Swings and roundabouts... A fantastic end to the season! Endurance GB Young Rider National Champions 2011
After receiving some very disappointing news that we were no longer able to go to Abu Dhabi, we then had some fantastic news that Carri Ann Dark & Kates Mate were Endurance GB Young Rider National Champions 2011 !
After being selected to represent Great Britain at the Young Rider World Championships 2011 in Abu Dhabi, unfortunately due to a change of travel arrangements so close to the event and on veterinary advice, Endurance GB where unable to send a team out to Abu Dhabi. We where all absolutely gutted and had been training hard for this. So Sovereign suddenly was out of training and a dream was not realised.
However on a much happier note, the Endurance GB annual awards dinner left us all on a fantastic high, leaving us all extremely proud of all the horses and their achievements of the 2011 season.
Dark Endurance achieved:
3rd Ragham Trophy - Kates Mate
1st Windard Best New Horse Trophy - Vavavoom
2nd Windard Best New Horse Trophy - Kates Mate
3rd Adonis Trophy - Vavavoom
1st Mellor Young Rider Trophy - Vavavoom / Kates Mate / Sovereign IV
1st Young Rider Grand Prix Trophy - Vavavoom
3rd EGB FEI Championship - Vavavoom
1st Young Rider Championship Nippa Trophy & YR National Champion - Kates Mate
3rd Young Rider Championship Nippa Trophy - Vavavoom
October 2011 - 2nd at Arab Marathon 2011
Even in Semi-Retirement Elmsteads Poloistique still has that spark, racing across the finish line with a pack of 6 other horses to achieve 2nd place.
Coming out occasionally to have some fun, with the winner crossing the line in front we began approaching the finish line with a pack of 6 other horses, Polo raced across the finish the line in front to receive 2nd place.
August 2011 - 2nd in 103km ER at Breamore
For one of the last rides of the season Kates Mate came out to achieve yet another 2nd place, this time in a 103km ER.
Completing his longest distance to date and at a good speed, we crossed the line in 2nd place.
August 2011 - 2nd in 2-day 160km ER at Red Dragon
After his success at Dukeries & Boconnoc and an unlucky Euston Park, we took Kates Mate to try a 100km Young Horse ER.
Completing his longest distance to over two days to date and at a great speed, we raced across the line just 5 seconds behind the winner taking 2nd place.
(Photo by S. Evans)
Selected to represent Great Britain at the Young Rider World Championships 2011 in Abu Dhabi
After his success at Euston Park, and attending the Team Training sessions we received the fantastic news that we had been selected for the YR World Championships 2011 in Abu Dhabi !
The team selected to represent Great Britain at the Young Rider World Championships 2011 in Abu Dhabi has been decided and Dark Endurance received the fantastic news that Sovereign IV & Carri Ann Dark were part of the team selected to go.
The 120km FEI Endurance ride takes place in Abu Dhabi on the 10th December 2011.
August 2011 - 2nd in 100km Young Horse ER at Barbury Castle
After his success at Dukeries & Boconnoc and an unlucky Euston Park, we took Katess Mate to try a 100km Young Horse ER.
Completing his longest distance to date and at a good speed, we crossed the line in 2nd place.
July 2011 - 3rd & 4th in 120km FEI 2* at Cirencester Park
After Vavavoom already achieving his first 120km FEI 2* and Open All Hours completing her first 90km FEI 1* we took them both together in the 120km FEI 2* at Cirencester Park.
Over a testing course we came across the line 3rd & 4th, however this also meant that Vavavoom achieved his second 120km FEI 2* which now means he is FEI 2* qualified along with Open All Hours achieving her first 120km FEI 2*.
July 2011 - 2nd in 80km ER at Boconnoc
After his success at Dukeries we went down to Boconnoc with Kates Mate, to do our first open 80km ER together.
In the scorching heat and over a testing course Kates Mate canters across the line in 2nd place.
July 2011 - New! Horse Hero Biog & Blog
Horse Hero is now publishing Carri Ann Dark's Biog and Blog entries on their Horse Hero Website.
Visit www.horsehero.com
or
View the first blog entry HERE or View Carri Ann's Biog HERE
June 2011 - 2nd in YR 120km FEI 2* at Euston Park!
