Four Australian riders worked together to achieve a team bronze medal at the World Endurance Youth Championships held at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on December 10.  

The team consisted of Allix Jones riding Castlebar Moonlight, Brooke Warner riding Kunama Safira, Alexandra Toft riding High Society, and Georgia Toft riding Bremervale Arrogance.

Allix had an impressive ride on Castlebar Moonlight to finish just 12 seconds behind the winner for the individual silver medal.

Several members of the Toft family have been successful endurance riders, and all of their horses are fed Kentucky Equine Research (KER) supplements and Team Member Barastoc feeds. KER has been sourcing feed stockists for the team in the UAE, and has supplied members with a number of supplements to assist the horses during travel and competition.

The members of the Australian Young Riders Team are settling in well in Abu Dhabi, and are ready for the 2011 World Youth Endurance Championships to begin. About 80 starters from 29 countries will compete in the event.

The Australian team consists of Alexandra Toft, Brooke Warner, Georgia Toft, and Allix Jones.
Several members of the Toft family have been successful endurance riders, and all of their horses are fed Kentucky Equine Research (KER) supplements and Team Member Barastoc feeds. KER has been sourcing feed stockists for the team in the UAE, and has supplied members with a number of supplements to assist the horses during travel and competition.

Team veterinarian Narelle Crib reports, "The horses are all doing well, getting some solid work under their belts and looking great. All are eating and drinking like they should, and have adjusted to the normal routine. So have the people! We're now on the serious countdown to race day on 10 December."

The annual award night of the FEI General Assembly was held on 15 November in Rio de Janeiro. The FEI recognizes people who have achieved various milestones and made contributions in all FEI equine-related activities, not related to rankings or point scores.

One such award is "Against All Odds," given this year to Meg Wade. Meg is an endurance rider whose ongoing determination has enabled her to overcome many obstacles to reach her goals. Her inspirational story about her road to recovery after suffering a traumatic brain injury inspired the judging panel and made her a worthy recipient of this prestigious award.

Meg is also a keen supporter of KER and utilises many KER supplements in her horses' diets.

The Australian Young Riders Team will compete at the 2011 World Youth Endurance Championships in Abu Dhabi. The team consists of Alexandra Toft, Brooke Warner, Georgia Toft, and Allix Jones.

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has been sourcing feed stockists for the team in the UAE, and has supplied members with a number of supplements to assist the horses from travel to competition.

The horses will be flying out on 22 November and will have Kristie Taprell, Blake Freeman, and Peter Toft on board to monitor their well-being and attend to their needs.

Team veterinarian Narelle Cribb and chef d'equipe Mark Freeman will be in Dubai, ready to greet the horses when they arrive. The team will then make its way to Abu Dhabi, where the horses will have a chance to recover from the flight and prepare for race day on 10 December.

Several members of the Toft family have been successful endurance riders, and all of their horses are fed KER supplements and Team Member Barastoc feeds.

Steven Hay is the latest world-class equestrian to be sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER). He was recently chosen to represent the United States at the Young Rider World Endurance Championships, to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on December 10, 2011.

Hay will ride Khalil Asam in the competition, and he feels honored to do so. "I'm blessed to have the opportunity to compete with this horse against the best young riders in the world. He is one of the most phenomenal horses I have come across. Not only are his athletic abilities most impressive, but his personality fills the barn," said Hay. Khalil Asam is owned by Natalie Muzzio.

Hay will use Kentucky Equine Research (KER) products in preparation for the international event, including Preserve™, Nano-E®, RiteTrac™, and KER-Flex®.

You can support Hay and his bid for gold by ordering research-proven supplements from KER. Whether you order online or talk to a customer service representative at 888-873-1988, use discount code SAMMY and receive 10% off your total order. A 10% donation on all products sold using the Champion Code SAMMY will then be passed on to Hay to help defray competition expenses to Abu Dhabi. This discount code will be valid until February 10, 2012.

Hay has an impressive competition record including individual and team medals at the 2010 and 2011 North American Junior Young Riders Championships, and multiple other top finishes at prestigious endurance events. He began riding in endurance competitions at the age of 12 and has accumulated over 2,800 miles, many of which were ridden on horses he owns and conditions.

Aside from his equestrian interests, Hay is a full-time student at Penn State University, where is pursuing a degree in environmental resource management.

Bearing two silver medals, one each for individual and team performances, John Crandell has returned from the Pan American Endurance Championships in Chile. Crandell is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

Crandell reported that his endurance mount, Heraldic, is in great shape in spite of the daylong flight from Santiago to Miami and then a seven-day mandatory quarantine in Florida. 

