Wednesday, September 22, 2010

WEG Endurance Preview

Endurance (26-27 September)
Reigning WEG champions: France (team) and Miguel Vila Ubach/Hungares, ESP (Individual)

 Clear favourite to take individual gold at the 2010 WEG is Spain's Maria Alvares Ponton with her incredible bay gelding Nobby. Together this pair has already written their names into the Endurance history-books having topped both the 2008 World Championships in Teraengganu (MAS) and last year's European Championships in Assisi (ITA). Can they make it a hat-trick of titles?

 The consistent performances of the French sees them hotly tipped for the team honours, but the UAE will be giving it their best shot to retain the World title they claimed in 2008.  Endurance tests the speed and stamina of the horse and the skill of the rider  who  must temper the pace in order to complete the course in good condition. The competition is run over a distance of 160 kilometres, with regular veterinary stops to  check the horse's fitness to continue. The competitor who finishes in the quickest  time  is the winner, but there is still a final veterinary inspection to get through.

 The sport of Endurance has grown rapidly since the 2006 World Equestrian Games and is now the FEI’s fastest growing discipline.


(courtesy FEI)

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