FEI World Endurance Forum

02/12/2006
FEI World Endurance Forum

As has been reported elsewhere, an FEI World Endurance Forum is planned for the spring of 2007. Originally scheduled to take place this year in Kuala Lumpur, the forum will now take place in Paris on 31 March - 1 April 2007 followed by the annual FEI Endurance Technical Committee meeting on 2 April.

The Forum will be structured along the same lines as the successful 2003 Endurance Forum and will allow delegates, from amongst the 76 National Federations who organize FEI Endurance events, to debate the overall status of the discipline as it exists today. There will also be opportunity to discuss the future of Endurance following its rapid growth and the ever increasing public scrutiny of the sport which has occurred in recent years.

With the approval of the FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, an FEI Endurance working group will be established, following on from the forum, to evaluate and develop those ideas and proposals raised by the delegates and to formulate a five-year plan for the sport for consideration by the FEI. Members of this working group will be drawn from both within and outside of Endurance itself.

As part of a fact finding exercise, a questionnaire has been produced and can be downloaded from the FEI website accessed through the Endurance > documents (direct link - http://www.horsesport.org/e/PDFS/2006ENDURANCEQUESTIONNAIRE.doc). All FEI registered Endurance riders are asked to complete the form and to return it by email to the FEI ahead of the Forum next March.

The findings of the working group will be considered by the FEI Endurance Technical Committee as part of its ongoing review of Endurance.

Further details of the Forum: timing, venue, accreditation and programme will be published in due course and invitations issued to those NFs concerned as soon as possible.

FEI makes decisions on horse doping cases

The FEI's Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently communicated its decisions in two appeals against decisions of the FEI Judicial Committee.

One appeal was brought by rider Thierry Rozier (FRA) in a positive medication case involving the prohibited substance dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid, found in the urine of the horse Dusty Star ridden by Rozier at the Mediterranean Games held in Almeria (ESP) from 24 June to 3 July 2005.

The other appeal was brought by trainer Ismail Mohammed (UAE) in a positive medication case involving the prohibited substances guanabenz and its metabolite hydroxy-guanabenz in the urine sample of the horse Orkara ridden by Sheikh Majid bin Mohd Al Maktoum, a minor, and trained by Mohammed at the FEI European Open Endurance Championship held in Compi�gne (FRA) on 26 August 2005.

The FEI Judicial Committee had disqualified Thierry Rozier from the Mediterranean Games and sentenced him to a three month suspension, and a fine. The rider had appealed the decision arguing that the strict liability approach and presumption of fault was contrary to the presumption of innocence applicable in criminal settings. The CAS panel found the FEI Judicial Committee’s decision to be appropriate and proportional, and did not find reason to alter it in any way. This is the second such decision from the CAS in favour of the FEI in recent months.

Ismail Mohammed, trainer of the horse Orkara, had been suspended by a panel of the FEI Judicial Committee for a period of twelve months from taking part in international competitions. The CAS panel admitted the appeal, and determined that a suspension was appropriate but reduced its duration from 12 to eight months based on a concern for proportionality.

In its decision, the CAS panel highlighted the difficulties involved in designating Persons Responsible when the rider was a minor, and made some recommendations for changes to the relevant FEI rules.

These outcomes each individually reaffirm the reasoning behind the decisions of the FEI Judicial Committee and emphasise the principles underlying FEI rules as lawful under Swiss legislation and international conventions on human rights.

Horse Talk. article

FEI upholds one doping suspension, reduces another

The Associated PressPublished: December 21, 2006

LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The International Equestrian Federation upheld one doping ban and reduced another on appeal.

An FEI arbitration court upheld rider Thierry Rozier's three-month suspension and disqualification from the Mediterranean Games in July 2005. Rozier's horse, Dusty Star, tested positive for dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid.

The panel reduced trainer Ismail Mohammed's 12-month suspension to eight months after noting concerns over "proportionality" in the case.

Mohammed's horse, Orkara, tested positive for the prohibited substance guanabenz — which lowers blood pressure — at the Open Endurance Championships in Compiegne, France, in August 2005.

The court has asked the FEI to review its rules, as the case "highlighted difficulties involved in designating persons responsible when the rider was a minor."

The rider, Sheikh Majid bin Mohd Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates, was under 18 at the time and disqualified from the competition.

International Herald Tribune. Sports

Idaho endurance rider, horse train for another marathon ride

Thursday, December 28, 2006 · Last updated 9:05 a.m. PT

By KERRI SANDAINE
LEWISTON TRIBUNE

LEWISTON, Idaho -- Lisa Benner and her horse are endurance athletes.

