Horsey Talk

National Equestrian Crime Database gets UK support

After two years in development National Equestrian Crime Database (NECD) launches the most advanced equestrian crime prevention service in the world to UK equestrians.

Delivering a wealth of ground breaking services NECD deters criminals by ensuring stolen equestrian items are almost impossible to sell on. For the first time, with its ‘State of the Art’ system sitting behind an easy to use website interface, NECD fills a big gap by enabling high tech information sharing of criminal activity throughout the Equestrian community, Police, Ports, Auction Houses, Insurance companies and The Home Office on a nationwide basis.

NECD’s aim is to provide a vital information service for the horse owner, equestrian community and other crime prevention organisations.

Says Jennie Loriston-Clarke, British Dressage Chairwoman, ‘I am pleased to be able to lend my support to NECD, an extraordinary organisation whose sole reason for existence is the prevention of equestrian crime. It is essential that all equestrians become members, because in doing so, collectively we can make it nearly impossible for criminals to profit from selling on our stolen horses, tack, vehicles or machinery’.

Hollywood legend, Robert Duvall backs FEI annual awards

American actor and director, Robert Duvall has just given his support to the annual awards organised by the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the governing body of horse sport. The FEI launched the “Oscars of the equestrian world” last year to reward outstanding dedication to horse sport in five categories. Calls for nominations for the 2010 awards opened on July 16.

Hollywood legend Duvall is best known for his roles in The Apostle, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather and Tender Mercies. His performances have earned him an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Emmys and four Golden Globe Awards.

Commenting on the 2010 FEI Awards, Duvall said:

“The FEI Awards give you the opportunity to nominate and celebrate those individuals who, without asking for recognition, should be thanked and acknowledged for their own contribution to equestrian sport around the world. As someone with a passion for horses, I urge you to nominate anyone you feel is worthy of the awards and help them to walk the red carpet at the 2010 FEI Awards in Taiwan.”

Duvall has been a keen horseman since his childhood, when he often visited his uncle’s ranch in northern Montana. He has demonstrated his riding skills in several films, including Broken Trail (2006), in which he plays gruff rancher Print Ritter, and Lonesome Dove, the 1989 classic mini-series which saw him leading an epic cattle drive.

Nominations for the FEI Awards are open until 30 August 2010.
Further information is available at www.feiawards.org.

Meet a Zedonk

A four-day-old Zedonk, a rare cross between a zebra and a donkey, stands next to her mother at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Lumpkin County, Georgia.

The animal, which has a zebra father and donkey mother, has black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face.

The director of the preserve says it is the first time in 40 years that a zedonk has been born there.

The flying donkey. It's been signed by Tottenham Hotspur

Click here to read the full story

Ouch. Bet that hurt like hell.

Always wear shoes/boots while working with your horse in hand.

This is what happened when a horse stepped on a young girls bare foot.
You have been warned.

Spot the real Zara. Which photos have been airbrushed and which one's have not?

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Meanwhile back at the stables,
Zara eyes new rides for 2012 Olympics

Phillips missed the 2008 Games in Beijing after an injury to Toytown Zara Phillips has just admitted she is looking at "two or three" horses in her attempt to win a medal at the London Olympics in 2012.

Phillips hopes to make up for the disappointment of missing Beijing in 2008 after her ride, Toytown, was injured two months before the start.

"Toytown was one of the best horses in the world but you cannot stop injuries from happening," said the 29-year-old.

"To have two or three horses without injuries that would do - to have those as a back-up plan."

Phillips, who did not reveal any names or pedigrees about potential new horses, added that it would be "amazing" to make her Olympic debut at the Games in her home country.

"I think that everyone went out when we heard that London got the Olympics and went looking trying to find something that would be the right age and experience for 2012," she continued.

"There have been a lot of people [potential Olympic medallists] who have been in the running and had to pull out because of having a horse injured, and hopefully I will get there."

Phillips won the individual title at the World Equestrian Games on Toytown in 2006 and individual and team gold at the European Eventing Championship on the same ride in 2005.

However, she has ruled out defending her world title with Toytown at Kentucky in October 2010.

"I have had my horse of a lifetime. I was very young and had fantastic results and the horses I have had since then have been in a massive shadow," added Phillips, who was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006.

Of the controversy surrounding the choice of Greenwich in south-east London as the stage for 2012 equestrian events, rather than a more traditional venue, she stated: "To be honest, I do not mind as long as I am there competing.

"I think that any athlete wants to be there rather than thinking about the rest of it."

BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson to attend Blenheim

Adam Henson, the popular 'Adam's Farm' BBC Countryfile presenter, will be attending and exhibiting for the first time ever at an equestrian event, when he hosts a lunch and exhibits at The Fidelity Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials this September (9th - 12th September).

Adam is well known for his passion for unusual and rare breeds of farm animal. He has his own Cotswold Farm Park which showcases many of these breeds and which is home to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust set up in 1973.

"We are delighted to be coming to Blenheim. Eventing followers tend to be interested in the countryside and where their food comes from and care about the land, the environment and animals. And, the venue is a natural choice for us because our farm is only just up the road," commented Adam.

As featured in a past episode of Countryfile, Adam's rare breed pigs are fed on a diet of apple pulp which is a by-product of apple juice and would normally go to waste. The resulting sausages, with their distinctive flavour, can be sampled on the stand on all four days of this popular equestrian event.

Visitors to Blenheim on Friday 10th September can also meet Adam himself at a lunch where he will be a speaker on that day only. Lunch packages at £56 per person, include admission to the event and a two course lunch in a VIP ringside pavilion. Friday will also be a 'send-off' for members of the British Eventing team who will be running through their dressage tests in competition conditions, in preparation for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (25 September-10 October).

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