The second Euston Park event of the season saw Dark Endurance entered into the YR 120km FEI 2*.
After having some time off work, we decided to take Sovereign to Euston Park to see if he could achieve his second FEI 2* ride. Sovereign loved Euston and cantered most of the way completing the ride at a respectable speed of 17.55kph, this also gained him a qualification (subject to selection) for the Young Rider World Championships in Abu Dhabi later this year.
You can view the two part video from Euston below:
June 2011 - First attempt at Man Vs Horse Marathon, achieving 7th place
June saw Dark Endurance attempt a completely different event for a change, the Man Vs Horse Marathon.
The Man Vs Horse marathon is a 22 mile race over the taxing tracks of the Welsh hills. Our first attempt at this event was great and the old boy, Polo, got to go and play achieving 7th place.
May 2011 - Double FEI 1* achievements!
Dukeries 2011 saw Dark Endurance achieve double achievements with Kates Mate & Open All Hours successfully completing their first FEI 1* rides.
We are very pleased to announce our two young endurance horses Kates Mate & Open All Hours successfully completed their FEI 1* Young Rider 90km with 3rd & 4th as they crossed the line together.
May 2011 - Golden Horseshoe Best Presentation & Handling Award
After VaVaVoom's success this season he was ready to take on the prestigious 160km over 2-days Golden Horseshoe ride,
After crossing the finish line at the end of day one, he was looking fantastic although then trotted up to find a kick from the field had made him a little sore so failed the trot-up. However when returning home we were then informed that we had been awarded the best handling & presentation award, after having a fantastic ride we are very proud of VaVaVoom and he is back on a speedy recovery.
May 2011 - Dark Endurance - Carri Ann Dark's Blog with Equilibrium Horse Products
With Equilibrium Horse Products kindly sponsoring Carri Ann Dark this season you can now view her profile & blogs on their website under "Rising Stars" or by clicking on their logo below.
April 2011 - VaVaVoom, success again! FEI 120km 2nd
VaVaVoom has successfully completed his first FEI 120km ride achieving 2nd.
We are so pleased to announce that Vavavoom has successfully completed his first FEI Young Rider 120km achieving 2nd.
April 2011 - New arrival on the yard, Flame's first filly foal
DD Flame of Fantasy welcomed her first ever foal, a beautiful bay filly, to the world.
April 5th, brought a lovely filly foal to the yard, you can view some of the first photos of our new filly foal at our Facebook Page: HERE
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March 2011 - VaVaVoom, success at first ever FEI ride
One of young endurance horses has successfully completed his first ever FEI ride, winning the FEI YR 80km at Kings Forest.
We are so pleased to announce that Vavavoom has successfully completed his first FEI ride, we hope he will continue to shine throughout this season.
March 2011 - Deemonstrator's first competitive endurance ride
Deemonstrator has completed his first ever competitive endurance ride
Deemonstrator is our black pure arabian stallion and he has now completed his first ever competitive endurance ride. With his first ride successfully under his belt we now plan on continuing to compete and to hopefully become an Open endurance horse by the end of the season. You can see some photos of the ride on our Facebook page, just click on the facebook link below and view the photo album for "Jet's first competitive endurance ride".
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Here you can view footage from his first endurance ride
Jan 2011 - Deemonstrator's first training ride
Our new boy , Deemonstrator has completed his first ever training ride
Deemonstrator is our black pure arabian stallion and he has now completed his first ever endurance training ride and will a little more fitness will be set to complete his first endurance ride in a few months time. You can see some photos of the training ride on our Facebook page, just click on the facebook link below and view the photo album for "Jet's First Ride".
Like Dark Endurance on Facebook
Jan 2011 - Shortlisted for a chance to compete in the Mongol Derby
Dark Endurance's Carri Ann Dark has been lucky enough to be shortlisted for the HorseHero Competition for a place in the Mongol Derby 2011
Carri Ann Dark was lucky enough to be in the short list of 5 over the world. They then had to compete to gain the most votes in a 8-day competition, however unfortunately after getting many votes she was a close second place and currently a reserve for the 2011 Mongol Derby.
The Mongol Derby is a 1000km (approx. 600mile) race over similar routes that the pony express took many years ago. The race takes place in Mongolia over 10 days where they change steeds every 40km. It is known as the longest ride in the world and is a true adventure.
