Great Britain: International horse event held at Yetholm

Thesouthernreporter.co.uk - Full Article

The Haugh at Yetholm was abuzz recently as endurance riding’s home international saw competitors from all over the UK descend on the Borders.

Around 150 horses competed in various rides, including the two-day 160km, two-day 120km, 80km race ride, 60km race ride, 50km, 40km and 30km rides, and shorter pleasure rides.

The discipline sees the competitors complete the distances, having passed through ‘vet gates’ where horses’ heart rates and soundness are checked, before they are allowed to continue.

Scotland came second in the Celtic Challenge to Wales, third in the Home International behind England and Wales and won the best turnout.

Chef D’Equipe Nicky Bertham from St Boswells said: “All 14 riders in the Scotland team did a brilliant job over the weekend...

Read more here:
http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/lifestyle-leisure/outdoors/international-horse-event-held-at-yetholm-1-3523407

Great Britain: Morgan and Kirsten to the fore in Cheshire

Farminglife.com - Full Article

Morgan Skillen and Kirstin Thom, both members of Mid Antrim Pony Club recently qualified to attend the Pony Club UK Championships at Cholmonodeley Castle, Cheshire in Endurance Riding.

Both girls qualified at the St Patrick’s Coast Ride in April this year and since then they have been training daily and attending Endurance Events in Enniskillen, Gosford, Glenariffe and Tardree Forests, in order to maintain their own stamina levels and their ponies fitness.

This equestrian discipline is rigorous, demanding and challenging. It requires dedication, many varieties of training and complete fitness of both pony and rider. Morgan and Kirstin need to understand the silent language of their ponies as any subtle change can make a big difference to the end result.

After all the blood, sweat, tears and dedicated relentless training it all came together perfectly at the Championships and Morgan Skillen on Mayo enjoyed an impressive win to take the first placed Individual title...

Read more here:
http://www.farminglife.com/equestrian/morgan-and-kirsten-to-the-fore-in-cheshire-1-6267359

Yamamah flies to gold for Sheikh Hamdan

Dirk Caremans image
FEI.org

29 Aug 2014
By Kate Green

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (UAE) and the outstanding mare Yamamah, means “little dove” in Arabic, led from the start to finish to win the individual gold medal at a challenging Endurance competition in Sartilly at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 to take over the world title from his father, Sheikh Mohammed.

European Champion Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP) finished fifth on Novisaad d’Aqui and led home his jubilant compatriots Jordi Arboix Santacreu, sixth on Mystair des Aubus, and Cervera Sanchez-Arnedo (Strawblade, 22nd) to take team gold.

There was much national excitement when the home side, France, took silver, with Jean-Philippe Frances (Secret de Mon), Franck Laousse (Niky de la Fontaine) and Nicolas Ballarin (Lemir de Gargassan) finishing eighth, 11th and 12th respectively.

The Swiss trio of Barbara Lissarrague on Preume de Paute, fourth individually, Sonja Fritschi (Okkarina d’Alsace) and Andrea Amacher (Rustik d’Alsace) claimed team bronze.

The Netherlands’ Marijke Visser (NED) was visibly thrilled with second place and an individual silver medal with the UAE-owned grey gelding Laiza de Jalima. Qatari rider Abdulrahman Saad AS Al Sulaiteen and Koheilan Kincso also finished strongly to take bronze ahead of Swiss rider Barbara Lissarrague on Preume de Paute.

“This event really deserved the title of World Championships today,” said Brian Sheehan, Chair of the FEI Endurance Committee, who praised the effectiveness of the new monitoring measures. “There has been a great deal of sportsmanship and co-operation with riders. It’s been a world-class event that I am proud to be associated with.”

A combination of changeable weather and footing conditions, plus stringent veterinary procedures whittled the field down to 38 finishers. Brian Sheahan felt that the low number of finishers proved the veterinary protocols in place to protect horse welfare were working.

“This was a World Equestrian Games and the course was extremely technical and extremely challenging,” he said. “The weather made it even tougher and the vets were extremely careful to ensure that the horses were protected at all times, meaning that the number of finishers was unexpectedly low for a championship.”

A spectacular mass of 165 riders representing a record 47 nations set off in a damp, muddy dawn, but midday sun turning the slippery ground to a holding consistency, and the Ground Jury, which had already removed the minimum speed of 15 kilometres per hour for the first two loops, then reduced the minimum speed to 14kph for loops three to five to allow horses to take their time on the course.

In another change to the format, this year there were five loops (of 37.9 kilometres, 35.8km, 32.8km, 33.1km and 20.4km) instead of six. Riders had to cope with ever-changing terrain, including wet sand on the second 35.8km loop which attracted crowds of spectators as horses traversed the beautiful bay of Mont St Michel.

The UAE team set the early pace and dominated the first two loops, but by the end of the third loop only Sheikh Hamdan and the quality Australian-bred bay mare Yamamah (formerly Kurrajong Concorde), winner of the Open European title last year with Sheikh Hamdan’s brother Sheikh Rashid, was left in the competition.

The duo, who won the 120km CEI at Windsor (GBR) in May, had the course to themselves for much of the day and returned home to massive cheers from a hugely supportive crowd.

