UAE: Women race ahead in endurance test

Cnn.com - Full Article

By Paul Gittings, CNN
updated 8:27 AM EST, Thu January 31, 2013

(CNN) -- Purebred Arabian stallions dominate the world of endurance horse events, but it is increasingly likely that the rider guiding them to glory will be a young woman.

The United Arab Emirates is the hotbed of equestrian's fastest growing discipline, and new entrants to the top level of the sport such as 18-year-old Fatima Al-Marri are already upsetting the established order.

"We love to challenge the men," she told CNN's Winning Post, while fellow competitor Mariam Mothana has another take.

"The best thing is when you see the look on their faces when they pass the finish line," Mothana said.

"It's nice to see that they understand that the women here can challenge the men -- they can be as strong as men."

Some 40% of registered endurance riders are now women, and the bar has certainly been set high for the likes of Fatima and Mariam.

Back in 2010, Spanish rider Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton won her second world title just seven weeks after giving birth to her first child...

read more here:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/31/sport/women-endurance-horse-racing/

Bahrain International Endurance Race 2012: A success story narrated in the media worldwide

BNA.bh

30/01/2013

Manama: Jan. 30 – (BNA) The success story of the Bahrain International Endurance Military Championship still echoes in the media all over the world who praised the Kingdom of Bahrain's excellent organizing of the first such championship hosted in the Kingdom.

The widely-circulated and leading German daily newspaper (Dilingen Extra) allocated considerable space for its coverage of the championship hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain last December 2012 under the kind patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

A large number of prominent personalities and world-class chevaliers participated from all over the world including the UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Leader of the Kingdom of Bahrain's Royal Team His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Royal Equestrians and Endurance Federation cum Commander of Al-Khalidiya Stables HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa participated in the 5-lap, 120-kilometer endurance race whose events the prestigious German newspaper has covered and interviewed a number of participants who gave their impressions on the optimum atmospheres provided by the Kingdom of Bahrain for the highly-competitive international horse-race. (IY)

Australia: Endurance ride spurs passion for endurance

Warwickdailynews.com.au - Full Article

30th Jan 2013 7:00 AM

WHAT started out as a business deal 22 years ago, turned into a lifelong passion for accomplished endurance rider Dick Collyer.

Dick, who operates his Arab stud from his 688 hectare property Totara at Leyburn, with partner Jill Crowley has been breeding arabs for 40 years.

I saw all these exhausted people come in to check points on their horses and then take off again and I admired them so much. There was real buzz about taking off at midnight.
However, it wasn't until he sold one of his "good horses" to a bloke he thought was a "good rider", that his love of the sport was born.

"It was 1991 and a bloke I knew wanted to win the 1994 Tom Quilty Endurance Ride, as he had already come second twice in what is regarded as the pinnacle of the sport," Dick said.

"However, the horse and the bloke didn't suit each other, so I took the horse back and decided I would take up endurance riding myself," he said.

"I set my sights on the 1994 Tom Quilty, as it takes about three years to train a horse to compete in a 160km ride..."

Read more here:
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/news/addicted-to-endurance-tough-rides/1734150/

India: Manipur endurance riders feted

E-pao.net

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 28 2013: State riders who have won many medals in the National Junion Endurance Championships 2013 held at Dibrugarh, Assam were felicitated in a function held at the Manipur Pony Breeding Farm, Lamphelpat, Imphal.

President of Manipur Equestrian (MEA) Championships, Dr S Joykumar, Vice President of MEA Ningthoukhongjam Bedajit and President of Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association, S Budhachandra graced the felicitation function as presidium members.

The Manipur team won two silver and one bronze medals in the championships.

In Individual event, L Atangba of Chingkheihunba Polo Club won a silver medal while E Robin of the club won a bronze medal.

In team event, L Atangba, E Robin, S Bronson and Chand won silver medal.

Other riders who represented Manipur in the championships were Prakash Bhandari of Imphal Riding Club, Chand and Saratkanta of Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club, John of Imphal Riding Club and Th Kaoba of Chingkheihunba Polo Club.

T Pradipkumar and S Bimol were the Coach and Manager of the state team. Manipur Equestrian Association awarded a cash incentive of Rs 1000 each to the riders and Rs 1,500 each.

