Sport Endurance EVO Issue 24/2018

N. 24 SUMMER AUTUMN 2018

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photo by Enrico Querci

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THE TRYON DISASTER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP YJ THE GOBI DESERT CUP

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FEI MEYDAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR YOUNG RIDERS AND JUNIORS 2018 - PISA

N. 24 SUMMER AUTUMN 2018 Quarterly Endurance Riding Lifestyle Magazine Printed on the 10th of October 2018 Next issue 10th of January 2019

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THE GOBI DESERT CUP THE EQUESTRIAN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME

Registered in the Court of L’Aquila (IT).

Registration n. 572, February 2nd, 2008

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1st PRESTIGE ENDURANCE CUP POLO CLUB DU DOMAINE DE CHANTILLY

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A 2nd GREAT DEBUT FOR THE TWO HORSES FROM ITALY

Publishing Company Cultural Association Sport Endurance EVO Via Alba Fucens, 22 - L’Aquila Italy - VAT IT01628140665 Publisher/Manager Luca Giannangeli (lucag@sportendurance-evo.com) Marketing and Business Developer Elena Vanni (elenav@sportendurance-evo.com) Artwork Vincenzo Brancadoro (brancadoro@gmail.com) Supervisor Giovanni Graziani

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THE TROPHY OF CASALONE IN THE HEART OF THE MAREMMA

46

TERSK STUD IS ONE OF THE JEWELS OF RUSSIA

52

CHIARA CAREDDU: HUMILITY AND TALENT

Photographers Enrico Querci (photo cover), SistemaEventi.it, Oreste Testa, Barbara Miller, Francesca Landi Collaborators Heather Wallace, Tersk Stud press office, Monica Mira Printed by Dedalo Litostampa S.r.l.

Advertising elenav@sportendurance-evo.com Subscription www.sportendurance-evo.com Contacts +393287373031 +393489140620

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IVEC: THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMED TO BE WORKING IN TRYON

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FEI FIERACAVALLI ENDURANCE CUP 2018 ISOLA DELLA SCALA - VERONA

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H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM ITALY ENDURANCE FESTIVAL

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Editorial

by Luca Giannangeli

Just tears...

right where endurance began!

S

port Endurance Evo (web and printed edition) has been working with and for endurance riding, for 15 years.

We have seen all sorts of things in this long period of time but we would never have imagined to witness such a tragicomic show in Tryon, during the WEG. Our beautiful sport has been mocked and torn into pieces by today’s social media and by other equestrian disciplines too.

I myself was in North Carolina and starting from 6 in the morning I’ve seen all that has happened, minute after minute.

10 AM – Vet check is in two days – Tryon looks like a construction site, heavy equipment vehicles are everywhere, it is even dangerous to simply walk in the WEG Village. There is no trace of the Endurance Area and Sh. Mohammed’s palace is incomplete.

7 PM – Vet check is scheduled for tomorrow.

Where are the trotting areas? Where is the cooling area? They are not ready yet... still under construction!

2 PM – We are almost there...vet check is in an hour. Nobody has access to the gate yet, nobody can put some water in the buckets...it’s a total desolation!

There is a continuous noise and a lot of smog...100% air humidity, it’s boiling hot and Florence, the hurricane, is on its way!

6.15 AM – The ride begins. We are almost ready...30 or 50 horses start following two quad-bikes that lead the way in the dark (the video has already been posted on Facebook and viewed by 7000 people).

I had been walking fast for more than 15 minutes with hundreds of people and horses, trying to avoid the holes on the ground and being careful not to get run over by all those horses.

Yari Perrotti, sports trainer of the Italian National Team, was walking by my side, believe me... it was hard to keep pace with him although I consider myself a good athlete!

This is just to emphasize the fact that we were walking really fast, sometimes we were running, looking for some sort of starting line.

Suddenly, at some point, we realized we were exactly where we had started walking! We had all been walking in a ghost loop while others, probably luckier than us, had been guided towards the right direction by a man dressed in yellow. What happened? Two different groups headed off for the first loop with a 20 / 25 minute gap from each other. What’s most incredible is that at the first crew point we realized that there were two crew points, two different lines: a sort of fast-line dedicated to those not interested in wasting time over silly things like wetting the horse or offering him water to drink. The other line was meant for those who know well that you must always give your horse the chance to rest and drink some water even if he doesn’t want any. By the way...the chef d’equife didn’t have a car or a pass at his disposal, so he could only hop from one car to the other in order to follow all the horses.

T

he leading rider was the Crown Prince of Dubai, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum guided by Juma Punti and his wife Maria etc. After a few minutes Alex Luque Moral and Jean Philippe Frances showed up too and behind them other binomials (probably the ones who were lucky enough to choose the right track from the start!).

The first news came as a wet blanket at the first vet check: the ride was going to be suspended due to obvious irregularities. Redo or cancel it: that is the question. Judges, presidents and presumed scientists launched an animated debate and decided to start all over again.

After 45 minutes from the last finisher of the first loop, the ride started again over a 120 km distance. This is exactly when the total chaos began. The 29 participating teams gathered in two different formations: pro and against the cancellation of the ride.

The collection of signatures began...most people hoped the championship would be cancelled and rescheduled for the next 3-4 months in Europe, supported by the same Arab sponsor of the World Championship in Tryon.

Although the real result was, by now, compromised (because many riders had already run at 20 km/h for most of the track while others had decided to slow down and finished three hours later), the final decision was to start all over again at midday...all together!

Once the real starting line was identified, the race began along the second loop of the 160 km ride; officially, the first loop of the new 120 km ride.

When the riders were, more or less, halfway down the second loop, it started to rain. Nothing really important compared to Florence, announced by world television news (luckily the hurricane was losing its power and slowing down!). As a result, the cooling area was flooded due to the not draining ground that was brought over the previous day. The vet gate and surrounding areas got more and more crowded with people. Nobody respected the regulation that banned photos and videos in the trotting area. All sort of documentation started invading the web and became viral.

Everybody was furious, there was shouting everywhere and threats and swear words were addressed to the President of the Ground Jury, the FEI and the organizing committee. A real revolt was taking place and the UAE led it with great vehemence.

The riders were running their third loop but everybody wanted to stop the race led by Spain who lost Sh. Hamdan at the first loop, followed

by a competitive France aiming at the medal.

It was time for another wet blanket...the event was cancelled! The official announcement I personally received from the O.C., states that the event is cancelled due to the dangerous combination of heat and humidity and by rain (that had stopped a while ago!). The event was cancelled for the welfare of the horse.

The real show began in a very hilarious atmosphere: French riders started galloping inside the vet gate, the Spanish riders simulated victory in an imaginary finish line, there was a lot of shouting going on while judges were in tears, comforted by visitors passing by.