Crandell and Heraldic were only minutes behind the winner at the end of the grueling endurance race, an astounding finish in light of problems at the end of the course. Leading with only a quarter-mile to go, Heraldic fell hard, scraping his knees. Crandell was thrown clear and neither horse nor rider was significantly injured. After the horse recovered his breath, Crandell remounted and the pair finished in second place.

"It was amazing how well he recovered from a bad fall that knocked the breath out of him and still managed a second finish in good form," said Crandell's mother Linda.

To support digestive health during a period of stressful travel and competition, Heraldic is given RiteTracâ„¢, KER's supplement formulated to sustain gastrointestinal balance and function.

Linda continued, "RiteTracâ„¢ certainly helped to sustain him on a very long flight that should have been only nine hours. With all the changes in location and locomotion, he has no ulcers."
 
Horse and rider will be honored with the Touch of Class Award from the Maryland Horse Industry Board. The award is to be presented in a ceremony that will include the governor of Maryland and other dignitaries.

Young endurance rider Alexandra Toft is one of two equestrians to win the Rising Star Award at the 2011 Womensport Awards held in Brisbane on Saturday the 15th October.

"Alexandra is the epitome of professional sportswomen, and we are proud of her extraordinary achievements and commitment to her chosen sport," states Barbara Timms, manager of the Australian Endurance Squad.

The Tofts are successful endurance riders, with Penny competing at the 2010 World Equestrian Games on her horse Don and staying at the KER farm during the lead-up to the competition (read more). All the Toft's horses are fed Barastoc and KER products.

At the 2011 Pan American Games Endurance Championships in Chile, John Crandell won two silver medals (team and individual) for his ride on Heraldic. With United States team-mate Valery Kanavy claiming the individual bronze medal, the U.S. took home more medals than any other team in the competition.

Riding Heraldic, his Arabian gelding, Crandell finished less than three minutes behind the first-place rider. This result was particularly laudable because Heraldic, who was leading with a quarter-mile to go, had a fall that threw Crandell out of the saddle. Horse and rider scrambled up and finished the race with only a few minor scrapes, claiming the second-place spot and securing team and individual silver medals.

Crandell, who is sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), counts on the company's feeds and nutritional supplements to help his horse give his best performance. RiteTrac, a digestive tract buffer, balances pH in the stomach and hindgut to support health and comfort while preventing digestive upsets. RiteTrac is a helpful aid when horses are traveling, performing, and adapting to the stresses of international competition. Crandell also incorporates Hemabuild, a concentrated blend of chelated iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, and B vitamins, into Heraldic's ration. Hemabuild offers nutritional support for the production of red blood cells, critical transporters of oxygen in heavily trained and exercised horses. 

John Crandell III, a legend of American endurance riding sponsored by Kentucky Equine Research (KER), qualified to represent the United States at the Pan American Endurance Championship. The ride will take place October 22 near Santo Domingo, Chile.

Crandell will ride Heraldic, on whom he won the Tevis Cup in 2010 and 2006, as well as the 120-km OCTRA Spring Ride and 160-km FITS in 2011. See more of their successes.

Heraldic trains and competes on KER products, including:

• EquiShure, a time-released hindgut buffer;
• RiteTrac to support total digestive tract health;
• Nano∙E, a nanodispersed, natural source of vitamin E.

Other KER products that Crandell utilizes in his training program are:

• Hemabuild, trace minerals and vitamin B;
• Preserve, vitamin E and selenium;
• I.R. Pellet, concentrated, low-calorie, low-starch source of vitamins and trace minerals;
• Synovate HA, a safe, easily absorbed, and easy-to-use form of sodium hyaluronate.

For training updates, follow Heraldic on Facebook.

Endurance enthusiast Delma Clements sought help from Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutritionists after her 15-year-old Arabian horse Kynnum Park Shaniko experienced a significant decrease in condition after an endurance ride in May. 

"The horse lost weight and condition, had a poor appetite, a grumpy attitude, and a very dull coat," Clements reported. "I made contact with KER at the Toorbul Endurance Festival in April and had a chat with one of the nutrition advisors about some of the products and research."

After some time receiving the recommended supplements, Kynnum Park Shaniko was recently successful at the 120-kilometer Shahzada Mini Marathon in St. Albans, Sydney, in August.

"The analysis and information (KER) sent me based on our situation then was extremely helpful. The Neigh-Lox for travel was great for the trip. I used the Hemabuild (great product) as recommended, as well as EquiShure. The Endura-Max paste was great and very helpful in making him drink at the ride. I am so impressed with your service, product samples, and valuable informative research that I will continue to use these products," Clements said. "My horse looks great and performed very well."