Spain: Ignasi Casas Confirmed as Chef d'Equipe

El Raid Blog - Gabriel Gamiz

In yesterday January 28, 2013, the Spanish Equestrian Federation designation adopted several agreements on technical structures of the FEI. and composition of the various Technical Equipment equestrian discipline.
In regards to our discipline The Raid, confirmed to D. Ignasi Casas as Director of the discipline. It specifies the crew, when we have this information we will post it.

This is the note from the Spanish:

Peter King and Luis Lucio, directors and Dressage CCE
Posted: 29 Jan 2013 12:31 AM PST

The FEI has appointed Peter King and Luis Lucio as directors of Eventing and Dressage, respectively. He has decided the locations of several championships in Spain and Spanish Cups.

The Board of Directors of the Spanish Equestrian Federation adopted several agreements on Monday January 28, among which were the designations relating to the technical structure of the FEI. Thus, in regard to the composition of different technical equipment, confirmed the following designations:
Jumping

Director: D. Marco Fuste
Attached to the address: D. Mike Florence


Dressage

Director: Luis Lucio


Eventing

Director: Peter King


RAID

Director: Ignasi Casas


"All of them," the FEI said in a statement, "will be assisted by respective Technical Committees of Selection to be composed of representatives of different sectors integrated in each of the disciplines."

Read more here:
http://ggjineteraid.blogspot.com/2013/01/confirmacion-de-ignasi-casas-como.html

Arabian Horse Int'l Issue 4

Arabianhorse.com.br

Issue 4, January 2013, of Arabian Horse Int'l is now online

It features the first World Military Endurance Championship in Bahrain, the first Arabian Horse Championship in Oman, and the Dona Carolina Festival in Brazil.

http://www.arabianhorse.com.br/magazine/digital_magazine_jan_2013/

Endurance clinic & FEI race in Namibia with Virginie Atger

Caval & Go has organized an Endurance clinic & FEI race in Namibia with Virginie Atger (3rd in the World classificationFrance champion in 2011, European champion in teams in 2011).

16 to 25 June 2013

10 days / 9 nights (incl. 2overnight flights) with:
3/4 days endurance training/clinic with safari on horseback
Endurance race FEI 1* & 2* or NERA (Namibian Endurance Ride Association) on 22/06/2013

A unique experience combining a horseback safari observing African wildlife with a training course or an introduction to endurance riding on superb thoroughbred Arab horses.

Details: 
http://www.cavalandgo.com/media/documents/cavalandgo_endurance_clinic_fei_race_namibia_16-25_june_2013_virginie_atger.pdf

And : 
http://www.cavalandgo.com/products/86/horseback-safari-endurance-namibia

Benefits from the training/clinic:

• The International FEI race (1* and 2*) on 22/06/2013
• The Endurance clinic coached by Virginie Atger, trainer in various countries: France, Emirates, Brazil…
• The combination of a horseback safari an endurance race
• The high quality horses, trained for endurance riding
• High quality, light weight and comfortable saddles
• The reserve’s wide range of animals: giraffes, antilopes, lions, rhinos, oryx, zebras, crocodiles, birds, baboons, lynx…
• The charming and comfortable lodge

Caval&go – Unique Horseback rides
Tel. +33 (0)9 80 32 90 42 /
Email. contact@cavalandgo.com

www.cavalandgo.com

Caval&go was created by Phoebé, Virginie and Aurélie, who each share a passion for horses and travelling.

These three curious and adventurous young women regularly set off for trail rides in France and further afield. With an interest in developing tourism that benefits the local population, they have formed a bond with local guides, farmers and horse owners on each of their trips, who share with them their culture, their love for their religion and, of course, their love of horses.

With this experience of travelling and meeting locals, they created their travel agency specialising in equestrian tourism, organising trail rides and personalised horse riding holidays, in 2009. With a specialised knowledge of each destination and a close relationship with each travel partner, they create original holidays allowing each person to discover the world on horseback.Having ridden since they were children, they have each developed different areas of equestrian expertise over the years and will be able to advise you according to your level of ability, your desires and your budget, in order to find the most suitable trip for you.