a disturbing notication has arrived

Thank you for that really informative post. I had no idea such a guild existed, never mind the history behind the Russian rides.

Let's hope your contacts meet with success.
 
To: Horse & Hound
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Locating Russian Riders

Scottish Long Rider Gordon Naysmith has just received this message from Ekaterina, who posted the original warning.

Dear Gordon,
Thank you so much!! Although I sent out my message in the very end of May, when the guys have just entered Poland. On June 10th they entered Gernamy and by June 13th planned to arrive to Frankfurt-on-Oder. We also do not know if the 3-year old mare is still there or still alive. Anyway, we hope it is not too late yet and it will be somehow possible to check the condition of the horses and to stop them if necessary! Thank you very much again! Please, let us know if there are any news!
Best regards,
Ekaterina Lomeiko

Having learned that the Russians are now in Germany, The Guild has sent an urgent message to Dietmar Köstler - Long Rider Webmaster of the Weitreitergilde website, asking if he and the German equestrian community can assist The Guild in locating these men and determining the condition of the horses.

We will keep you informed of these developments.
regards,
CuChullaine O'Reilly F.R.G.S.
 
CuChullaine
Thanks very much for your two post responses - and your help in ensuring the horses' welfare is not compromised.
S
grin.gif
 
What B*******!!!! Sorry but there really is no excuse for this! That poor little mare carrying a mans weight all day long in that condition and that was a month ago, god knows what shes like now?!

I emailed the ilph and the bhs welfare, maybe they would put a petition together? Anyone else we can email?
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O’Reilly – The Long Riders’ Guild
Subject: Russian Rider Located

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O’Reilly of The Long Riders’ Guild here, writing to update you in regards to the Russian rider who is attempting to reach Paris. Because Ekaterina from Russia has already provided the background on this equestrian journey, I shall not duplicate that original information, preferring instead to provide you with this update.

Scottish Long Rider Gordon Naysmith was able to contact Ekaterina and request additional information regarding the primary rider and his journey. She responded with this information.

Dear Gordon,
Thank you for making inquiries! Here, I found the official site of this tour in Russian:
http://www.veles-kurgan.ru/news/news/03-06-2008/181-0 and in German:
http://www.catharina-pawlowna-gesellschaft.de/40.html

I don’t know if you can read either language, but basically says that on 28th May Valerii Popov was met in Poland and spent a few days in Danzig. It is possible that he might have travelled in a trailer some of the distance, and could have crossed the border in a trailer as well. And on June 10th he reached the German border.

The other guy, Ruslan Menshikov, had to return back home because of some family troubles but, as far as we heard, the second horse stayed there.

There is also a site in English, but it looks like it hasn’t been updated since the start of the ride:
http://kurgan-paris.com/

That’s more or less all I know. Plus – very negative impressions of horse-people who met them on their way…..
Thanks again!
Ekaterina

Shortly after Gordon received this message, he discovered that Popov had entered Germany. At that point The Long Riders’ Guild contacted Dietmar Koestler.

He is a Member of the Long Riders Guild, webmaster of the German language Long Riders’ website ( http://www.weitreitergilde.de ) and President of the Bavarian Riding Association. Upon being informed of the international concerns surrounding this journey, Dietmar promised to investigate The Guild’s concerns straight away.

On June 20th he reported, “I have read the German site which says, that he has crossed the boarder on June 13. So he should be now somewhere in Germany. We will try to locate him, check the horse(s) and inform you and Gordon of the situation.”

Dietmar has just contacted The Guild to inform us that he has located Popov and the horses.

“I spoke to the Frankfurt/Oder newspaper and to a lady of the German-Russian association which is mentioned as contact here in Germany. I could not check the information, but up to now it looks as follows: Around June 10 Popov with one riding horse and one pack horse crossed the German boarder around Frankfurt/Oder coming from Poland.

He then continued to Leipzig (it is not known to me how, but presumably by horse), from where he went to Illingen, transporting the horses, as they were in a poor condition. Now all are in Illingen, close to Stuttgart, at an animal help place where the horses are for recovery.”

In our reply to Dietmar, The Guild requested that Dietmar attempt to confirm the safety and condition of the horses, and if he found they were in peril, to ask the Germany authorities to intervene.

We also reminded him that as I previously explained to the English equestrian world, Russia has a wonderful history of important Long Riders. Not only did these equestrian explorers make fantastic trips, but they were also known for having treated their horses with the utmost kindness and respect.

So it is important for us to realize that the concerns being raised against Popov are not aimed at Russia or her respected Long Riders. The concerns are aimed at one man, not his country of origin.

We have also suggested that if Dietmar wishes to put the German press in contact with The Guild, then we can provide them with the historical details I have written regarding Asseyev, Peshkov and Fissenko. In this way the German reporters will be able to ask Popov why these great Russian Long Riders never wounded their horses on journeys which were more difficult.

So this is where the matter stands at the moment.

However, let me remind the Horse & Hound readers of this important point. When the five original Long Riders from three countries held the first international meeting in September, 2000, we all agreed that those people who abused their horses would NEVER be allowed in The Guild.

That is why the very first page of The Guild website contains this stern warning.

