai International Endurance City in Seeh Al Salam on Monday with M7 Endurance Stables recording a narrow victory in the Al Yamamah Cup for Mares courtesy of a textbook perfect ride by Hamdan Ahmad Al Mansoori aboard SW Jashfiya AA 50.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival is held in honour of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.

Al Mansoori and his 10-year-old mount went through the motions with absolute calm to claim one of the biggest prizes of their career after completing the ride in four hours 18 minutes and 18 seconds (4:18:18), having posted an average speed of 27.87 kph. The pair were fifth going into the fourth and final loop of the 120 km ride - the farthest they had dropped from the lead - but having calculated precisely when to strike, Al Mansoori and his mount launched a perfectly timed fight to overhaul their rivals and win by three seconds. Finishing second were F3 Stables pair of Rashed Mohamed Al Mehairi and Beduina Christiana, who were timed at 4:18:21.

Rounding off the podium was another pair from M7 Endurance Stables - Fares Ahmad Al Mansoori and his partner SW Jorka, who were a further second behind at 4:18:22. Hamdan and his mount SW Jashfiya AA 50 began the day posting the second best time during the first loop over 40 kms and were three seconds behind Alazem Stables pair of Hamad Mohammed Al Shamsi and Beduina Caroline. And while Al Shamsi and his partner managed to hold on to the lead over the second loop spanning 35 kms, Hamdan and SW Jashfiya AA 50 dropped two spots as they planned forward with tactics that would serve them well during the second half of the race.

The third loop over 25 kms witnessed a change of guard at the summit with Hamdan’s teammates Saif Juma Beljafla and Explosive De Venelles unseating Al Shamsi and Beduina Caroline.

Hamdan had dropped a further spot during the third loop and was placed fifth going into the final loop spanning 20 kms. He was staring at a 40 second deficit, but he knew SW Jashfiya AA 50 had plenty of fuel left and was not going to be the one running on fumes during the sprint phase of the event.

And so it was that after Hamdan asked for an effort, his mount obliged with a kick that eventually took the pair three seconds clear of the rest and to a nervous but well- deserved victory.

Al Mehairi did well to finish second. Having started the day in 12th, he moved up to 10th and then eighth before working harder to settle for silver. It was a rather up and down affair for third placed Al Mansoori, who began the day at fourth, climbed up to third and then dropped six places to ninth before returning to take third on the podium. Ahmed Rashid Al Kaabi, General Manager of Dubai Equestrian Club, presented the winners with their trophies.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Festival comprises four rides and began on 23 March with the 120 km Ladies Ride won by ABH Stables’ Sara Hasan Ahmed on Wayward.

The Festival continues with the 120 km Private Stables Ride tomorrow followed by the main event, the Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup on Wednesday, 1 April.

Wales: Man versus Horse Race in Llanwrtyd Wells secures sponsor

CountyTimes.co.uk - Full Article

23 March 2026
By Josh Price

One of Wales’ quirkiest endurance events has secured a new headline sponsor for its 45th year.

Cambrian Training Company and its sister business Trailhead Fine Foods, a leading Welsh work-based learning provider and snack manufacturer, will back the iconic Man versus Horse Race in Llanwrtyd Wells for its 45th running on Saturday, June 13.

The 22-mile race will see runners and horse riders compete across tarmac roads, farm and forestry tracks, open moorland, bridleways, and rivers, climbing up to 4,000ft.

This year introduces a brand new course and GPS tracking...

Read more here:
https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/25960218.man-versus-horse-race-llanwrtyd-wells-secures-sponsor/

‘A bond like no other’: farewell to horse Dilmun who represented Britain and completed extraordinary feats

HorseAndHound.co.uk - Full Article

Eleanor Jones
22 March, 2026 17:52

The owner and rider of a horse who twice represented Britain and completed extraordinary feats of endurance has paid tribute to his character and their bond after his death aged 27.

Annie Joppe’s Arab Dilmun, with whom she contested the 2009 European Championships and 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG), had spent a happy retirement with Annie, being pampered, loved and bossing the yard until the end.

“He was a star,” Annie told H&H.

But Annie nearly did not buy Dilmun at all; she said she first saw him advertised as a five-year-old, thought he looked good and went to see him.

“I went to try him, agreed to buy him and had the most terrible journey,” she said. “He wouldn’t load, it was awful, so he went back as I’d only had him on trial.

“Then, a year later, a friend of mine said ‘I’ve got this horse for sale’ and it turned out to be him. It was quite freaky really; I didn’t know she’d bought him.”

Annie said natural horsemanship techniques helped Dilmun learn to load happily, and “after that, he was brilliant”...

Read more here:
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/endurance/farewell-dilmun-annie-joppe-918978