Postcard: Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Endurance

Time for a field trip from Caen to a beautiful and quaint section of France about 90 minutes away in Sartilly, where the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games endurance race was held.

By Nancy Jaffer | Aug 28, 2014

August 28, 2014 -- I didn't go to the WEG endurance championship for the competition; I went for the scenary. The drawing card was being able to photograph horses against the backdrop of Mont Saint-Michel, one of France's most famous landmarks. It's an eighth-century island fortress, a little more than a half-mile off the coast, topped by a monastery and an abbey. Below them are shops, restaurants and housing for the 44 residents.

Truth be told, the commercial area is basically a tourist trap, but the structure is so lovely that it is wonderful to look at, especially from a distance, where its statuesque beauty really can be appreciated.

Two loops of the endurance race were run on and near the beach, with Mont Saint-Michel as a backdrop. People turned out to see the horses canter across the sand, just a few feet from them. It was cool to look up on the dunes and see that someone brought several horses to watch.

The endurance mounts provided a contrast to the painstaking turnout of the dressage horses I've been writing about for the last three days. It ranges from scrappy to utilitarian, with tack to match. This is no pleasure ride; they're going 100 miles and doing it fast to get the medals. Unlike the dressage warmbloods, these horses are mostly Arabians or half-Arabs, without an extra ounce of fat on them. Some, frankly, look skinny.

- See more at: http://www.equisearch.com/article/postcard-endurance-25088#sthash.wytztor2.dpuf

2014 WEG: New format will test horse and rider

Endurance competition is the biggest in the history of the World Equestrian Games

By Leslie Wilson Jr, Racing & Special Features Writer
Published: 19:29 August 27, 2014

Dubai: The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) has developed a new format and measures that will both test the riders and also improve the welfare of endurance horses when the marathon event takes place on Thursday.

Held over 160km, the endurance ride is one of the biggest events at the World Equestrian Games, which are currently taking place in Normandy, France.

More than 1,000 riders and horses from over 70 countries are competing at the two-week extravaganza including first-timers from Peru, Palestine and Kazakhstan.

The endurance competition, which is the biggest in the history of the event, is attracting a lot of attention.

A total of 260 riders representing 49 countries will be seen in action, among them past winners, new riders, old horses and new horses...

Read more here:
http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/new-format-will-test-horse-and-rider-1.1377432?utm_content=1.1377432&utm_medium=RSS&utm_source=Feeds&utm_campaign=New_format_will_test_horse_and_rider&localLinksEnabled=false&utm_term=Sport_RSS_feed

2014 WEG: Let the Games begin!

24 Aug 2014

A parade of athletes from the 74 participating nations, an incredible musical and hi-tech lightshow extravaganza featuring over 100 horses, the Garde Républicaine and giant Mexican waves entertained a sellout crowd of 21,000 for the Opening Ceremony of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy at the D’Ornano Stadium last night.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya and Laurent Beauvais, President of the Games Organising Committee and President of the Lower Normandy Region, welcomed athletes, officials, sponsors, spectators and media to Normandy for two weeks of world class equestrian sport in the heart of horse country.

Laurent Beauvais spoke warmly of the 3,000 volunteers that will be working at the venues to optimise the Games experience, and many of them had the opportunity to parade in front of the spectators as part of tonight’s ceremony.

“We have brought together 3,000 smiles to welcome you; 3,000 sets of open arms,” Laurent Beauvais said. “The volunteers bind our organisation. We can all be so proud of them. For months now they have been our greatest ambassadors for the Games, the greatest ambassadors for Normandy and indeed the greatest ambassadors for France!”

Princess Haya, speaking in French and English, also expressed her gratitude to everyone involved in making the Games possible. “On behalf of everyone here tonight, and everyone around the world who will enjoy these seventh World Equestrian Games, I want to thank the people of Normandy for so warmly welcoming us to this beautiful region,” Princess Haya said.

“I also want to thank the World Equestrian Games Foundation, Alltech, and the many volunteers who have given so generously of their time and energy. These Games could not happen without you. And of course, I want to thank all of the athletes who have come to Normandy to pursue their dreams. You are at the pinnacle of our sport; you have earned the right to be here through your hard work and dedication.

“Whether you win or lose, these Games are sure to be a highlight of your career. I am confident that you will represent our sport well and prove yourselves to be true champions. I wish you all the best of luck.”

Princess Haya then invited French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to declare the Games open, the first time in the history of the World Equestrian Games that there has been a Prime Minister at the opening ceremony.