“Further, we acknowledge the inherent bodily perils involved in equestrian travel to both horse and rider. Yet we in no way condone or sponsor any expedition that knowingly subjects its mounts to needless suffering. The Long Riders' Guild has no obsession with mileage. Though our members have set an assortment of world records during the course of their equestrian travels, we do not encourage a needless quest for kilometers, nor the lightning flash crossing of continents. We encourage our members instead to undertake a life-changing equestrian journey that explores not only the unknown portions of the world, but their own souls as well. Indeed, being a Long Rider is more than just a matter of miles. It is a question of honour, dignity and behaviour.”
http://www.thelongridersguild.com/what_is_the_long_riders.htm

In closing, The Long Riders’ Guild will be updating the readers of this website as and when we obtain more detailed information.

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS
 
Huge respect to you guys. You all seem to have handled this efficiently and diplomatically. Do you know if the horses will be found homes, or sent to the abattoir?
And thank you once again for keeping us informed. It's a rare pleasure to read posts like yours.
 
CuChullaine
Thank you again for helping ensure these horses' welfare.
I am sure no one on HHO believes that Russian are typified by this one sad example.
The Long Riders Guild does seem to be an exemplary organisation - hopefully more long riders will refer to it as a source of help, advice and information prior to setting off on long journeys.
S
grin.gif
 
Thank you for all you hard work on behalf of these horses, for keeping us informed and for the exemplary example you and the Long Riders Guild set for the equestrian world.
Emma
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Russian Horses in "Terrible" condition

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, reporting to you in regards to the lastest discoveries involving the Russian rider, Popov, and his two unfortunate horses.

The esteemed German Long Rider, Dr. Dietmar Köstler, has emailed his fellow Long Riders so as to share alarming news about this situation.

In the first of several emails, Dietmar wrote, "Dear CuChullaine, the situation seems to be worse than expected. Terrible; you were absolutely right. Plus, it was somewhat difficult as we had reports from two journals along their way in Germany claiming that the horses are in good condition."

Dietmar went on to explain how he learned that both horses are now in a private German animal rescue centre called Animal Hope - www.animalhope.de

Felicia Uhland, the owner of the facility, apparently travelled 500 kilometres across Germany so as to transport the horses, and rider, back to her rescue centre near Leipzig. According to her, the horses are in a terrible condition and are absolutely unable to continue their journey.

The mare, who is apparently about three-years-old and probably pregnant, has been described as being completely broken down. This horse, according to reports, should be prohibited from moving.

The stallion, while not suffering from such extreme abuse, is nevertheless also in very poor condition. Plus, according to Dietmer, who had to resort to an English dictionary to describe the situation, the stallion's front fetlocks are swollen. This horse too requires immediate medical care, long term rest and should not be placed back on the road.

But according to Dietmar, the Russian rider is "absolutely firm to continue his journey to Paris."

At last report, Popov was staying in a tent, near the horses on Felicia's property. Though he is apparently in dire financial straits, friends of The Guild believe he may be planning on trying to regain control of the horses. He would then, they believe, try to make a break for the French border, where he hopes the vet laws in that country will be less stringent.

The Russian's concern regarding German vet interference are well founded because, thanks to Dietmar, the German state vet has been notified of the situation and has apparently promised to inspect the horses. Dietmar is trying to get the German state vet to order the horses taken off the road.

But that problem may compounded by the fact that the horses belong to someone else, a third party in Russia, whose idenity Dietmar has yet to discover.

If anything was needed to give this tragedy even more irony it is the fact that Popov claims to be making the journey so as to promote a theraputic riding centre in Germany ! Where this place is, or who is in charge, Dietmar has yet to determine. However, he is attempting to locate and discuss the situation with the facility owner.

Consequently, at this point Dietmar is attempting to:
ensure that the horses are kept at Felicia's rescue mission.-
involve the German state vet -
confirm the medical condition of the horses -
obtain an injunction prohibiting them from travelling -
locate the owner of the German disabled riding centre which the Russian claims to represent.

The Long Riders' Guild, meantime, will be speaking to the famous French Long Rider Jean Louis Gourard. He rode from Paris to Moscow, speaks Russian and has excellent contacts in both the French and Russian equestrian communities.

We will be asking Jean Louis if he can alert the French border authorties to the possible approach of this Russian rider. The Guild will also ask Jean Louis to inform the mayor of Paris about the equestrian abuse involved in this journey, thereafter asking the mayor to prohibit Popov from using the Eiffel Tower as a conclusion to this appalling journey.

The Guild would like to urge the readers of the Horse & Hound website to please contact Felicia Uhlan so as to determine what help might be provided from the international equestrian community. We do not know if Felicia speaks English. However, any email message of support will be appreciated.

Also, any H&H readers with contacts in the German equestrian or mainstream press are urged to contact them so as to express your extreme concern regarding the on-going abuse these horses will undergo if they are put back on the road.

In closing, The Long Riders’ Guild will continue to update the readers of this website as and when we obtain more detailed information.

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: German State Vet Inspects Russian Horses

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, alerting you to the latest news from Germany.

German Long Rider, Dr. Dietmar Köstler, has emailed to say, "the (state) vet has confirmed that both of the Russian horses cannot be ridden due to severe health problems."

Unfortunately, despite that dire prognosis, the Russian rider, Popov, has apparently attempted to seize the animals and take them across the border into France.

Luckily, Felicia Uhland, the owner of the rescue facility, has placed the horses in safe keeping, so as to attempt to ensure that they cannot be moved out of Germany.

