2014 FEI World Equestrian Games Are Awarded to Normandie, France

FEI press Release
Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Today the FEI Bureau awarded the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games to the region of Normandie, France. This will be the seventh edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games and the first one to be held in France. FEI President HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein annonced “The allocation of the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games to the region of Normandie in France is an important development for the future of our sport. The bid committee in cooperation with the French Equestrian Federation have worked for eight years and presented a project of outstanding quality and vision which enjoys the support of the French government and regional authorities, and presents us as a sport with an exceptional platform in the very heart of a region that shares our passion for horses.”

Laurent Beauvais, President of the Regional Council of Basse-Normandie and President of the Organizing Committee Normandie 2014

“Hosting the FEI World Equestrian Games represents an exceptional opportunity for the promotion and development of Normandie on the international level. Normandie is the first region in France for horse breeding and champions. Normandie has a true legitimacy to host the most prestigious equestrian competition. Normandie is proud to take up this challenge. I would like to dedicate this victory to all the local public authorities that were part this bid.”

Christian Leyrit, Prefet of Basse-Normandie representing the French State

“Normandie is taking pride in obtaining the organization of the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014. This bid has received the support of Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic. This success is above all the fruit of a common will as well as the result of the work of all the partners involved and the services of the French state. As a representative of the French state, I would like to reiterate my commitment and guarantee a successful event. The Games will contribute to the fame of Basse-Normandie, horse country par excellence.”

Philippe Duron, Member of the French Parliament and Mayor of Caen, capital of Basse-Normandie

“For Caen, it is a wonderful recognition and opportunity to benefit from a worldwide coverage for two weeks. Caen is the cradle of horse riding. Trotting races first took place there in 1837. It is the proof that “yes we Caen!”

Christian Paillot, Vice-President of the French Equestrian Federation

“The French Equestrian Federation, third national federation with 600,000 members, is proud that France obtained the organization of the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games. Thank you to all of those who have worked for a successful bid and to the FEI for this mark of confidence.”

About the FEI World Equestrian Games

The FEI World Equestrian Games are the combination of the world championships of all eight FEI disciplines - Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, Reining, and Para-Equestrian – held concurrently at the same place. They take place every four years.

No less than 900 horses, 800 riders and drivers from 60 nations and 300 000 spectators are expected to gather for two weeks of competition in August 2014. The FEI World Equestrian Games will be broadcast widely and is expected to generate important economic, tourist and sports benefits.

About Normandie

Normandie is the symbol of the vitality of the French horse industry. It boasts a natural environment favourable to all horse activities, first rank infrastructure, renowned equine research centres, and high level industry related to horses. Many competitions are organised in Normandie each year.

The French State along with local authorities and the French Equestrian Federation aim at integrating the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games into a global strategy of local development. This strategy includes supporting high level athletes, popularizing horse sports and promoting the horse industry.

Spain: Race across Andalucia, Tierras de Al-Andalus

Full Event Coverage site

Riders from around the world gathered in Jerez, Spain on March 26 for the start of Europe's premier multi-day Endurance event: Tierras de Al-Andalus - an eight day race across the south of Spain.


Almost 70 riders and horses will be competing in this event as either individual riders or members of a 2-person team. The race will be conducted in 8 stages:
Jerez to San Lucar
San Lucar to El Rocio
El Rocio to Sevilla
Sevilla to Carmona
Carmona to Ecija
Ecija to Cordoba
Cordoba - Montoro
Montoro - Virgen de la Cabeza (Andujar)

Each day is staged so that the riders are greeted and wined and dined at the end of the ride by local officials and sponsors from each of the Andalucian towns. The ride is the 'child' of Jose Manuel Soto, one of Spain's revered singers, who has a passion for horses and for adventure and a love of his homeland, Andalucia.

Merri Melde is following the ride this year and sending photos of each day's ride. So far three days have been completed.

Results and photos and coverage can be found at the Tierras de Al Andalus coverage site

Blackwater Boogie Canceled!

Heavy rain and damage cancels Blackwater Boogie (SE-FL)
The Blackwater River State Forest sustained heavy damaged from flooding. Forestry has closed all campgrounds in the Forest and the horse trail system until Easter. Therefore, the April 4th Blackwater Boogie Endurance Ride in Milton, FL has been cancelled. We are working on finding a new date in the next several weeks. We're working on personally contacting riders and volunteers.

Christina Schiro
Ride Manager

---

2007 Results
2007 Pictures
2006 Pictures

USA: Rain hammers Roundup Ride at Chester, Georgia

News from Chester, Georgia:

"The ride started in the dark, but it was not raining. Within minutes of the start, the rain also started. We were hoping for just a light rain, but as the pictures show, the rain began coming down harder than I thought possible. Then the lightning started, and for a brief while, pea sized hail, too. The rain continued fairly steady, and frequently very heavy, throughout the day. We constantly were changing the trail going around new bogs, new streams, and then where the trail simply got too deep due to water and use. Finally, we had to call the
100-mile ride off at 88 miles due to deterioration of the trails. There
just were no other places to send the horses that was safe. The road in was being used by the tractor towing rigs out; the fields were knee-deep in mud; the trails had been ridden over too many times to even be passable. Moreover, too many horses were simply falling down on trail. We have notcompiled the stats for all the divisions, but despite only one metabolic
pull (thumps), the completion rate is very low."