The top-level French Government delegation also included Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of the Interior, Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Le Foll, Minister of Agriculture Affairs and government spokesman, and Thierry Braillard, Under Secretary for Sport.

French team member and former athlete representative on the FEI Bureau, Kevin Staut, and Anne Prain, President of the Ground Jury for Para-Equestrian Dressage took the FEI pledge on behalf of the athletes and judges.

On behalf of all the FEI officials, Anne Prain spoke of the spirit of fair play and integrity, while the athletes’ pledge was given by Kevin Staut: “In the name of all riders, I promise that we shall take part in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to our sport without doping, in the true spirit of welfare of the horse and of sportsmanship, for the glory of equestrian sport and the honour of our teams.”

A total of 478,000 tickets of the 500,000 on offer had already been sold before tonight’s Opening Ceremony, and with top sport across the FEI disciplines from now until 7 September, a fantastic spectator experience is guaranteed over the next 15 days!

Ten reasons to watch 'World Cup of horses'

By Ollie Williams for CNN
Published 8:34 AM EDT Aug 22, 2014

(CNN) — More than 70 nations, 1,000 athletes and as many horses. The World Equestrian Games are upon us.

The biggest equestrian event outside the Olympics comes to Normandy, France, on Monday for two weeks of drama, daring, dressage and ... "Don Johnson."

Normandy claims to be home to 93,000 horses and more than 400 equestrian centers, but France has never seen anything on the scale of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (often shortened to "WEG").

You can win world titles in no fewer than eight types of horse sport at the four-yearly showpiece. All three Olympic equestrian disciplines are involved, alongside the Paralympic sport of para-dressage.

So what should you expect over the next two weeks? Where to look? Who to follow? CNN World Sport answers those questions and more...

Read more: http://www.wptz.com/sports/ten-reasons-to-watch-world-cup-of-horses/27678706#ixzz3B8GOs06A

WEG endurance: A true battle of the fittest

The number of endurance riders and nations competing at the upcoming Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games beats all previous attendance records, writes Berry Pattison.

When the 160km ride gets under way at Normandy on Thursday, August 28, some 47 nations from as far afield as China, Colombia, Kazakhstan and Thailand, will take their place on the track.

There are definite entries from 173 athletes, with 198 horses declared for the competition in Sartilly, just over 100km from the main Games venue in Caen.

The ride base opens on Monday, August 25, and National Federations are able to enter up to five athletes and seven horses for the pre-ride inspection, with chefs d’equipe declaring their final horses after the inspection.

The 2014 Games has seen the introduction of a higher minimum speed, this year set at 15kph, to ensure that all horses competing are fit enough to deal with the distance and tough questions asked on track. And for the first time at Championship level, the 160km track is made up of only five loops rather than the more traditional six-loop format.

[Full articale at horsetalk.co.nz...]

2014 WEG: The official mobile application is now available

19 August 2014

The official mobile application of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy is now available on the Apple Store (iPhones) and Google Play (Android smartphones).

With this mobile application, you will get to follow the event with your iPhone/Android Smartphone thanks some of exclusive content :

Schedule, Live Scores & Results of all the competitions
Rankings & Medals
News, photos and videos of the event
Visitor Info (access, catering etc.) and maps to organise your stay
Rankings and Biographies of the 1,000 competitors
Filters per discipline to enable you to only follow the competitions that you like
Social Media Hub : Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest
A photo contest « Fotofan »
A lot more

CLICK HERE to download the app on the Apple Store

CLICK HERE to download the app on Google Play

*the app is not available on Windows Phones and on tablets, but the website www.normandy2014.com is available on all phones & tablets.

The hi-tech, high-stakes race for endurance gold

The endurance race to decide the world champion at WEG is sure to be most scrutinised event in the sport’s history. Welfare concerns arising from the Middle East drove reforms which are now in place for the Games, but will they go far enough to rein in excesses in the sport? We talk with FEI 1st vice-president John McEwen about the issues facing endurance, the fallout from Compiègne, and the prospects for WEG.

High-definition video cameras, tamper-proof GPS devices, an approved heart-rate system, and a specialist timing system. Such hi-tech gear sounds more like the domain of Q, James Bond’s famed gadgetry specialist.

Welcome, instead, to the pinnacle of world endurance where a raft of surveillance measures and advanced monitoring protocols means little will escape officials.

