Endurance controversy continues at breakneck speed

HorsetalkNZ
By Neil Clarkson on Jun 24, 2014

The endurance storm of the past year appears close to becoming a Category 5 hurricane.

There were hopes that the long process of reform driven by the FEI in the past year would see the sport leave behind the welfare and drugging controversies centred on several Group VII nations in the Middle East, but that may well prove to be a forlorn dream.

The largely unspoken fear throughout the reform process – at least on an official level – has always been that the Middle Eastern nations will not be able to reconcile the new rules, which come into force on August 1, with their aggressive style of desert racing.

The evidence that emerged from last month's Compiègne CEI event in France would lead many to the conclusion that the gulf between what Western nations consider is acceptable in the sport of endurance and what the Middle Eastern nations think is OK is perilously close to insurmountable.

The events of Compiègne prompted five well-respected French endurance vets to pen an open letter which provides a sorry litany of issues that give rise to serious concern.

Ironically, it came just hours after the FEI gave the nod to rules to clean up endurance.

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USA Endurance Set Sights on Team Medal in France

by Merri Melde
Monday June 23 2014

The USA endurance team heads to Normandy, France for the World Equestrian Games on August 28, 2014, with one goal in mind: a team medal in the World Endurance Championship.

"I'm not going over there to look at that castle out there on the beach, Mont Saint-Michel," says US Chef d'Equipe Emmett Ross. "We're going over there to win a medal."

Ross will take a strong team to face the world over a previously unridden 160-km trail (parts of the trail were tested during last year's WEG pre-ride) that will traverse hills, fields, single track roads, pavement, and the beach along the Bay of Normandy on the English Channel. "In an event like the World Equestrian Games, riders must know how to manage their horse over a distance of 160 km, changing gait according to the terrain and the challenges faced, maintaining an average speed of 15 to 23 km/h throughout," says WEG Manager of the Endurance discipline, Nicholas Wahlen.

Ross has the riders for the course. "It puts a premium on good riders - and we have good riders. We have experienced riders." Ross' 2012 World Equestrian Championship team in Great Britain just missed the bronze medal, averaging 19.49 km/h. "This team is better than that one, even though that team was the Who's Who of American endurance."

USEF named the shortlist of horse/rider combinations on June 19, and the final Nominated List of 10 will be sent in to the Organizing Committee in France on June 25. Barring any mishaps, the top 5 will be the team that takes to the French trail: Heather Reynolds and Chanses, Ellen Olson and Hot Desert Knight, Dr Meg Sleeper and Syrocco Reveille, Jeremy Reynolds and RR Gold Dust Rising, and Kelsey Russell and My Wild Irish Gold. Russell is the first USA Young Rider to ever make the senior World Championship team. In 6th and 7th places are Jeremy Olson and Wallace Hill Shade, and Valerie Kanavy and Just Gold.

After the final list is turned in, Ross will focus on the top 7 riders and horses (countries are allowed 5 riders, and 2 spare horses in the barn), working with them on their training schedules and final preparations. The team will fly over on August 12 to a private stable near the venue, where they will have 2 weeks to relax, top off on training, and get organized.

Ross is pleased with his team and very confident. His riders are athletes, and all horses are fit and have been through exhaustive numerous veterinary exams. The weather, Ross feels, is not a factor. "We're coming from heat and humidity training - all of our horses are on the east coast or in Iowa - and they're talking about it being very hot over there, at 78 degrees!" Ross says. "And if it rains, then I feel we even have a better advantage, because we over here, like the French do in Europe, experience different types of terrain and different types of weather.

"We used to dominate the sport, but since 1998 we've done nothing at the WEC or the WEG. Nothing. No teams, no individuals, nothing. And we've been finishing teams now, with a lot of 4th places. So now we're ready to step up."

Follow news and updates on the US endurance team and the
at http://www.endurance.net/international/France/2014WEG/.

5 Top French Endurance Veterinarians Present Open Letter to Endurance After Compiegne Controversies

June 22 2014

After a long weekend of endurance at Compiegne, France on May 23-25, five officiating endurance vets were left "tired, puzzled and bitter" after several unfavorable events occurred, among which were a photo of a "skeletal horse" that was allowed to compete that went viral, and a mare that died during the race.

