First day and already a disaster :(

[tabula_rashah]

@MHM here is a very basic summary of AERC endurance (how rides are run in the US and Canada)- There are several distances you can compete at 25 & 30 (which are called limited distance) 50, 55, 75, & 100. Each distance has it’s own amount of time you are allowed to be out on trail (25 miles= 6 hr time limit, 100 miles= 24 hr time limit, etc). Your horse is vetted in the night before the ride (pulse, hydration level, gut sounds, soundness plus a few other points). The ride itself consists of what is called loops or legs on marked trail. The loops can be the same but often aren’t and come back to camp where your horse must come in a certain pulse parameter, then will be evaluated by the vet and given a letter grade (like in school A is best) for the same things that were checked at the original vetting. Once a horse passes that (aka deemed fit to continue by the vet) they have a mandatory rest period where often the rider’s goal is to stuff as much food into their horse as possible to keep them fueled. Some rides go in a continual line or loop where these holds/ vet checks will be along the trail. These rides while they are technically a race (first person to cross the finish line, pulse down and vet in with a horse that is fit to continue is the winner) and can be competitive, are very much about taking care of your horse. I’ve never met more knowledgeable, encouraging and helpful people than fellow endurance riders. (note this is a very simplified version of a ride but at least you get the gist)

I can’t really talk to FEI that much other than to say the rules are slightly different and that FEI rides in the Middle East are very, very different from our rides and have had a lot of controversy surrounding them. These rides are flat track races for 100 miles- horses dying seems like no big deal, horses are switched, horses are chased by people in cars, etc. Right now there is a big movement to separate AERC from anything to do with the FEI rides. Again oversimplified but hope this helps explain

PS more experienced endurance folk- please feel free to make any additions or corrections to this

[roseymare]

@OverandOnward

There’s time, there’s time. It would be kind of funny if they staged one, with a country-western music background, just for yucks. (Or would it … ?)

So I must tell this story. When I was in college we had a couple of exchange students during clinicals. I just remember one was from Italy. This was the era of country music being super popular. There was a group of us (srudents and townies) who went dancing weekly at a country bar. Two step and swing were our thing but there was line dancing as well. Someone invited the exchange students. So for days they kept asking if they were going to see a bar fight. We were like no this is just a dance bar. A bunch of people dress in boots and jeans and dance. Many have never even seen a horse or cow. Some of us have but not everyone. No one is really rowdy.

Well you guessed it. We weren’t there for an hour before there was beer bottles flying and tables flipping and chairs thrown. It was right out of a movie. And this was a bar we frequented sometimes 2-3 times a week with no issues. Heck on dance contest nights most everyone drank water. I still think Mr Italy started it!

[Mardi]

@skydy

I am disgusted that Meydan (the UAE) was accepted as a sponsor but it seems that our WEG has no standards as far as financing is concerned and is willing to take sponsorship from whomever flashes the money, no matter how morally dubious they are regarding horse welfare and honesty.

The same can be said for Helgstrand Dressage sponsoring the dressage division at WEG.
It was also a controversial decision.

[Jealoushe]

and MARS sponsoring the eventing…

[Middleburg_Misfit]

@Jealoushe

and MARS sponsoring the eventing…

Although somewhat ironic now that Marilyn is out… still iffy with Lauren competing though

[poltroon]

So what I don’t understand is that they’re continually talking about how they have a weather forecaster on site monitoring everything… was the 31 wet bulb globe index in the afternoon a surprise?

[RPM]

@dr j

Exactly. I am sure there is talk about it being some type of conspiracy … hmmmmmm. LOL And also the huge concern about rain. I guess it would be disconcerting if you were from the desert.

If people are going to compete in international competitions they need to be able to handle international weather conditions.

[Tiramit]

@poltroon

So what I don’t understand is that they’re continually talking about how they have a weather forecaster on site monitoring everything… was the 31 wet bulb globe index in the afternoon a surprise?

