Endurance Strategic Planning Group calls for immediate and sustainable action

FEI.org

6 Nov 2013

Immediate and sustainable action to safeguard the welfare of horses and reinforce the FEI’s anti-doping and fair play policies at Endurance events globally were the key takeaways from the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) session at the FEI General Assembly in Montreux (SUI) today.

The Group had been tasked by the FEI Bureau to develop a strategic plan for the sport for the next decade and a series of recommendations for a permanent solution to the issues within the sport, particularly those related to the increased levels of positives and high numbers of injuries and fatalities.

During the two-hour session, the Group highlighted a series of far-reaching recommendations designed to tackle the problems the sport is currently facing.

ESPG Chair Andrew Finding (GBR) opened the session with a hard-hitting message: “We are all responsible to find the solutions for the problems we face today. We need a clear vision and a strong strategy for Endurance sport, and where better to develop this than from within the equestrian community that cares about the future of this sport so much. By working together we will achieve this. The strategic plan we propose sets out a vision and a set of values we will expect everyone to adhere to if they genuinely want to be an active part of our family. Those who do not should be asked to leave us.”

FEI Veterinary Director Graeme Cooke presented statistics on the trends in positives, which had spiked in FEI Regional Group VII but are now starting to show a decrease. He also provided data on the officially reported serious injuries and fatalities in the sport, stressing the urgent need for a radically improved reporting system.

Included in this is the Injuries Surveillance System (ISS), which adopts a more consistent approach using modern data management techniques. This is being used initially in Endurance, and then rolled out across other FEI disciplines with the support of the University of Glasgow.

“We are aware of trends, and we are producing a new system that will record injuries and fatalities in a much better way, but other measures are needed,” he said.

ESPG member Jean-Louis Leclerc, a French veterinary surgeon and one of the most successful Endurance chefs d’equipe in the sport, spoke on the importance of education for athletes and officials, and reinforcing leadership. A minimum level of horsemanship should be required from all athletes, all officials (Ground Jury, Stewards and Veterinarians) should have a thorough knowledge of the rules, their performance at events should be reviewed, and a 5* level of officials should be established to reward excellence. He also called for a new definition and management of conflicts of interest.

Saeed Al Tayer (UAE), Vice-President of the Dubai Equestrian Club, was unable to be in Montreux for the session and gave his presentation by video link from Dubai. He proposed the introduction of an Endurance trainers register with the FEI, similar to the system used in thoroughbred racing, to ensure accountability. He also proposed establishing a Code of Conduct specifically for trainers, and a disciplinary board to investigate and review cases of trainer induced injury or doping. Repeat offenders will be excluded from the discipline. But, he said, there should also be a reward for trainers with successful completion rates, bringing trainers into the FEI global rankings system.

Dr Brian Sheahan (AUS), Chairman of the FEI Endurance Committee, underlined the importance of leadership, accountability and structural governance. He recommended that the FEI appoint and remunerate Independent Governance Advisors at major Championships to supervise and mentor officials on the ground, helping to ensure that Endurance rules are fully understood and enforced at every level. Accountability and sanctions for officials, National Federations, athletes and trainers is imperative, he said.

He wound up his presentation with a powerful message: “If our riders compete within the capacity of the horses’ ability to perform; if our officials correctly apply the rules without fear, favour or bias; if our trainers condition their horses for a long-term competitive life, there is no room or place in our sport for rule violations leading to cheating, there is no place for doping, there is no place for our partner the horse to end an event suffering from a life threatening, irreversible or untreatable illness or injury.”

Joe Mattingley (USA), Vice President of the USEF and Chair of the High Performance Working Group and of the High Performance Endurance Committee, spoke of the importance of information processing and structures. He presented the ESPG’s “plan on a page”, detailing the Group’s vision and mission statement.

“As an athlete of the sport, I am in no doubt that now is the time to introduce a professional and sustainable plan to protect the sport we are all so passionate about,” he said. “I have been proud to play a part in recommending these profound initiatives.”

