2016 WEC News

Slovakia braced for FEI World Endurance Championships after stepping in for axed Dubai

By Liam Morgan
Wednesday, 14 September 2016

A total of 136 riders are due to compete at the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) World Endurance Championships, which get underway with the Opening Ceremony in Samorin in Slovakia tomorrow.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar are all expected to do well at the event, which remains shrouded in controversy after Dubai was stripped of the hosting rights earlier this year following horse welfare concerns.

Uruguay and Spain are also sending strong teams to Samorin, which was confirmed as the replacement for Dubai in June, while Mario Hoffmann of Slovakia will be looking to make full use of home advantage.

The FEI have confirmed 46 countries from five countries will be represented at the World Endurance Championships, with the main bulk of the action due to be held on Saturday (September 17).

The Samorin Equestrian Centre, the venue for last year’s European Championships, was chosen to stage the event ahead of rival submissions from Fontainebleau in France and Pisa in Italy by the FEI’s Endurance Committee.

Both the French and Italian bids were rejected after they proposed mid-October for the Championships, meaning rides would start and finish in the dark.

Dubai's axing came after the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) was suspended by the FEI for "major horse welfare issues" in March 2015.

Read more here:
http://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1041631/slovakia-braced-for-fei-world-endurance-championships-after-stepping-in-for-axed-dubai

4 Days till the 2016 World Endurance Championship in Slovakia

September 13 2016

46 countries, 5 continents, 136 riders, 149 horses ! The World Endurance Championship of Samorin promises to be a great event!

The best riders are gathered in Slovakia for the highest level of competition that exists in endurance.

If Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed al Maktoum is considered to be the ultra favorite, other rider can take the supreme title. Which one? This is very hard to say!

Unquestionably, UAE, Bahrain and Qatar are to be taken seriously. For the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum arrives with the best M.R.M Stables’ team.

The countries of the Gulf have very good horses with beautiful and long career, like Leonardo, Ajayeb, Napoli del Mar and many others.

Uruguayan riders are known to be fast, but Spain presents a strong team with its two stars riders, Maria Alvarez Ponton and Jaume Punti Dachs.

Other countries have good chances too like France with Jean-Philippe Frances, and Slovakia with Mario Hoffmann, who can be galvanized by running at home.

Before the race, nobody can say who the winner will be. There are too many parameters to be taken into account: how did the horse travel, the configuration of the race, the weather, the fitness of both rider and horse the day of the race …

And the coach can change riders and horses until the pre vet check and equestrianism is always a matter of the horse plus rider.

All that can be said is that this Championship will offer a very nice show.

So let’s meet on next Saturday at the x-bionic® sphere – Samorin !

Definite Entries Announced for 2016 World Endurance Championship

Definite entries have been announced for the 2016 World Endurance Championship to be held this weekend in Samorin, Slovakia.

136 riders and 149 horses are on the entry list representing 45 countries.

The complete list can be seen here: http://www.endurance.net/international/Slovakia/2016WorldEnduranceChampionship/DEFINITE-ENTRIES.pdf

Opening ceremonies will take place at 8 PM on Thursday, September 15. Horse inspections will begin at 2 PM on Friday, and the race begins at 6 AM on Saturday. A live stream of the race will be available at http://www.feitv.org/live

Nominative Entries Announced for 2016 World Endurance Championship

186 nominated riders represent 46 countries for the 160-km race. Final entries will be announced after horse inspections. The complete list can be seen here: http://www.endurance.net/international/Slovakia/2016WorldEnduranceChampionship/Nominative_entries_08_2016.pdf

Opening ceremonies will take place at 8 PM on Thursday, September 15. Horse inspections will begin at 2 PM on Friday, and the race begins at 6 AM on Saturday. A live stream of the race will be available at http://www.feitv.org/live

International Veterinary Endurance Conference

An International Veterinary Endurance Conference will take place in Samorin, Slovakia on Wednesday 14 September, just before the World Endurance Championships that will start on 18 September.

The topics include presentations by some of the foremost experts in endurance veterinary science, and include genetics, training, clinical science, pathophysiology and physiotherapy. There are also presentations on horse welfare and a report on the Bou Theib system introduced in the UAE 2015-16 season.

The conference is not an official FEI conference, but EOVs and EVTs may find it of interest.

The event is organized by Tierklinik Lüsche GmbH. The equine clinic Lüsche GmbH is a so-called “full-service-hospital” for horses. All disciplines of equine veterinary medicine are represented, including lamness examinations, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery (including colic surgery). With the comprehensive diagnostic and treatment options the equine clinic Lüsche is the one of the most modern equine clinics in Germany.

This event takes place at the same time as the Longines World Endurance Championship, Sept 15-16.

More information, and to register, see IVEC.info