THE Endurance ride, the first competition of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games, has been restarted follow confusion at the beginning of the race.

The first loop of 41km has been discarded and the race will now be judged over 120km, instead of the official 160km.

Ireland’s Tom MacGuinness put in a brilliant performance in the first loop, coming in in 13th place. That placing no longer stands.

Unfortunately, Jane Moss has not started the second loop. MacGuinness, Avril Bray and Hilda Donoghue are now out on course.

A statements from the officials in the last hour read:

“As some teams were unfortunately misdirected at the start of today’s Endurance ride, the competition will be stopped at the first vet gate and re-started as a 120 kilometre championship. In order to ensure that all horses are fit to compete they will all go through the vet check. Only horses that have passed the vet check will be allowed to compete. No substitution of horses will be allowed.

“The restart of the ride will take place 45 minutes after the last horse has been inspected at the vet gate. As there is no possibility to reschedule the ride tomorrow, the President of the Ground Jury, President of the Veterinary Commission, Foreign Veterinary Delegate and the Organising Committee agreed that this was the only pragmatic solution.

“This is in line with the preamble to the FEI Endurance Rules which state: “in any unforeseen or exceptional circumstances, it is the duty of the Ground Jury and the Veterinarians to make a decision in a sporting spirit and approaching, as nearly as possible, to the intention of these rules and of the General Rules of the FEI.”

More updates to follow.