Other recommendations specifically aimed at horse welfare and fair play include making course design more technical to challenge the athletes’ level of skill, and the use of out of competition testing for banned substances. Self-discipline and ownership of the solution by all National Federations was also vital, Andrew Finding said.

“Athletes, all athletes, and their trainers need to compete on a level playing field where natural talent wins out without artificial and performance enhancing support. We need National Federations, all of you, in every region of the world to take responsibility and provide leadership. We need every single person involved in the sport to be self-disciplined, to respect their horses and abide by the Code of Conduct for the welfare of the horse; it was carefully developed and it must be adhered to if we are not to fail.”

The scope of the Group’s proposals came in for considerable praise, with comments on the recommendations coming from New Zealand, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Namibia, Jamaica, France and the USA during the question and answer session.

The Group will now present a consultation package to National Federations by the end of November, including feedback from today’s session. Its conclusions will be finalised by the end of January and will then be presented at an Endurance conference to be held in Lausanne (SUI) in February. The National Federations will be asked to develop and set the key performance indicators: the measures for success. This process will start at the Endurance conference in February. The conclusions will be shared with the FEI Bureau in March 2014 and, in conjunction with the final Bureau decisions, will then be made public at a special Endurance session at the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne at the end of April.

“There is a problem to resolve, it is serious and systemic,” the ESPG Chair concluded. “I am confident that it can be resolved, but no committee and no plan on paper can achieve anything without the commitment of people,” the Chair of the ESPG said. “I urge you please to work with us in a spirit of positive determination to succeed. Failure cannot be an option.”


Notes to Editors
About the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG)

The ESPG, which is chaired by Andrew Finding (GBR), consists of Dr Brian Sheahan (AUS), Chairman of the FEI Endurance Committee; Jean-Louis Leclerc (FRA); Saeed Al Tayer (UAE); Joe Mattingley (USA).

The Group has been supported by the FEI’s Ian Williams (Director of Endurance) and Graeme Cooke (Director of Veterinary).

The Group was set up following a round table session at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 24 July and the composition of the group was announced on the 2 September. The ESPG held its first meeting via teleconference on 12 September, and an in-person meeting in Lausanne in October.

Australia: Trigger shoots into good books

Batemansbaypost.com.au - Full Article

November 6 2013

THE demanding sport of long-distance riding has transformed a once trigger-happy South Coast horse into an enduring gentleman and a winner.

When Trigger came to live with East Lynne’s Heidi Wade and her mother Marilyn Himmelberger, the red-spotted grey’s age and parentage were unknown. Not so his bad habits.

“He was not really trustworthy,” Mrs Wade said.

“A friend had bought him from people who found him hard to handle, then she had to move away, so he came to us.

“He was hard to catch and would pig root.

“One day, we decided to try endurance and he is a new horse. He is now a perfect gentleman and we can put anyone on him. He comes up to us and wants to go...”

Read more here:
http://www.batemansbaypost.com.au/story/1888495/trigger-shoots-into-good-books/?cs=12

Endurance being singled out, suggests Danish official

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Nov 06, 2013 in News

Organisers of the 2015 Open European Endurance Championship have waded into the debate over welfare in the sport, suggesting the issue is not restricted to just one equestrian discipline.

The head of the organising committee, Peter Christiansen, condemned the “unilateral focus” on endurance riding and specific countries...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/11/06/endurance-singled-out-suggests-danish-official/#axzz2jpaMd7tM

FEI president Princess Haya faces calls for resignation over doping and horse welfare crisis

The Telegraph
By Pippa Cuckson, in Montreux
7:54PM GMT 05 Nov 2013


Pressure grows on Princess Haya at International Equestrian Federation annual meeting over doping, horse welfare and conflict of interest in marriage to Sheikh Mohammed

Princess Haya of Jordan, the wife of Sheikh Mohammed, is expected on Wednesday to face calls to resign as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) over the doping and horse welfare crisis in endurance racing.

