Endurance Horse Welfare Initiatives Introduced

TheHorse.com

Yesterday the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) announced bold steps designed to improve endurance horse welfare, proposing unprecedented athlete penalties for equine injuries, extended rest periods, and increased accountability. The moves were fully supported by delegates attending the endurance round table on the second day of the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The welfare of the horse is not just a veterinary issue, it’s an issue for all those who work in the sport,” said John McEwen, FEI first vice president and chair of the FEI Veterinary Committee.

Proposed rule changes relating to officials’ accountability and responsibility, increased protection of horses through athlete penalty points and extended rest periods, appointment of independent governance advisors, and improved conflict of interest regulations received wide support from attendees.

There was also wide support for the new FEI Endurance Codex, which the endurance committee has produced to cover endurance officials, and separately endurance athletes and registered trainers. The codex—which defines responsibility, accountability, and sanctions for those in breach of the rules—already exists for FEI veterinarians.

The rule changes will be circulated to national federations for final review prior to going before the FEI bureau at its in-person meeting on June 9-10 for approval and immediate implementation.

During the debate session that followed, there was a call for information about injuries at national events to be included in the Global Endurance Injuries Study (GEIS); this was backed by Tim Parkin, BSc, BVSc, PhD, DECVPH, MRCVS, whom the FEI commissioned to set up the study.

“The FEI has done a great job of demonstrating what can be done with data that is currently available from FEI events and it is clearly going in the right direction,” Parkin said. “Adding in data from national events is only going to improve that situation. The new regulations have an impact that is really beneficial to the welfare of the horse.”

Roly Owers, chief executive of World Horse Welfare, also voiced his support for the GEIS and improved monitoring: “The need to make evidence based decisions is so important for equine welfare and I fully support the FEI’s injury surveillance program. Notwithstanding the limitations on data from national competitions, I would urge national federations to provide data to the GEIS and for the FEI to use all its influence to make that happen.”

Andrew Finding, chair of the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG)—which was tasked with producing a long-term plan for the discipline—expressed his appreciation for the support of the group’s recommendations.

“I would like to express on behalf of myself and my colleagues on the ESPG our gratitude for the support and the determined effort made by the FEI to put in place our recommendations,” he said. “You should be applauded for that work, and we are grateful for the diligence you have applied.”

Brian Sheahan, chair of the endurance committee, added, “To protect the welfare of the horse, we need to know that we’re doing the right thing. I would like to see increased completion rates, reduced injuries and illness in the horse, and better course design.

“To maintain the integrity of our sport, we need a reduction in doping, improved compliance by athletes and trainers and improved rule enforcement by officials,” he continued. “This sport should demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship in a fair and equal competition. And may the best combination of horse and athlete win.”

An online discussion platform to continue the debate on all topics discussed at the 2014 FEI Sports Forum is available online. http://sportsforum.fei.org/

Full article, TheHorse.com

Fast desert endurance courses out of favour under proposed new rules?

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

By Horsetalk.co.nz on Apr 30, 2014

The fast desert courses favoured in endurance in the Middle East may struggle to meet rule requirements under proposed changes put before delegates at the Endurance Round Table of the FEI Sports Forum yesterday.

One proposed addition to the rulebook stipulates that loops of a course must not be specially designed and constructed for high speeds likely to subject the horses to increased risk of injury during competition...

Read more here:
http://horsetalk.co.nz/2014/04/30/fast-desert-endurance-courses-rules/#ixzz30PGBN4fM

Princess Haya wins landslide vote to be allowed to stand for third term as president of the FEI

Telegraph.co.uk - Full Article

Equestrianism asks Sheikh Mohammed's wife to lead fight for Olympic future despite scandals engulfing endurance racing

By Pippa Cuckson
7:39PM BST 29 Apr 2014

Princess Haya looks likely to lead the fight for equestrianism within the Olympic movement, following a landslide vote at the International Equestrian Federation extraordinary general assembly in Lausanne.

The horse-welfare crisis centred around the Dubai endurance stables of her husband, Sheikh Mohammed, has heightened concerns about International Olympic Committee scrutiny of equestrianism, but that did not convince delegates to oppose a change of statute permitting Haya to stand for a third term as FEI president. The vote was 103 to three.