They covered 100 miles across the Sierra Nevadas in less than 24 hours, and now they're training to do it again.

"It's you against the clock," Benner said of the difficult competition. "To finish is to win."

When the Western States Trail Ride began at 5:15 a.m. near Truckee, Calif., 196 horses thundered into the mountains, but only 87 crossed the finish line at Auburn, Calif. within the allotted time. The 44-year-old woman and her Arabian, Jack, finished in 23 hours, 33 minutes.

But Benner said she was so focused on finishing the ride, she didn't get to celebrate the thrill of victory.

"Even though I completed it, I didn't feel that moment of success, and I would like to have that," Benner said.

advertising
So, when she's not working at the Lewiston Veterinarian Clinic, she is likely riding Jack, or running beside him, or grabbing his tail and having him pull her up hills.

It takes months of preparation to go 100 miles in one day, and the conditioning is similar to what marathon runners go through. Benner rides up Asotin Creek, in the Viola area, or at Hells Gate State Park in Lewiston on cold winter days when most folks are snuggled up by the fire. Her focus is on the next Western States Trail Ride, known as the Tevis Cup, which takes place July 28.

One of the biggest challenges of the endurance contest is riding as fast as possible all night long.

"I've ridden in the dark before, but never at top speed on an unfamiliar trail," said Benner, who lives in Clarkston Heights in Washington state, just across the Idaho border.

"This particular trail can be treacherous. You have to trust your horse, because they can see better than us. At one point, I crossed my reins, kept my center of gravity and told him, 'You'll have to do it, because I can't.'"

The Tevis trail is a daunting course of steep climbs and descents with nine mandatory stops along the course.

That's when the crew takes over. Benner was assisted by Joan Fouty of Southwick, Jan Fogliasso of Southern California, and Karelle Hatcher of Colfax, Calif.

Fouty and Fogliasso, who are sisters, took care of Jack, and Hatcher took care of Benner. Hatcher has been battling cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy at the last Tevis Cup. "She was a super inspiration to people," Benner said.

"I couldn't have done it without my crew members."

The sisters hosed down the horse, decreased his heart rate, and checked over all the equipment. Hatcher made sure Benner had food, water and a change of clothes.

"I didn't eat as much as I should, and that will have to change next year," Benner said. "I was so focused on every step he took and making sure it was a good one that I didn't eat or drink enough."

She talked to Jack during the entire ride. "It was a nonstop conversation, and I kept going over four things: We can do this, I have everything I need to be a success, no negatives, and ride hard."

Benner admits she loves her horse. His name has special meaning, and she remembers the exact date she got him, July 15, 2002. "He looks identical to my granddad's saddle horse. My granddad's name is Jack, and I bought him on his death date," she said with tears in her eyes.

"I knew I wanted to do Tevis, and I knew he could do it," Benner said. "He's been my little hero all the way through. He's the toughest horse I've ever had."

It takes about three or four years of training to get a horse ready for an endurance ride. "You have to prepare their bones, tendons, cardiovascular system and even their minds," Benner said.

She had an additional training challenge when she was diagnosed with arthritis two years ago. "I barely made it through the '04 season. I had trouble getting on and off my horse, and I had to make some changes, but I came out of it ready to go."

Keeping busy and active is the key to dealing with arthritis, she believes.

Benner, who grew up in Cedarville, Calif., was inspired to try endurance riding as a child. "About 31 years ago, a distant relative did the ride, and I saw her buckle and always kept it in the back of my mind," she said.

Her brother, Warren Benner of Asotin, Wash., is not surprised about his sister's accomplishments in the sport. "I remember Lisa talking about riding from Cedarville to Goat Rock when we were kids, which is an eight-hour drive by car," he said.

The Benners were raised on an 800-acre ranch, where the family did their own butchering, fed cows with a team of horses and rolled their own grain. There were 19 kids in Lisa's graduating class.

"She grew up on horseback on the Nevada desert following cows," Warren Benner said. "We were raised 100 years ago."

Benner moved to Clarkston six years ago from Sacramento to be closer to her brother and his family. She is single and has no children.

"This is the most expensive piece of wardrobe I have," Benner said, proudly holding the belt buckle from the Western States Trail Ride.

She is determined to add another buckle to the collection, and she'll be training six or seven days a week to get it. Her crew has agreed to be at the next Tevis Cup, and Jack is up to the challenge.