I was tired and very disappointed, I hopped in my car and headed towards the highway, my hotel was 35 km from the venue of the World Championship. I couldn’t wait till this whole story was over. I needed a shower with some real soap, no more wet blankets!

This tragicomic story will have a very important impact on my job and myself. Shall I close down leaving the role of journalist to social media, rip up the pages of the magazine my sponsors and I have always believed in and start again with new enthusiasm and desire to change?

After all, negative experiences are often necessary...they could turn into new sources of inspiration. After this experience I honestly hope that the FEI will look deeper into endurance regulations and choose the right direction, otherwise endurance riding will become a footnote of equestrian sports.

Who is guilty? Probably the right people were not in the right places and there was a total lack of expertise among those supposed to be the judges. Furthermore, this discipline in Tryon has been managed with great superficiality.

To conclude, I was sorry to notice that the riders of the American Team stood there amazed and a bit embarassed; it is not their fault of course, but we were their guests!

I’m curious to find out what is the American Federation’s point of view regarding this whole matter.

Let’s wait for the wind of change to blow!

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LE ARTICOLAZIONI sostegno e mobilità

L

e articolazioni del cavallo sono strutture complesse e molto delicate, composte da elementi in costante equilibrio fra di loro. La principale componente è la cartilagine articolare, che serve per ammortizzare e limitare l’attrito tra le estremità ossee.

Il benessere delle articolazioni del cavallo non influenza solo la sua salute generale e le sue prestazioni sportive, ma può ripercuotersi anche sulla sua disponibilità all’allenamento e quindi sul suo stato emotivo. È importante proteggere le articolazioni nello sport, perché spesso in allenamento o in gara, si può incorrere in lesioni legamentose, capsulari o meniscali che provocano una biomeccanica scorretta che sarà poi causa della degenerazione articolare in artrosi.

Il trattamento deve essere il più precoce possibile in modo da prevenire il consumo della cartilagine e deve inoltre essere preservata la muscolatura.

I-Joint è un mangime complementare, formulato specificatamente per il cavallo, a base di Glucosamina (16%) e altri fattori condroprotettivi (10%). I-Joint aiuta a proteggere le articolazioni dall’usura, sostiene la funzionalità articolare e contribuisce a promuovere la longevità atletica.

Diversi trial clinici confermano l’utilità della glucosammina per il mantenimento della salute articolare. Questa sostanza permette una certa riduzione del dolore e dell’infiammazione articolare, con ampliamento della motilità articolare. Nei cavalli con artrosi la supplementazione alimentare con glucosamina è consigliata come coadiuvante della terapia

JOINTS

support and mobility

H

orse joints are very delicate and complex structures, they are made up of elements which are in constant balance with each other. Articular cartilage is the main component, its principal function is to cushion and limit the friction between the bones.

Healthy joints in a horse don’t only influence his general well-being and sports performance but his willingness to train; therefore his emotional state too.

It is very important to protect joints in a sports horse because during training or competition, ligament, meniscus and capsular injuries can occur. Over time, these injuries activate an incorrect biomechanics which causes joint dete-

farmacologica vera e propria.

Tra i fattori condroprotettivi presenti in I-Joint si annoverano gli aminoacidi solforati come fonte di zolfo biodisponibile. Questo elemento è molto importante perché entra nella sintesi del collagene e si pone in stretta relazione strutturale con le proteine di tessuti connettivi, legamenti e tendini. I cavalli che a causa di un’intensa attività agonistica sono costretti ad attivare continui meccanismi di disintossicazione possono avere esigenze di zolfo, in particolare di aminoacidi solforati, molto elevate e non facilmente colmabili con una dieta normale.

In caso di attività sportiva intensa, quando le articolazioni sono continuamente sollecitate, è importante integrare la razione con mangimi complementari formulati allo scopo di sostenere la cartilagine articolare.

rioration that develops in arthrosis.

The treatment must be administered as soon as possible in order to prevent cartilage wear and preserve muscle mass.

I-Joint is a supplementary feed, specifically formulated for the horse. It is made up of Glucosamine (16%) and other chondroprotective agents (10%).

I-Joint helps protect joints from wear, it supports joint functionality and promotes athletic longevity.

Several clinical trials prove the usefulness of glucosamine for the maintenance of healthy joints. This substance reduces pain and joint inflammation, favouring joint motility.For horses that suffer from arthritis it is advisable to use supplementary feed based on glucosamine rather than pharmacological therapy.

Sulfurated amino acids are a source of bio-available sulfur found in I-Joint. They are among other condroprotective agents. These amino acids are very important because they enter collagen synthesis and structurally relate with the proteins of connective tissues, ligaments and tendons. Those horses subject to intense sports activity are forced to activate continuous detoxification mechanisms and could need sulphur, especially high quantities of sulfurated amino – acids that are not usually present in a normal diet.

In case of intense sports activity, when joints are continuously stressed, it is very important to integrate the ration with complementary feed meant to support articular cartilage.

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lot has been said about the European Endurance Championship for Young riders and Juniors 2018, torrents of words invaded the web along with videos and photos that have been posted on social media.

Many and different comments and ways of thinking left a trace however, when too many people leave an opinion, it is easy to use inappropriate language or to drift off-topic.

Spain’s celebrations

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

Photo credits Enrico Querci and SistemaEventi.it

B

ut let’s go back to a sports dimension and give a round of applause to the only two teams who were able to finish with a satisfying number of binomials in order to set sight on the medal.

Spain with its 3 binomials conquers the title of European Champion keeping the title achieved in 2016 (the third consecutive title).

Italy wins silver medal with its 4 binomials.

FEI MEYDAN ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR YOUNG RIDERS AND JUNIORS 2018 - PISA Spain and Italy stand on the roof of Europe SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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Individual Gold Medal Raquel Costa Codina with Tunez Cost

Michaela Supekova with Girola de Quercus

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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he gold medal winners are Raquel Costa Codina with Tunez Cost, Bruna Pujols Aumatell with Ulkiem Kelenn and Martina Codina Sala Planell with Cs Rogelia.

Italy expresses special thanks to its very united and skilled team for all the effort: Niccolò Trotta with Quassia Distinta, Carola Dino with Colorado, Camilla Coppini with Alkimia and Valentina Galli with Agadir by Galuska.

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R

aquel Costa Codina from Spain with Tunez Cost, followed by the Slovak rider Michaela Supekova with Girola de Quercus, wins individual gold medal and best condition.

Mikaela Supekova finishes with an amazing

sprint, leaving the medal to Raquel. Her horse started to slow down, probably eager to enter vet gate. The French dĂŠbacle amazes everyone although Lilou Tomas Arnaud with Scherazade Larzac (22.67 km/h av speed) conquer bronze medal.

