YourHorse.co.uk
By Justine Thompson
Gear news
17 March 2009 17:04
EponaShoe (UK) is to sponsor GB Endurance senior squad member Rachael Claridge, with her horse Blue Chip Prince Meliodas, for the 2009 season.
EponaShoes are popular with endurance riders in the USA, and the sport in the UK is also becoming interested in them.
EponaShoes are lightweight, with shock absorbing properties similar to hoof keratin, so reducing concussion and wear and tear on hooves and joints.
By also supporting the frog and sole, the hoof is allowed to function much like a barefoot, but with the protection of a shoe, thus producing a healthier, higher performance foot.
This also means that the horse is able to move with more naturally efficient biomechanics, all of which becomes critical in any high performance sports horse.
Rachael has represented Team GB at young rider and senior level since 1997. She is currently preparing for the 2009 European Championships and 2010 World Equestrian Games with ‘Mel’, and has a busy training and competition schedule ahead.
She said: “The health and performance of Mel’s feet are crucial to our success. He feels exceptionally sure-footed over all terrain and I feel confident that the EponaShoes are giving him the support and protection he requires to perform.
The concussion-reducing properties of the shoes mean that I also worry less about associated joint problems.”
[...more]
mercredi 18 mars 2009
Great Britain: Join the Great Rescue Ride
Yourhorse.co.uk
17 March 2009 10:17
Equine charity HorseWorld is asking riders to join an exciting ride across the Wiltshire countryside to raise funds for ill-treated and neglected horses.
He charity has teamed up with Endurance GB, The Competitive Long Distance Horse Riding Society for England and Wales, which is to run the sponsored ride. Both organizations and will be working together to get riders to join in this fun and worthwhile cause.
The 'Great Rescue Ride' takes place on Saturday July 25 as part of Endurance GB Wessex Group’s 'Tally Ho' weekend and promises to be an exciting and enjoyable ride for everyone.
Pip Eyles, Fundraising Assistant at HorseWorld, says: “We are very grateful to EGB for running this ride on our behalf and for their great support.”
“We would like to invite riders to join us for this special 15-mile pleasure ride in Kingston Deverill, Warminster, Wiltshire, and help make a difference. By taking part you will be able to get a great idea of how challenging and enjoyable Endurance Riding can be, and you will also be helping to change the lives of hundreds of horses and ponies in need.”
HorseWorld is dedicated to rescuing neglected and mistreated horses and ponies, nursing them back to health before seeking long-term loan homes for every animal. The Bristol-based Charity is responsible for approximately 140 equines at HorseWorld’s centre and 350 in loan homes across the country.
Emma Miller from the EGB Wessex Group explained: “we are so pleased to be able to support the work of HorseWorld and sponsorship generated by the ride will be used to improve the quality of life for so many horses and ponies. We would therefore encourage all riders to take part.”
Entry Forms can be obtained from contact Emma Miller at Endurance GB, telephone 01749 812210 or email emmamiller@emaccounts.com, together with further details about sponsorship of your ride.
You can also contact Pip Eyles in the HorseWorld Fundraising Team on 01275 893034 to find out further information about the Great Rescue Ride.
www.horseworld.org.uk
17 March 2009 10:17
Equine charity HorseWorld is asking riders to join an exciting ride across the Wiltshire countryside to raise funds for ill-treated and neglected horses.
He charity has teamed up with Endurance GB, The Competitive Long Distance Horse Riding Society for England and Wales, which is to run the sponsored ride. Both organizations and will be working together to get riders to join in this fun and worthwhile cause.
The 'Great Rescue Ride' takes place on Saturday July 25 as part of Endurance GB Wessex Group’s 'Tally Ho' weekend and promises to be an exciting and enjoyable ride for everyone.
Pip Eyles, Fundraising Assistant at HorseWorld, says: “We are very grateful to EGB for running this ride on our behalf and for their great support.”
“We would like to invite riders to join us for this special 15-mile pleasure ride in Kingston Deverill, Warminster, Wiltshire, and help make a difference. By taking part you will be able to get a great idea of how challenging and enjoyable Endurance Riding can be, and you will also be helping to change the lives of hundreds of horses and ponies in need.”
HorseWorld is dedicated to rescuing neglected and mistreated horses and ponies, nursing them back to health before seeking long-term loan homes for every animal. The Bristol-based Charity is responsible for approximately 140 equines at HorseWorld’s centre and 350 in loan homes across the country.
Emma Miller from the EGB Wessex Group explained: “we are so pleased to be able to support the work of HorseWorld and sponsorship generated by the ride will be used to improve the quality of life for so many horses and ponies. We would therefore encourage all riders to take part.”