"I know he can do it, and I know I can do it," Benner said.

SeattlePi article

Merry Christmas!

Whatever your holiday, wherever you are, we wish you all the best!

John & Steph
Endurance.Net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merry Christmas!
Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees
Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees
African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats
Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden
Arabic: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Argentine: Feliz Navidad
Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal
Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!
Bengali: Shuvo Naba Barsha
Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo
Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!
Chile: Feliz Navidad
Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
(Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito
Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo
Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Corsian: Pace e salute
Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo
Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish: Glædelig Jul
Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak
Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar!
or Zalig Kerstfeast
English: Merry Christmas
Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!
Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup|hi
Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!
Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish: Hyvaa joulua
Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar
French: Joyeux Noel
Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!
Galician: Bo Nada
Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr! German: Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna!
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi: Shub Naya Baras
Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!
Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!
Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic: Gledileg Jol
Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat
Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!
Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!
Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto
Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu
Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar
Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik
Maltese: LL Milied Lt-tajjeb
Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori: Meri Kirihimete
Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo: Merry Keshmish
Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul
Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado
Papiamento: Bon Pasco
Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu
Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!
Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo
Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!
Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie
Portuguese:Feliz Natal
Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha
Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn
Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!
Rumanian: Sarbatori vesele
Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou
Serbian: Hristos se rodi
Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce
Sami: Buorrit Juovllat
Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh
Serb-Croatian: Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina
Serbian: Hristos se rodi. Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene: Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År
Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese: Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Welsh: Nadolig Llawen
Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic

Santa Fe Trail Horse Race meeting in Dodge City

What do you do with a thousand horses in your front yard? That sounds like a second grade riddle, but it turns out to be a question with genuine meaning. It's one way of thinking about the logistical challenges of an exciting equestrian event to be held in rural Kansas and beyond in 2007.

Rob and Beverly Phillips live near Lawrence, Kan. Rob is coordinator of the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race and Endurance Ride. As described previously, this event is an 800 mile endurance ride along the approximate route of the old Santa Fe Trail.

Rob says, "One of the main objectives of the race is to educate the public not only on the national historic Santa Fe Trail, but also to introduce the sport of endurance riding to thousands."

The ride will start in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Sept. 3 and end in Independence, Missouri on Sept. 15, 2007. Horses and riders will be traveling Tour de France style, in that they will ride a 50 mile route each day and then be transported to the next leg.

Overnight stops will be at temporary race villages containing comprehensive services. Those will be located in rural places such as Burlingame, Council Grove, Lyons, Larned, Dodge City, and Elkhart. Elkhart, for example, has a population of 2,156 people.

The ride is open to all breeds of horses. Teams of riders who meet the qualifications are encouraged to enter.

Rob Phillips says, "It is our desire to produce a world class endurance event of riding 800 miles celebrating the Santa Fe Trail." The ride has been sanctioned by the American Endurance Ride Conference, the official sanctioning body for equestrian endurance riding in the U.S. and Canada.

Partners and sponsors of the event include RFD TV, The U.S. Postal Service, the New Mexico Sports Authority, the Bureau of Land Management Mustang and Burro Adoption Program, and the Kansas Lottery. The Imus Ranch, a working cattle ranch for kids with cancer, has been designated as the race charity. The Postal Service will even sponsor a special Pony Express ride.

It sounds like a great event. But it means that a throng of horses will be coming through Kansas, with all the riders and trailers and feed and spectators and media and everything else that accompanies them. They will need housing, food, water, and lots of services. So back to our original question: What do you do when a thousand horses show up at your doorstep?

Rob Phillips wants to answer that question in the best possible way. He is partnering with communities along and near the trail route so as to create opportunities and ideal experiences for everyone involved.

On Jan. 3 and 4, 2007, the Great Santa Fe Trail Horse Race is holding a meeting in Dodge City to explain this project and see how people can get involved and benefit from it. The meeting title is--what else--What Do You Do with 1000 Horses in Your Front Yard? Speakers include Rob Phillips; John Conoboy of the National Park Service; Dennis Latta of the New Mexico Sports Authority; Janet Starnes-Burch of the U.S. Postal Service; Mike Hansen, executive vice president of RFD-TV; and more. I'm involved with the program as well.

Topics to be discussed include becoming a race village host city, conducting other possible Santa Fe Trail events, television coverage of the event, the economic impact, and how can communities along the trail maximize their participation in this event? For more information, contact Rob Phillips at 785-218-3265.

