Grounds Pass Ticket Sales Set for 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

DATE: March 31, 2010

Offering will Include Free Child’s Ticket; Host of Venue Activities

LEXINGTON, KY - Grounds Pass tickets for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will go on sale Friday, April 16 at 10 a.m.

Grounds Pass tickets will be priced at $25 each, but from April 16 through May 31, as a special promotion, tickets will be available for $20. Each Grounds Pass will allow entry to the 2010 Games venue for the selected date of purchase.

To provide for an affordable, family-friendly event, admission for children 12 years of age and under will be free of charge when accompanied by a paying adult.

A limited quantity of Flex Grounds Pass tickets will be available for $30. The Flex Grounds Pass can be used for entry on any one day of choice, without selecting a specific date of attendance at the time of purchase.

Tickets will be available for purchase through www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets, on www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet and via the Ticketmaster hotline at 1-800-745-3000.

Grounds Pass tickets allow entry to the 2010 Games for the selected day of purchase and will give spectators access to a wide range of activities at the Kentucky Horse Park venue. Activities include shopping at more than 250 Trade Show booths; exciting exhibits and entertainment at the Kentucky Experience tourism pavilion and the Alltech Experience pavilions; and the Kentucky Horse Park’s world-renowned exhibits and museums.

In addition, spectators will be entertained and educated in the Equine Village, which will present more than 40 exhibitors and some of the world's top equine entertainment acts and clinicians, including Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson and the kid-friendly Equimania.

Grounds Pass tickets are available for 13 days during the Games, excluding the competition days of Endurance, Eventing Cross Country and Driving Marathon. Spectators who wish to purchase admission for these competitions should visit www.alltechfeigames.com/tickets.

About the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are the world championships of eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The Games are held every four years and this will be the first occurrence in the United States.

The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. Current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan, and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

Media Contact:
Amy Walker
Public Relations
awalker@feigames2010.org

Princess Haya to run for 2nd term as president of world equestrian body

Winnipegfreepress.com - Full Article

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
31/03/2010

LAUSANNE, Switzerland - Princess Haya of Jordan will stand for a second and final four-year term as president of the International Equestrian Federation.

The 35-year-old princess, who competed in jumping at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said Wednesday she wanted to continue giving something back to her sport.

"It's been an honour to serve our sport and our federation over the last four years. I have loved the job," Princess Haya said in a statement. "We have built a fantastic team that it would be a privilege to continue to work with."

The election is scheduled for November at the federation's annual assembly in Taiwan.

Princess Haya was elected FEI president in 2006, and the next year was voted on to the International Olympic Committee.

Read more here.

Kuwait: The first Arabian long distance horse race begins

Q8nri.com

March 29th, 2010

Kuwait: The first horse race on endurance and capacity begun in Kuwait on Saturday. The race was organized by the Kuwaiti Association for Horses, and took place in the Kebad area. Many of the jockeys participating in the race rode authentic horses, riding for four stages.

The first and second stage was 30 km in length, while the third and fourth stage involved 20 km, including a qualifying and classification stage.

Vice?President of the Association, Ahmad Apul said that the endurance and capacity race is "the first of its kind in Kuwait" and the total is 100 km in length. He clarified that the race began at 5pm at the Heritage Village.

Apul added that a list of important instructions and guidelines were set for those who wished to participate in the race, stressing the need to adhere to these rules.

He said that the Association was honored to organize this race, calling for a promotion of the sport, as Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) urged his followers to teach their children archery, swimming and horse riding.

He said that Kuwait has a good reputation in the field of horse riding in the Gulf and the Arab world. He added that the race involves a large number of jockeys from neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Arab and foreign countries as well.

It is noteworthy to mention that despite the bad weather, a large number of fans witnessed the start of the race. The dusty weather that occurred at 10 in the evening was a significant impediment to the Jockeys as they attempted to reach the end as soon as possible.
Nayef Al-Humaidan

The miracle that is Amigo

www.horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

March 28, 2010
by Neil Clarkson

The owner of endurance horse Amigo has praised the outpouring of support from an ever-growing fanbase as the Arabian continues his remarkable recovery from a shocking injury.

The Tennessee horse now has more than 8000 fans following his recovery on Facebook, and owner Gary Sanderson describes them all as wonderful people.

Amigo's fans have rallied to raise $US20,000 toward Amigo's vet care, including an anonymous donation of $US11,600 from out of state.

Gary has put $US10,000 on a special animal-care credit card, meaning the $US30,000 in veterinary bills so far accrued have been covered.

