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Kentucky Endurance Race Participants Raising Money for Aftercare
Bloodhorse.com - Full Article
Lucy Burnett and Bobbi Westbrook will ride in the 500-kilometer Gaucho Derby.
By Byron King
January 30 2026
Two Kentucky horsewomen will soon test their equestrian skills in one of the most remote and demanding races in the world while using the experience to raise funds for off-track Thoroughbreds.
Lucy Burnett and Bobbi Westbrook are two of more than 40 riders scheduled to compete in the upcoming Gaucho Derby, a 500-kilometer endurance race aboard equines across Patagonia in Argentina that tests riders' physical stamina and fortitude as much as riding skill. The contest, which begins Feb. 18, is organized by The Equestrianists and modeled after the better-known Mongol Derby. The 10-day ride sends competitors across rugged terrain, including mountains, open plains, river crossings, and grassy bogs, sometimes in volatile weather.
Riders navigate their mounts between checkpoints while carrying limited gear and supplies. Each rider alternates mounts throughout the race to be aboard fresh equines. The horses come from regional ranches, and they undergo regular veterinary inspections during the race to ensure soundness, hydration, and recovery. Time penalties are assessed for horses that do not meet recovery parameters, which, along with veterinary checks, are meant to ensure that participating horses are not overstressed...
Read more here:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/289838/endurance-race-participants-raising-money-for-aftercare
An Analysis of a Possible Saudi Arabian Team for the 2026 WEC
SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET - February 1 2026 - As of December 9, 2025, Saudi Arabia (KSA) holds the status of the Rising Host with arguably the most momentum of any nation in the sport.
While they have historically been in the shadow of their neighbors (UAE and Bahrain), the 2026 World Championship is their "coming out party." As the host nation, they have invested heavily in infrastructure and horse power to ensure they are not just organizers, but medal contenders.
Here is the detailed status of the Saudi Arabian Team ("Al Fursan") for the 2026 cycle: ...
Endurance Horse Podcast: A Decade Team and Three Tevis Completions: JayaMae Kaur & Foxfire’s Little Britches
EnduranceHorsePodcast - Listen
January 28 2026
by Christina Hyke
What happens when a rider from the hunter-jumper and Warmblood world heads out on her first endurance ride and quickly learns that endurance has a sense of humor of its own?
In this episode of Endurance Horse Podcast, host Christina Hyke sits down with JayaMae Kaur for a fun, honest, and heartfelt conversation that includes plenty of laughter, learning, and long miles.
JayaMae shares her journey from hunter jumpers to trails and
endurance, exchanging Warmbloods for a remarkable Missouri Fox Trotter
mare who became her decade team horse and carried her to three Tevis
buckles. She reflects on what surprised her most at her very first
endurance ride, what she learned along the way, and why that
experience made her stick with the sport...
Read more and listen:
http://tracks.endurance.net/2026/01/endurance-horse-podcast-decade-team-and.html
An Analysis of a Possible UAE Team for the 2026 WEC
SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET - January 30 2026 - As of December 9, 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holds the status of the "Desert Giants" and the primary obstacle standing between Bahrain and the Gold Medal.
While Bahrain currently holds the individual title (Sheikh Nasser), the UAE arguably has the deepest roster of desert-specialist horses in the world. Their performance at the recent "test" races in AlUla proves they are fully adapted to the specific Saudi terrain.
Here is the detailed status of the UAE Team ("The Knights") for the 2026 cycle: ...
Long-Lost Horse Found And Rescued After Seven Months in Wind River Mountains
Preston Jorgenson photo
CowboyStateDaily.com - Full Article
Mouse the horse had been missing since July 2025, only to be found alive by snowmobilers in the Wind River Mountains. Several people, specialized snow machines, and a river raft were enlisted Sunday to reach and rescue the horse.
Andrew Rossi
January 27, 2026
A horse that had been lost in the mountains above Dubois for seven months was found and rescued by a team of ingenious snowmobilers and cowboys.
Mouse, the horse, had been missing in the mountains since July 2025. On Sunday, a group of snowmobilers was enjoying the powder in the vicinity when they found Mouse, still alive and thrilled to finally see people again.
“He was a true survivor, by all means,” said Tim Koldenhoven, owner of Union Pass Rentals. “You could tell that he was worn out and was tired, but was happy to have some company up there...”
Read more and see video of Mouse's snowmobile ride here:
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/01/27/long-lost-horse-found-and-rescued-after-seven-months-in-wind-river-mountains/
Arlene Morris 1931-2026
Arlene Morris passed away on January 12, 2026, at the age of 94.
Arlene was one of the founders of the Southwest Idaho Trail & Distance Riders. She and her husband, Bob Morris, were a force to be reckoned with in the early days of AERC. Arlene completed 16,605 endurance miles including 14 hundreds (14 starts/14 finishes). Her horses earned 29 best condition awards, and AERC records reflect only 2 pulls out of 180 starts. That is a darned impressive record! Over half (8085) of those miles were on a grade mare named Champagne (including 20 rides in 1985!). Nearly 5000 miles were on her bay mare, Messaoud's Peeco.