Dietmar is now busy attempting to make contact with the disabled German riding program which Popov claims to represent, hoping that he can arrange to have this support withdrawn.

Meanwhile, The Long Riders' Guild is preparing to present an official letter of protest to the Russian Ambassador in Berlin. While reminding the Ambassador of Russia's thrilling equestrian history, and her rightfully famous Long Riders, we shall ask His Excellency to issue orders prohibiting this rogue from continuing this deplorable journey.

The Guild will keep you informed in the days to come.

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O'Reilly FRGS
 
Dear friends!!!!

Thank you all so much for everything you have done to help! I've got an email from Animal Hope today saying that the ride is stopped and the German veterinary will decide tomorrow whether Popov can take the horses back to Russia (I hope not!!!)

I spoke to Felicia Ruhland on the phone - she confirmed that the horses are in extremely poor conditions (more exactly - with someone from her office who spoke English and offered to translate as Frau Ruhland does not speak English)

The efficient work of the Long Riders Guild is really impressive, thank you again so much!

We here in Russia are ready to do everything possible to ensure that the further fate of Kombat and Neposeda is safe! We can join the letter of protest on behalf of Equihelp to the Russian Ambassador if you think this can be actionalble!

Please, contact me at hill75@hotmail.com if anything can be done from our side!

About me (to chillidragon, understanding your concerns): I am one of the founders of EquiHelp Russia, but I am not involved much in day-to-day operations of this organization. The official e-mail of EquiHelp is equihelp@equihelp.ru, but the person who has access to this e-mail does not speak English, so it's more efficient to write to my e-mail.

There are EquiHelp official contacts in the end of this page:
http://www.equihelp.ru/real_help.shtml
(Russian)

Here is a link to the topic about these guys at EquiHelp forum:
http://www.equihelp.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=75
(Sara is my nick there)

Thanks again to everyone for caring and, especially to CuChullaine O’Reilly and the Long Riders Guild for understanding that this is not so much the country as certain individuals (although the counrty unfortunately has its share of fault in this situation)
let's hope these horses will not suffer any more!!!

Best regards,
Ekaterina
 
[ QUOTE ]
But that problem may compounded by the fact that the horses belong to someone else, a third party in Russia, whose idenity Dietmar has yet to discover

[/ QUOTE ]

Popov must have documents on the horses with him, where the owner must be stated. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to cross the borders and travel that far! If he is not the owner, he must have the letter of authority from the owner.

If he does not have any documents - then may be the horses can be considered "lost"?
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Status of endangered Russian Horses

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, alerting you to the latest news to come out of Germany regarding the imperilled Russian horses.

The Guild has been in constant contact with the German Long Rider, Dr. Dietmar Köstler, who has not only been working around the clock to resolve this emergency, but has taken the time to share the news regarding the most important recent developments in Germany and Russia.

Thanks to a flurry of recent international actions:
the ride is now officially suspended –
the German state vet has condemned the condition of the horses –
the German charity has withdrawn it support for the ride –
and the Russian government is eager to ensure that Popov return home.

The bad news began for the Russian traveller when the German state vet announced that the mare’s backbone is so severely damaged that it has resulted in her being in pain from any movement.

But the situation only grew more grim when Popov, who claims to be a Cossack, managed to disappoint everyone who had once supported him. By Monday he had agreed to discontinue the journey and return home to Russia.

Yet he had demanded to see the horses before leaving Germany. This prompted the German equine rescue lady, Felicia Ruhland, to agree to bring the horses to a neutral and safe location. Popov was accompanied to this meeting by a representative of the Russian Consulate, whose office had now become involved in discussions on how the horses might be repatriated back to Russia.

While that might appear to be the obvious solution, it may not be easy, as the mare may be deemed too injured to be transported. The stallion however, who though ill is also stronger, may be allowed to depart.

When informed of these developments The Long Riders’ Guild expressed strong concern regarding the possibility that Popov might accompany the stallion on the motor transport, then once the horse’s German protector, Felicia Ruhland, was out of sight, the Russian might order the driver to reroute the truck to France, so as to allow him to continue the journey towards Paris.

We are happy to report that this negative option is looking less likely by the day. According to The Guild’s sources, Popov has managed to unite everyone, including the Russian federal authorities, against him.

The first hammer blow came from the German government vet who announced in his diagnosis that, “this ride across Europe has resulted in the abuse of the animals, and if allowed to continue, the outcome will be their death.”

No sooner had the vet issued his warning than the German press released this story.

*********
Exhausted horses arrive from Russia.
Both horses, which the Russian Valery Popov wanted to ride from Siberia to Paris, but which were seized because they were exhausted, will be taken back to their homeland. On Wednesday vets will decide if the horses are fit to be transported, said the director of the Illinger rescue centre, Felicia Ruhland.
The animals were first taken to the rescue centre after the authorities in Leipzig had stopped Popov. The Russian had announced that he would take the horses to Strasbourg on a trailer, and wanted to continue his journey from there. The Russian Consulate has however ensured that the horses should return to Russia, said Ruhland. The arrival in Paris would be cancelled. Both animals are worn out. The horses are currently in a secret place.
*********

Yet the rogue Russian’s problems were far from over.