Last year’s world number one in Endurance, Sabrina Arnold (GER), withdrew Saltan during the first loop and the defending World Equestrian Games champion, Spain’s Maria Alvarez Ponton, had a fall with Qualif du Poncelet on the third loop.

Isha Judd (URG) suffered a broken femur in a fall and Alberto Morales Morales (CRC) was taken to hospital complaining of neck pain after the first loop.

Tragically, the Costa Rican horse Dorado, ridden by Claudio Romero Chacon, died instantly of a head injury after striking a tree at the side of the track in a forested area on the first loop, shortly after 08.30. The rider was in a serious but stable condition this evening after undergoing surgery for fractures and internal injuries.

“Our thoughts are with Claudia Chacon Romero, who is currently recovering in hospital post-surgery, and the connections of Dorado, who sadly died in a tragic accident today,” Brian Sheahan said. “Our hearts go out to them.”

There were no other serious injuries to any horses.

Photoset: Endurance at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy

Horsechannel.com - Full Article

A scenic but rain-soaked course prevented most starters from completing the challenging ride.
By Lesley Ward | August 29, 2014

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum of the United Arab Emerites and Yamamah were the first combination to cross the finish line of the grueling 100-mile endurance course near Sartilly, France, on Thursday, Aug. 28. The young sheikh and his tough 15-year-old Arabian mare held the lead from start to finish. Several days of rain in the area off the northwest French coast resulted in sticky mud and deep going on the course, and although 166 competitors began the course, only 35 finished. Sheikh Hamdan completed the course in 8:08:28, more than 10 minutes faster than his closest competitor, Marijka Visser of the Netherlands riding Laiza de Jalima. Qater’s Abdulrahman Saad Al Sulaiteen and Koheilan Kinsco took the bronze medal. On the team front, Spain took gold, France silver and Switzerland bronze...

Read more here:
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2014/08/29-photoset-endurance-at-world-equestrian-games-normandy.aspx

New Zealand's Latta forced out of endurance race as horse throws shoe

WDT.co.nz - Full Article

30 August 2014

Otago endurance rider Susie Latta was one of many - make that most - who did not see the finish line at the endurance race at the World Equestrian Games in France.

The 160km race was one of mass attrition as most riders found the course and the conditions very tough.

Latta, of Nenthorn Valley, was one of five New Zealand riders in the endurance event, on a tricky track near Normandy.

The gruelling marathon course featured five looped circuits stretching from the Lucerne Forest to the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.

The conditions were very wet and none of the New Zealand riders finished the event.

Latta, on her horse Tkiwa, started off well but Tkiwa threw a shoe in the second loop and was inspected by a veterinarian and ruled out of the race...

Read more here:
http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/equestrian/314232/equestrian-latta-forced-out-endurance-race-horse-throws-shoe

Canadian Endurance Team Races Through the Trenches

Canadalovesweg.com - Full Article

August 29 2014

Equine Canada Communications - One hundred and sixty-five horse-and-rider combinations, representing 42 nations, set off on the five-loop, 160 km endurance race across the coast of Sartilly, FRA on August 28. With unfavourable weather conditions the trails turned to mud trenches sinking a foot deep causing issues on course. Canadians took on the race with a strategic plan and several tactics to approach the race technically.

Reflecting on the race day, Chef d'Equipe Maura Leahy remarked, "We came into this event expecting to have four personal bests. So it was disappointing having not completed, but that is a part of Endurance. Everybody, the riders, crews and officials have done a wonderful job getting the horses through the loops. We are glad to have four healthy and happy horses and humans."

Leading the Canadians was Jessica Manness of Dugald, BC and Greater Glide (Flaming Tigre X Flaming Streak), her 13-year-old Arabian gelding. They completed four loops in 9:58:40 staying at a consistent pace. At the end of the fourth loop Manness entered the veterinary inspection. It was determined that the horses may have some electrolyte imbalances earning a ME veterinary check code meaning the horse has a metabolic concern. After further testing and treatment for the decreased electrolytes in the veterinary clinic Greater Glide was released with a clean bill of health.

"We were in the middle of the pack to start which is where I wanted to be," commented Manness. "Before we started I set all the times I wanted to achieve and I stayed on them until our last loop. The trail was harder than I had anticipated. It was muddy and had a lot of hills across the in-lands. The second loop was mostly on the beach and on the asphalt roads. My immediate concern was how the hard ground would impact my horse, but he isn't showing any signs of soreness which is good..."

Read more here:
http://www.canadalovesweg.com/news/canadian-endurance-team-races-through-trenches

2014 WEG: Best Condition for Laiza de Jalima

Sindy Thomas photo
Normandy2014.com

Friday 29 August 2014 - 18h30

The Best Condition Award was given to Laiza de Jalima, Marijke Visser’s mare. The horse and rider finished second in the individual Endurance competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

"She’s a little mare, a tiny one in fact, but absolutely a joy to ride, very courageous and capable of big results”, the Dutch rider said after the awards ceremony, which was held in front of a jammed-packed D'Ornano Stadium. Born in France to owner Jean-Claude Guillaume, a few kilometers from Monaco, the mare, sired by Ismael d'Aubanel, was sent to the United Arab Emirates just before turning seven years old. Her preparation for the Games, however, took place in Belgium.