So what do you do with a thousand horses in your front yard? Well, you feed 'em and water 'em and put 'em up for the night. Then you invite their riders in for supper and entertain 'em. In a larger sense, that is what will be happening with the horses, riders, spectators and more who will be part of this event. We commend Rob and Beverly Phillips and all those involved with this project for making a difference with their creativity and vision.

Article

Equestrian Games announces athlete's advisory

Future of endurance to be debated by FEI

AHA Distance Award Goes to 23-Year-Old Horse

Sheikh Rashid Wins Asian Games Endurance Championship

UAE sheikh beats fellow royals in desert equestrian endurance race
The Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar: Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, a member of the United Arab Emirates ruling family, outrode a collection of fellow Gulf state royalty Thursday to win the grueling Asian Games equestrian endurance race.

The last full day of Asian Games competition got off to an early beginning as 51 horses and riders lined up for a dawn mass start in the dunes outside this desert city.

Horse racing has been dubbed The Sport of Kings, and the endurance race comes closest to that billing, with several members of Dubai's ruling Al Maktoum family taking part, as well as members of the Saudi Arabian royal family and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the son of Qatar's ruling emir.

Sheikh Rashid, son of the crown prince of Dubai, finished the 120-kilometer (74.5-mile) five-stage event in a total time of 5 hours, 45 minutes and 49 seconds for the gold, ahead of Bahrain's Sheikh Nasser Bin Hammad Bin Isa Al Khalifa and Dubai businessman Sultan Bin Sulayem.

Sheikh Rashid, riding his father's favorite horse Nashimi, added the Doha gold to his 2003 European Championships title.

Endurance racing, a popular sport in the desert nations of the Middle East and north Africa, made its debut at these games. South Korea, competing on Qatari horses, and Malaysia were the only non-Arabic nations competing in the event.

Heavy rain before the start made the going difficult at the Mesaieed desert course that tests the competitors and their mounts over five loops, each between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers (12.5 miles and 16.5 miles) in length.

"The course is very hard to ride, the most difficult I have been on because the footing is unpredictable," said Al Thani early in the race.

Vonita Bowers Joins USEF as Director of Endurance

United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
www.usef.org

(Lexington, KY) – Vonita Bowers of Spring, Texas, will become the Director of Endurance for the USEF effective immediately. Ms. Bowers will be based in the Gladstone, New Jersey High-Performance office until mid-summer and then will be permanently based at the USEF National Headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.

For 24 years she had a career in the medical services sector in administration and business management. For the past 16 years she has served in leadership roles for the American Endurance Ride Conference as a member of the Board of Directors, as a Vice President, and served as President for 2 years. Ms. Bowers has accumulated over 9,000 miles in endurance competition. Additionally, she is an FEI licensed official, a member of the Endurance Technical Committee, and has been an organizer of endurance events.

“Endurance has been my primary focus for many years. Working with USEF, I have the opportunity to use that experience to help the Federation provide a platform for selecting, developing and fielding successful teams on the world endurance stage. I look forward to assisting USEF in attaining this goal,” said Ms. Bowers.

“We are very fortunate to have Vonita join our staff due to her extensive participation and expertise in the sport. We are quite confident she will make a substantial contribution to the furtherance of the USEF Endurance program and the success of our international teams,” said John Long, Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation.

Asian Games: First Endurance Test

Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar: Equestrian endurance will make its debut at the Asian Games with a sprinkling of royal families from the Gulf doing more than merely watching.

The endurance ride is scheduled to begin shortly after sunrise Thursday and will include medals in team and individual races. A country may enter a maximum of four riders per team and two individuals riders for the competition.

The Qatari team is expected to be led by Sheik Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, the son of Qatar's emir. Sheik Mohammed was involved in the cast of the opening ceremonies of the games, riding his steed up a ramp the full height of the stadium to light a giant gyroscope-like cauldron.

Members of Dubai's Al Maktoum ruling family are also expected to be among the national team of the United Arab Emirates. Last year's world championship took place in Dubai.

Horses and riders in the equestrian desert endurance event will traverse a familiar landmark for day-trippers heading for the Mesaieed beaches and sand dunes south of Doha.

The course includes five loops, each between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers (12.5 miles and 16.5 miles) in length, for a total race distance of 120 kilometers (74.5 miles). The competitors will return to the start point at the end of each loop for a medical examination.

Temporary stands for 500 spectators have been built in the desert, with organizers warning that only experienced 4x4 drivers travel into the desert for a closer view.