Italy’s celebrations

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Gold medal and b.c. Tunez Cost

Italy’s Silver Medal

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Rankings say it all

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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The Royal Cavalry of the Sultanate of Oman and Sport EVO

for the development of endurance riding Photo by Barbara Miller

By Heather Wallace

The Equestrian Adventure of a Lifetime

Gobi

The Desert Cup

Clubbing

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

H

urtling through the air at 36,000 feet we each go our separate ways. 18 riders, 7 officials, and a large number of Mongolian veterinarians and herdsman came together August 22- August 31, 2018, for The Gobi Desert Cup united by our love of horses and excited to share in a life-changing adventure.

Some riders had 12 months to prepare while others opted in last minute. The riders ranged in age from 25 to 71-years old and from seven countries, including Australia, New Zealand, France, United States, Canada, and Sweden/ Denmark.

The Gobi Desert Cup’s second annual ride across the vast Mongolian landscape was a one-of-a-kind competition over six days and 480 kilometers on Mongolian horses. Combining an endurance race with a rich, cultural experience that supports the nomadic Mongolian culture is no easy feat but Co-founder and Ride Director, Camille Champagne has the passion for pursuing it.

Camille Champagne is a 3* international endurance rider who attended the Mongol Derby in 2016. Determined to hold a Mongolian

race of her own with a focus on horse and rider safety, she partnered with Naranbaatar Adiya, a leading Mongolian veterinarian and herder. Together they formed The Gobi Desert Cup in 2016.

“I felt that there was room in Mongolia for an endurance race. Something where people could ride safely, over a longer distance. We wanted to create something sustainable for Mongolia, “ said Camille.

The test for each rider can be either mental, physical, or a combination of both. Each rider brings different experiences and education to the event, resulting in a unique social community. Each equestrian must bond with their horse in the first 15km to successfully complete the day’s track.

Co-founder Nara is in charge of preparations, which benefit the local horse population so well the same herdsmen and horses return each year; a huge testament to the care and horsemanship provided by The Gobi Desert Cup. Herdsmen stay up late taking care of the horses and wake before dawn to round them up, sometimes ponying four to five horses with them while the sun breaks the horizon.

Riders

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W

ithout fences in Mongolia, horses may often travel up to 10 kilometers away from camp, so the herders have a big job and work 20 hours a day. According to Camille, “90% of the people we employ are nomadic people. They put their heart into their work.”

Horses that are a little fresh may be ridden for the riders after saddling. Always, the herdsmen are available to give advice or offer support.

This year, the second inaugural competition drew visitors throughout Mongolia bringing locals to showcase their riding skills and support the efforts of our international horsemen.

Before race began, Mongolian children showcased their horseracing prowess, teenagers and young herdsmen their horsemanship and clubbing skills, and the adults their wrestling form to showcase pride of country and support for this event.

Riders Tied Finish

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The Mongolian Horse 130 horses were selected, fed, trained, and conditioned specifically for the 2018 event.

As such, The Gobi Desert Cup hired up to 50 Mongolians with three months in preparation.

The breed itself has remained mostly unchanged since the times of Genghis Khan, and the equine population estimates at 3 million, which outnumbers the human population.

Mongolian horsemanship has remained unchanged as well, with very little groundwork, and expediency being the goal. Horses are pulled from the herd, mounted bareback, and ridden until they tire and give in to the rider.

While this might sound dated, Mongolians are some of the best horsemen in the world and start at an early age.

“You have to learn a whole new level of trust and put your life in their hoof,” says Camille Champagne of Mongolian horses. “They are

really tough and have a great sense of survival. If you can bond with them and become one they will give you everything you want.”

This hardy breeds lives outside year round and

is considered semi-wild. Horses are branded for identification purposes and will often travel more than 10 kilometers to graze or search for water, which is precious. Mongolia has an ever-changing temperature which can range from extremely hot in summer and cold As a result, these equines are leaner than other breeds. Head Veterinarian and Equine Reproduction Specialist, Dr. Ann Lammens said, “Nara, our Mongolian treatment vet, told me that this year over the whole country more than 100,000 horses died in a tough winter.

Temperatures were down to -40°C. We run the Gobi Desert Cup at the end of August because after that the horses need to be prepared for winter.”

Camille and Herdsmen

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International Veterinary Relations

V

eterinarian care is different in Mongolia. There is no vaccinations, dentistry, or preventative treatment for the majority of the horses. Horses used in the GDC receive conditioning and extra feed during

Vetting

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

training, during the race, and after as well.

More, the herdsmen receive payment for the use and care of their horses, and this helps to care for them and prepare them to gain weight in advance of the harsh winters.

Local Mongolian veterinarians, including GDC co-founder Naranbaatar Adiya, were on hand to work with and support our FEI-qualified vets and staff and help them to work with this

Mongolian Family

particular breed. Our veterinarians consisted of Dr. Ann Lammens, Head Veterinarian, 3* FEI official veterinarian and a 2* treatment veterinarian in endurance; Dr. Ian Baines 4 * FEI official veterinarian and a 3* treatment vet with 20 years endurance experience; and Dr. Julie Kemp, On Course Vet who has competed and vetted in the famous Australian FARA-WAY 320km marathon for a number of years.

Herdsmen and veterinarians from all over Mongolia come together each year to support and oversee the horses needed for such an event. In return, they have the opportunity to interact and share notes with our international riders and veterinarians about veterinary and horsemanship practices worldwide.

Horse Welfare Vetting is extremely important for any endurance horse race, and The Gobi Desert Cup is no exception. Once rider’s horses are pulled from the horse line and saddled, the rider warms up and then trots them for the veterinarians. If any lameness is noted or the horse is not a good fit for the rider, another horse may be selected.

There are checkpoints set regularly at 15km; 30km; 40km; 55km; 70km; and 80km for horses and riders to receive electrolytes and strapping stations to cool the horses. Four* FEI veterinarian Dr. Ian Baines said, ‘The horses are tough, and they do well with the slower pace of the Gobi Desert Cup, which is slower than most endurance races”. The riders had to vary pace for not only the terrain but often the slowest horse as these animals do best when ridden in a group. The average speed was between 11 and 15km/h depending on the day.

At the 40 kilometer checkpoint (or the halfway point), the vets will check the horse’s gut sounds, hydration, lameness, and heart rate. The riders are on a mandatory 1-hour hold minimum, and the horses must have a heart rate equal to or lower than 64 beats per minute.

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T

he vetting procedure is repeated at the finish line at 80 kilometers.

On scorching days or difficult terrain, the vets may choose to add another checkpoint with water.

Electrolytes for humans provided by Tailwind, horse electrolytes, bottled water, and snacks consisting of trail mix, chips, dried fruit, and even candy were available for the riders during their breaks.