Princess Haya has previously insisted that she will retire this December, and will not confirm her further candidacy till June. But she said: “I’m very honoured for the opportunity to be available as a future president of the FEI for a third term. I don’t want to go further than that because there’s the possibility there’ll be other candidates. But you have my commitment to you...”

Read more here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/10797018/Princess-Haya-wins-landslide-vote-to-be-allowed-to-stand-for-third-term-as-president-of-the-FEI.html

Tougher injury penalties, longer rests for endurance

Unprecedented penalties for equine injuries, extended rest periods and increased accountability received the backing of national delegates at the FEI Sports Forum yesterday as the world governing body pressed on with reforms.

The FEI described the initiatives as far-reaching, following the endurance round table on the second day of the third annual sports forum.

The latest moves in the FEI’s bid to rein in excess fracture rates and other welfare concerns in the sport centred around the more aggressive flat desert form of endurance racing seen in some Group VII nations had the full support of delegates in the session in Lausanne, Switzerland.

“The welfare of the horse is not just a veterinary issue, it’s an issue for all those who work in the sport,” said FEI 1st vice-president John McEwen, who also chairs the FEI Veterinary Committee.

[Read more ...]

Spain's Jordi Arboix wins Uzes in France

Spanish rider Jordi Arboix, riding Ainhoa Aksom, won the CEI** 120 km Uzes ride on 26 April 2014 by 7 seconds over former World Champion Barbara Lissarrague of Switerzerland riding Keeshan D'Aillas. Arboix's finish time was 5:58.52, for an average speed of 20.063 km/h. Catherine Roland of France was third, riding Spirit de Crouz, in 5:59.28. Spain's Alex Luque riding Anwar Jeromin finished fourth. 32 of 55 riders finished the course.

For complete finish, see
http://www.atrm-systems.fr/index0esp.htm

Princess Haya clear for 3rd term as FEI president

Bradenton.com - Full Article

BY GRAHAM DUNBAR
AP Sports WriterApril 29, 2014

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND — Princess Haya of Jordan will seek four more years as president of the International Equestrian Federation after overcoming critics of the body's links to her husband's operations.

FEI member countries voted 103-3 to abolish a two-term limit she introduced, clearing their president to serve three consecutive terms.

"I am very honored for the opportunity that you have given me to be available as a future president of the FEI," said Princess Haya, who did not take part in the debate or vote.

The three "no" votes followed recent criticism of apparent conflicts of interest for the princess, who was elected in 2006 as a reformer to clean up the sport.

Thoroughbred and endurance racing operations of her husband, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, have been implicated in doping and welfare allegations...

Read more here:
http://www.bradenton.com/2014/04/29/5127285/princess-haya-clear-for-3rd-term.html#storylink=cpy

New Zealand: Nationals abandoned, New event carded

NZEquestrian.org.nz

28/04/2014 10:54:04 a.m.

Extreme weather forced the abandonment of the Fibre Fresh New Zealand Endurance Championships at Mayfield over Easter weekend, now plans are under way for a new event to wrap up the season for New Zealand riders.

A two-day event has been added to the calendar at Taupo over the weekend of May 10 and 11. As well as offering FEI-level 3* 160km, 2* 120km, and 1* 100km rides for both senior and junior riders, there will also be several national rides from 20km to 100km in introductory, novice and open sections.

This means that there will be no "National Championship" in New Zealand for 2014. Consideration was given to rescheduling the “Nationals” in another location, but it was felt that many members would be disadvantaged by this, given the tight time-frames involved. All entry fees received for the 2014 Nationals will be refunded.

The FEI rides at the new Taupo event will be the last opportunity of the season for High Performance Squad members to achieve the final qualifications needed for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. It is also an opportunity to qualify horses for the star levels and to begin a campaign for the next Endurance World Championships and the Junior World Championships in Chile.

A schedule will be sent out this week, with entries closing on Sunday, May 4.

The abandonment of the 2014 Nationals has meant that organisers will incur a significant financial loss, but already several riders have indicated that they wish their entry fees to be left "in the kitty" to help cover expenses. The ESNZ Endurance Board is extremely grateful to those who have chosen to help in this way.