Her horses earned 29 best condition awards. Champagne was inducted into AERC's Hall of Fame in 1985. Arlene and Peeco were members of the USA squad at the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Sweden.
Arlene and her husband, Bob lived and rode in the Boise foothills. Arlene was always happy to mentor new riders. Going on a conditioning ride with Bob and Arlene on the Boise Front was always a thrill, and the endurance rides they put on were truly challenging...
Read the rest
An Analysis of a Possible Bahrain Team for the 2026 WEC
SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET - January 27 2026 - As of December 9, 2025, Bahrain holds the status of the Individual Favorite and the most aggressive challenger for the Team title.
Bahrain’s "Royal Endurance Team" is currently the most formidable offensive force in the sport, led by the single most dominant rider in the world today. While France relies on consistency and depth, Bahrain relies on star power and sheer speed.
Here is the detailed status of the Bahraini Team ("Victorious") for the 2026 cycle: ...
Australia: A life with horses
Two-times Tom Quilty Gold Cup winner Tom Thomsen lends his endurance experience to a new crop of riders
NoosaToday.com.au - Full Article
24/01/2026
ERLE LEVEY
PRECEDE
Tom Thomsen came to Australia from Denmark at the age of seven. ERLE LEVEY finds out about a life in the bush that has seen Tom go on to compete and succeed at the highest level of endurance horse riding both here and internationally.
BREAKOUT QUOTE
“It’s about what is between the ears .. for rider and horse.”
There is something about the Australian bush that gets into your blood.
That has certainly been the case for Tom Thomsen.
His story could easily be made into a movie – what he has learnt and what he has done with horses across time and distance is quite breathtaking.
Now he has moved on to mentoring other riders coming through in the sport of endurance.
Nothing has stopped his love and enthusiasm for riding, even at the age of 83. And nothing has diminished his recognition of the horses he has had the good fortune to have been involved with...
Read more here:
https://noosatoday.com.au/news/24-01-2026/a-life-with-horses/
An Analysis of a Possible Australia Team for the 2026 WEC
January 24 2025
As of December 9, 2025, Australia holds the status of a highly capable but logistically challenged contender.
While Australian riders possess the horsemanship and tough, hard-footed horses necessary to succeed in the AlUla terrain, the "Green and Gold" team faces the most significant geographical and financial hurdles of any major endurance nation.
Here is the detailed status of the Australian Team ("The Aussies") for the 2026 cycle:...
American rider and brumby complete 4,400km journey across Australia
By Rachel Boothman
20 January 2026
In short:
American rider Gin Szagola and her former wild brumby, Fable, have completed a coast-to-coast journey across Australia. The pair spent eight months on the road after setting off from New South Wales on May 20 last year Travelling up to 32 kilometres a day, they covered more than 4,400 kilometres, tracking the entire journey.
When people decide to travel across Australia, it is usually behind a steering wheel, but 25-year-old Gin Szagola chose four hooves and a saddle instead.
After eight months and 4,400 kilometres in the saddle, Ms Szagola and her horse Fable have come to the end of their journey at Forrest Beach in Busselton, 200 kilometres south of Perth.
The ride began in Tathra on the New South Wales south coast in May last year, taking the pair through Victoria, South Australia and across the Nullarbor Plain...
Read more here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-21/american-rider-brumby-journey-across-australia/106238888
An Analysis of a Possible Uruguay Team for the 2026 WEC
January 20 2025
As of December 9, 2025, Uruguay enters the 2026 World Championship cycle as a tough, high-performance underdog.
While Brazil often headlines South American endurance due to its volume of riders, Uruguay (along with Chile) consistently punches above its weight class. Historically, they are one of the few nations outside of the "Big Three" (Europe/UAE/Bahrain) capable of cracking the Top 5 or stealing a podium spot if conditions are difficult.
Here is the detailed status of the Uruguayan Team ("La Celeste") for the 2026 cycle:
FEI Endurance Forum 2026: Youth, Safety, and the Future
Cavallomagazine.it - Full Article
During the two-day event in Perugia, the world of equestrian endurance focused on the strategic guidelines for the evolution of the sector, including new generations, sustainability and international comparison. 19 January 2026
The FEI Endurance Forum 2026 concluded in Perugia., a key event for the international community of the discipline, which brought together stakeholders in the sector – athletes, coaches, veterinarians, officials, judges, and organizers – representing over 40 countries.
During the meeting, a shared desire to strengthen a development model based on responsibility, organizational skills, and attention to the principles that characterize endurance emerged clearly.
One of the most significant moments of the Forum was the session dedicated to Young Riders (the category of athletes between 14 and 21 years old) in which young protagonists offered concrete insights on central themes such as education, training, economic sustainability and their conscious approach to endurance, giving rise to a direct comparison with more experienced athletes and with the different points of view present on the international scene...