Horse welfare is the #1 priority for the Gobi Desert Cup. For the second year in a row, the endurance race had zero rider or horse injuries. According to Dr. Baines, “We are doing this sport and vetting this sport, purely for the welfare of the horses and to look after them.

Our priority is to make sure when we have animals involved in sport their welfare is the priority.”

Dr. Ann Lammens also notes in detail, “It’s a course through the desert, so high temperatures with sandy or stony ground, and there was much competition. Despite this, for two years now the elimination rate was less than 5%. This year we had 104 combinations who started over six days. So I’m very pleased with this result especially if we compare to the global elimination rate which is up to 40% per race. In two years we never had colic, because

Team USA Winners

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

those horses, as soon as they are not ridden or as soon as the rider stops, the will start to eat. It’s their instinct; they have to eat to survive in the tough winter. Also, we never had catastrophic injuries or horses on fluids after the race.”

The officials, herdsmen, and riders are all very proud. The veterinarians will drive on the course to supervise each checkpoint to offer advice or note a problem before it becomes significant. However, the log books do not lie and in the two years of The Gobi Desert Cup there have been no health issues with the horses.

Rider Experience The Gobi Desert Cup, the race is only part of the experience. Our riders experienced a tour of Mongolia, which included the adventurous driving on roads and off; a 12th-century ger; Mongolian horsemanship; airag (fermented mare’s milk); wrestling; horse racing; and so much more even before the race commenced. The course itself over six days takes riders on at least three terrains, which often include herds of wild horses and beautiful vistas. Each camp and course had a beauty of its own, often lending the riders to photographing or filming on their GoPros.

After two days of base camp getting to know

each other, learning the vetting procedures, and training on the horses, the riders were very ready to start the race!

Each morning Camille Champagne, together with Nara assign the horses for the riders from the traditional horse line. The riders compete on a different, fresh horse each day resulting in communication and horsemanship with six horses of varying temperaments, physicality, and pace. The overwhelming theme is a love of horses, adventures, and competition.

With 80 kilometers each day on an unknown horse, equipment is essential. Franco C Saddlery from South Africa once again sponsored the race with custom-built endurance saddles fitted for the short-back Mongolian horse. Each morning as the sun melted away the clouds, each saddle is labeled with the rider number, and laid out on the horse line awaiting use.

Each day the course was marked on differing terrain, to view the fantastic landscapes available and share a unique vista and challenge for the riders. Groups changed daily for the most part and depended mainly on the horse drawn that day. Despite the changing terrain and horses, the sense of adventure and togetherness remained, especially on Day 4 when all riders rode together for the entirety of the day until the finish line.

Jon Pieszak Heebøll representing Scandinavia said, “The scenery is fantastic with the almost indescribable feeling of cantering on a Mongolian horse over the plains, with a peripheral view of more than 20 kilometers. The fact that a lot of the money for this event goes to the Mongolian herders and local community make this event one of a kind.”

Of course, while the horses have priority, the rider’s health and experience run a close second. Camille Champagne, the Ride Director, notes that “You may have what it takes, but Mongolia will take everything you’ve got”.

While veterinarians are on hand to maintain the health and welfare of the horses, all officials and herdsmen have the safety of the riders at the forefront of their minds as well.

Preparation is the key to success. This year we had many riders unfamiliar with endurance, but most were in training for months to prepare. Others learned on the fly and through the support of other riders. The biggest risk?

Dehydration. With warm temperatures and long distances, it is easy to forget to drink enough water. Luckily, Tailwind electrolytes were on hand, and our riders quickly learned

the benefits of preloading at breakfast as well as on the track.

The sixth day dawned bittersweet over the Gobi Desert. The last race day and the end was drawing near. All horse and rider combinations but two crossed the finish line. Both Lorie Duff (CAN) and Cecilia Stone (AUS) suffered from sore knees aggravated by hours in the saddle. Cecilia chose not to ride the last day, and Lorie withdrew on course at 40 kilometers. Luckily all riders and horses were able to celebrate their adventure. Once all the riders completed and passed vetting with flying colors, photos with the herdsman and relaxing occurred. However, of course, Mongolia will always be full of surprises. As a result, the officials decided to have a race of our own and show the riders we know how to ride a horse too!

The riders began taking bets and rooting on their riders. While some officials were chomping at the bit, others were a bit timid. Still, five of seven officials mounted up and along with Co-founder, Nara, took to the track to many cheers! Our on course vet and course photographer, Julie Kemp, took the lead by a nose, edging out Ride Director and 3* Endurance Rider, Camille Champagne at the last moment. It was quite close and created much excitement in the crowd.

With the competition completed, the closing ceremony with awards and a music concert by local artists was enjoyed by all.

Ride Results The Gobi Desert Cup is a point-based system rather than timed. While it benefits the riders to be first over the finish line to achieve the most points possible for the day, extra points are granted to the recipient of “Best Managed Horse” each day and “Overall Best Managed,” which is awarded the end of the race by the officials.

According to the GDC rules, “Best Managed Criteria: Condition of the horse at the final veterinary inspection, consistency, heart rate recovery, rider’s weight, relative problems encountered during the ride and the success with which the rider overcame any problems during the ride, skills displayed during the ride that made the ride least strain on the horse and or promoted the horse’s welfare to endure the ride.”

French rider, Elodie Maillard notes, “The goal is to determine quickly the horse’s capacity and what attitude to adapt. It requires a lot of

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Individual Winner

horsemanship, skill, and emotional fitness.”

Apparently this is something Elodie mastered because she was at the top of the leaderboard through much of the race. The points are accumulated over the 6-days to determine the winners for both Individual and Teams.

Overall Best Managed, First Place Christoph Schork (USA) Overall Best Managed, Second Place (Tie) Elodie Maillard (FRA) Jeffrey L. Stuart (USA) Individual Placings Christoph Schork (USA) Elodie Maillard (FRA) Jeffrey L. Stuart (USA) Tania Orlov (AUS) Bob Gauthier (USA) Ruth Benney (AUS) Allan Horn (USA) Kasmira Graham (NZ) Claire McManus (AUS) Michael Shaw (AUS) Mathilde Schwarz (NZ)

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Stephanie Scott (NZ) Jon Pieszak Heebøll (DK/ SE) Amy Eighteen (AUS) Cecilia Stone (AUS) Howard Kent (USA) Lorie Duff (CAN) Team Awards We are so proud of our teams! The overall team placings are as follows: 1. Team USA with Bob Gauthier, Allan Horn, Christoph Schork, and Jeffrey L. Stuart 2. The Leftovers with Ruth Rm Benney, Tania Orlov, Howard Kent, and Cele Stone.