Thanks to the intercession of the German Long Rider, Dr. Dietmar Köstler, the German-Russian friendship organization, which had unknowingly been a part of this equestrian tragedy, was then fully informed of the situation. The Catharina Pawlowna Association has not only withdrawn their support for Popov, they have also published this stinging public rebuke on their website.

“Because of an unhappy incident, this project will no longer be supported by our society. Mr. Popov has frequently proved himself to be an unworthy guest and through his unrestrained behaviour has caused several scandals, and has thereby damaged the Russian authorities, the Russian Cossacks and the project itself.”

While these developments are of importance and interest, The Guild can also report that it has learned that Popov is not the legal owner of the horses. According to our sources in Germany, the true owner flew in from Russia last weekend so as to substantiate rumors he had received regarding the terrible condition of his horses. The owner was apparently very upset, and he too, is believed to have withdrawn his support from this flawed equestrian effort.

Having incurred the wrath of the legal owner, the Russian embassy, the German vet, press and charity, not to mention the international equestrian community, Popov’s trouble took another turn for the worse late Monday night, when the ownership papers of the horses were suddenly declared “stolen.”

With things already looking bleak, Popov may now be involved in a German criminal case, as these important papers provide a detailed description of the horses and served as the legal documents whereby the European Union granted entry to the Russian horses. Without the consent of the owner, and now lacking any papers, it is apparent that Popov has no authority and does not own the horses.

As of Tuesday evening, 8th July, The Long Riders’ Guild can report that a meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning so as to determine the final outcome of the horses. Dr. Köstler, Felicia Ruhland, a representative of the Russian government, and the German state vet, are all due to meet with Popov tomorrow morning.

While these developments are encouraging, they serve to demonstrate a vital basic truth which people like Popov fail to recognize.

The idea of equestrian travel is always romantic, because one neither sees nor knows too much.

Thus, while it would never occur to an individual with no flight experience to announce that they were going to attempt to fly from Russia to Paris, Popov had no hesitation in trying to ignore the ancient rules governing the success, or failure, involved in equestrian travel.

Though he may in fact be a competent horseman, the blazing failure of this expedition proves that Popov climbed into the saddle armed with little more than a hazy geographical destination, but no practical equestrian travel experience.

And therein lies the painful lesson one sees when one compares the Russian master traveller, Lieutenant Mikael Asseyev, who arrived in Paris on his immaculate mares, against the brutal cross-country flogging which Popov has inflicted on his two horses. The former is a legend, the latter a mounted fool.

Meanwhile, while we can all mourn the pain inflicted upon these unfortunate horses, what cannot be denied is that concerned men and women in Russia, Poland, Germany, France, England and the United States have united in an unprecedented act of international equestrian liberation.

As the great French Long Rider, Gerald Barre, once said, despite where we were individually born, all of us share one common trait. Our mother tongue is “horse.”

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS

www.thelongridersguild.com
www.lrgaf.org
www.horsetravelbooks.com
www.classictravelbooks.com
 
Excellent news - thanks for your efforts, CuChullaine - and thanks to Dr Kostler, for his.
Although it is sad that anyone should fail to consider the welfare of his horses in a venture like this, it is encouraging to realise that there is an international network of caring people working together to solve problems.
S
grin.gif
 
Thank god the horses are safe, its fantastic what everyones done to help them, i only pray that the mare pulls through, she sounds in a very sorry state, poor girl, she works her heart out and is repaid by total and utter neglect, that man wants shooting
mad.gif

Glad the stallion is in a slightly better condition.
well done to everyone involved, your all amazing
smile.gif
smile.gif


Debs x
 
CuChullaine, thanks a lot for the updates!

I translate them and post to Russian equestrian sites. People here follow the situation with great interest and concern!

Regards,

Ekaterina
 
My goodness. I don't check into LN much so I hadn't seen these developments, but I have to say, I think I stand totally corrected. I was very sceptical about the reality of this incident indeed but I think it's only right that I apologise to everyone I have disagreed with and challenged in this thread, especially since I have to admit that I would probably have deleted this if I had received it via email since I would have seen it as just another hoax. I'm incredibly sorry to have been wrong on this, not for the sake of winning or losing, but for the sake of the horses, and because if I had been the only one who had been told, I would have let them down. That's not a pleasant thought to go to bed on.
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Meeting Held regarding Russian Horses

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, writing to share news sent from the German Long Rider, Dr. Dietmar Köstler, regarding the imperilled Russian horses.

*******
I have just returned from attending an inspection and discussion which lasted from 9 am until 2 pm. The situation is still very confusing, but the end result is relatively simple and gives at least a further time of recreation to the horses:

* both horses were checked by a vet under the eyes of two German state vets, several horse and animal rescue people, an official from the Stuttgart consulate and Popov, one journalist from a local paper and a team from the (semi-official) SRW3 television and the teenager who fled from the home as Popov is now living there with her mother, with the following result:

* Both horses cannot be transported now and must stay at the vet for at least one week, more likely two weeks.

* He agreed to cover the expenses for the horses, if he does not pay it would be simple as the vet then might confiscate the horses.

* The horses are not declared as meat horses, so the vet can and will use medication intended for sport horses and which will make the horses inedible. However I am not sure that anybody in Russia will care about this.

* The horses are as to the vet very valuable Orlow Trotters which may have a good potential for breeding.