Basically the wet bulb means the heat index. According to the officials, it spiked after the thunderstorm. Still a real shame for the leaders who were THAT CLOSE to winning.

[Lieselotte]

In REAL endurance, you have 24 hours to finish 100 miles. That includes mandatory holds. When the footing or weather get poor, or potentially dangerous, you adjust your speed and take time as your horse needs it. Yes, that may mean you have to walk for a while, shocker! In easy terrain such as at Tryon, you can definitely finish and it looks like things were well underway after the morning mess-up.

I have never heard of an endurance competition being stopped because of weather. We train for adverse conditions. Can you imagine they stopped Tevis? It can easily reach 110 or more degrees in those canyons, and the terrain is much much more challenging than Tryon. Or take the Old Dominion ride, which is probably more comparable as there’s more humidity than here in California.

So clearly, they should have solved the morning’s misdirection issue by adding or subtracting miles/time from the riders (they are all being accurately tracked so you know exactly who went where when…) OR cancelled the ride immediately. Letting riders continue most of the day and then annul their accomplishment is incomprehensible as a solution.

[Brown_Derby]

@Lieselotte

In REAL endurance, you have 24 hours to finish 100 miles. That includes mandatory holds. When the footing or weather get poor, or potentially dangerous, you adjust your speed and take time as your horse needs it. Yes, that may mean you have to walk for a while, shocker! In easy terrain such as at Tryon, you can definitely finish and it looks like things were well underway after the morning mess-up.

I have never heard of an endurance competition being stopped because of weather. We train for adverse conditions. Can you imagine they stopped Tevis? It can easily reach 110 or more degrees in those canyons, and the terrain is much much more challenging than Tryon. Or take the Old Dominion ride, which is probably more comparable as there’s more humidity than here in California.

So clearly, they should have solved the morning’s misdirection issue by adding or subtracting miles/time from the riders (they are all being accurately tracked so you know exactly who went where when…) OR cancelled the ride immediately. Letting riders continue most of the day and then annul their accomplishment is incomprehensible as a solution.

Ha, Tevis is 110 in the shade. It’s usual for it to be 120 in those box canyons. Then the hike back up… The riders must be of amazing physical and inner strength, and communicate with their mounts, and their condition, every step of the way. One year they did reverse the course because fire smoke was so bad but otherwise no concessions. And miles of it is lit only by moonlight. Shorter rides in the down season (NV, OR) are in often pouring or sideways rain.

In 1987 I rode in Queensland. 90 degF and 90% humidity. (Lovely mare, Sharahd Brown Mystery) We conditioned for hours daily, much of it hill work.

What I don’t get, and you’ve pointed it out, is why aren’t the GPS tracks being examined? Horse & Hound indicated that they were indeed in use (as they are in the Tevis). So what really occurred? This just smells of thuggery.

Some third-hand intel on today’s WEG thread in Eventing.

I apologize to most of our international guests for this horrible management issue.

[MHM]

@Kirikou

Euh? Well not even being done with the vet gate area until the night before, changing the course at the last minute, being so unprepared that everyone was confused? I guess that’s on them…
http://www.grandprix-replay.com/new/15533/benedicte-emond-bon-inacceptable-et-scandaleux

Is there a link to that article in English?

And thanks for the endurance explanation.

[OverandOnward]

@Kirikou

Euh? Well not even being done with the vet gate area until the night before, changing the course at the last minute, being so unprepared that everyone was confused? I guess that’s on them…
http://www.grandprix-replay.com/new/15533/benedicte-emond-bon-inacceptable-et-scandaleux

Chrome translated that article for me … the French team member said it perfectly. Worth sharing broadly.

I was not aware of the general course conditions that Tryon did participate in. My remark was only directed at the race management decisions themselves, which were under the race officials only.

