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The history of Endurance in Uruguay is actually fairly complex - and  
quite interesting. They didn't begin Endurance as we know it until  
fairly recently. The 1998 Dubai WEC was the catalyst for FEI -  
International Endurance. With the introduction of FEI Endurance,  
Uruguay created their own Endurance organization - Asociacion  
Uruguaya De Enduro Ecuestre- commonly called 'AUDEE'. They developed  
a set of rules, similar to FEI's but with additional 'common sense'  
rules similar to USA's AERC rules. Until this time most of Uruguay's  
Endurance sport was the 'Raid' - a 100km (60 mile) race with one  
veterinary check (rest stop) in the middle. Speeds were typically  
very fast - 30+ km/hr were typical ride times. Crews would often  
drive along beside their horses (most of the races were along dirt  
roads, or on the grassy sides of paved roads) - crewing beside the  
horses as they ran, hosing the horses with water, etc. One rider told  
me of a very special horse that was a winning Raid horse - he would  
actually drink from a hose as he raced, and he would indicate to his  
crew that he wanted a drink as he was running! From what I hear this  
sport was pretty hard on horses - more than a few fatalities - but  
the result of decades of this type of race was a breed of 'Endurance  
Horse' - a mix of Arabian, Thoroughbred, Criollo and 'what not'  
blood. It didn't matter what the horse looked like, a pretty face  
didn't improve the speed, but it mattered very much how fast, and how  
sound the horse was.  Rangy looking, strong backs and stout legs,  
high withers, thin necks, medium height, short loin coupling, smooth  
hips, fairly long croups - they look like racing machines.

Given this history, it is no wonder that Uruguay has become among the  
top performing countries - winner of Individual and Team Gold at the  
2005 Pan American Championship, Silver Team and Individual Bronze at  
2007 Pan American Championship, Individual Gold and Silver and Team  
Gold at World Championship for Young Riders... the list goes on.  
Uruguay horses are known for speed and toughness. (and maybe a little  
bit of wildness). The world has also discovered Uruguay, with USA  
(Kanavy) and UAE (Maktoum) owned training stables on the coast  
between Punta del Este and La Paloma... and sales of Uruguayan  
Endurance horses are big business.

And the people I met are very very passionate about their sport. It  
is a small group, but a very dedicated core of riders, trainers,  
officials and volunteers. Uruguay being a small country, it is no  
problem to drive from one side to another to attend a ride, so every  
ride is attended by more or less the same group of people. They have  
around 12 - 15 rides per year, and each ride will draw at least 100  
entries. There are around 4 FEI rides each year, the rest are AUDEE  
rides. They have a points keeping system, and year end awards for  
several categories - overall senior, junior, young rider, mileage,  
best condition, etc, etc.  The Raids are still being held, but  
Endurance is becoming more prevalent. (like many other places - the  
UAE driven market for horses is fueling the business - fueling the  
sport).

This ride was being staged at a new venue - the Club Hippico outside  
of La Paloma - perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean. A small  
cafe which worked double time (triple time) to keep up with all of  
the hungry people. This is the very beginning of tourist season, so  
most hotels are just barely opening, and places are not fully staffed  
yet. An old man in the back room of the cafe kept his asado coals  
hot, roasting beef and sausage,  adding the smokey rustic smell of  
the place. Quite charming actually. The people here are very very  
friendly and patient.

Saturday would be the 120 and 160km events, and Sunday would have the  
40 and 80km rides.  All distances had FEI divisions, as well as open,  
as well as senior, junior (14-18) and young rider (16-21). Many  
families, quite a few kids. There are several big trainers in the  
area - EO (El Oasis), xx (need to get the name from the sticker) are  
two that come to mind. Generations of horsemen (and women).

Cidinha Franzao (Brazilian journalist) and I shared a hotel room at  
La Palma de Mallorca - a cute, aging, hotel set right on the beach -  
small cafe, swimming pool, humble rooms - and WiFi (go figure!) - it  
was actually delightful. And the first loops of the 120 and 160km  
rides went right along the beach. We slept in just a little, had a  
cup of coffee with first daylight, and stepped out onto the beach  
just in time to photograph the riders in morning light. Galloping and  
galloping - I rarely saw horses trot in these rides - rhythmically  
pounding the sand along the tidal waters, hands loose as the horses  
were allowed to gallop and seemed to easily find a fast efficient  
pace. The riding style of most of the Uruguay riders is very 'gaucho'  
- legs forward, back rounded, taking the rise and fall of the horse's  
backs in their lower back rather than seat bones.  Not exactly  
classical riding position, but it looked natural, obviously this was  
the way they learned to ride and the riders looked like they could  
stick to anything. I saw several non-competition horses on the beach  
too (warming up for Sunday's ride) - bareback (just a pad) ,  
barefoot, sandals in stirrups, relaxed and 'one with the horse'.

I took many many photos on the beach - truly enjoying the morning,  
the crashing waves, the galloping horses. It was hard to leave, but  
eventually we walked along the beach, a couple kilometers and then up  
over the dunes to the venue. Riders were coming and going, crewing  
ares set up, all the activity of an Endurance ride!  I met up with  
the Malaysians - very organized, Mat Din and Mahmood and Dr. Bashir  
keeping track of everybody, everything, every horse. Paces were  
analyzed - trying to stick to a 15km/hr pace, placement DID NOT  
matter, only finishing with a ride time of 12km/hr or faster. One of  
the horses was eliminated fairly early but 5 horses were still in.  
Quite a few problems keeping shoes on... but eager and competent  
crewing. And a very friendly atmosphere. Mat Din is a very friendly  
fellow, always laughing and making others laugh. Even while  
concentrating very hard on the task at hand, he can keep those around  
him relaxed and in good spirits. It seemed that strong friendships  
were being formed between the riders and the local grooms and crews.  
There was no obvious tension - just focus and good energy and  
everybody working together. Riders were pleasant, willing, eager,  
trusting of their grooms. Grooms were efficient, friendly, eager...  
it was a very nice situation.

-more later -

Steph




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