The FEI’s three-day general assembly began on Tuesday and will confront the global outcry over the drug abuse, horse deaths and brazen rule-breaking in the Middle East which have propelled the previously little-known equestrian discipline – in which horses compete over distances of up to 100 miles a day – into notoriety.

Pressure has built on Princess Haya because the endurance stables of her husband, who is also the biggest single investor in British racing, have been at the centre of much of the controversy.

[More ...]

USA Chef d'Equipe Weighs In on FEI Endurance Controversies

November 5 2013

Even before a raid on a private Dubai Royal Air Wing plane on May 3 at Great Britain's Stansted Airport and the subsequent seizure of an illegal shipment of unlicensed veterinary goods (incorrectly labeled "horse tack") destined for Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Moorley endurance farm sparked a spate of growing worldwide outrage and concern over druggings, breakdowns, and fatalities of international endurance horses, the USA had already added its voice to the increasing clamor.

A June 25, 2013 letter from the AERC (American Endurance Ride Conference) to USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) delineated its concerns over international endurance horse welfare.

In part, the letter stated: "We share the alarm voiced by the European federations of Belgium, France, and Switzerland in regards to profoundly disturbing evidence of deficiencies in horse welfare issues; including an increase in equine fatalities, orthopedic injuries and serious drug violations. We note that these letters have been widely circulated throughout world press, and that the reputation of the sport and all those federations involved is likely to become irreparably tainted if decisive action is not taken at once to resolve these issues."

The letter was subsequently formalized by USEF and submitted to the FEI in July.

USA Endurance Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross released a statement to Endurance.net on October 30, 2013, concerning the controversies currently gripping the sport of endurance racing.

"What is happening in endurance is not acceptable and abhorrent to all…

"A letter sent from the AERC several months ago through our national federation, USEF, along with its own stated concerns prompted the FEI to include our Joe Mattingly to the small but fully charged review commission of 5 persons. Joe and the other few prestigious members have had several very serious meetings and must present their findings and solutions of correcting many of the problems, especially horse welfare items,  to the FEI's annual General Assembly meeting next week. 

"I know there are skeptics regarding this commission's abilities to recommend and enact changes.  But I hope and fully expect some dramatic changes will be immediately laid down to correct many of the issues.
 
"I also expect the FEI officials assigned to the rides at the Championship races to take better and full control (required) of the existing rules and be unafraid on who the sanctions are given to or they potentially could lose their licenses."

The FEI's 2013 General Assembly, which acts as a platform for discussions and voting on the major decisions of the FEI and the governance of the sport, will convene in Montreux, Switzerland, November 4-7.

The endurance controversy: It’s showtime!

Horsetalk.co.uk - Full Article

By Neil Clarkson on Nov 04, 2013 in Blogs, Featured, News

Most Las Vegas shows needs a headline act – a big-name star to generate publicity and get bums on seats for the show of a lifetime. It costs casinos millions.

The FEI, on the other hand, has the remarkable ability to get gifted a headline act just about every year for its annual General Assembly.

In recent years we’ve seen squabbles over drugs lists, a fascinating challenge to Princess Haya’s presidency...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2013/11/04/endurance-controversy-showtime/#axzz2jgthCO4s

Australia: To stay distance in fashion stakes, don't throw a shoe

Theaustralian.com.au - Full Article

GLYNIS TRAILL-NASH, Fashion editor
From: The Australian
November 05, 2013 12:00AM

REBECCA Bramich understands all too well the need to pace yourself at the Melbourne Cup carnival.

The model and Myer Fashions on the Field ambassador is also a keen horsewoman, and recently took part in her third Tom Quilty -- Australia's biggest equestrian endurance race -- which requires riders to complete 160km in one day on a single horse.

"Basically you have to have a very fit horse and pace yourself through the day," said Bramich...

Read more here:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/executive-living/fashion/to-stay-distance-in-fashion-stakes-dont-throw-a-shoe/story-e6frg8k6-1226753073535