Amigo has been in the care of the large animal clinic at the Univesity of Tennessee since his January 17 accident, in which he was impaled on a branch in his pasture in Luttrell.

Read more here.

New Zealand: Update for Nationals

March 26 2010

Important last minute update for all.

All things are sorted and being bought together for a brilliant NZ Championship.

Traveling competitors will be pleased to know we have secured the use of the Balmoral Pony Club Grounds at Culverden for off base accommodation for horses and people. Minimum facilities (toilets showers) are supplied with room to yard your horses. (Yarding standards to be observed). Please contact David Marshall to make arrangements (small cost will apply). 03 3243 727, 027 446 5593 or email info@hollyfarmnz.com

Bookings for Prize giving dinner will be available until Friday. Please do not miss out to relax and enjoy prize giving/auction and dinner. Great chance to enjoy catching up after the business of the weekend.

With a huge concerted effort, prizes have been secured to a substantial value (think it has past $20,000). This equates to around a third of our budget.

On Sunday evening an Auction has been organized to sell some specific items. If you wish to donate items for fun or pleasure please contact David. At this time we have a household pump and pressure system and a submersible pump from Norlings, a stallion service from Holly Farm Equestrian Services and other items. This is just a start! off site bids will be accepted, contact Ken McGrath (ken.mcgrath@harcourts.co.nz) or David Marshall (as above).

When you arrive at base: please adhere to site allocations. We have set out sites according to entries and if everyone remains considerate we have room for everyone. Layout and basic principles will be posted on arrival.

We are very happy to do everything we can to make your Championship as successful and enjoyable as we can. Any questions please ask. In the meantime, travel safe and looking forward to huge fun weekend.

Kind regards,

From the Culverden 2010 NZ National Endurance and Trail Riders Championship

For more information, see NZEquestrian.org.nz">NZEquestrian.org.nz

Canada: Declared Riders & Horses for 2010 WEG

March 19, 2010

The Endurance Canada International Committee is pleased to announce the Declared riders and horses for the World Equestrian Games 2010 to be held in Lexington KY September 2010.

The qualification period for final selection continues to July 15, 2010 after which the Squad and Alternate list will be announced.

A current ranking list will be released shortly, and will be based on competition results to March 12, 2010. Thereafter an updated ranking list will be posted monthly based on the results submitted to that time.

The Declared riders and horses in alphabetical order are:

Rider - Horse
Wendy Benns - Supreme Justice
Patricia Dowling - ZF Mocha
Robert Gielen - FC Galaxy
Lee Hutten - Apache Eclipse
Lee Hutten - Phantom
Kathy Irvine - Nightwinds Savanah
Gail Jewell - A Salisbury Rose
Gail Jewell - Diamond Reo
Gail Jewell - Jolly Holiday
Gail Jewell - Apache Eclipse
Gail Jewell - NL Temptation
Elroy Karius - Apache Eclipse
Elroy Karius - NL Temptation
Elroy Karius - A Salisbury Rose
Elroy Karius - Diamond Reo
Elroy Karius - Jolly Holiday
Carol Lewin - Queen's Legacy
Tara MacLeod - Driftwoods Bellanca
Tara MacLeod - Driftwoods Zorro
Tara MacLeod - Cairos Summer Romance
Leanna Marchant - Samsons Fire
Jan Marsh - Morning Line
Terre O'Brennan - Koszaar
Carol Steiner - Jumpin Jax
Ruth Sturley - RBF Super Sport
Yvette Vinton - Teese
Caroline Williams - Perpetual Bliss

More information at Endurancecanada.ca

American Endurance Ride Conference Names Hall of Fame, Pard'Ners Winners

Les Carr
photo by Steve Bradley


USEF Press Release: March 25 2010
Author: By Troy Smith

Dr. Les Carr accepts the equine Hall of Fame trophy for his endurance half-Arabian gelding, Tulip.
Amid the hoopla of its annual convention last month in Reno, NV, the American Endurance Ride Conference’s (AERC) Dave Rabe was inducted into the nonprofit organization’s Hall of Fame, along with Tulip, the ultra-long distance half-Arabian gelding owned by Dr. Les Carr.

Also winning one of endurance’s top prizes, the Pard’ners Award, was Robert Ribley and his endurance horse, Tari.

