Category Archives: Endurance Riding

Awards, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Endurance Riding, Events, USEF

Kelsey Kimbler Named 2010 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year

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2010 Junior Equestrian, Kelsey Kimbler. Photo by Paschal Karl.

Lexington, KY – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is pleased to announce Kelsey Kimbler as the 2010 Junior Equestrian of the Year. This highest of honor offered to a junior equestrian comes on the heels of another big honor Kelsey earned earlier this month – the 2010 USEF Youth Sportsman’s Award, sponsored by Breyer Animal Creations. This puts Kelsey in elite company, as one of only a handful of junior equestrians to accomplish both feats in the same year.

“My sister Kirsten won this award in 2007 and I’ve always looked up to her. When she won, I decided ‘That’s my next goal!'” Kimbler related. “It has been a whirlwind experience.”

The 17-year-old high school senior has shown an unwavering commitment to her sport. As a young child, she started in the show ring with walk-trot. Soon after, she continued her riding with endurance and has never looked back. Kimbler has won the AERC Junior National Hundred Mile Award twice in its four years of existence. This award is given to the junior rider who completes the most 100-mile rides in one year. Kimbler holds the record for being the only junior to complete five such endurance rides in one year. She also has represented the AHA Youth Association as her region’s delegate and through involvement in 4-H events with her Arabians. She was nominated by both the Arabian Horse Association (AHA) and the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC).

Continue reading Kelsey Kimbler Named 2010 USEF Junior Equestrian of the Year →

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The EQUUS Foundation and the USEF Launch America’s Favorite Equestrian

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WESTPORT, CT – December 17, 2010 – America’s Favorite Equestrian is an interactive fundraising effort presented jointly in partnership by The EQUUS Foundation and The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) to raise funds to advance the equestrian sport on an annual basis.

Using mobile texting, you can vote to select America’s Favorite Equestrians and support The EQUUS Foundation with a $5 gift. 100% of all donations will be used to support charitable causes. A minimum of $10,000 in “sport welfare” grants will be awarded, with an additional $5,000 grant awarded to the equestrian discipline generating the most votes.

The objective is for the America’s Favorite Equestrians to be an ongoing program with all equestrian disciplines/breeds represented and the winners recognized in a permanent “Hall of Fame”. The original intent was to launch the inaugural program in conjunction with the World Equestrian Games, which is why initially the eight disciplines of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para-dressage, reining, and vaulting were selected. The affiliates of the United States Equestrian Federation representing these disciplines selected the equestrians.  But, there were some logistics involved in establishing the mobile texting system and developing the website, which delayed the launch until December.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12751

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Driving, Endurance Riding, FEI

FEI President Names Executive Board Members

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Sheikh Khalid

Lausanne (SUI), 13 December 2010 – FEI President HRH Princess Haya has today named Chairman of Geographical Group VII Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (BRN) and Chair of the Driving Committee Richard Nicoll (USA) as members of the FEI Executive Board.

Sheikh Khalid and Mr Nicoll will serve on the Executive Board alongside First Vice President John McEwen (GBR) and Second Vice President Pablo Mayorga (ARG), who were approved at the General Assembly.

Sheikh Khalid, whose carrier as a sports administrator began in 1987, is an international judge in Endurance. He has been Chair of Group VII since 2006. He has been the Vice President of the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation and the Bahrain Olympic Committee since 2009. This year he became the Chief Executive Officer of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. In the past he has been involved at the senior level in international sports clubs and committees for motor sports, Jumping and Endurance.

Continue reading FEI President Names Executive Board Members →

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The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

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Steffen Peters – Individual Bronze – USA. Photos by Diana De Rosa

Bringing the World to Kentucky

“What a journey this continues to be,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, as he sat mesmerized by the incredible talent he was witnessing on September 25 as he watched each performer showcase their talents during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.  It had been four years since Dr. Lyons had made the decision for his company, Alltech, a worldwide leader in animal nutrition, health and performance, to be the first major sponsor of this event.

This day was especially significant and he wasn’t about to miss even one beat of the evening’s performances.

“As the first performers entered the arena, I felt a great sense of relief and a sense of achievement,” commented Dr. Lyons after pausing for a moment to answer the question of how significant it was to have the Games start officially. “That relief wasn’t just for me but for our people at Alltech and for WEG.  We all planned it and our people and the WEG people came together to get the job done.  It’s been a great example of a team effort.  So, how do I feel?  I feel really delighted, especially to see our people really get into it and get involved.”

Continue reading The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games →

Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

UAE Grabs Gold Medal at Endurance World Championships, Presented by Meydan

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Lexington, Ky., Sept. 27 — After their riders finished third, sixth and seventh individually in the Endurance World Championships, presented by Meydan, the United Arab Emirates today accepted their team gold medals in the Main Stadium at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

The UAE team’s total time (23:53:36) was nearly 55 minutes faster than silver medalist France (24:49:46), while Germany surprised the world by claiming the bronze medal (25:34:16). It was Germany’s first medal in endurance at a World Equestrian Games.