Horses will be regularly vetted on the ride, where they are checked for soundness and dehydration, To continue the ride, the horse must pass the exam, including lowering its heart rate to 64 beats per minute.

The three highest placed competitors from each country count for the team event.

Asian Games: UAE riders to have light training

GulfNews.com
by By M. Satya Narayan

Esmail Mohammad, the UAE's endurance trainer, feels the return of bright and sunny weather should help the riders during the event on Thursday.

Dubai: After the wet weather, yesterday's warm sunshine brought the smiles back on UAE endurance trainer Esmail Mohammad's face, the man who is part of the UAE team aiming for a dream win in tomorrow's endurance event at the Doha Asian Games.

Esmail, who accompanied the eight UAE horses to Doha on Sunday, said they have all settled in well and worked through their paces in training over the last two days.

"Until this morning, we were a bit worried as major stretches of the terrain were wet and heavy. It would have been very treacherous for the horses. However, this afternoon it is bright and sunny and we hope this continues," Mohammad said from Doha.

All the horses trained over the last two days and the six-member UAE team of riders are expected to arrive in Doha today.

The UAE will be represented by the four sons of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the experienced foursome will be starting off as one of the favourites.
Shaikh Rashid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be creating history when they line-up for tomorrow's early morning start in the 120-km endurance event.

Sultan Bin Sulayem and Ali Mohammad Al Muhairi complete the six-member team. Meanwhile, Glenelg William is expected to be part of the six-horse pack which will be going in for the pre-ride veterinary inspection at 2pm this afternoon.

"Glenelg William had finished 10th last month in Dubai and is accompanied by Orkara, Kamel Armor, Jazyk, Muneef, Iknour De La Bire, Nashmi and Shahzani," said Mohammad.

The UAE riders will have a light training session with the horses this afternoon. The final decision on the team of four riders will be decided this evening. Endurance is one of the disciplines making its debut as a medal sport at the Asian Games.

Doha: Riders set for endurance challenge

SIX riders will represent Bahrain at the endurance horseride competition of the Asian Games scheduled for Thursday at the Mesaieed Endurance Course in Doha starting at 6am.

The race will cover a total distance of 120 kms and is divided into five stages as endurance riding is being introduced to the Asian Games for the first time

The team will be led by Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa who is also captain of the Royal Endurance Team.

The remaining riders are Breef first vice-president and Al Khaldiya Stables captain Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Al Fateh Stables duo Shaikh Daij bin Salman Al Khalifa and Shaikh Salman bin Saqer Al Khalifa, Al Talia stable rider Ahmed Al Ruwaiei and Fahad Bakheit of Royal Endurance Team.

The endurance ride is split into two categories - team and individual. A country can enter a maximum of four riders per team and two individual riders for the competition.

Horses are regularly vetted on the ride, where they are checked for soundness and dehydration, and their pulse is taken.

To continue the ride, the horse must pass the exam, including lowering its heart rate to 64 beats per minute.

The winning team is the team with the fastest time after adding the final classification of the three highest placed competitors in the team. The individual winner is the rider with the fastest time.

"We have some of the best Asian riders following our performance and results at the World Equestrian Games last August," said Shaikh Nasser.

Shaikh Nasser took part in the World Equestrian Games in Aachen where he finished 14th overall while Shaikh Daij came ninth.

"I have faith in the team and am confident that our riders will give off their best in the upcoming race," said the Breef chief.

"Our riders are experienced now having competed in various races in the last three years and we are expecting strong competition from other riders in the region such as the UAE and Qatar," he said.

"We aim to win one of the top three places in this competition which will be a double joy for all Bahrainis as we celebrate the National Day and His Majesty King Hamad's accession to the throne," said Shaikh Nasser.

2010 WEG Announces Athlete's Advisory Committee

December 8, 2006
Lexington, Ky

­In order to ensure that the needs and concerns of the equestrian world's best athletes are addressed at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., the organization in charge of putting on the Games, has formed an Athlete's Advisory Committee. This committee will provide input to Games organizers from some of the equestrian world's most experienced athletes.

"Every major sporting event professes to be an athlete's event and to provide the best atmosphere and infrastructure to ensure that competitors are able to focus on their event rather than other factors," said Jack Kelly, CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation. "To try to ensure that we can do this at the highest level, we have asked a truly world-class group of athletes to provide their perspective on what we will need to do to meet world class standards."

