Meg Wade and Jenny Oliver share the spoils in the first FEI Australian Desert Challenge
Meg Wade on Parlour Mountain Tabatha and Jenny Oliver with Aloha Gossip shared the honours in a time of 11hr 21min in the inaugural Australian Desert Challenge FEI endurance ride.
The Australian outback town of Windorah was the venue for this two-day, 200km ride. Turkey bush, spinifex and red sand-dunes set the scene, as well as the multi-channelled Cooper Creek and black soil flood plains.
Seventy-three competitors set out at dawn, but the flat course was deceptive and the soft sand sapped the horses’ energy.
Tie-ups and lameness took their toll, with some horses succumbing to travel sickness after the long journey to get to the ride, but there were 36 successful completions.
See this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine for more international reports.
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