Story originally posted by: Pamela Burton

Two-time World Champion Valerie Kanavy, riding for the United States on Bearcat O'Reilly, came in 7th and was the first off-continent rider to finish in the FEI/UAE World Cup Endurance Ride held on March 21 at Seih Assalam village in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Kanavy arrived at the final gate just 31 minutes after the winner, clocking an average speed of almost 13.6 miles per hour with average recovery times of less than 6 minutes. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, riding Muneef, came in first on the 80.6-mile ride, finishing with a ride time of 5 hours and 24 minutes for an average speed of 14.9 miles per hour with an average recovery time of 6 minutes.

The UAE finished the next 5 riders in quick succession. The next off-continent rider to finish after Kanavy was 13th placed Renee Saxby-Lloyd of Australia, riding Meg Wade's Castlebar Treaty. East coast-based US riders, Stephen Rojek on Smokerise Finally and Meg Sleeper on Shyrocco Troilus, also completed the ride.


109 riders from 27 countries participated in the 4th running of this World Cup, formally known as The World's Most Preferred, including riders from the emerging endurance communities of Southeast Asia - Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. 39 riders completed the 5 loops, making this year's completion rate 36%, while last year's entries of 88 riders from 24 countries completed at 42%. Sheik Hamdan's win of this year shaved 40 minutes off the winning time of Abdullah Bilhab from the 2001 ride. His mount, Muneef, was in top form and had taken Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to a 3rd place finish in the Al Wathba Giants 75-mile ride in January. The 50 UAE ride starters were paired down to 14 at the end while finished horses showed very good recovery times.

Thunder and lightening was the opening herald for the ride just two days before the send off. According to locals, this was the first heavy rain in about five years. It left the desert track somewhat compacted and there was standing water in low areas, a reminder that this area had once been the site of a great sea. 62 miles into the ride, the temperature hovered in the high humid 90's and a dragon breath of steady wind blew hot desert sand into every nook and cranny, making the issue of hydration of top concern.


The announcer called it "A Flying Start" as the horses and riders left Seih Assalem for the desert trails marked by colored flags for each loop. The UAE set up a strong pace and led through the half way mark of that first 20.5-mile loop. Some crewing was done at designated points along the trail but each loop began and ended at Seih Assalem where shaded crewing areas afforded access to plentiful water, food and veterinarian aid and supplies. Kanavy was first back out on the course after vet gate 1.

Mid way through the 3rd loop, nearly 50 miles into the ride, Kanavy was in the lead but the pace was still a blistering 13.5 miles per hour. "It's blowing my mind how fast we're going," said Kanavy.

Coming out of vet gate 3, the UAE riders took the lead, but Kanavy was determined not to let the staggering pace alter her plan. She kept her cool and cruised home in 7th place.

Kanavy's Bearcat, who had been in the UAE since the beginning of March, looked extremely fit and more mature in this competition than he had at this same event last year when he was stopped at gate 4 after a whirlwind ride.

"I feel I have a lot more horse this time," said Kanavy. Bearcat, who has over 1500-recorded AERC ride miles and was the 2000 and 2001 USET Endurance Championship horse, has been looking very strong in his U.S. rides.

All three of the Team USA horses are nominated for the US squad Selection process for the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain in September. Mary Lutz, USET Director of Endurance who was traveling with the team said, "We did what we came to do. We brought 3 horses, and we finished 3 horses." To read a complete list of WEG-nominated horses and riders, as well as the selection procedures, click here.


In addition to the three U.S. riders who brought their own horses, the ride invitation list also included several North American riders who competed on borrowed mounts. Rita Swift riding Musical Gully Rhythm, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Jennifer Nice riding Al Baraaq, owned by Al Wathba Stables started well, but both riders retired their horses before Vet Gate #3.

Myna Cryderman brought over her horse, D'Artagnan from Canada, but sadly he developed scratches and did not start. Cryderman said she was "very disappointed" to not be able to ride her horse, but was very pleased to be able to start on April Present, a 1995 grey gelding owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. Unfortunately, April Present was eliminated at the end of the first loop due to lameness. The only Canadian to finish was Yvette Vinton.

Other competitors included Australia's two-time Quilty Ride winner, Terry Wood on the great Peppersfield Nabucco, and Rebecca Broughton from Great Britain on her beautiful chestnut stallion, Murmansk. Broughton and Murmansk had finished 13th in the European Championships in 2001. Other competitors included the German gelding, Te Quiero, owned and ridden by Sabrina Arnold, Top Horse in the FEI/UAE Rankings; the silver and bronze medallists from the 2000 World Equestrian Games Cecile Miletto; and Dominique Payen, as well as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defense.

The US endurance competitors enjoyed a successful spring overseas, having finished three horses in the President's Cup ride in February at Abu Dhabi. Riders Heather Bergantz on Lightfoot's Crystals Charm (2001 Pan Am winner), Marcia Smith on Saamson CC (2001 Tevis Cup winner), and Hal Hall on Bogus Thunder (Virginia City 100 winner) finished that ride in 11th, 14th, and 15th place, respectively.