3. The Silver Saddles aka Team New Zealand with Stephanie Scott, Kasmira Graham, and Mathilde Schwarz.

4. The Independents consisted of Lorie Duff, Amy Eighteen, Elodie Maillard, and Jon Pieszak Heebøll.

Community Without electricity, phone service, television, and internet the riders formed a community and found their own entertainment. Dinner in

the marquee often resulted in groups of card players, storytellers, and even dancing in the moonlight. From day one riders on the track were supporting each other and providing moral support. They exchanged life stories and became a type of family while away from home. While not everyone got along, the camaraderie was palpable both among the riders and the Mongolian people where the love of the experience, food, culture, and horsemanship overrode even personal and language differences. The sense of community was apparent even on the first race day, with riders holding back to support each other and all groups coming across the finish line holding hands. Even the ride back to Ulaanbaatar and remaining days there before leaving, the riders chose to spend time together rather than seeking to separate themselves and look for privacy they must have needed. Riders and officials staggered their goodbyes, and everyone would congregate in the hotel lobby to say farewell and wipe tears that were interrupted when

Nara appeared suddenly in the hotel lobby.

Cheers of joy and hugs were shared as we found he arrived to bring one of our riders, an equine dentist, to help him with a horse on his breeding station. Everyone greeted him like a long-lost friend, excited to meet him again and give thanks for his or her life-changing journey once more. Sharing an equestrian experience such as The Gobi Desert Cup, lives change and bonds form that last forever. We may go our separate ways for now, but our love of horses overcame language and cultural barriers, and for a short time the world is small again. Equestrians are genuinely united by their passion for horses. The second annual Gobi Desert Cup was so much more than an endurance race or a chance to ride Mongolian horses across the steppe. The Gobi Desert Cup provides an opportunity to learn about a culture richly-steeped in horse tradition for thousands of years, learn and support a local community, and change the lives of not only the riders but all those involved, forever.

To learn more about The Gobi Desert Cup or apply for our 2019 race, please visit gobidesertcup.com About the writer: Heather Wallace is a certified equine and canine sports massage therapist, author of Confessions of a Timid Rider, and Media Consultant for The Gobi Desert Cup. Visit her at timidrider.com or learn more about The Gobi Desert Cup at gobidesertcup.com.

Veterinarians

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1 Prestige Endurance Cup st

Winner CEI2 Alex Luque Moral with Abha Quely and second place Al Sabri Khalfan Salman with Petit Myliar

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he PRESTIGE CUP is part of a worldwide Endurance circuit made of 3 high standard rides: King’s Cup Endurance (Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain), 17th of February 2018. Royal Windsor Endurance (Windsor, United Kingdom), 11th of May 2018.

Prestige Cup Endurance (Chantilly Polo Club, France), 8th of July 2018.

Polo Club du Domaine de

Chantilly

...simply a great success!

Photo credits: Anais Levé www.anaislevephotographie.com SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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his July, the beautiful structures of the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly hosted this prestigious event led by the expert organizer Nicolas Wahlen who was able to create one of the most popular rides in the world...Compiègne!

He had in mind a new format, a ride characterized by important values: respect for the horse and for the environment; rules that everyone had to respect.

Mr. Nicolas’ idea and project have been supported by the Bahrain Royal Equestrian Federation who has become the official sponsor of the event from the very beginning.

Considering that supertiming LIVE systems and social media are posting results, photos and videos in real time, we will dedicate our article to those who have worked hard behind the scenes to achieve this final brilliant success. We have had a nice chat with Sophie

Delavaud, a member of the organizing committee, interviewed by Elena Vanni (Sport Endurance Evo): What was the general feedback of the event?

The general feedback of the ride was very positive for this first edition of the Prestige Cup Endurance in Chantilly.

All the teams and the riders respected the ecoresponsible rules: One crew car per horse A maximum of three grooms per horse One crew point per loop No transparent plastic bottles in the forest Five litre buckets in the cooling area No straw nor shavings in the resting area

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Everyone respected these rules and furthermore we received the EQUURES Label, a very important achievement.

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t took us 3 months to write down the project and make the EQUURES commission come during the ride to check if everything was done properly.

We are very proud of this label and this is the only ride in the world where the competitors have equal chances to win.

No matter if you are a big team or a small one, the rules are the same for everyone and all the riders have appreciated this very much.

His Highness Sheikh Nasser was the first rider but, unfortunately, his horse didn’t pass the vet check.

This is Endurance after all...you can finish first but if your horse doesn’t pass the vet check you can be disqualified.

It is hard, but these are our sports rules and we have to comply with them.

H.H. Sheikh Nasser waited for all the horses to go through vet check and when Alex Luque was declared the winner, he congratulated him for the success.

Anyway, it’s been a hard ride because of the heat but all the riders appreciated the quality of the track and the facilities.

Social Media defined it the ride that respects the horse...what is the future of the Prestige Cup? We have talked a lot about our ecoresponsible committments because we deeply think it is the future of our sport.

Endurance has to change, it has to move to a higher level, this is why we decided to apply for the EQUURES Label that rewards horse welfare and environmental protection.

It is not possible to organize a ride close to Paris if you don’t protect the environment and respect horse welfare.

Our sport has been soiled for years for irresponsible behaviour, it is crucial now to clean this image and promote a new type of event.

Today, we are proud to prove to the endurance world and to the FEI that this is possible.

As organizers you can implement new rules and make riders respect them.

Our system is not perfect and we will discuss improvements for the next year, but it definitely works and we will keep this line for the next edition too.

Regarding the next edition... are you thinking of opening the ride to a larger number of participants?

As far as the number of participants is concerned, a maximum of 100 riders was a man-

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datory requirement on behalf of the institutions in order to get the authorization to organize the ride.

Actually it’s quite simple...when we asked them authorization to use the track, they made it clear to us that only 100 riders could cross the forest.

So we respected this rule for the sake of endurance.

This decision was taken because in the past, rides with a larger number of participants, damaged the track.

HH Sh. Nasser

HH Sh. Nasser in front of the group

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1987

Gaston Mercier ENDURANCE EUROPEAN CHAMPION

2017 A LWAY S AHEAD WITH ENDURANCE SADDLE

FLORAC 2.0

HORSE & RIDER COMFORT 2 KG WEIGHT UNEQUIPPED B I OT H A N E G I R T H ST R A P CARBON TREE 10 YEARS WARRANTY WATER RESISTANT NATURAL LEATHER 36

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w w w. g a s t o n - m e rc i e r.c o m

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or this reason local institutions don’t accept more than 100 riders.

The forest of Chantilly has the best tracks, we care about the environment and we want to keep this ride and develop it through the coming years, so our objective is not to increase the number of riders but to keep the ride ecoresponsible and prestigious with top quality tracks, top services, top environment and top riders.

