UAE: More than 100 riders confirmed for endurance races

Gulfnews.com - Full Article

Attractive prize money and a car up for grabs at Al Wathba

By N.D. Prashant, Staff Reporter
Published: February 27, 2014

Abu Dhabi: More than 100 riders have confirmed their participation for the Shaikha Fatma Bint Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ladies Endurance Cup and the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Endurance Cup for private owners to be held on Friday and Saturday respectively at the Emirates International Endurance Village, Al Wathba.

On both days, total prize money of Dh500,000 and a car is up for grabs...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/more-than-100-riders-confirmed-for-endurance-races-1.1296808

UAE: setting the pace with endurance horse racer Mahra Al Shamsi

Thenational.ae - Full Article

Anna Zacharias
February 27, 2014

After hours of racing through the desert, Mahra Al Shamsi recites the Quran to her horse to give it strength. Al Shamsi, an endurance horse racer from Ras Al Khaimah, will go to any length for her horse.

She competes for Seeh Al Salam stables in 80km, 100km and 120km events, a test of perseverance, strength and strategy for both horse and rider that may last five or six hours.

“I talk to my horse, I sing to my horse, and I recite the Quran to my horse during the race,” she says. “Sometimes when somebody passes by me, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, what did you say’?”

“I say, ‘No, I’m talking to my horse’. If you don’t connect with the horse, that horse is going to bound off or throw you off.”

Endurance horse racing has grown in popularity with young women since Al Shamsi, 27, took up the sport five years ago.

Training requires a minimum of two or three hours a day, four days a week. “Every season I do seven races, sometimes more,” she says...

Read more here:
http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/my-uae-setting-the-pace-with-endurance-horse-racer-mahra-al-shamsi#ixzz2ucxM1swR

Great Britain: Racing authorities "lack conviction" on drugs

Youtube.com

David Walsh on C4's Morning Line

Published on Feb 22, 2014

David Walsh, the award-winning journalist from the Sunday Times who uncovered much of the Lance Armstrong saga, says "it's a big worry when officials outside of racing unearth a drugs problem." He says the Mahmood Al Zarooni case and the ongoing Philip Fenton issue reveal that "Authorities are ambivalent... I don't sense true conviction..."

See the video interview here:
[embedded]


or link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auB4raU0uvU&feature=em-share_video_user

Australia: Wagin riders put to the test

Waginargus.com.au - Full Story

By JAMES TAYLOR Feb. 26, 2014

LOCAL endurance riders have begun preparing following a decision to host famous Tom Quilty Gold Cup in Wagin later this year.

Announced last year, the premier horse ride will see riders flock to Wagin from around the world to take part in the event on October 3, 4 and 5.

Described by longtime Wagin endurance rider Anita Lunt as "the pinnacle of equine endurance", the event tests the mental and physical strength of horse and rider, requiring competitors to travel a distance of 160km within 24 hours.

Riders leave Friday night, pushing to complete the gruelling course before midnight on Saturday...

Read more here:
http://www.waginargus.com.au/story/2112865/wagin-riders-put-to-the-test/?cs=1665

Meydan Group to Sponsor 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

Horse-canada.com - Full Article

HORSE SPORT FEBRUARY 26, 2014
BY: HORSE-CANADA.COM

The Meydan Group has signed on to sponsor the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, which will be held August 23- September 7 in Normandy, France.

Malih Lahej Al Basti, vice-chairman of Meydan Group, said statement: “We are pleased to demonstrate [our passion for equestrian sports] through our role as an official sponsor of the Games. This is a prestigious competition that is truly international in its reach. The event provides Meydan with an excellent means to communicate our role in equine sports and highlights our exciting commercial ventures here in Dubai...”

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/horse-news/meydan-group-to-sponsor-2014-alltech-fei-world-equestrian-games/

Changes in saddle at Godolphin to ensure Dubai operation’s firm hold

Thenational.ae - Full Article

Geoffrey Riddle
February 25, 2014

A Godolphin restructure was inevitable. From a small, elite band of equine talent when it started in 1992 under the guidance of Simon Crisford and Saeed bin Suroor, the international stable has mushroomed into an enterprise that spans the world.

The equine empire of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, goes beyond the Royal Blue silks of Godolphin, which have raced in more than 16 countries.

The huge Darley Australia operation and a blossoming presence in Japan is a growing aspect to Sheikh Mohammed’s global outlook.

The racing and breeding operation is without comparison and has moved to address the shortcomings exposed by last year’s Mahmoud Al Zarooni doping scandal...

Read more here:
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/changes-in-saddle-at-godolphin-to-ensure-dubai-operations-firm-hold

New Zealand Neurologic EHV-1: Seven Horses Euthanized

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Erica Larson, News Editor
Feb 10, 2014

New Zealand's first reported neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) outbreak has claimed several equine victims on the one affected property. As of Feb. 2, 13 horses on the property had been affected by neurologic EHV-1, Andre van Halderen, principal adviser for the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), told The Horse via e-mail received Feb. 7.

"Of the 13 horses, seven have been euthanized," he said. "The other affected horses are receiving supportive care..."

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33373/new-zealand-neurologic-ehv-1-seven-horses-euthanized?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=breeding&utm_campaign=02-16-2014