* They are as to the papers owned by Popov (papers were remade by the consulate from copies kept there and shown to the vet).

* He plans to transport them back as soon as they can be transported.

* We do not know how to make sure Popov will not try to continue the journey; however we know he is a boxer and probably wants to be back for a major fight back in Russia.
*******

Meanwhile, The Long Riders' Guild continues to monitor the situation and will share more news as and when it becomes available.

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS

www.thelongridersguild.com
www.lrgaf.org
www.horsetravelbooks.com
www.classictravelbooks.com
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: A Cossack Gone Astray

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, writing to share news from two recent German newspapers regarding the outlaw Russian rider, Valeri Popov.

Much more news to follow.
Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS

www.thelongridersguild.com
www.lrgaf.org
www.horsetravelbooks.com
www.classictravelbooks.com
*******

A Cossack gone Astray
Vaihinger Kreiszeitung
(German Newspaper)
July 5th, 2008

His name is Walerij Popov, he is a Cossak leader and has been riding for more than 150 days during a Marathon ride from Siberia to Paris.

Yet in the community of Illigen it seems his media circus has come to a premature and ignominious end. As his horses were found in bad health and condition, they were seized by the Veterinary Department. At the same time, Popow caused a massive police action there and almost caused a sensation in Stuttgart’s New Castle.

Felicia Ruhland, Director of the Illinger’s Animal Rescue and Chairman of “Animal Hope – Society for Animals in Need,” is upset. “It cannot be that people’s courage failed and the man was not stopped before now.”

What makes her face so red with anger, is that at the beginning this was a genuine project, which developed into a self-obsessed campaign as a quick route to glory.

This is the story so far: On 24th March the Cossack Walerij Popow started from the West Siberian city of Kurgan with his companion, Ruskan Menschikov, to make an 8000 kilometre (5000 mile) long “Cossack Ride” to Paris, with the aim of creating publicity for therapeutic riding.

But as soon as they arrived in Moscow, Menschikow left the ride, where his sister had died tragically. From Moscow Popow rode on alone – on his stallion, with a mare in tow.

Along the way he relied on the help of the Cossack-Ataman (a military leader) who gave him support. It seems that he was well equipped by his Russian Sponsor with plenty of money, so accommodation had to be found for himself and his two four-legged friends.

At least in Germany for this he could rely on the help of the local Catharine-Pawlowna Association, who had support his project. This society acted as a charity for the financial support of cultural dealings between Russia and Baden-Wûrttemberg.

As Walerij Popow arrived in Leipzig, Ulrich Scheuffele, Chairman of the charity, was informed about the miserable state of health of the animals. He made contact with the Cossack’s Sponsor, that the ride should be ended – in failure.

But Scheuffele suspects that Popow, who since the beginning had enjoyed an unbelievable media circus, apparently only cared about his personal glory. “Since then he has broken off contact with us.”

Of course Scheuffele put the well-being of the horses over his own interest and let his contacts go. Marianne Hehr, a member of the Catharina-Pawlowna Society, is also Vice-Chairman of the charity, “Animal Hope” in Illingen. Through her Scheuffele made contact with Illinger’s Animal Rescue.

Director Felicia Ruhland did not hesitate for a second but drove to Leipzig and fetched both horses, together with their rider, to Illingen. This was 24th June.

Felicia Ruhland described the condition of the horses as “reigned, weak and exhausted.” Even in Leipzig she had been horrified at the look of the mare. The following diagnoses were given later: deformed backs, dragging of hind legs, horrendous saddle-sores.

“To ride these animals any further would have been complete animal torture,” said Felicia Ruhland. Popow is behaving completely unreasonably and insists on continuing his ride to France.

Since the day before yesterday this incident has somersaulted almost into farce when Felicia Ruhland was asked to should take Popow and his horses to Stuttgart, where he was invited to a Government Reception.

The agreement was that he would give the mare to the Charity. Yet this did not happen at all. The time-limit set to arrive in Stuttgart had expired, and a Russian television crew was standing by empty-handed, when it they learned that Popov would not be appearing.

The reason: Walerij Popof it was learned had planned to continue riding the injured horses towards Strassburg, France. He urged that Felicia Ruhland should travel with him and the horses. She refused, however, because in France there are no similar Animal Rescue charities.

As Popow saddled the horses, Felicia Ruhland called the police. In the meantime the German government Veterinary Office confiscated the horses and determined that they should not be ridden any more, but could only be transported by motor vehicle. The Animal Rescue’s director, he said, should take the animals to suitable accommodation.

Meanwhile, Valerij Popow, without his horses, got on the ground and searched Illingen for someone who would transport him and his horses to Strasburg – without success.

The fear is that the Cossack will also become violent: the police have requisitioned a second patrol car and tracking dogs. Popow was finally found on the terrace of the Adler Hotel in Illingen, and it was emphasised that he may not ride his horses in the region.

Meanwhile Felicia Ruhland is trying to ensure that the Cossack will not be allowed to ride any more. “This ride must be prevented,” she said and a refund made to the sponsor.

In the meantime the situation was radioed to the Russian General Consulate in Frankfurt and the Russian office in Berlin. The result: Yesterday afternoon a representative of the Russian Consulate set out for Illingen, there to meet with Felicia Ruhland and Dr. Ulrich Dura, head of the Department of Consumer Protection and Veterinary Office to discuss Popow and his horses.