There will be 24/7 video surveillance of the stables. Cameras will also monitor the cooling area and rest areas, not to mention the entire vetting area. A new FEI vet gate timing system will send horses to vet lanes in strict order of arrival time, automatically diverting horses away from their own nation’s veterinary officials.

[Read more ...]

2014 WEG: 30 days to go: The fitting-out of the venues continues

Thursday 24 July 2014 - 19h42

The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy are hosting 8 disciplines spanning no fewer than 5 competition venues! It’s a challenge, which requires substantial logistics and numerous facilities. Over these last 30 days, the Organising Committee is ready to begin its final push to ensure the very best reception for the 1,000 athletes and 500,000 spectators expected to attend the event from 23 August.

SARTILLY - BAY OF MONT ST MICHEL

Mont St MichelSituated in the Manche area, the town of Sartilly will be the starting point for the Endurance event on Thursday, 28 August.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bay of Mont Saint Michel will provide a majestic backdrop for this 160 km competition set out in a series of loops.

More information about this venue will be available soon...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/602/30-days-to-go-the-fitting-out-of-the-venues-continues

Record number of nominated entries for Endurance

Friday 11 July 2014 - 14h57

A record total of 49 nations have put in nominated entries* for the Endurance competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy. The list of nominated entries shows 260 riders with 348 horses for Endurance, which will be held in Sartilly (Bay of Mont St Michel) on Thursday 28 August 2014.

Thirty-four nations have three or more riders and will be bidding for team honours, while 15 countries will participate with one or two individuals. Definite entries for Endurance close on 14 August.

Laurent Cellier, Sports Director of the Normandy 2014 Organizing Committee, welcomes the high turnout, and the diversity of nations represented: "I am very pleased with the enthusiasm around Endurance this year, with a record number of nations putting in nominated entries, and more generally the excitement around the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy. We are now just six weeks away from the start of the Games, and our priority is to keep working to ensure we welcome athletes and horses in the best possible conditions."

*For the nominated entries in Endurance, each National Federation may enter a maximum of 10 Athletes and 14 Horses. For the definitive entries on August 14th, each National Federation may enter a maximum of 5 athletes and 7 horses.

2014 WEG: Volunteers' Meeting: a day full of surprises!

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Friday 04 July 2014 - 08h40

Over 1,000 volunteers gathered on Saturday, June 28th in d'Ornano Stadium for the "volunteer's meeting" of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy. And they were right, as the afternoon was pretty amazing!

To start the day, volunteers attended a presentation of their duties during the Games. The opportunity to recall the key role that each of them will have to play to make this seventh edition of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games a success.

Many other guests then made presentations based on four tables related to each of the values ​​of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games ™ 2014 in Normandy - respect, openness, achievement, transmission. For each presentation, one or several guest speakers, and the crowd couldn't believe what was happening when both Pierre Durand and Nelson Pessoa, two legendary Jumping riders, appeared to talk about a value they know more than well: achievement !...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/briefs/537/volunteers-meeting-a-day-full-of-surprises

3,000 volunteers are landing soon in Normandy!

Thursday 19 June 2014

The volunteer program is in full swing since most volunteers officiating at the 2014 Games have already been assigned. Overall, no fewer than 3,000 volunteers are expected to come to Normandy from 23 August to 7 September 2014 to help us organize the 7th edition of the largest equestrian event in the world!

These volunteers come mainly from the Normandy region (56%), but also from all other regions in France (37%), and from abroad (7%). They are of all ages, since 40% of them are between 18 to 25, 18% between 26 and 36, 24% between 37 and 59, and 18% are over 60 years old!...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/479/3000-volunteers-are-landing-soon-in-normandy

2014 WEG: The Games’ programme of festivities is finally unveiled!

Wednesday 14 May 2014

The 183 hours of competition will not be the only entertainment provided during the fortnight of the Games. In addition, the Games Village, which will be at the heart of the event, will offer a varied programme of top-quality festivities and entertainment !

More than 150 hours of entertainment planned!

Open from 11am to 10pm, the Games Village will be accessible free of charge to everyone who has a ticket for one of the day’s sporting competitions, and entry will be just 5 Euros for anyone else. In total, the Village will offer more than 150 hours of entertainment, spread over an area of 110,000m2 and with no fewer than 500 horses and 450 people in action on site. Horses will of course take centre stage, but the Norman region will also be honoured! The thousands of visitors expected will be invited to discover the shared history and culture of the horse and France’s number 1 horsey region...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/421/the-games-programme-of-festivities-is-finally-unveiled