Entry Forms can be obtained from contact Emma Miller at Endurance GB, telephone 01749 812210 or email emmamiller@emaccounts.com, together with further details about sponsorship of your ride.
You can also contact Pip Eyles in the HorseWorld Fundraising Team on 01275 893034 to find out further information about the Great Rescue Ride.
www.horseworld.org.uk
vendredi 13 mars 2009
France CEN and FEI Qualification rulings
Portail Endurance - Original posting in French
(the following is a translation from French to English using Google translation tools:)
Some words to keep you informed of developments in the transitional post-meeting held in the FFE and Deauville in early March.
The meeting organized by Dominique Faye in the presence of Ian Williams, at the FFE has achieved equivalency between CEN 2008 and IEC 2009. To be more clear, and knowing that the riders' skills are acquired in life, we obtained that:
- The qualifications in 2008, for CEN over distances ranging from 90 km to 109 km speed free, are now equivalent to the qualifications of the course said "novice" as defined in Regulation transitoire2009. This equivalence can participate in organized CEI1 * this year.
However this provision is very little English: indeed, when they qualify Amateur or Pro 1 GP (90 km free speed) the French riders have participated in at least three tests at imposed speed, one of them is an ordeal Amateur or Pro 1 (90 km speed required). However, these conditions alone are already sufficient for a CEI1 *, as the transitional 2009.
- The skills practiced in 2008 on CEN to a distance of 110 km or more, free speed, become equivalent to a qualification test on a CEI1 * Transitional Regulation 2009 and to participate in competitions CEI2 * this year.
In summary a qualification on a CEN2 * or * CEN3, acquired in 2007 or 2008, will participate in a CEI2 * in 2009.
In Deauville, on 9 and 10 March, ahead of the 40 representatives of Nations Group 1 and 2 of the FEI, in the presence of Alex McLin, Secretary General of the FEI and David Holmes, Director of Sports of the FEI, I held a conference on the challenges of the new FEI rules and the transitional 2009. I highlighted the difficulties created by the application of transitional rules for particular qualifications.
Some points in this transitional place indeed at odds with many European countries, especially those who manage their tour officially endurance within the federation through a system of progressive qualifications.
If the recognition and the level of equivalence of CEN 2008 and IEC 2009 have reached a consensus, as was the case during the previous meeting in the FFE, it has not been the same for the recognition of equivalence tests CEI2 * 119 km of 2008 with tests CEI2 * 2009. If one refers to the settlement therefore transitional as it exists, it is necessary for horses qualified CEI2 * two years to qualify at the same level in 2009.
It should be noted that apart from France and brilliant Dominique Faye, and apart from Belgium and the clear and powerful of its secretary general, no representative of the countries concerned by the negative effects of regulation on transitional 'career development of horses and riders during qualifying, took part in the debate.
The presidents of the two groups eventually joined forces to request that the complaint stated by the speakers, and tacitly approved by all, can find a favorable outcome, but fails to the credibility of the FEI. David Holmes is then intervened to explain that it was difficult to change the rules at this stage. The President of the Group 2 spokesman groups involved, concluded by proposing to put this issue on the agenda of the next FEI office provided at the end of March to find a solution, in the interest.
I hope this brought to your knowledge have the merit to shed light on the current situation and you will wait in the stillness of the findings of the FEI office at the end of this month.
(the following is a translation from French to English using Google translation tools:)
Some words to keep you informed of developments in the transitional post-meeting held in the FFE and Deauville in early March.
The meeting organized by Dominique Faye in the presence of Ian Williams, at the FFE has achieved equivalency between CEN 2008 and IEC 2009. To be more clear, and knowing that the riders' skills are acquired in life, we obtained that:
- The qualifications in 2008, for CEN over distances ranging from 90 km to 109 km speed free, are now equivalent to the qualifications of the course said "novice" as defined in Regulation transitoire2009. This equivalence can participate in organized CEI1 * this year.
However this provision is very little English: indeed, when they qualify Amateur or Pro 1 GP (90 km free speed) the French riders have participated in at least three tests at imposed speed, one of them is an ordeal Amateur or Pro 1 (90 km speed required). However, these conditions alone are already sufficient for a CEI1 *, as the transitional 2009.
- The skills practiced in 2008 on CEN to a distance of 110 km or more, free speed, become equivalent to a qualification test on a CEI1 * Transitional Regulation 2009 and to participate in competitions CEI2 * this year.
In summary a qualification on a CEN2 * or * CEN3, acquired in 2007 or 2008, will participate in a CEI2 * in 2009.