Hall of Fame Person: Dave Rabe
Dave Rabe, a retired postmaster from Carson City, NV, is currently third on the list of high-mileage riders in the organization’s 38-year history, with 46,512 miles through 2009. Those numbers include 862 ride finishes—200 of them in the top 10, with 55 completions of 100-mile, one-day rides.

“I guess I like to ride more than most of you,” said Rabe to the hundreds of endurance riders assembled at the national awards banquet, held at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno.

Rabe is as well known for his typical riding outfit—a tank top and cut-off jean shorts—as he is for the miles and miles of trails which he marks before most rides. “Dave is the only person I know that will get to a ride early to mark trail for the ride managers, ride the ride, then go around helping people and filling water troughs in camp, then go out and mark more trail for the next day of the ride,” said Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss of Queen Creek, AZ, one of the many people who nominated Rabe for the Hall of Fame award.

An exemplary rider, Rabe is often trusted to ride other people’s horses. As the award presenter, Ride Manager Dave Nicholson, DVM, said, “He’ll ride anything.” Rabe answered back, “I like a horse to buck and run away once in a while.”

“Dave is one of the few people I will trust with one of my own horses,” said rider Karen Chaton of Gardnerville, NV. “I know that Dave will always have the horse’s best interest at heart. He can take horses that nobody else can even stay on and turn them into incredible athletes.”

He is also known for helping out riders along the trail, even risking his own placing to do so. “On the trail during a ride he slows to help any lost, beginning, wayward or worried riders and horses,” said Kevin Waters of Rimrock, AZ.

Hall of Fame Equine: Tulip
The invincible Tulip, Dr. Les Carr’s half-Arabian gelding, finished the 2009 endurance ride season with 21,155 miles. As the first endurance horse to surpass 20,000 miles, the 21-year old equine athlete’s Hall of Fame induction was well deserved.

Since Tulip’s first endurance ride in 1993, he has averaged more than 1,200 miles of sanctioned endurance rides every year, an incredible average considering the minimum length of these rides is 50 miles. More than 25 different riders have contributed to Tulip’s mileage, although Dr. Carr, of Somerset, CA, has taken over exclusively since 2001 (except one ride where Dr. Carr’s wife, Jill, rode Tulip).

“Tulip shows no sign of aging when I see him on the trail and looks like he will go on forever,” said John Parke, who nominated Tulip for the year-end award. “Tulip is amazingly tolerant of quirky people and ponies, and is a true character in his own right. We have ridden so much together that I always relax a little riding next to him out of some inner recognition that I am really out on the endurance trail where I belong.”

Pard’ners Award: Robert Ribley and Tari
A coveted AERC award, the Pard’ners award, named in honor of the late Mae Schlegel and her horse Pard, honors the horse-and-rider team that exemplifies friendship, enthusiasm and sportsmanship. While Tari is now deceased, he and Robert Ribley, a longtime endurance rider from Grass Valley, CA, had a long and storied career together that made them deserving of the award.

Tari, a ¾-Arabian, ¼-Standardbred gelding, started 116 rides with Robert between 1985 and 1994, and finished 116 times, an amazingly difficult feat. Of those, 25 rides were 100-mile, one-day rides.

Tari’s last ride was the 20 Mule Team 100, when Tari was 27 years old. “To get a 27-year-old horse through a tough 100-mile takes teamwork. That’s why Robert and Tari are Pard’ners,” said nominator Mike Tracy of Hollister, CA. “However competitive they were, they always had good sportsmanship. As a rookie myself, back in 1989, I was always asking Robert questions during a ride. Even though we were competing against one another, he never failed to give me good advice.

“Tari was much more than an endurance horse,” said Tracy. “Robert used him for bow and arrow hunting. On one such trip in the mountains they got lost. They kept going around in circles until about midnight. Robert decided to drop the reins, and Tari found their way back to camp.”

The AERC convention focused on a theme of “Preserve Our Trails” which emphasized the importance of trails to distance riding. Along with speakers who spoke on horse health and anatomy subjects were trails specialists Mary Hanson and Rick Potts, representing the National Park Service. “Preserve our trails was a great theme to help bring our trail issues to the forefront," said AERC member Connie Creech, of Carson City, NV. “The talks highlighted the importance of preserving our trails for endurance riding, which we all must appreciate and work with.”

Endurance riders are currently midway through the 2010 ride year, and look forward to the 2010 convention, which will be held next March, again at the Grand Sierra in Reno, NV.

To join AERC, or for more information about endurance riding, please contact the AERC office, located in Auburn, CA, at (866) 271-2372, email aerc@foothill.net, or visit www.aerc.org.