[roseymare]

@Jealoushe

and MARS sponsoring the eventing…

They probably just sent M&M"s…maybe they said eventing on them…

I work for a subsidery corp. Once we all got a little case with about 20 M&M as an employee appreciation gift. Whoo Heee.

[caffeinated]

@Brown Derby

Ha, Tevis is 110 in the shade. It’s usual for it to be 120 in those box canyons. Then the hike back up… The riders must be of amazing physical and inner strength, and communicate with their mounts, and their condition, every step of the way. One year they did reverse the course because fire smoke was so bad but otherwise no concessions. And miles of it is lit only by moonlight. Shorter rides in the down season (NV, OR) are in often pouring or sideways rain.

In 1987 I rode in Queensland. 90 degF and 90% humidity. (Lovely mare, Sharahd Brown Mystery) We conditioned for hours daily, much of it hill work.

What I don’t get, and you’ve pointed it out, is why aren’t the GPS tracks being examined? Horse & Hound indicated that they were indeed in use (as they are in the Tevis). So what really occurred? This just smells of thuggery.

Some third-hand intel on today’s WEG thread in Eventing.

I apologize to most of our international guests for this horrible management issue.

Someone just posted a photo on Packy’s FB post showing a rider finishing the course at an alert canter, rider’s hand raised in the Fruitbat salute. I don’t generally like tinfoil hats but the more I read the more I feel like this really, really stinks.

[Jealoushe]

Pictures of the footing in some areas did look truly unacceptable. The rain was draining and eroding the footing, some places at least a foot deep. Way to dangerous to be riding on.

[Jealoushe]

Check out this post:

[URL=“https://www.facebook.com/160599694317645/posts/697000454010897/”]https://www.facebook.com/160599694317645/posts/697000454010897/

2018 World Equestrian Games Endurance Race

This picture should become the iconic representation of the 2018 World Equestrian Games Endurance Race.

The absolute dumpster fire of an event took place yesterday. There was a wrong start that resulted in some riders being misdirected on the Trail. They stopped the race. Unbelievable. Then they started the race over after horses had completed the first loop. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around that part.

There was…brace yourself…high humidity in the south in September. Most of the endurance community is mind boggled that this would not have been a consideration of all who trained for and entered the race. Experts in the sport are all repeating the same thing, you ride the weather. It’s part of the sport. You adjust.

Several countries were riding quite successfully in the wet and humid conditions. Again, this is an element that should have been expected. The south is hot and humid in September. Interestingly, it wasn’t until all of the UAE horse and riders were pulled from the race that the race was canceled due to weather.

Anyone think this is a coincidence?

FEI has had a decision to make for a real long time in regards to endurance riding in the Middle East. It is no secret they are the black stain on the endurance community. They ride the horses into the ground with zero regard for welfare. The things we’ve seen are horrors beyond the depths of hell. FEI needs to oust these countries who do not ride with welfare in mind. It’s long over due.

If this event and how this was handled doesn’t unite the endurance world community into one clear loud voice on this topic, I must say, I’m not sure anything will.

Here’s France giving the Sheik the bird. I feel comfortable stating France speaks for me on this as well.

[Jealoushe]

Rumours?

https://www.facebook.com/100002824888732/posts/1554281461342668/

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

Trash-ception: The trash fire within a trash fire that was endurance at WEG.

What an absolute disgrace. I think we all know that while this cluster-F*** has brought endurance and its corruption to the attention of many people who don’t normally pay that sport any mind, nothing will change. What a shame. Can endurance like, cede from the FEI and the UAE’s grip somehow?

[BigDarnHorse]

I have watched all of the videos posted by that UAE person. I find many of his long running comments circumspect and believe that he was positioning the UAE to host the competition from day 1.

[AKCH]

This is crazy! How embarrassing and that is awful for these poor riders. Completely unfair. They should have cancelled and restarted on another date. Not fair to any of the riders fast and not. How heart breaking. So happy the guy is standing up for himself and still filming this.