In order to maintain this quality we can’t have a lot of riders.

However, in this period of the year, top quality riders are not so many in France.

http://www.prestigecupendurance.com

Who would you like to say thank you to...?

His project was a big challenge and we sincerely thank our sponsor HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa who has supported us from the very beginning.

We would also like to thank Gaston Mercier, Dolce Hotel, DS Automobile, Beverly Polo Paris, Arion Concierge, Equimov, La Buvette, Ravene, Miasun, Sport Evo, Arabian Horse Spirit, Jours de Cheval, Grand Prix, all our institutional and local partners, all the exhibitors and service providers for their amazing job.

See you in 2019!

RANKING:

http://www.atrm-systems.fr/index0eng.htm

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Badir des Egas (2011 – French Saddle - Emir d’Espiens x Osmira de Pigale x Pigale) ridden

by Giulia Mantovani and Barhein des Egas (2011 - Anglo Arabian - Sadepers x Arvena x Ruffian) ridden by Stefania Marchiano, have

BADIR DES EGAS

been invited by the Bahrain Equestrian Federation, to run the first edition of the Prestige Cup...an offer you just can’t refuse!

Both horses are property of Eritrea Golden Star stables, they are in Italy and are trained at

Giulia Mantovani with Badir des Egas

a 2 great debut nd

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Jetline Endurance Team stables, under Daniele Rusconi’s supervision.

“This was actually the first CEI ride for these two horses” – declares Mr. Rusconi – “The Prestige Cup in Chantilly was definitely a great

Stefania Marchiano with Barhein des Egas

parterre for their debut considering that the track has very technical features and that the event is a prestigious one”.

Badir des Egas and Giulia Mantovani have finished the ride (final average speed 15.9).

BARHEIN DES EGAS

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nfortunately, Barhein des Egas and Stefania Marchiano had to go through re-inspection due to a light limp just 22 km from the finish line.

“I am very happy to have finished this beautiful but selective ride” – declares Giulia Mantovani – “especially because it was characterized by peculiar regulations and most of all because Badir was running his first CEI**”.

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THE TROPHY OF

CASALONE

in the heart of the MAREMMA Erik Fumi

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Photo by Francesca Landi

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asalone is a racecourse located in Grosseto, Tuscany.

Starting from the beginning of the XIXth century, farms, level ground and mountain villages, used to host and organize horse races: at first

they were just Berber races, then they became challenges and knightly contests to designate the fastest horse of the herd. The prize was a Palio, an embroidered cloth, a drape, a flag or a standard with the royal coat of arms and the emblem of the Maremma county seat.

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hat is when the Società Ippica Grosseto was founded.

The racecourse of Casalone, like many other racecourses in Italy and in Europe, opened the doors to endurance for the second time in a row.

The efforts of the organizing committee have been rewarded by the attendance of 80 binomials, despite other important events and the WEG were scheduled at the same time.

Grosseto’s International ride was run over a 90 and 120 km distance: most of the track developed along the banks of the river Ombrone and it was mainly flat.

Everybody appreciated the track and the welcoming hospitality curated by Onlus Oikos who the organizing committee thanks heartedly.

It has been a very pleasant end of August in the sign of sport and happiness, despite a very light rain, early in the morning.

Carolina Tavassoli Asli with Pallas win the CEI2*.

The same category for under 21 riders was conquered by Filippo Cingolani and Cold Ayre.

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Francesco Galantino and Selena Moon win the CEI1* while Claudia Cantoni with Bongo Bingo conquer the CEN B. Marina Roghi astride Nihal win the CEN A and Cristian Meattini with Tessiu de Iloi conquer the novice ride.

A round of applause goes to all the participants of non competitive levels, especially to Luca Irene and Elifszja for achieving the best score.

Curiosity: the promising Italian jockey Enrico Fumi was debuting in his first 30 km ride. After a very serious accident, Enrico decided to ride again, choosing endurance, the toughest among equestrian disciplines.

It has been very exciting and moving at the same time to see him finish the ride astride the pureblood Arabian Kohl, who was given to him as a present after ANICA’s logical social campaign.

The trophy of Casalone passes with flying colors and it is ready for next year’s edition!

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t is one of the largest studs in Europe. It’s livestock is about 400 purebred Arabian horses and every year about a hundred foals are born! This is a hard work that began 130 years ago. Every year Tersk Stud hosts several equestrian events, which aim to

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promote and develop Arabian horse breeding. They are shows, national and international endurance competitions, show-jumping and dressage championships, hippotherapy sections, auctions, tours, horse parades and many other interesting happenings.

TERSK STUD IS ONE OF THE JEWELS OF RUSSIA SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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he most anticipated and popular event is the Open House, that has been organized for nine years already. In 2018 it attracted around 11 000 spectators from different parts of the country and abroad.

Every year Tersk stud team creates a new theme for the Open House. It might be a medieval knight tournament, Russian folk tales or like in 2018 – a round-the-world trip. The guests enjoyed handicraft workshops and beautiful installations, tasted Caucasian cuisine, took part in various contests and kids had the opportunity to ride horses and have fun in numerous bouncy castles. Everybody could do an exhibition of photo archive and find out what countries Tersk horses were exported to

and when. The doors of the stables were open and every guest could meet the charismatic Tersk Arabian horse face to face. One of the most spectacular part of the Open House is the Cossack stunt-riding show by students of Surovikino Cossack stunt-riding school from Rostov region.

The smaller arena was occupied by children who competed in fancy-dress show-jumping competition while the main arena hosted Arabian Horse Russian Championship affiliated by Russian Arabian Studbook and the Ministry of Agriculture of Stavropol region. 65 purebred Arabian horses participated in the championship and were judged by Marek Trela (Poland), Deirdre Hyde (UAE) and Alexander Klimuk (Russia).

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o doubt the visitors had their favorites but the Best of Show title was given to invincible Napevnij (Piligrim – Nagruzka).

It is by now a good tradition to crown the Open house with a lottery and its Grand Prix – a purebred Arabian horse provided by Tersk stud. This year fortune smiled upon a young lady from a nearby town Mineralnie Vody.

We are happy that for so many years Tersk stud has been considered the cradle of Russian Arabian horse breeding. We would like to invite everybody to visit our stud next August as the Open House will be devoted to the 130th anniversary of Tersk’s foundation. This is a very important date for us so we will do our best to turn this event into an unforgettable and bright experience for all the guests who will come and join us.

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t is our job and our passion to constantly look for those peculiar characters of the horse world who don’t seem to like being in the spotlight but, nevertheless, are always present at the most important world events.

This is the case of Chiara Careddu from Sardinia, as her surname suggests.