Felicia Ruhland is still militant: “I shall make sure that he never again has access to animals.”
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Short Pause for Injured Russian Horses

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, writing to share the second German news story regarding the two injured Russian horses.

Much more news to follow.
Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS

www.thelongridersguild.com
www.lrgaf.org
www.horsetravelbooks.com
www.classictravelbooks.com


*******

Short Pause for Cossack Horses

Vets decree: Animals must not be transported to Russia for at least a week.

BY RÜDIGER MARGGRAF
Bietigheimer Zeitung
(German Newspaper)
10th July

In a battle over the last two horses of the controversial Cossack rider, yesterday the vet decreed: before the return journey to Russia the animals must be cared for in Bietigheim.

The diagnosis of the Bietigheim vets Dr. Friedrich Lindner and Jutta Werkmann, as well as Ludwigsburg State Civil Servant for Veterinarian Concerns, Dr. Monika Spieck-Kächele, was yesterday undisputable: neither of the Cossack horses of the Russian long distance rider Walerij Popof are in a fit state to travel. Both animals have inflamed joints, which the vets have clearly assessed were caused by overloading them.

Walerij Popof has travelled approximately 5,000 kilometres with his seven-year-old stallion “Combat“ and used a three-year-old mare, “Natasha“, as a pack-horse over the past three months on their journey through Europe.

The goal was to start in Western Siberia and reach the French capital, Paris. By making this spectacular act, the 57-year-old Cossack hoped to promote information about the building of an Animal Therapy Clinic in his country.

Behind Sachsenheim, where the Cossack wanted to halt at the invitation of the Catharine-Pawlowna-Association, the plans were stopped by animal rights people and the horses were ordered to be taken into the care of vets and removed from access by their owner.

In spite of this, and with the support of the Honorary Consul for Russia in Stuttgart, Popov tried to get both horses back, disregarding statements that the continuation of his equestrian journey was out of the question.

Against this, he wants to get the horse's backs healed as quickly and return to his homeland. But Popov will have to wait at least a week.

The horses are staying at Wilhelmshof close to Bietigheim, where they will continue to be cared for and given medicine until they have gone through a health-check in seven days.

While the Russian claims his horses are not at all damaged, (“I always treated the animals as we usually do back home”), yesterday the relevant tests revealed something quite different.

The mare “Natascha” who had been used as a pack-horse had suffered injuries, caused by extreme stress during the previous weeks resulting in the displacement of the vertebrae, which the vet Linder rated it as “rather heavy for such a young horse.”

Lindner and his colleague Jutta Werkmann diagnosed inflammation in the legs, and considered that the horse would have suffered much pain which made it lame. Yesterday an ultrasound confirmed that “Natascha” is not in foal, which might have been predicted.

Walerij Popov’s riding horse “Combat” is not much better, which vet Werkmann noticed the first time she set eyes on him.

“I have never seen such a slack stallion,” Werkmann explained. An X-ray eventually confirmed that “Combat” had suffered a splitting of his hocks, which in the opinion of the vet ought to have been operated on to relieve it, in order to leave behind no residual damage.

Linden, Werkmann and the State Vet Spieck-Kächels ordered the horses to have at least two weeks peace and care.

At the request of Walerij Popov and the Russian Consul in Stuttgart, Ruslan Schmole, the vets have said it might be possible to shorten their recovery time to one week.

Whether the animals can then return to Russia depends on a new test. The costs for handling and shipping the horses will have to be paid by the Cossack Popov as he is their owner.

This result, which the Russian Consul Schmole greeted yesterday as a “desirable compromise” brought mixed feelings to the attendant vets.

Felicia Ruhland, director of an animal rescue at Illingen and Chairman of “Animal Hope” nevertheless regarded it as a “small success” that both the fully recovered four-legged creatures had been spared the rest of the journey to Paris.

Martina Klein, Chairman of the German Bundes Animal Friends, however, is not happy that the Cossack rider has meanwhile turned down flat every offer to buy the animals.

This conduct is of little value as a “tit for tat response, because we spoilt his journey.”

Some of the animal rights activists reacted with tears at the news of the return of the horses to Russia. They believe that Popov must pay the costs of stringent further processing in Siberia: “The animals will be worked into sausages,” is what they fear.

The vet Lindner does not want to share this prediction. He also rejected the idea that “Combat” and “Natascha” could become expensive breeding horses of the “Orlov” breed.

“I believe that when the animals get home, they will be made use of.”
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Rogue Russian Flees with Injured Horses

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, writing to share the alarming news that the rogue Russian, Valeri Popov, has fled with the injured horses to parts unknown !

Early Wednesday morning, 16th July, The Long Riders’ Guild received an urgent message from the German Long Rider, Dr. Dietmar Köstler. He emailed to report that Popov had loaded both horses into a horse trailer and departed in hasty secrecy.

What has yet to be determined is what role the Russian Consulate, the German state vet, and the attending private vet, played in allowing Popov to depart without informing Dietmar, or any of the German equestrian rescue workers, regarding this disturbing decision.

At last week’s meeting, it was agreed that the horses required a minimum of one week’s rest before they could be moved. It now appears that Russian and German authorities may have contrived to allow Popov to quietly flee early Wednesday morning in order to allow this embarrassing equestrian episode to just “go away.”