The UAE team members were HE Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed Al Maktoum, HE Sheikh Majid Mohammed Al Maktoum, and Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum. They had trained in Newmarket, England, to prepare for the World Games, because the grass training gallops and the climate there are far more similar to Lexington than Dubai, said Jaume Punti-Dachs, one of the team’s trainers.

Continue reading UAE Grabs Gold Medal at Endurance World Championships, Presented by Meydan →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Spain’s Ponton Flies to Endurance World Championship, Presented by Meydan

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Lexington, Ky., Sept. 27, 2010 — Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton of Spain, riding Nobby, literally out-galloped her rivals to win the individual gold medal at the Endurance World Championships, presented by Meydan, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

But HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Ciel Oriental, and his son, HE Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, on SAS Alexis, sprinted through the finish line only 1:55 later to claim the silver and bronze individual medals and lead the United Arab Emirates to their first team gold medal at a World Equestrian Games.

Ponton completed the last loop at an average speed of 29.44 kilometers per hour, while her UAE competitors chased her at an average speed of 31.66 kph. Ponton’s average time throughout the 100-mile race was a speedy 21.07 kph.

Continue reading Spain’s Ponton Flies to Endurance World Championship, Presented by Meydan →

*Featured/Spotlights, Championships, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, World Equestrian Games

Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Endurance Championship Report

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Spain's Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton and Nobby on their way to securing individual gold in the Endurance Championship at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA today. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

MIGHTY MARIA WINS ENDURANCE GOLD, UAE SCOOP TEAM TITLE by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 26 September – Spain’s Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton and her super-horse, Nobby, wrote their names into the history books of the sport of Endurance today when adding the individual gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky to their 2008 World Championship and 2009 European Championship titles.  The hat-trick has never been done before, and Nobby’s extraordinary recovery-rate proved key to their success once again. But Ponton herself is something of a super-woman.  Only seven weeks ago she gave birth to her daughter, Maria, yet she had the stamina, skill, physical fitness and concentration to win the coveted title against the sharpest competition today.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took the silver medal with Ciel Oriental while his son, His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Al Maktoum took bronze, and it was no surprise when the UAE claimed the team title as His HE Sheikh Hamdan joined with HE Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum to finish well ahead of the French in silver medal position and Germany in bronze.

Continue reading Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Endurance Championship Report →

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Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 2

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FEI President Princess Haya officially declared the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games open in Lexington, Kentucky last night. Photo: FEI/Dirk Caremans.

AUDIO LINK:

Interview with Dressage rider Isabell Werth (GER)
http://www.lloydbell.co.uk/access/client_zone/Isabell%20Werth-GER%20dres%2025-9.mp3

FEI TV – As well as live competition coverage throughout the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, FEI TV will make all competitions available post-event via VoD, plus an exclusive daily 30-minute VoD highlights show from the Kentucky Horse Park featuring the best of the day’s action, interviews, previews and reviews. There will also be lots of behind the scenes footage available.  Check out www.feitv.org.

DAY TWO GETS UNDERWAY AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK by Louise Parkes

Lexington, 26 September – It’s all happening at The Horse Park in Kentucky this morning where the closing stages of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Reining Team Championships are taking place in the Alltech Pavilion while the Endurance competitors are enjoying perfect weather conditions on their 160kms course.

Continue reading Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 Day 2 →

Competitions, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, Endurance Riding, Events, FEI, Western/Reining, World Equestrian Games

Definite Entries for Dressage, Endurance and Reining Now Available for 2010 WEG

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September 23, 2010 – LEXINGTON, KY – 1 day to go – The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games have announced definite entries for the following disciplines: Dressage, Endurance and Reining.

Definite entries for the three disciplines can be viewed online at http://www.alltechfeigames.com/content.aspx?id=5380.

The 2010 Games will begin September 25 with the Reining competition and Opening Ceremonies. Endurance will be held on September 26. The Dressage competition will begin September 27 and will end on October 1 with the sold-out Dressage Freestyle.

Definite entries for Driving, Eventing, Jumping, Para-Dressage and Vaulting will be available within the coming days.

Continue reading Definite Entries for Dressage, Endurance and Reining Now Available for 2010 WEG →

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Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010 – Preview

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MAKING HISTORY IN KENTUCKY…..

22 September 2010 – History will be made when the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games opens on Saturday 25 September in the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, one of the world’s most evocative permanent equestrian centres located in the heart of the USA’s famed ‘Blue Grass Horse Country’.

It is the sixth occasion that the competitive disciplines have come together to take part in  the world’s greatest equestrian extravaganza, but the first time that the Games have been held outside Europe and the first time they have had a title sponsor – the animal nutrition company Alltech.

When the nominated entries were received last month, over 900 athletes and 1,300 horses were listed, and while this number will reduce as selections are finalised over the next few days the scale of the event is enormous.

Read more> http://www.horsesinthesouth.com/article/article_detail.aspx?id=12170