Here you can see Carri Ann's video entry
Dec 2010 - Dark Endurance has a fantastic end to the 2010 season!
Dark Endurance has a fantastic end to the 2010 season when picking up numerous awards at the National Endurance GB AGM
We are proud members of Endurance GB and found out that we have been very successful in 2010.
Dark Endurance achieved:
EGB Adonis Trophy 2nd
Winner of the EGB Regham Trophy
Winner & 3rd of the EGB Young Rider Grand Prix Trophy
EGB Nippa Trophy (Young Rider Reserve National Champion) & 3rd
The Dark Endurance horses also received different distance milestone awards such as :
Esta Leonardo Diabo achieving 2400km
Elmsteads Poloistique achieving 1600km
Dec 2010 - The new boy on the Yard
Dark Endurance are proud to announce that we have a new boy on the yard, Deemonstrator is a black pure bred Arabian and we hope to bring him on and possible stand him at stud
Dec 2010 - Great Cotswolds Group Results
It is the end of the season and good results for the year are being awarded
We are proud members of the Cotswolds Group and found out this week that we have been very successful.
Dark Endurance achieved:
Advanced Trophy - 1st (Esta Leonardo Diabo), 2nd (Soveriegn IV) & 3rd (Va va voom)
Open Trophy - 3rd (Kates Mate) & 4th (Va va voom)
Young Rider Trophy - 1st (Carri Ann Dark)
Aug 2010 - Ridgeway Barbury Castle 2-day 166km ER
2nd place at first ever 2-day 166km ER
After a great racing finish Esta Leonardo Diabo completed his first ever two day 166km ride and achieving 2nd place
July 2010 - New Born Filly Foal
Open All Hours has a lovely filly foal
Tuesday 27th July, The morning saw a early arrival of Zara's first foal, a lovely chestnut filly by Shuwaiman Al Bahrain.
After receiving some very disappointing news that we were no longer able to go to Abu Dhabi, we then had some fantastic news that Carri Ann Dark & Kates Mate were Endurance GB Young Rider National Champions 2011 !
Even in Semi-Retirement Elmsteads Poloistique still has that spark, racing across the finish line with a pack of 6 other horses to achieve 2nd place.
For one of the last rides of the season Kates Mate came out to achieve yet another 2nd place, this time in a 103km ER.
After his success at Dukeries & Boconnoc and an unlucky Euston Park, we took Kates Mate to try a 100km Young Horse ER.
After his success at Euston Park, and attending the Team Training sessions we received the fantastic news that we had been selected for the YR World Championships 2011 in Abu Dhabi !
After his success at Dukeries & Boconnoc and an unlucky Euston Park, we took Katess Mate to try a 100km Young Horse ER.
After Vavavoom already achieving his first 120km FEI 2* and Open All Hours completing her first 90km FEI 1* we took them both together in the 120km FEI 2* at Cirencester Park.
After his success at Dukeries we went down to Boconnoc with Kates Mate, to do our first open 80km ER together.
Horse Hero is now publishing Carri Ann Dark's Biog and Blog entries on their Horse Hero Website.
The second Euston Park event of the season saw Dark Endurance entered into the YR 120km FEI 2*. 
June saw Dark Endurance attempt a completely different event for a change, the Man Vs Horse Marathon.
Dukeries 2011 saw Dark Endurance achieve double achievements with Kates Mate & Open All Hours successfully completing their first FEI 1* rides.
With Equilibrium Horse Products kindly sponsoring Carri Ann Dark this season you can now view her profile & blogs on their website under "Rising Stars" or by clicking on their logo below.
VaVaVoom has successfully completed his first FEI 120km ride achieving 2nd.
DD Flame of Fantasy welcomed her first ever foal, a beautiful bay filly, to the world.
One of young endurance horses has successfully completed his first ever FEI ride, winning the FEI YR 80km at Kings Forest.
Deemonstrator has completed his first ever competitive endurance ride
Dark Endurance has a fantastic end to the 2010 season when picking up numerous awards at the National Endurance GB AGM
Dark Endurance are proud to announce that we have a new boy on the yard, Deemonstrator is a black pure bred Arabian and we hope to bring him on and possible stand him at stud
It is the end of the season and good results for the year are being awarded