The committee, comprised of nine equestrian athletes, chaired by the United States Equestrian Federation's President and 2000 Sydney Olympic Gold medalist David O'Connor, will work to provide ideas and critiques that will benefit the planning, organization and operation of the equestrian world's largest, multi-discipline competition. The 2010 Games will see eight international disciplines contest their World Championships.
The following athletes have agreed to share in their expertise:

David O'Connor (Chair) - On numerous occasions, O'Connor has represented his country at Olympic Games, Pan American Games and at the WEG, bringing home a list of medals and honors. He was a member of the Gold medal winning Team at the 2002 Jerez WEG, was an Individual Gold medalist and a Team Bronze medalist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and a Team Silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to name only a few of his international awards. Today, he serves as President of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sports.

Hope Hand (Para-equestrian) - Hand was an alternate to the Atlanta Paralympic Team in 1996 and competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning Gold and a Bronze. In 1998, she was one of the four disabled riders competing at the Bradshaw Challenge of Champions. The following year, as a member of Team USA competing at the 1999 World Dressage Championships she won a bronze medal. Hope also competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia.

Beezie Madden (Show Jumping) - A two-time Silver medalist from the 2006 WEG in Aachen, Germany, Madden stands as one of the country's top show jumpers. She also earned a Team show jumping Silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, in addition to being one of only two Americans to win a Pulsar Crown event.

Devon Maitozo (Vaulting) - Maitozo is the country's most decorated male vaulter. He added to his honors at the 2006 WEG by leading the U.S. Team to a first on the world stage - a Team Silver medal. He has coached teams and individuals to 13 national championship titles, including 10 of his own.

Tom McCutcheon (Reining) - In 2002, McCutcheon was a member of the U.S. Team that won the Gold medal at the Jerez WEG, and he also brought home the Individual Silver medal. He has also been a finalist at every major National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) event.

Sue Phillips (Endurance) - A member of the AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) International Committee, the USEF Technical Committee and an International rated Endurance official, Phillips has ridden over 7,500 miles, all of which were ridden on Quarter Horses that she bred, raised and trained. In addition, Sue has won the American Quarter Horse Association award for endurance four times.

Guenter Seidel (Dressage) - Seidel has his share of international successes including an amazing three Bronze team medals from the 2004 Athens Olympics, the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Additionally, he earned a Team Bronze medal from the 2006 WEG and a Silver Team medal from the 2002 WEG in Jerez, Spain.

Amy Tryon (Eventing) - Tryon brought home the Individual Bronze medal from the 2006 WEG, and has also earned a Bronze Team Olympic medal for her country at the 2004 Athens Games. In addition, she was also on the U.S. Team that won the Bronze medal at the 2002 WEG in Jerez, Spain.

Chester Weber (Driving) - At the 2002 WEG in Spain, Weber played an important role in the U.S. Team securing a Team Silver medal. He is also the first American to win the German Fahrderby in Riesenbeck, Germany, and has won the U.S. Four-in-Hand National Championships for four consecutive years beginning in 2003.

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, are the world championships of the eight equestrian disciplines recognized by the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and are held every four years. The eight disciplines are dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, para-equestrian, reining, show jumping and vaulting.

USEF News: Strategic Planning Session, Clinic, 2007 Forms

FEI horse and rider registration forms are now online at http://www.usef.org/ (/High Performance /Athlete Services /Competing Abroad).

The United States Equestrian Federation will host a Competition Management and Secretaries' Clinic on Friday, January 12, 2007 in conjunction with the USEF Annual Meeting at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. This clinic will serve to provide educational materials, enlighten competition management on current rules, and provide communication with USEF staff regarding the upcoming competition year. Additional information and application for the clinic can be found at http://www.usef.org/content/licensedOfficials/clinic2007Calendar.php . If you have any questions or are unable to access the online application, you may contact me at the number below or Chuck Walker at cwalker@usef.org or (859) 225-6970 and we will be happy send you an application. Contact Sue Phillips sueqh1@airmail.net if you are planning to attend for arrangements.

The USEF will host an Endurance Strategic Planning meeting on Monday, January 8, 2007 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. This meeting will take place before the USEF Annual Meeting. You are cordially invited to attend and participate. The aim of the summit is to work together on an Endurance strategic plan for the next quadrennial with the end result being a medal(s) at the 2010 FEI Alltech World Equestrian Games."
Information can be found at the USEF Website:
http://www.usef.org/convention/2007/index.php

AERC Welcomes Platinum Sponsor Easycare, Inc.

Malaysia Wrap-Up: The FEI Effort

FEI News: World Endurance Forum, 2008 WEC Malaysia