While the event looked good on paper and appeared organized, late entries led to understaffing of officials, and the ground jury "had to cope with constant intense pressure from some competitors who constantly aim to appeal against judgments and try to cheat systematically." Treatment veterinarians also had to struggle with too many metabolic eliminations which required treatment.

"Our analysis of the reasons for this situation," the veterinarians wrote, "is that current practices of endurance in some group 7 countries is very far removed from the original spirit of our sport. These riders no longer follow the principle of making the most of the horse's performance on the day by listening to their mount, but push their horse beyond its capacity, which only a few of the best manage to tolerate the harmful effects. This kind of dangerous attitude goes beyond what actualy experienced vetgates and their team can cope with, and thus safety of the competing horses cannot be guaranteed anymore."

A large number of the treated horses recovered well, but a few who "were pushed too far" required further treatment. One of those horses, a mare who "developed a neurologic syndrome at the third vetgate" could not be saved by treatment and died.

These veterinarians have seen the progression of endurance racing in Europe from poorly ridden and managed horses, to "numerous elaborate and constantly evolving veterinary examinations at regular vetgates" which have improved the safety of the horses and awareness of the riders who have learned to take responsibility of their mounts, to a degradation of the sport where "jockeys" ride horses which they know nothing about, and doping agents "markedly mask typical symptoms of fatigue."

"At present, we are unfortunately faced with some riders who barely know their horses, do not respect them, and who are in the habit of cheating, lying and concealing information. In these conditions, 'modern' endurance cannot ensure the safety of horses and as practicing veterinarians we are faced with a situation we disapprove of, as well as the ineffectiveness or lack of real commitment from the FEI to solve this problem.

"These horses are put in grave danger by what we consider to be unethical and anti-sportive practices. Other riders and teams also disapprove of this situation which makes them cynical about the ethics of this competitive sport, and needs to be fought with great force."

These veterinarians recommend witness from outside endurance provide hindsight and objectivity to situations of abuse, and they call upon riders "to exert a respectful and ethical care upon riding their horses," and national and international organizations to implement strong measures to prevent abuse, particularly regarding doping.

The original letter went out in French on June 11, and has been officially translated. You can read the entire English version here:
http://www.endurance.net/international/UAE/2013FEIControversy/open_letter_to_endurance_June_2014_EnglishVersion.pdf

3,000 volunteers are landing soon in Normandy!

Normandy2014.com - Full Article

Thursday 19 June 2014

The volunteer program is in full swing since most volunteers officiating at the 2014 Games have already been assigned. Overall, no fewer than 3,000 volunteers are expected to come to Normandy from 23 August to 7 September 2014 to help us organize the 7th edition of the largest equestrian event in the world!

These volunteers come mainly from the Normandy region (56%), but also from all other regions in France (37%), and from abroad (7%). They are of all ages, since 40% of them are between 18 to 25, 18% between 26 and 36, 24% between 37 and 59, and 18% are over 60 years old!...

Read more here:
http://www.normandy2014.com/news/articles/479/3000-volunteers-are-landing-soon-in-normandy

FEI Bureau Allocates 2018 World Equestrian Games to Canada

Thehorse.com

By Edited Press Release
Jun 09, 2014

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Bureau has unanimously approved Bromont/Montreal, Canada, as host city for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games.

The decision came after the FEI Evaluation Commission’s report was presented at the start of the bureau’s two-day meeting at FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, today.

The Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park, venue for the Montreal 1976 Olympic equestrian events, will be the hub for the 2018 games. Bromont/Montreal is only the second host outside Europe following the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010 which were staged in Lexington, Kentucky.

Lexington was the other remaining bidder for the 2018 games. The bureau felt that both bids were impressive but that Bromont/Montreal was the stronger of the two.

“We are really delighted to award the 2018 Games to Bromont/Montreal,” FEI President HRH Princess Haya said. “The Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park is an exceptional and proven venue, and will be the ideal location for the eighth edition of the FEI World Equestrian Games, our most global equestrian event.