This girl from Sassari, who was born in 1996, approached the world of horses when she was still very young. She wasn’t born in a family of horse owners or passionates, she simply has always had it in her blood.

Microphones to Chiara Careddu: «In 2016, after many sacrifices I reached England where I attended the British Racing School. The BRS provides purpose built facilities to promote and encourage young people who have the potential to ride as professional jockeys. That’s when my experience with race horses began; I started working with an Italian trainer who lives in Newmarket, Mr. Luca Cumani. At present I work with an English trainer, Roger Varian.

In the little spare time I have left, especially in the summertime, thanks to my friendship with Beatrice Milanesio, I have the great opportunity to ride for one of the most important and popular stables of the UAE, Emaar Stable.

Recently, I’ve had the big honour to run in Euston Park with my brother Pierpaolo. I ran the Open CEI2* with Mer-Suli and finished in sixth position, while my brother Pier won the CEI2*YR with Eros Ea (av. speed 25.73 km/h).

This year I had the opportunity to run the Prestige Cup in Chantilly with a horse of the stable.

The name of the horse is Paslaw, a very sweet chestnut horse (according to Elena) with whom I finished in 15th position.

It has been a tough ride...why? Because the track was so beautiful and fluent that you were tempted to speed up!

After each loop you had to enter the vet gate within 10 minutes and the heart beat was supposed to be within 64. That’s why I define it a tough ride!

I am so happy to have finished this new and exciting race...hope there will be other similar ones in the future!

As far as the world of flat racing is concerned, I can’t wait to get my jockey’s license to start racing officially and experience what it feels like to run long and short distances at higher speeds.»

Thank you Sport Endurance Evo

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Chiara Careddu Photo: Pinuccio Oppo Interview by Elena Vanni

humility and talent SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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very successful second International Veterinary Endurance Conference (IVEC) was held near Tryon (USA) before the WEG. Nearly 100 veterinarians and other endurance professionals from about

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IVEC | THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMED TO BE WORKING IN TRYON

20 countries around the world, including Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Northern and Southern America and Australia came together for a full day of presentations.

After the opening of the conference by Dr. Martha Misheff, equine American surgeon living in the UAE, long time involved in the endurance sport and member of the FEI veterinary committee and also President of the Treating Veterinarians in the world endurance championships in Tryon, Dr. Albert Solé Guitart, presented a wrap-up of the most relevant publications in the endurance sport in the lastest years.

One of the key presenters was Dr. Stephanie Valberg from the USA, the most renowned veterinarian in the field of muscle pathology, who once more stressed that tying up is not related to accumulated lactic acid in the muscle, but to other mechanisms related to calcium regulation of muscle.

International Endurance Veterinary Conference (IVEC) prior to the WEGs in North Carolina “close to 100 participants”

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he also presented her later research on myofibrillar myopathy, a condition that could explain recurrent rhabdomyolisis in arabian horses.

Dr. Marc Walton introduced the audience to endurance in South Africa and shared his experience regarding most common injuries seen and their management in this geographic area.

Dr. Emmanuelle van Erck from Belgium highlighted the importance of using data from field exercise tests in the impact on improving performance of endurance horses.

Dr. Massimo Puccetti who works in the UAE and Italy described how he does pre-purchase exams, sharing his experience by showing numerous xray and scans case studies which was highly appreciated by the audience.

Dr. Monica Mira, also organiser of IVEC, presented some preliminary results on using a portable inertial sensor based system during endurance competitions to help veterinarians objectify their gait assessment during endurance competitions.

Morgane Schambourg presented her results of her study supported by the FEI on using a special device to check for hyposensitivity in limbs of horses subjected to neurolytics previous to competitions, a banned procedure thought to contribute to catastrophic injuries in endurance races.

Dr. David Marlin, renowned physiologists showed which strategy winners of endurance competitions seem to be using in comparison with non-winners, after statistical treatment of the data of major championships and other international competition. The panel discussion at the end of the day with participants from most FEI regions brought interesting topics to the forefront. One issue raised was how the FEI demands have increased competition costs so much that it has decreased the ability for many people to join the sport in countries like Uruguay and Australia.

Quoting Dr. Martha Misheff, “The conference provided an opportunity for the folks in the Endurance community to hear and discuss updates on current veterinary practices and research. There were some excellent speakers, and it was well received by the attendees, who were from a number of different countries from around the world. A round table

discussion that followed gave people the opportunity to make many positive suggestions for solving some of the challenges faced by the rapid evolution of the sport”.

IVEC is organised before every biannual world championship, providing the international endurance community with the latest research in the sport. Speakers from all FEI groups are represented in the programme. The next IVEC is planned to take place at the World Endurance Championships in Pisa, Italy, in 2020.

Please “like” the IVEC facebook page to be kept informed.

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Follow Endurance at your fingertips with Intisaar!

Events | Activities | Results

S

port EVO and its whole staff couldn’t miss the FEI FIERACAVALLI ENDURANCE CUP 2018 in Verona.

For the very first time the winning format Italia Endurance Festival landed in Verona at the Isola della Scala, a prestigious event hosted by the Palariso.

A ride with very few frills and a lot of substance which took place in the same week-end of the Open CEI2* rides and the ones reserved to the Young Riders and the Ladies.

A CEI3* was held on Thursday but this ride was especially meant for riders from the UAE seeking for qualification.

Italia Endurance Festival 2018 Isola della Scala (Verona, ITA) 62

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FEI FIERACAVALLI ENDURANCE CUP 2018

ENDURANCE CUP 2018

FEI FIERACAVALLI

Photos by Oreste Testa and Sport EVO SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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he main sponsor of the event was FieraCavalli who celebrated its 120th anniversary! As always, Meydan stood by Italia Endurance Festival, supporting the event with its prestigious brand and attracting binomials from foreign countries too.

Stefano Canazza, the mayor of Isola della Scala, expressed immense satisfaction after no-

ticing that his small town was in the focus of attention of local, national and international press.

The successful binomial James Coppini / Diego Albiero and its entire staff ensured that everything ran smoothly, receiving general approval and just few negative comments concerning the management of the ride calendar during the event.

CEI2* 2nd place Pietro Maria Moneta with Marere Hanet in the company of Mr. Carletto Bertoni with Sindianu

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CEI2* Winner Daniele Serioli with Diza

The ride

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he track is the real winner of this ride...an excellent one! Very good ground, perfect signs and very interesting landscapes.

Parts of the track crossed the old town over bridges and arches made of stone.

Infinite paddies and a beautiful river accompanied the horses all through the ride, creating the perfect frame for an engaging sports week-end and, as always, very challenging too.

