Australia: Think 3200 metres is a horse race for stayers? Try 160 kilometres

TheAge.com.au - Full Article

December 26 2015
Konrad Marshall

The sport of endurance riding is not for the faint-hearted.

There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses – he was worth a thousand pound, So all the cracks had gathered to the fray.
All the tried and noted riders from the stations near and far
Had mustered at the homestead overnight,
For the bushmen love hard riding where the wild bush horses are,
And the stockhorse snuffs the battle with delight.

Banjo Patterson's poem The Man from Snowy River was first published 125 years ago – an elegant narrative capturing the nature of hard riding in an unforgiving land.

The Verspaandonk family rides this way, too, only not chasing a brumby mob (or the colt from Old Regret) but in pursuit of a decent time and good form.

The Glengarry family competes in the obscure but fast growing sport of endurance riding, covering long distances over difficult terrain on horseback.

The motto of the pastime – "to complete is to win" – hints at what is required.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/think-3200-metres-is-a-horse-race-for-stayers-try-160-kilometres-20151110-gkv5r2.html#ixzz3vRU57mPM

Scotland: Trail riders group go for endurance

GallowayGazette.co.uk - Full Article

23 December 2015

Galloway Trail Riders Group member Annie Walker read recently about a local endurance rider’s achievements in 2015 which prompted her to put pen to paper.

In South West Scotland we have two groups of rider who are out and about, both interested in horse welfare and riding access, keeping old routes available for riders.

Annie writes: “Galloway Trail Riders Group could be classed as happy hackers and we have had many happy days in the saddles this last year. From Glenwhilly up to top of Beneraird; the beach at Sandhead; Lochinch Policies (thanks to Lord Stair); Cally Woods, Gatehouse of Fleet to mention four of our eight outings. We had cheery on foot meetings in form of our AGM with some awards for good attendance and fun and a pre-Christmas meal...

Read more: http://www.gallowaygazette.co.uk/sport/local-sport/trail-riders-group-go-for-endurance-1-3982210#ixzz3vFpRiuxz

Abu Dhabi Club of the Week: Go beyond riding horses at Al Waha Equestrian Club in Al Ain

Sport360.com - Full Article

by Jay Asser
Thursday 24 December 2015

Imagine combining the physical toll of running or cycling a long distance race with the challenge of maintaining a living, breathing vehicle. That’s exactly what endurance horse riding entails, acting just as much as a relationship as it does a sport.

Rashed Al Kaabi, the activity manager at Al Waha Equestrian Club, is as aware as anyone as to just how important building that relationship with your horse is in order to be a successful endurance rider.

Since taking up the sport in 2000, Al Kaabi has focused on training beginners to qualify in endurance for the past five years. At Al Waha, that training begins first and foremost with horsemanship.

“From the beginning, you have to train on the same horse,” said Al Kaabi. “When someone comes for training, I keep them on one horse only, every day. They groom the horse, they train the horse, they make the saddle on the horse. They ride the horse for a minimum of one-and-a-half hours of riding...

Read more here:
http://sport360.com/article/other/46817/club-week-go-beyond-riding-horses-al-waha-equestrian-club-al-ain

FEI General Assembly Approves 2016 Spanish Championships

December 22 2015

The 2016 Spanish Championships, for Seniors and Young Riders, will be held on May 1 and 2 in Badajoz. The FEI General Assembly approved the event at its December 22 meeting.

http://ggjineteraid.blogspot.com/2015/12/aprobados-los-campeonatos-de-espana-de.html

The Swiss Equestrian Federation SEF remains committed to endurance being respectful of horse welfare

FNCH.ch

22 Dezember 2015 11:57

A delegation of the Swiss Equestrian Federation SEF has liaised with the director of the FEI endurance in order to discuss the suggested measures to ensure the development of the discipline and improvement of the respect for horses. The SEF has stressed the need to improve the qualifying system for the elite races and for finding a competition format for the WEG consistent with the current competition schemes.