In Deauville, on 9 and 10 March, ahead of the 40 representatives of Nations Group 1 and 2 of the FEI, in the presence of Alex McLin, Secretary General of the FEI and David Holmes, Director of Sports of the FEI, I held a conference on the challenges of the new FEI rules and the transitional 2009. I highlighted the difficulties created by the application of transitional rules for particular qualifications.
Some points in this transitional place indeed at odds with many European countries, especially those who manage their tour officially endurance within the federation through a system of progressive qualifications.
If the recognition and the level of equivalence of CEN 2008 and IEC 2009 have reached a consensus, as was the case during the previous meeting in the FFE, it has not been the same for the recognition of equivalence tests CEI2 * 119 km of 2008 with tests CEI2 * 2009. If one refers to the settlement therefore transitional as it exists, it is necessary for horses qualified CEI2 * two years to qualify at the same level in 2009.
It should be noted that apart from France and brilliant Dominique Faye, and apart from Belgium and the clear and powerful of its secretary general, no representative of the countries concerned by the negative effects of regulation on transitional 'career development of horses and riders during qualifying, took part in the debate.
The presidents of the two groups eventually joined forces to request that the complaint stated by the speakers, and tacitly approved by all, can find a favorable outcome, but fails to the credibility of the FEI. David Holmes is then intervened to explain that it was difficult to change the rules at this stage. The President of the Group 2 spokesman groups involved, concluded by proposing to put this issue on the agenda of the next FEI office provided at the end of March to find a solution, in the interest.
I hope this brought to your knowledge have the merit to shed light on the current situation and you will wait in the stillness of the findings of the FEI office at the end of this month.
jeudi 12 mars 2009
Great Britain: Tested staying power
Midweekherald.co.uk
lee.glanville@archant.co.uk
11 March 2009
Riding on Dartmoor, particularly the colder northern side, can often be a daunting prospect, especially at the end of February. Despite a thick mist and chilly drizzle 30 endurance riders set off from Okehampton camp for a 14 mile training ride.
Due to the fog they had to ride from marker flag to marker flag.
Fortunately for the horses and their riders, the cloud began to lift as they rode down the steep hill to Meldon reservoir and by the time they had dismounted to cross the dam on foot and were heading along the bridleway towards Sourton Down, the visibility improved. By the time, the last riders had reached Higher Nodden, the last of the cloud had lifted.
Despite the conditions, all the riders competed the 14 mile route, including several new members.
One of these was Val Jones from Feniton, near Honiton, riding her ex-racehorse mare, Flying Artist pictured below.
The first competitive endurance ride of the season in the south west will be the Wadebridge Ride on Sunday, March 22, which includes a 20 mile Pleasure Ride.
vendredi 20 février 2009
France requests change to 2008->2009 Transitional Measures
The French Federation urgently requests that the FEI reconsider it's refusal to accept modifications of the current qualification transitional measures. The Federation requests that all Star/Distance qualifications achieved under the 2008 qualification rules be accepted, for all 2009 competitions as though they had been achieved under the 2009 Star qualification rules. Without this change, it is estimated that 1500-2000 french horses will otherwise not be qualified for 2009 **/*** events.
Read more (PDF)
Read more (PDF)
jeudi 12 février 2009
Andalucia TV
Hola,
informarte que Andalucia TV va a emitir por satélite el resumen el III Raid Kaliber Tierras de al-andalus 2008.
Las fechas de emision son las siguientes:
· Domingo 15 de febrero a las 15:45 h.
· Miércoles 18 de febrero a las 18:25 h.
· Jueves 19 de febrero a las 00:15 h.
· Domingo 22 de febrero a las 01:15 h.
Hello,
Informr you that Andalusia TV is going to emit by satellite the summary of the III Raid Kaliber Tierras de al-Andalus 2008.
The dates of emission are (spanish time):
• Sunday 15 of February at 15:45 h.
• Wednesday 18 of February at 18:25 h.
• Thursday 19 of February at 00:15 h.
• Sunday 22 of February at 01:15 h.
Bonjour,
informe qu'Andalousie TV va emettre par satellite le resume l' III Raid Kaliber Tierras de al-Andalus de 2008.
Les dates d'emission sont:
• Dimanche 15 de février à le 15:45 h.
• Mercredi 18 de février à le 18:25 h.
• Jeudi 19 de février à le 00:15 h.
• Dimanche 22 de février à le 01:15 h.
Inés de Albert
informarte que Andalucia TV va a emitir por satélite el resumen el III Raid Kaliber Tierras de al-andalus 2008.