CEI2* 3rd Place Giacomino Campagnoni with Palma Bororese

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CEI2* Ladies Winner Isabella Bonetto with Ottello

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CEI2* Ladies 2nd place Melania Serioli with Gifle dell’Orsetta

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CEI2* Ladies 3rd place Michela Marcucci with Quintenta de Iloi

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he beautiful Scaliger tower with a bridge that was crossable on both directions by the horses, brought everyone back into the past. It all looked like a setting of a XVIIth century film, the period when Isola della Scala was reclaimed. The river Tartaro with its small waterfalls, its dams and uncontaminated fauna accompanied the horses throughout the track. Despite the very hot weather, the race wasn’t compromised but luckily on Saturday a pleasant breeze started to blow.

CEI2*YR winner Valentina Galli with Putzu Sole

The CEI3* that was held on Thursday was meant especially for UAE riders who won the three podium positions: first place was AL OWAISI Ghanim Said Salim with Pallas, AL HARBI Saeed Ahmad Jaber with Assim du Barthas won second place and HH Sh. AL MAKTOUM Sh Rashid Dalmook with Athos Du Nouvion conquered third place.

The 120 km ride was quite an exciting one.

Daniele Serioli with Diza crossed the finish line in a very special but not unusual way.

Daniele imitated a flying plane with his arms wide open moving from one side to the other.

Pietro Moneta and Marere Hanet conquer silver medal while Giacomino Campagnoni with Palma Bororese win bronze.

Isabella Bonetto with Ottello win the Cei 2* followed by Melania Serioli with Gifle dell’Orsetta and Michela Marcucci astride Quntenta de Iloi.

The Young Riders’ ride won by Valentina Galli with Putzu Sole is the last 120 km ride of the day. Second place and best condition for Oneglia by Ukimba ridden by Caterina Coppini, third place for her sister Camilla with Deghalal Black.

View rankings on: http://www.enduranceonline. it/db/pdf/2018/20180623_Isola_della_Scala_VR.pdf

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CEI2*YR 2nd place and BC Caterina Coppini with Oneglia by Ukimba

CEI2*YR 3rd place Camilla Coppini with Deghalal Black

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nce again, on the 26th and 27th of July, the beautiful Italian city of Pisa turned into the World Endurance Capital. Overall, the event registered amazing numbers in terms of attendance and a growing trend.

The Racecourse of San Rossore was excited to have the FEI Meydan Endurance Championship for Young Riders and Juniors on the board of the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Italy Endurance Festival, a prelude of the under 21 CH-M-YJ-E World Championship, the 2019 CH-M-YH-E 7

YO World Championship for 7 year old Horses and the 2020 CH-M-E World Longines FEI Endurance Championship.

The presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his entourage for the fourth consecutive year proves that this location is very much appreciated in terms of sport and business opportunities.

Gianluca Laliscia, the organizer of the event, expressed great satisfacion for the results achieved, he was able to make Italy and more specifically, the city of Pisa, the focus of World Endurance.

GREAT ATTENDANCE! H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Italy Endurance Festival 76

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Photos by SistemaEventi.it SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

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The event in numbers

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he great numbers registered by the event require a more detailed analysis.

The numbers that have been registered in terms of attendance, speaking of sportsmen and economists, have been reported by SistemaEventi. it on the website of TOSCANA ENDURANCE LIFESTYLE 2018 (see below scheme).

- Accomodation facilities in Pisa and the surrounding areas were sold out. It was impossible to find accomodation within 20 km from the racecourse of San Rossore.

- There were 49 starters at the European Championship for Young Riders. 22 starters classified with just two medal teams out of 8 participating teams.

It is actually not a great number if we think about the future of endurance. Young riders are the hope of our future... on behalf of FEI, a more efficient policy, aimed at the development of this discipline, would be more than desirable.

The Festival rides of the following day registered a total of 310 binomials representing 31 nations (considering the nations of the previous day too). This great attendance was probably determined by the incentives given during registration.

As far as the incentives and reimbursements to registered riders are concerned, we could give a double interpretation: some people believe that this policy could cause irreversible damage to European Organizing Committees who are slowly witnessing the end of their rides/events. Others believe (as evidenced by the number of riders), that it is preferable to run where participation costs are guaranteed by the O.C. and where you are paid to run.

Apart from the hypocrisy and debate that we are used to on FaceBook, we musn’t forget that the policy for the development of endurance, wanted by Arab countries (who are the main sponsors of this discipline), supports thousands and thousands

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SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

of people, from the groom to the greatest organizer of events, horse traders, clever mediators and forward-thinking breeders.

- Such a popular event attended by a great number of horses, cannot but become a big horse market, an activity that has always been the focus of the sport horse world.

Statements like the one quoted above have not been 100% verified, it seems that 40 horses have been sold and that most of them flew to the UAE and the Middle East.

We are not talking of astronomical amounts, as we were used to in the past years, except for some rare cases. Prices have gone down and the offer has increased. Thanks to today’s technology and electronics it is easier to have access to information, photos and results...with just a click your horse will be showcased.

It is not possible to find certain data considering that nobody wants to reveal news and prices.

Conclusions This is the only significant evidence that explains the outcome of the event better than words: 13.200.000 the value of the wholeevent in Euros 5.489.977 people who have visited the official website 1.397.684 Likes, comments and shares on facebook and Instagram

22.530 Hotel overnight stays

3204 Press and web articles

580 People involved in the organization

371 Participant horses

52 Represented countries

31 Competing nationalities

16 Competing Italian regions

HH Sh. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with Gianluca Laliscia

SPORT ENDURANCE EVO

79

Saddles with passion since 1903

selleriapariani.it

RC Sand Saddle Saddle without flaps and with long billet straps in Biothane.

Stirrup bars have been shifted back to help the rider to maintain a correct position and an optimum balance. Skirts are padded to provide maximum comfort. Rider’s weight is equally spread on horse’s back thanks to the spring tree.

Panels are made with felt and expanded polyurethane.

Colours and sizes customizable Weight: 3 kg

x-bionic® convention sphere At the same time X-BIONIC® HOTEL provides a large convention area for your next business meeting, expo or conference, in the most beautiful settings of a private resort. x-bionic® convention sphere features 12 meeting spaces including the largest conference room in the region with capacity of 600 people and Tuli Cinema.

With a large variety of congress halls, meeting rooms, outdoor terraces and other venue options we can ensure your business or event needs are met.

x-bionic® sphere Dubová 33/A, Šamorín Slovakia www.x-bionicsphere.com www.facebook.com/xbionicsphere

4 different concepts of restaurants Wide selection of healthy food

Ideal conditions

for professional athletes and amateurs

More than

Offering high standard

area of resort

Professional conditions for

One of the

most modern Olympic equestrian centers in Europe

www.x-bionicsphere.com