During a workshop at the headquarters of the FEI in Lausanne, a delegation of the SEF comprising of president Charles Trolliet, Dominik Burger and Claude Nordmann, expressed the reflections and position of Switzerland concerning the current issues of the discipline to the director of Endurance of the FEI, Manuel Bandeira de Mello. Discussions included qualification criteria for major events, the new competition format during the World Equestrian Games and finally the monitoring of the situation in the Middle-Eastern countries (group VII of the FEI).

The SEF has suggested to include a provision in the regulations stipulating that it is the horse/rider pair who needs to qualify in two races in order to participate at the next level. Endurance being the demonstration of the rapport and understanding between horse and rider i.e. horsemanship, this provision would certainly ensure an improvement of horse welfare and contribute to reducing excessive speeds and other occurring issues. This request remains valid and the Swiss delegation insists that it be incorporated during the next thorough revision of endurance regulations. The discipline’s credibility is at stake. The SEF has made itself available to carry out statistics concerning this subject.

The SEF is also ready to bring forward proposals in order to develop with the FEI an attractive competition format for the World Equestrian Games. This will allow for only the best pairs to reach the World Championship by qualifying for various geographically distributed races during the two years preceding the final. The SEF has reiterated its firm opposition to any format planning races over two days as this format, only practiced at the WEG, would only encourage excessive speed and pose more risks for the horses.

Finally, after analysing the situation in group VII’s various countries especially in the UAE, the SEF has reminded that it would remain vigilant and await the end of the racing season in the Middle East to decide on the possible Swiss participation in the World Championships which are scheduled for December 2016 in Dubai.

Manuel Banderia de Mello has noted with interest the Swiss proposals and has been thankful for the frank discussion. He expressed readiness to continue a regular dialogue with the Swiss Federation.

Additional Information:

Dr. Claude Nordmann, International Relations, Swiss Federation for Equestrian Sports
Tel. +41 79 353 75 54 E-mail: claude.nordmann@bluewin.ch

Bahrain: Nasser bin Hamad awards National Day endurance winners

BNA.bh - Full Article

December 19 2015

Manama, Dec.19 (BNA): Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee and Honorary President of Bahrain Roya Equestrian and Endurance Federation (BREEF) HH Shiakh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa honoured the winners of the National Day 120km Endurance Race on Saturday.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa honoured the winners of the first three positions. Rider Rashid Al Rowaiee from Al Zaeem Stables won the first place after finishing the race in 04:26:40 time and the speed of 27km/h on the steed Kahraby. The second place went to Al Khalidiya Stables’ jockey Raed Mahmoud who crossed the finish line one second after Al Roawaee with the speed of 26km/h on the steed Goodaseel. Al Zaeem Stables’rider Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa came third after finishing the race in 04:44:10 time on the steed Plugeal. The three winners were greeted and awarded by HH Shaikh Nasser...

Read more here:
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/702275

An Endurance Perspective In Europe

Easycare Blog - Full Article

November 30, 2015
by Christoph Schork

At the end of my blog from last month, On Tour Abroad, I promised a follow up blog covering my experience with endurance racing in Europe. So here it is. I had previously participated in endurance events in Germany, Australia and the Middle East, but had not entered any races in France and Spain. In October of 2015 I had the opportunity to ride at two FEI sanctioned events. I could combine these races this time with my Hoof Care Clinics which I conduct every year in Europe.

My first start was at the VIC** in Catalunya, just a few miles north of Barcelona. I had the pleasure of riding a horse of Jaume Punti Dachs, or short, Juma from the Juma Stable, a 14 year old bay gelding, Malik Kerrous.

The 120km, (75 Mile) race had 70+ entries, Juma Stable alone entered a total of 15 horses. The trail was a mix of hills, rocky trails, concrete and paved roads with stretches of softer footing. But for the most part the ground was hard. The pace is generally faster compared to endurance races in the USA. Typically the horses canter much more, trotting only when terrain demands it. Surprising is the fact that most horses are shod with steel shoes, and just about everybody uses clips as well...

- See more at: http://blog.easycareinc.com/blog/bootmeister-natural-hoof-care-tips/an-endurance-perspective-in-europe?fb_action_ids=10153465502403229&fb_action_types=og.likes#sthash.SnFvka8i.dpuf