According to conflicting reports, the horses were supposedly on their way back to Russia, via Poland. Yet once Popov left the direct supervision of the German vets, there was technically nothing stopping him from changing his destination and heading towards France instead of Russia. This suspicion was strengthened when it was learned that a vet overheard Popov saying that he “still had a private task to complete.”

We suspect that this “task” might be linked to Popov’s determination to reach the Eiffel Tower with the injured horses in tow !

In the meantime, Long Riders in Poland, Germany and France are valiantly attempting to locate the disgraced equestrian traveller.

Famed French Long Rider Jean Louis Gourard, who himself rode from Paris to Moscow and then presented his magnificent pair of French trotters to Raisa Gorbechev, has been informed of this dreadful international incident. Jean Louis is now in contact with the French authorities, as well as the mayor of Paris, so as to attempt to stop Popov from reaching the “City of Lights” if the Russian is in fact caught heading in that direction.

But as of this writing, 17th July, the fate of these horses, and their dishonoured rider, remains a mystery.

The Long Riders’ Guild will continue to update the international equestrian community via the good officers of the Horse & Hound website as and when we discover more details.

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS

www.thelongridersguild.com
www.lrgaf.org
www.horsetravelbooks.com
www.classictravelbooks.com
 
Long Rider Cossack Denounces Popov

Basha O’Reilly is a Founder Member of The Long Riders' Guild and the webmaster of its website – http://www.thelongridersguild.com – and subsidiary sites – http://www.horsetravelbooks.com/ and http://www.lrgaf.org/ These websites contain more information about equestrian travel than has ever been collected together before.

Basha is also an Honorary Cossack, having been invited to join the Cossacks when she was riding in the Volga region of Russia during the 1990s.

She has issued this public statement in response to the rogue Russian, Valerii Popov.
*******

The Long Riders’ Guild recently learned about a so-called Cossack, Valerii Popov, who was attempting to ride from the Urals to Paris. He claimed to be making the ride to promote hippotherapy and the Russian breeds of horses. While the idea certainly deserves respect, there have been huge problems with the horses and the organisation of this trip.

By the time Popov reached Moscow the horses were starting to break down from the appalling treatment they had received.

Ekaterina Lomeiko of Russia’s Equi-Help (http://www.equihelp.ru/) wrote to say, “One of the horses is a 3-year old mare called Neposeda. When the voyagers reached Moscow, we had a chance to look at her and see that she is in a very bad condition. She was exhausted and had definite pains in her back and loins. After about 500 km from the start point she also had a bad leg injury while crossing a river, which only was cared for after several days, when she appeared to have high temperature.” The other horse, a stallion named Combat, is also in bad shape.

The situation was far worse by the time Popov and his horses arrived in Germany. Felicia Ruhland, the director of an animal rescue organization, Animal Hope (www.animalhope.de), travelled 500 kilometres across Germany so as to transport the horses, and rider, back to her rescue centre near Leipzig.

According to her, the horses are in a terrible condition and are absolutely unable to continue their journey. This opinion was backed up by the State Veterinarians after examining the mare, who said “These horses are being ridden to death,” and expressed serious doubts that Neposeda will ever recover.

Since then, despite the best efforts of animal welfare organizations and the veterinarians to protect the horses, Popov has snatched the horses back, put them in a trailer, and disappeared.

I am an Honorary Cossack, and am deeply disturbed at the so-called “Cossack” making such a cruel ride and disgracing his fellow-officers and his country.

My stallion, “Count Pompeii,” is a Cossack working horse who not only carried me 2,500 miles back to England from Russia, but whose image appears on the opening page of The Long Riders’ Guild website and on all the equestrian travel books in the Horse Travel Books collection. Indeed, Pompeii's image has been seen by more than a million people, which makes him the most famous Long Rider horse alive today.

The reason I am an Honorary Cossack is because the Volga Cossacks invited me to become one the first time I went to Volgogradski Oblast (region) and rode their incredibly tough horses and hunted with them. They were amazed that I, a mere woman, could ride at all, let alone gallop across the Steppes.

I considered it a great honour to be invited to become a Cossack – a word now dishonoured by Popov.

What most modern riders have forgotten is that the roots of modern equestrian travel began in Russia. This occurred in the spring of 1889 when Lieutenant Mikhaïl Vassilievitch Asseyev made a ride of nearly 2,000 non-stop kilometres from Kiev to Paris.

He used two mares and travelled à la Turkmène, i.e. riding one horse till noon, then allowing that unencumbered horse to trot alongside as its companion was ridden in the second part of the day.

Though Asseyev made astonishing time, that is not why he was adored by the French horse world. Upon reaching the newly constructed Eiffel Tower, the French government hailed the Russian as a hero, not because he had completed such a difficult and dangerous journey, but because Asseyev’s horses were in such extraordinary condition !

Though they had just completed 1,646 miles in 33 days, the mares looked magnificent. For his bravery and the tender care he had taken of his mounts, the Russian Long Rider was presented with a gold medal by the French Society for the Protection of Animals.

Here is a link to a story on The Long Riders’ Guild website which explains how Asseyev made his remarkable trip - (http://www.thelongridersguild.com/Asseyev.htm)

Nor is that Russia’s only contribution to equestrian exploration history.