Mike Tomlinson
photos by M. Tomlinson

UAE: Storm halts endurance ride

A violent thunderstorm brought wind and hail to the Dubai Endurance City during the Dubai Crown Prince Cup. The violent storm scattered over 40 frightened horses across the desert, some were recovered over 20 kilometers from the Endurance City. A blanket of hail covered the land.
photos submitted by K. Hasan

From the Telegraph.co.uk:
"On Thursday, one of the week’s landmark events, the endurance race in the desert, was called off not long after it started. A total of 40 horses went missing, helicopters were called in to round them up, and several riders suffered injury. So ferocious was the storm that car windows were smashed by hail, which lashed the area in the morning. At least one rider was taken to hospital. "

Gulfnews.com
Runs halted as weather turns foul
March 26, 2009, 22:57

Dubai: The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup FEI CEI 2-Star 120km endurance and the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum Challenge, a CEN 102km endurance ride were cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions at the Dubai International Endurance Village on Thursday.

The two rides got under way as scheduled at 6am, but had to be called off due to heavy rain and hail.

Participants in the main ride had completed the first loop, while the smaller ride competitors were about to commence their race when the skies opened up.

The Dubai Crown Prince Endurance Cup FEI CEI 2-Star 120km endurance ride that was scheduled to be an inter-stables competition with each of the 20-odd major stables in the UAE, allowed a field of a maximum of four riders or a minimum of three. The Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Al Maktoum Challenge, a CEN 102km endurance ride, was restricted to private stables and individuals so as to give them a better platform to qualify for the bigger events.

Great Britain: An enduring partnership

SouthernReporter
26 March 2009
By Sally Gillespie
Nicky Bertham with her ‘soulmate’, Maverick. Photograph: Alastair Watson

LOCAL endurance riders are saddling up for the first outing of the season this weekend.
The rides at Harestanes cater for beginners or those starting off their horses with a pleasure ride, as well as 16-mile and a 25-mile routes.

Nicky Bertham is secretary of the Borders branch of the Scottish Endurance Riding Club.

She told TheSouthern: "Anyone can do endurance. As long as the horse is fit and sound, then anyone can try it. It is a wonderfully friendly sport, which builds a bond between you and the horse. You're able to ride in the countryside and see some breathtaking views."

There are seven dates in the club's diary this season, including a two-day event at Longnewton in June and some new rides.

The club boasts around 35 members ageing from 12 to 70 – and the 70-year-old completed a 120km (75 miles) ride last year!

Nicky said: "I like endurance because I love riding my horse. It gives me the chance of doing a competitive sport which does not cost as much as eventing.

"You don't need a specific type of horse to do endurance.

"I enjoy the friends you make from all over the country and the chance to travel and help at rides, learning from others, and being able to host an event and offer other riders so much enjoyment."

Pleasure or training rides are up to 30km and distances go up to 160km in one day.

On the day, riders are given a map with the route marked on it. There's also a 'talkround' when organisers talk riders round the route.

Vets check the horse's condition before and after the rides.

There is a grading system in operation for the competitive riders from bronze (two 30km and one 50km rides) to Diamond (completing 160 km in one day).

[More ...]

Finishing the VV March Maddness

The Leaders of the 2008 VV March Maddness have all passed the 400 mile mark! Below you will find the loop names of the trails they have been riding. In the Spring of Virginia, the late Winter of Wyoming, and dead of summer Austrailia, the Race continues until March 31st!

Flora Hillman 525.52 Miles Loop Names Willisville & Erskine's Woods Loop Foxlease Loop A Bloomfield Loop A Willsville & Cannon Hill Loop Kentfields Loop Cannon Hill & Old Welbourne Loop Upperville Loop Willisville & Cannon Hill (loose cow herd roundup) Newstead Farm & Meadow View Unison Loop & Lost Easyboot Trail Willisville & Cannon Hill Team Virginia ride Foxlease Farm Welbourne & Pelham Bloomfield & Meadow View Loop Mountain Clearing & Bloomfield Loop Foxlease & Cannon Hill Loop Neighborhood WalkAbout Piedmont Foxhounds Kennels Loop Cannon Hill & Old Welbourne Loop Welbourne Loop Kentfields Loop Gar Royer's Farm & Foxlease Ides of March Ride Ides of March Ride II (R)Ides of March - revisited Corotoman Loop Old Welbourne & Willisville Unison/Bloomfield Loop To Llangollen and back Kentfields Loop Willisville Road Cleanup Kentfields Loop Corotoman Loop Foxlease Loop Road clean-up II Bloomfield & Kentfields Mountain trail clearing Team Virginia Ride to the River Willisville & Bloomfield Willisville & Bloomfield - II Mosby Heritage Multiday - Day 1 Mosby Heritage Multiday - Day 2

Marirose Six 464.76 Miles Loop Names shed hunting Denny's mission ride State land to salt creek Exploring Playing north K I S Rough country We're off to see the wizard Good-bad-ugly More K I S Can't resist Chilly The draws Peat & repeat The meadows The roads Around about Nooks & Crannys Up & down Memory test Extra miles Almost Fanny Peak Elk country Here & there Fanny Peak & beyond Cappses Bringing Burt Gary state land windy day south & north hiding from wind

Jay Randel 456.44 Miles Loop Names Camel's Hump Goat Track Camel's Hump Winery Track Camel's Hump Erica's Track Winery Track Ted's Gate Ted's Gate Ted's Gate Camel's Hump Ted's Gate Polo Club Camel's Hump Winery Track Ted's Gate Polo Club Winery Track Ted's Gate Winery Track Polo Club Goat Track Polo Club Polo Club Winery Track Polo Club Goat Track Power Lines Goat Track Polo Club Ted's Gate Goat Track Tom's Track Tom's Track Tom's Track Tom's Track Goat Track Polo Club Ted's Gate Polo Club Camel's Hump Polo Club Ted's Gate Ted's Gate Winery Track Polo club Goat Track

[More ...]