WEG 2014: Taking Normandy by Storm

Thehorse.com - Full Article

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Apr 28, 2014

A preview of what's to come when France hosts the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

On June 6, 1944, American, Australian, Canadian, and British forces surprised German troops as they debarked on the English Channel’s French shores, storming the Normandy beaches in one of the bloodiest battles in modern times.

Seventy years later, America, Australia, England, Germany, France, and dozens of other nations will join together Aug. 23 to Sept. 7 in peaceful sportsmanship along these same beaches as they compete in a sport that epitomizes unity and partnership: equestrianism. The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) will open in the rich and fertile French region of Normandy—celebrated for its fine cheeses, landscapes, and horses—famous for the invasion that marked the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) event in Caen, France, in the northwestern region of Basse-Normandie—the Games’ seventh edition—promises to bring together many nations to an internationally emotional site, grounded in rich equine heritage...

Read more here:
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/33763/weg-2014-taking-normandy-by-storm?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=health-news&utm_campaign=04-29-2014

Switzerland's Pierre Genecand Confirms Candidacy for FEI President

In a letter released May 5th, 2014, Pierre Genecand of Switzerland confirmed his candidacy for FEI President. He originally announced his bid on February 17th, when it was officially registered by the FEI. Genecand will run against Princess Haya, who will be running for an unprecedented third term of 4 years, after all but 3 member nations opposed changing the statute on April 29th to allow Haya to run again.

See Genecand's letter here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/FEI_Presidency_candidacy_Pierre_Genecand.pdf

For a complete update on the FEI controversy, see:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/

France: Meet the Games’ Ambassadors’ Committee

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Wednesday 16 April 2014 - 13h35

In less than 4 months, the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 will kick off in Normandy. As part of this event, several national and international celebrities – actors, presenters, impersonators, former professional riders, etc. – have joined forces with the Organising Committee to lend their support to the Games: they make up our Ambassadors’ Committee. Some have been horse-lovers since their childhood, others started riding more recently, and a few simply wanted to promote their home region, but one thing they all have in common is that they are proud to use their image, their talent and their motivation to promote the Games. They all share the same ambitions as us: to make the Normandy 2014 edition an event to remember in France’s number one equestrian region.

Each of the Committee’s ambassadors can choose how involved they wish to be: some have been implicated for a while now, such as writer Jean-Louis Gouraud who for the past year has been penning stories for the “Around the World in 80 Horses” project; some will come along to celebrate the D-100 countdown on 15 May; and others will be on site during the Games to meet spectators and cheer on the competitors. Whatever their involvement, they are all committed to spreading the word about the world’s greatest equestrian event...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/349/meet-the-games-ambassadors-committee

Rodriguez and Lyrical Breeze Repeat Spanish Championship

4 May 2014

Jairo Rodriguez and Lyrical Breeze are Spain's new National Champions after winning the 160-km Championship at Bascara on May 3rd, in a time of 8:12.58. Former World Champion Maria Alvarez Ponton finished second on Qualif du Poncelet in 8:13.01, followed by third place Jordi Arboix riding Mystair des Aubus in 8:31.15.

Ten of 39 riders completed the course.

It is a repeat National Championship win for Rodriguez and Lyrical Breeze, who won last year's Spanish Championship at Sant Feliu Saserra in May 2013.

For a complete order of finish see:
http://www.endurancetiming.com/raids/Bascara_160_Km_Cp_Esp_2014.PDF

Record number of nations declare participation in Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Tuesday 01 April 2014 - 10h48

No less than 72 National Federations (NFs) have declared their intention to participate in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy, meeting the 31 March deadline for entries in principle. The number is an all-time high and represents a 10% increase compared to the entries in principle for any of the previous editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games™.

At this initial stage, the NFs have indicated the disciplines in which they intend to be represented by a team or individual athletes. Although the final participation will be confirmed first by the nominated and ultimately by the definite entries, this is a significant first step in the Games entry process.

The disciplines that have attracted the greatest number of nations are Jumping with 57 NFs, followed by Endurance with competitors from 50 countries. Australia, Austria, host nation France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States have entered teams in all FEI disciplines – Jumping; Dressage and Para-Dressage; Eventing; Driving; Endurance; Vaulting; and Reining...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/324/72-nations-intend-to-compete-in-the-alltech-fei-world-equestrian-games-2014-in-normandy

In Momentous Leap Athletes Will Vote for FEI Athlete Representatives

Horsereporter.com - Full Article

April 18, 2014

April 17, 2014, SUI ~ For the first time in the 93-year history of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the athletes themselves have the opportunity to vote for their FEI Athlete Representatives.

A total of 26 candidates from 10 nations are standing for election as FEI Athlete Representatives on the FEI Technical Committees for Jumping, Dressage, Para-Equestrian, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.

“Our athlete representatives play a vital role in the governance of equestrian sport, acting as a voice for all our athletes and actively shaping the FEI’s global development, so it is only right that the athletes themselves should decide who will represent them”, explained Ingmar De Vos, FEI Secretary General. “We are encouraging all our athletes to take this opportunity to cast their vote on these key ambassadors for equestrian sport...”

Read more here:
http://www.horsereporter.com/2014/04/18/in-momentous-leap-athletes-will-vote-for-fei-athlete-representatives/

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