Mongol Derby

The last four riders crossed the finish line in Binder soum yesterday (Sunday) morning, thus bringing to a splendid conclusion the second Mongol Derby. We spoke to some of the riders from the finish camp after a day spent attending to weary bodies and stunted appetites. For some, the pride of completing such an epic adventure was palpable, while others were experiencing an acute desire to get back out on the steppe, finally still after eight gruelling days in the saddle and already missing the rhythm of the race.

Australian entrant and professional track rider Alisa Vermay showed the grit which comes with the territory of a life with horses. "I am so disappointed not to finish, but a day off recovering from heat stroke last week revealed to me that I had ridden through the pain barrier. My back and shoulders were very sore, and as a profgessional rider I just cannot risk further injury. The [Prometheus]medical team have been fantastic and I am feeling better already." Despite her early exit and bodily injury, she had plenty of fond memories to treasure; "I loved it. I absolutely loved it!"

Susi Saddler was one of two riders to take the chance and camp wild between the urtuus, and she described the experience as "amazing". Her partner for the night was Camilla Swift, and she described their encampment, in bivvy bags under a rock, their horses tethered and hobbled close at hand; "luckily we were on two lazy buggers and they just lay down and went to sleep next to us. We had an alarm set at 45 minute intervals to be on the safe side, but they didn't move a muscle! We had our saddles for pillows". Ah, the romance!

All of the riders praised the plucky and quirky Mongolian horses, who carried our brave riders across rivers, flood plains, up steep and stony passes, through desert. Susi remembered fondly a little stallion she partnered in the mid-stages; "he was so fit, he galloped for much of the leg and we swept across a wide open plain, with huge red crags either side". She admitted she would have loved to have taken him home. "He'd clean up on the endurance circuit".(by endurance.net)

Endurance Board comments on World Equestrian Games withdrawals

The Endurance Board of Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) has distanced itself from the controversy surrounding the withdrawal of two combinations from the World Equestrian Games.


Two-time national champion Jenny Champion and 2010 national champion Sue Reid each withdrew from the team after their first-choice grooms failed to gain selection.

The withdrawals have left New Zealand with three combinations in endurance in the Games in Kentucky, severely damaging the country's chances of team honours.

The Endurance Board, in a statement to members, noted the public discussion and debate around the withdrawals and voiced fears it could damage the sport's standing.

It said it wanted to reiterate to members that the Endurance Board held no authority over ESNZ High Performance and retained no position of influence over endurance high-performance selections or selection criteria for the Games.

"The Endurance Board has expressed its concern to the ESNZ chief executive at the lack of forthcoming and timely communication in regard to the withdrawals, and has asked for the Endurance Board to be given a better understanding of the 'events' and procedure leading up to the formal announcement of the withdrawals."

It continued: "The Endurance Board would like to express to members their concern [as] to the damage that the sport might suffer due to the consistent negative discussion and debate being held in the public arena and would ask that those involved give first consideration to what is good for the sport of endurance.

"The Endurance Board does take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the correspondence in regard to the WEG Team that has been sent to them.

"The Board of Endurance would like to confirm their ongoing support and encouragement to the remaining Endurance WEG Team as they represent New Zealand Endurance on the world stage."

Ksatria calvalry Perkasa

Bagi seorang perwira Kavaleri diwajibkan untuk mahir dan menguasai tentang kuda, karena dilihat dari sejarah Kavaleri di seluruh Dunia bahwa awal pembentukan dari kavaleri berkuda. Pada saat pendidikan dasar kecabangan, setiap perwira Kavaleri sudah diberikan dan dilatih bagaimana menunggang kuda, dan tentunya dengan modal dasar tersebut diharapkan setiap prajurit kavaleri/Perwira tidak ada istilah untuk tidak bisa menunggang kuda, memang dalam suatu kondisi tertentu ada kemungkinan dilihat dari bakat yang dipunyai ... tetapi yakinilah bahwa menunggang kuda ada kekhasan bagi perwira kavaleri ...anda akan terlihat seperti Ksatria yang gagah perkasa berada di punggung kuda dan tidak semua bisa melakukan itu atau dapat kesempatan untuk menunggang kuda....jadilah Ksatria Kavaleri Perkasa...Saya bisa Anda Bisa ... mari mencoba.

wing berkuda II

Dankodiklat TNI AD Letjen TNI Budiman menerima wing kehormatan berkuda atau yudha turangga wiratama dari Danpussenkav pada suatu upacara penyematan brivet berkuda di lapangan turangga jurit Denkavkud Parongpong (9/08/2010). Sebelumnya telah dilaksanakan latihan bersama dengan para perwira pussenkav dan para Danpusdik dijajaran Kodiklat TNI AD dan diakhiri dengan Joy Ride sejauh 5 Km menyusuri komplek denkavkud serta area perkebunan Teh yang berada disepanjang rute yang dilalui

Mencoba eksis

Seperti mimpi lagi ... ketika saya tiba kembali ke Bandung sejak meninggalkan selama 1 tahun 4 bulan untuk melaksanakan tugas di makassar Sulsel....kerinduan untuk menunggang kuda dapat terobati lagi....
Kini tiba waktunya untuk menunggang lagi pada satu kesempatan mencoba berada dipunggung kuda... awalnya terasa canggung....but...lama kelamaan makin enjoy....wah, gerakan menunggang masih tetap dengan style yang lama...dan ..wuiit ...saya sudah mencaba melewati rintangan.....mantaps...

meskipun kaki masih sakit akibat cedera engkel kiri saat bermain bola eksebisi dengan PSSI all star dan harus dibalut (deker) tetapi terasa hilang kalau sudah diatas kuda...sepertinya semua sakit hilang seketika selagi menunggang...memang cukup lama tidak menunggang dan saat ini ... saya sudah kembali kepada hobbi lama yang sempat terputus beberapa waktu ...

Menunggang dengan beberapa rekan senior para Komandan pusat pendidikan untuk suatu kegiatan penerimaan wing/brevet berkuda di parongpong ... menyenangkan bahwa berkuda bisa digemari oleh para senior dari berbagai corps di TNI AD termasuk Kowad-nya.

wing berkuda I

Tradisi Pemberian wing berkuda kehormatan yang akan diberikan kepada Dankodiklat beserta jajarannya akan dilaksanakan suatu upacara kehormatan di lapangan DENKAVKUD Parongpong pada tgl 9 agustus 2010 dan akan bertindak selaku inspektur upacara adalah DANPUSSENKAV Brigjen TNI Burhanudin Siagian. Sebelum penyematan wing berkuda para personel yang akan memakai wing berkuda diwajibkan untuk melakukan latihan wajib dasar menunggang kuda



Gambar disamping ini adalah suasana saat latihan menunggang dasar para komandan Pusdik se jajaran Kodiklat TNI AD