Read more here:
https://www.cavallomagazine.it/en/sport-equestri/fei-endurance-forum-2026-perugia
Minden rider trains for 310-mile Gaucho Derby across Patagonia
Press-Herald.com - Full Article
written by Amber McDown
Jan 11, 2026
A Minden woman and active-duty U.S. Air Force member is preparing for one of the most demanding equestrian endurance events in the world, a 10-day, 310-mile race across the Patagonian wilderness of Argentina known as the Gaucho Derby.
Cat Rafanello, who moved to Minden in 2022 after being stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, has been offered a bid to compete in the 2027 Gaucho Derby, an extreme test of horsemanship, navigation and survival that requires riders to switch horses throughout the race while traveling through rugged and remote terrain.
“My husband and I moved to Minden in March 2022 from Montana … when I got orders to Barksdale,” Rafanello said. “We brought our three horses, three dogs, three cats, and a plethora of chickens and geese with us to our beautiful little plot in Minden.”
Since then, she said, her family has put down roots in the community.
“My husband opened a mechanic shop, my sister and her husband have started a farm and are involved with the Minden Farmer’s Market, we are here to stay,” Rafanello said.
That sense of permanence, she said, has given her a strong base as she prepares for an international challenge that began with a simple moment of inspiration.
“I was listening to a Podcast about an Endurance Rider that I really look up to, and she had run in the Gaucho,” Rafanello said. “Someone whispered in my ear just then ‘Why don’t you just apply and see what happens?’”...
Read more here:
https://press-herald.com/minden-rider-trains-for-310-mile-gaucho-derby-across-patagonia/
An Analysis of a Possible Argentina Team for the 2026 WEC
January 20 2026
As of December 8, 2025, the Federación Ecuestre Argentina (FEA) has not yet announced the final team for the 2026 World Endurance Championship in AlUla.
Given that the event is scheduled for November 2026, the selection process is currently in the active qualification and observation phase. The final squad is typically not confirmed until 4–6 weeks prior to the event (likely October 2026).
However, based on the recent 2025 national calendar and 2024 World Championship cycles, here is the current status of the Argentine selection process:...
(... More from Endurance.Net)
Isle of Wight youngster takes Endurance GB junior title
CountyPress.co.uk - Full Article
14 January 2026
By Jon Moreno
A YOUNG equestrian rider from the Isle of Wight has been crowned Endurance GB junior champion after a remarkable season on the national circuit.
Alice Critchison, 12, of Niton, claimed the title thanks to a series of consistently high scores throughout the 2025 campaign, with her pony, Ashley Kate — better known as Pumpkin.
Alice competes in endurance riding — a long‑distance discipline that measures a horse’s stamina and speed, as well as the rider’s skill across tough routes.
Welfare is central to the sport, with compulsory veterinary checks before, during and after each ride, to ensure horses remain fit to continue...
Read more here:
https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/25765851.isle-wight-youngster-takes-endurance-gb-junior-title/
How Qualification Works for the 2026 World Endurance Championship at AlUla, Saudi Arabia
17 January 2026
by Endurance.net
To make the final list, the riders must complete specific requirements during the qualification period (September 2024 – July 2026):
1. Certificate of Capability (COC): The horse/rider combination must successfully complete at least one CEI 3* (160 km) competition or two CEI 2* (120 km) competitions together.
2. Soundness: The horse must pass strict veterinary inspections throughout the selection trials...
Read the rest here:
http://endurance.net/international/SaudiArabia/2026WorldEnduranceChampionship/QualificationRequirements.html
2025 December's Horses in the Morning Endurance Podcast
HorseRadioNetwork.com - Listen
Guess the Endurance Acronym, Mongol Derby Bid, for December 9, 2025
Horses in the Morning
December 9, 2025
Karen Chaton is joined by Patti Stedman to tell us just about everything we need to know to get through our first Endurance ride. Heather ‘Flash’ Accardo talks about her preparations for the Mongol Derby and common Endurance acronyms are deciphered, plus we make up a few new ones. A classic re-visit. Listen in...
https://horseradionetwork.com/2025/12/guess-the-endurance-acronym-mongol-derby-bid-for-december-9-2025/
US Equestrian Announces 2025 Endurance Year-End Awards for Horses and Athletes
USEF.org
by US Equestrian Communications Dept. | 1/7/2026 Lexington, Ky. - US Equestrian proudly congratulates the recipients of the 2025 USEF Endurance Year-End Awards. These awards celebrate and recognize the exceptional achievements of our endurance athletes and horses throughout the 2025 competition season. For detailed descriptions of the 2026 awards program, click here.
Top Ten National-Ranked Senior Athletes
Awarded to the top senior athletes on the national athlete ranking list
• Heather Davis - Maggie Price Endurance Excellence Award recipient for being the top nationally ranked Senior Rider
• Cheryl Van Deusen
• Nathalie Weemaels
• Nicole Wertz
• Alex Shampoe
• Mollie Quiroz
• Anastassia Savini
• Tom Rajala
• Claudie Gaspa-Ward
• Evelyn Baig
More at http://www.endurance.net/FeaturedStories/#USEF2025Awards
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