“We are now just 75 days from the opening ceremony of the 2014 games in the heart of Normandy (France), when over 500,000 spectators and millions of TV viewers will watch the best equine and human athletes compete for world titles over two weeks of absolutely top equestrian sport," she continued. “And four years from now, the games will be heading to Canada, where we expect even larger audiences on the ground and on television as equestrian sport continues its global growth.”

The FEI had reopened the bidding process for the 2018 games in July of last year when the Canadian bid team for Bromont/Montreal was unable to provide the full public sector financial support that was required before an allocation could be made. Confirmation that the Canadian bid committee had subsequently secured substantial government backing was a crucial element in today’s decision.

National Forest Trail Bill Introduced

American Horse Council 06/19/2014

On June 19, Congresswomen Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced the National Forest Service Trail Stewardship Act of 2014 (H.R. 4886). The bill would direct the Forest Service to take several actions to help address the current trail maintenance backlog that is adversely impacting all trail users on many national forests, including equestrians. The AHC, Backcountry Horsemen of America, and the Wilderness Society were significantly involved in the creation of this bill.

A June 2013, study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Forest Service trail maintenance backlog exceeds a half-billion dollars, and only one-quarter of the agency’s 158,000 miles of trails meets agency standards for maintenance. This maintenance backlog is causing access and safety issues for equestrians and all trail users on national forests.

The National Forest Service Trail Stewardship Act would direct the Forest Service to develop a strategy to more effectively utilize volunteers and partners to assist in maintaining national forest trails. It will also provide outfitters and guides the ability to perform trail maintenance activities in lieu of permit fees. Additionally, the bill would address a liability issue that has discouraged some national forests from utilizing volunteers and partner organizations to help perform trail maintenance and would direct the Forest Service to identify and prioritize specific areas with the greatest need for trail maintenance in the national forest system.

In the current fiscal environment it is unlikely Congress will appropriate additional funds to directly address the trail maintenance backlog. This bill will help improve trail maintenance without the need for additional funding.

The bill is supported by the AHC and many other recreation organizations.

'Minimalist' Endurance Saddle's Biomechanics Studied

The “desert style” technique employs a simplified, “minimalist” saddle—much lighter than standard endurance saddles—and longer stirrups,
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Jun 21, 2014

An old style of riding could bring new benefits to modern-day endurance racing. Endurance could head back to its roots and see its riders adopting the “desert style” riding technique which, one research team says, leads to better horse-rider harmonization and faster galloping.

“Confirming our hypothesis, the 'desert style' riding technique in our study provided for a considerable increase in the percentage and quality of riding in the seated canter, which translated into a net gain in speed,” said Sylvain Viry, PhD in equine biomechanics at the Institute of the Science of Movement of the University of Marseilles, in France. Viry presented the results of his preliminary study at the 2014 French Equine Research Day held March 18 in Paris.

“The proportion of the seated canter (greater than 80%) in the desert style technique was four times higher than values previously reported for horse-rider couples of the same level using traditional endurance riding techniques in similar racing conditions,” he said.

As European endurance circuits begin to include more high-speed work, riders have been seeking ways to enable their horses to gallop for longer periods, Viry said.

The “desert style” technique (also known as the “Harley Davidson” riding style, Viry said) employs a simplified, “minimalist” saddle—much lighter than standard endurance saddles—and longer stirrups, Viry said. The rider’s feet are placed more forward than in standard endurance equitation, the rider’s upper body is set farther back, and his or her pelvis takes on a high degree of mobility. It leads to a riding seat that is very similar to that used in desert competitions in the Middle East.

In their study, Viry and colleagues compared the dynamics of a single horse and rider combination being ridden in both the “traditional” and “desert” techniques during different phases of a 130-kilometer (80-mile) race. The team found that vertical movements between the horse and rider were significantly more aligned when the horse was ridden desert style, Viry said, and the horse spent considerably more time (81% vs. 51% of the time) in gallop compared to when he was ridden in a traditional style. The horse's overall speed also increased by 5.6% in desert-style tack, meaning the time it took the pair to complete the race was reduced.

“These results appear to indicate that this riding style is more efficient than traditional endurance riding styles,” Viry said.

But don't head to the tack store just yet: Further research on a larger group of horses and riders is needed before the researchers can make definite recommendations, Viry said. Future studies will also aim to address health and welfare effects of the desert style riding technique, he added.


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