Soon after Asseyev completed his journey, another Cossack officer named Dmitri Peshkov set off to on an equestrian expedition which was even more amazing. Mounted on a small Yakut horse named Seriy, this Cossack Long Rider rode more than five thousand miles from Siberia to St. Petersburg. Upon their arrival, Peshkov was celebrated as a hero by the Czar, while the little Siberian pony was adopted by the royal Russian children.

Here is Peshkov’s inspiring story - (http://www.thelongridersguild.com/serko-film.htm)

Nor is Russia’s equestrian history confined to the past.

One of The Long Riders’ Guild’s most esteemed Members is Vladimir Fissenko, the modern Russian Long Rider who made an extraordinary 19,000 mile ride from the southern tip of Patagonia to the top of Alaska - (http://www.thelongridersguild.com/membersfg.htm)

With such a dramatic and inspirational equestrian past, we may discover that Popov was motivated to ride to Paris because of Asseyev’s previous journey.

The Long Riders' Guild believes that Asseyev, who made a perfect ride and brought his horses to the Eiffel Tower in better condition than when they had started the journey, would join us in denouncing Popov as a shame to Mother Russia and to the Cossacks.

As any Long Rider will tell you, whereas The Guild was formed to encourage people to undertake a life-changing equestrian journey, such a trip must never come at the expense of the mount or pack horse.

That is why The Long Riders’ Guild maintains a Hall of Shame wherein are listed those equestrians who have violated the trust of their horses and the public. Included in this dubious collection is the notorious horse-killer named Francis Aubry, who rode a series of horses to death in his bid to race across America.
(http://www.thelongridersguild.com/shame.htm)

Because Popov has made the most disgraceful ride of modern times, he has now been placed in the Hall of Shame, and will therefore be branded forever as a disgrace to his country.
 
To: Horse & Hound Readership
From: CuChullaine O'Reilly - The Long Riders' Guild
Subject: Scandal laden Cossack allowed to depart with injured horses due to Diplomatic Intrigue

Dear Friends,
CuChullaine O'Reilly here, writing to share the latest news via Germany regarding the two injured Russian horses.

It appears that Russian diplomatic officials, aided by various German state and private vets, worked behind the scenes so as to orchestrate a secret departure back to Siberia of the disgraced Cossack, Valerii Popov.

According to information gathered by The Guild via telephone calls to Germany, as well as information just released in the German press, none of the German animal welfare officials, nor the German Long Riders, actively involved in protecting the injured animals were informed of the decision to allow Popov to leave with the horses.

Nor was the German press invited to witness their departure.

Instead, the rogue Russian was given authorization to depart early Wednesday morning.

The Guild would like to state that it certainly appears as if an equine medical miracle has occurred, as German medical authorities previously stated that these horses were suffering massive injuries, the extent of which might prohibit them being ridden, moved or transported for some time.

A week ago German medical authorities stated that it was "agony" for the mare to move, and yet Wednesday this same animal was declared to be in "super good" condition.

It appears obvious that given the immense diplomatic embarassement Popov has caused the Russian authorities, the welfare of the horses, as well as their future well-being, appears to have been sacrificed on the altar of state relations.

More news to follow.

Kind regards,
CuChullaine O’Reilly FRGS

www.thelongridersguild.com
www.lrgaf.org
www.horsetravelbooks.com
www.classictravelbooks.com

*******
Scandal laden Cossack Ride finds preliminary end with transport back to Russia

BY RÜDIGER MARGGRAF

Bietigheimer Zeitung
(German Newspaper)
17th July

Though German animal welfare officials wanted to keep their eye on the fate of the Russian horse’s, the latest news is that the animals belonging to the long distance rider, Valerii Popov, are already on their way back to Russia.

The departure of the two Cossack horses, Combat and Natasha, was brought about during the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 16th, without a lot of fuss and above all without the presence of the media.

The evening before a representative of the German state vet visited the animal clinic of Dr. Friedrich Lindner and after a short health check gave the green light for the return journey of the animals to their home in west Siberia.

The groundwork for a possible quiet end to the scandal laden journey began on Monday with the visit of a Russian diplomatic delegation.

Popov’s trip, which had begun at the end of March in Kurgan, Siberia, was originally intended to conclude in Paris. Due to the injured condition of the horses, the journey had been stopped in Germany.

That is why the Vice Consul of the Russian General Consulate in Frankfort, and the leader of the Russian Honorary Consulate in Stuttgart, together with Popov, and in the presence of German police, gathered to check on the condition of the Cossack horses and to discuss the time they could return.

According the Dr. Lindner, his impression was that above all, “they wanted to make sure that everything could be done without a lot of fuss.”

It was clear how painful this affair of their Cossack countryman was to the Russian diplomats.

According to Lindner, Popov’s face lit up early Wednesday morning when he was able to put his horses in the trailer.

Though the Russian did not spare his praise for how good the animals looked, it was due to the condition of Combat and Natasha, after their 5,000 kilometer journey on the road, which caused the German animal welfare officials to order the journey halted.

Yet after a few days, they had changed so dramatically that even an outspoken horse expert like Lindner clamed to be astonished.

If the animals were a picture of misery six days ago, Lindner yesterday found the pair “super-good, better in weight and with glossy coats.”

The local town vet is also sure, “The horses now have so much substance that they can well endure transport to Russia.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top