Las fechas de emision son las siguientes:
· Domingo 15 de febrero a las 15:45 h.
· Miércoles 18 de febrero a las 18:25 h.
· Jueves 19 de febrero a las 00:15 h.
· Domingo 22 de febrero a las 01:15 h.
Hello,
Informr you that Andalusia TV is going to emit by satellite the summary of the III Raid Kaliber Tierras de al-Andalus 2008.
The dates of emission are (spanish time):
• Sunday 15 of February at 15:45 h.
• Wednesday 18 of February at 18:25 h.
• Thursday 19 of February at 00:15 h.
• Sunday 22 of February at 01:15 h.
Bonjour,
informe qu'Andalousie TV va emettre par satellite le resume l' III Raid Kaliber Tierras de al-Andalus de 2008.
Les dates d'emission sont:
• Dimanche 15 de février à le 15:45 h.
• Mercredi 18 de février à le 18:25 h.
• Jeudi 19 de février à le 00:15 h.
• Dimanche 22 de février à le 01:15 h.
Inés de Albert
jeudi 5 février 2009
A Week in the saddle in Bulgaria
TimesOnline.UK
The countryside, food and camaraderie of a riding holiday more than makes up for aching muscles, says Kathy Carter
If the thought of a horse riding, culture and wine trail in Eastern Europe conjures up images of steeds with flowing manes, traditionally-dressed bagpipe players and homemade wine and moussaka, you've come to the right place.
Not knowing quite what to expect, I signed up for a week-long, 300km ride across some of Europe’s most beautiful terrain in Bulgaria. My cultural awakening began when our Bulgarian host, Mitko Koevski, collected our group of five riders from Sofia airport and took us to the village of Trigrad, where we would spend our first night in one of several guest houses.
Aside from myself, there were two teachers, Charlotte and Claire, Danni, a travel consultant, and Thea, a medical researcher and former doctor.
Strangers at first, like many people who book riding holidays, we soon bonded en route from Sofia, when we stopped at the Devil’s Throat Cave at Trigrad Gorge. Here, surrounded by natural rock face and chirruping bats, we climbed almost 300 steps from the 300,000-year-old pass where the Greek King Orpheus visited the Underworld in search of his beloved maiden, Eurydice.
Our culture induction continued afterwards at the adjoining café, with Ariana beers all round and a melding of the red-blooded Bulgarian male’s favourite music - 80’s soft rock and traditional kaba-gaida music - the latter produced from a white bagpipe made from the skin of a goat.
When our excited group climbed into our military-style saddles the next day, 185 miles of riding stretched ahead of us, yet I don’t think anyone was equating that to distance in real terms. Riding from Trigrad up to the 1,600-metre Videnitsa peak on the first day, our cross-bred horses negotiated endless rocky paths and cantered up steep hills, as we felt the first pangs of discomfort in our muscles.
Despite all of us being experienced riders, naively, none of us had put in any real training for the trip, so our bodies were feeling the strain. We swapped pain relief advice (Ibruprofen and Biofreeze gel being my personal recommendations) and diligently stretched yoga-style before mounting... at least when we remembered.
My mount, Nachim, had perfect manners, a comfortable gait and a super-soft mouth, and certainly made riding for over six hours a day a pleasure.
But what of the culture element? We were lucky enough to stay overnight in a renovated monastery in the village of Teshovo, and also visited several Orthodox churches – my favourite being in Dolen, a rustic, traditional village looking much as it would have done hundreds of years ago.
That night, our culture intake was boosted further by a bonfire-side party on the edge of the horses’ fields, where locals treated us to Bulgarian songs and kaba-gaida playing, and we stayed in a newly refurbished, 200-year-old house. A welcome treat was the friendly cow on the ground floor, who produced fresh milk for breakfast.
The diverse scenery in Bulgaria was unexpected. Despite this being my third visit, seeing a location on horseback affords one some spectacular views that normal modes of transport could not reach. Our trek took us through agricultural countryside, rolling hills and pretty meadows, along cavernous mountain paths with incredible, canyon-like formations, and even briefly over the Greek border. As the week progressed, the riding became faster, with plenty of long canters and exhilarating, fast gallops.
The culmination of this fabulous ride was an overnight stay in Melnik, a small town in the southwest region of the Pirin Mountains. Populated with taverns and cobbled streets, Melnik is famed for its wine, so with the riding element completed, we guzzled the local sauce to our heart’s content. It was the perfect moment to re-live the earth-shatteringly long, but exhilarating rides, the camaraderie of riding with a group of new friends, and the cheese-heavy, delicious evening meals.
