Gulf News article on World Cup Ride

["Bill and Jan Stevens" <circlebarranch@mcn.net>]

Thought everyone would like to see a picture of Darolyn in an article in the Gulf News...go to the web site www.gulf-news.com  , go to the sports section and there is an article called Enthralling Endurance Battle Takes Shape...Good picture of Darolyn...the ride starts around 7:00pm Mountain time tonight (6:00am their time)...as of lastnight the people that would be crewing in the desert for the riders still had not received a 4WD vehicle to look at the course-as promised to be provided by ride management.  My husband wasn't too happy, since that is where he is supposed to be.  They also said that they wouldn't be allowing the cars to travel along with the riders on the course, but that is subject to change.  He did say that the weather was nice and that Sheikh Mohammed's birthday party was fun....lots of dancing and food...and that the Sheikh did look very nice in the cowboy hat from Darolyn.

 

He also mentioned that because of the foot and mouth disease, much of the European endurance riding was being called off.  Because of this, we might see an influx of European riders coming to the US, Canada, and Australia to do FEI rides.  They wouldn't be bringing their horses, but would be looking to lease some.

 

Interesting...He has talked at great length with Dr. Bob Beecher about the foot and mouth stuff...will be bring his suit case home, unloading it in the house and washing everything in bleach.  He even said that he'd buy some bleach there and scrub his boots and other shoes before he left.  He said that the foot and mouth isn't near where the horses are and that the crews, riders, etc have stayed far away from where it is.  Also mentioned that the riders would be leaving their saddle blankets etc there...scrubbing saddles before they left and when they got home.

 

Jan Stevens