Need to know
I can thoroughly recommend this "point to point" trip to experienced riders, although I would advise gaining a good level of riding fitness first – our longest day in the saddle was nearly nine hours, although most days are shorter. The horses were amazing, the guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the trip was so well organised by hosts Unicorn Trails.
Unicorn Trails’ Melnik Culture and Wine Trail costs £1,005 per person for one week. All accommodation and meals, starting with dinner the first night and ending with breakfast the last day, plus water with meals, transfers and all riding, are included. Wine-tasting, sightseeing excursions and flights are excluded.
The countryside, food and camaraderie of a riding holiday more than makes up for aching muscles, says Kathy Carter
If the thought of a horse riding, culture and wine trail in Eastern Europe conjures up images of steeds with flowing manes, traditionally-dressed bagpipe players and homemade wine and moussaka, you've come to the right place.
Not knowing quite what to expect, I signed up for a week-long, 300km ride across some of Europe’s most beautiful terrain in Bulgaria. My cultural awakening began when our Bulgarian host, Mitko Koevski, collected our group of five riders from Sofia airport and took us to the village of Trigrad, where we would spend our first night in one of several guest houses.
Aside from myself, there were two teachers, Charlotte and Claire, Danni, a travel consultant, and Thea, a medical researcher and former doctor.
Strangers at first, like many people who book riding holidays, we soon bonded en route from Sofia, when we stopped at the Devil’s Throat Cave at Trigrad Gorge. Here, surrounded by natural rock face and chirruping bats, we climbed almost 300 steps from the 300,000-year-old pass where the Greek King Orpheus visited the Underworld in search of his beloved maiden, Eurydice.
Our culture induction continued afterwards at the adjoining café, with Ariana beers all round and a melding of the red-blooded Bulgarian male’s favourite music - 80’s soft rock and traditional kaba-gaida music - the latter produced from a white bagpipe made from the skin of a goat.
When our excited group climbed into our military-style saddles the next day, 185 miles of riding stretched ahead of us, yet I don’t think anyone was equating that to distance in real terms. Riding from Trigrad up to the 1,600-metre Videnitsa peak on the first day, our cross-bred horses negotiated endless rocky paths and cantered up steep hills, as we felt the first pangs of discomfort in our muscles.
Despite all of us being experienced riders, naively, none of us had put in any real training for the trip, so our bodies were feeling the strain. We swapped pain relief advice (Ibruprofen and Biofreeze gel being my personal recommendations) and diligently stretched yoga-style before mounting... at least when we remembered.
My mount, Nachim, had perfect manners, a comfortable gait and a super-soft mouth, and certainly made riding for over six hours a day a pleasure.
But what of the culture element? We were lucky enough to stay overnight in a renovated monastery in the village of Teshovo, and also visited several Orthodox churches – my favourite being in Dolen, a rustic, traditional village looking much as it would have done hundreds of years ago.
That night, our culture intake was boosted further by a bonfire-side party on the edge of the horses’ fields, where locals treated us to Bulgarian songs and kaba-gaida playing, and we stayed in a newly refurbished, 200-year-old house. A welcome treat was the friendly cow on the ground floor, who produced fresh milk for breakfast.
The diverse scenery in Bulgaria was unexpected. Despite this being my third visit, seeing a location on horseback affords one some spectacular views that normal modes of transport could not reach. Our trek took us through agricultural countryside, rolling hills and pretty meadows, along cavernous mountain paths with incredible, canyon-like formations, and even briefly over the Greek border. As the week progressed, the riding became faster, with plenty of long canters and exhilarating, fast gallops.
The culmination of this fabulous ride was an overnight stay in Melnik, a small town in the southwest region of the Pirin Mountains. Populated with taverns and cobbled streets, Melnik is famed for its wine, so with the riding element completed, we guzzled the local sauce to our heart’s content. It was the perfect moment to re-live the earth-shatteringly long, but exhilarating rides, the camaraderie of riding with a group of new friends, and the cheese-heavy, delicious evening meals.
Need to know
I can thoroughly recommend this "point to point" trip to experienced riders, although I would advise gaining a good level of riding fitness first – our longest day in the saddle was nearly nine hours, although most days are shorter. The horses were amazing, the guides were knowledgeable and friendly, and the trip was so well organised by hosts Unicorn Trails.
Unicorn Trails’ Melnik Culture and Wine Trail costs £1,005 per person for one week. All accommodation and meals, starting with dinner the first night and ending with breakfast the last day, plus water with meals, transfers and all riding, are included. Wine-tasting, sightseeing excursions and flights are excluded.
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