UAE: Endurance Rider Suspended for Kicking Horse ‘27 times’ at the Finish

HorseSport.com - Full Article

The FEI Tribunal rules that kicking a horse is ‘not a normal natural aid,’ and criticizes officials who turn a blind eye to abuse.

By: Pippa Cuckson | December 19 2019

An endurance rider whose exaggerated kicking towards the end of race did not “constitute normal riding” has been suspended 12-months and fined 4,000 Swiss francs (CAN $5,300) by the FEI Tribunal for horse abuse.

In footage of Mohamed Ali AL Marzouqi from the official livestream, the FEI Legal department counted 27 kicks, with long reins used as a whip 19 times, in “only a few seconds of video from a ride that was going on for 100 km over 6 hours.”

The incident occurred at the end of the CEI* 100km race at Al Wathba, the principal venue in Abu Dhabi, on December 8, 2018, in which the accused rider rode the horse Romeo to fourth place.

The rider was not sanctioned on the day. A Protest alleging horse abuse was then lodged by Rosemary Sloan, a member of the “Clean Endurance” community in the UK. She said the rider was kicking so hard “daylight could be seen between the entire length of the rider’s legs and the saddle. He struck the horse repeatedly with the reins and threatened to strike it with his left arm. The horse was visibly exhausted and unable to accelerate its canter despite Mr Al Marzooqi’s actions...”

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/horse-news/endurance-rider-suspended-kicking-horse-27-times/

FEI Tribunal sanctions rider in new Abuse Protest lodged by Clean Endurance

PRESS INFORMATION FROM CLEAN ENDURANCE
18 December 2019
Immediate Release


Clean Endurance is satisfied that the FEI Tribunal sanctioned Mr al Marzouqi (UAE) with a 12-month immediate suspension in the 4th of a series of Abuse Protests they have brought forward this year.

Mr Marzouqi rode the horse Romeo at the CEI 1* 100 KM event in Al Wathba on December 8th 2018. The Tribubal took note that video evidence submitted by Clean Endurance showed that “Mr.al Marzouqi was kicking the horse as hard as he could, to the point that daylight can be seen between the entire length of the rider’s legs and the saddle. He struck the horse repeatedly with the reins and threatened to strike it with his left arm. The horse was visibly exhausted and unable to accelerate its canter despite Mr. al Marzouqi’s actions”. The FEI stated that that it counted the excessive kicking to 27 timewhipping with the reins to 19 times.

Mr al Marzouqi stated in his defense that he wanted to assure the Tribunal that he looked after his horse during the whole ride. He said that because he is a tall rider with long legs it may have looked like he was hurting his horse by kicking it, but that he encouraged it to move forward without abusing or beating it. He also mentioned that the Ground Jury members and Stewards present and watching at the finish line did not notice nor sanction any horse abuse, but that they congratulated him and recognised his position (5th) in the competition.

Ms Rosemary Sloan from Clean Endurance who lodged the protest said “Someone has to speak up for our gentle partner, the horse. We know from anecdotal evidence that this behaviour is but the tip of the iceberg, and we are only able to lodge abuse protests and obtain sanctions because of our diligent monitoring of video footage provided by the official broadcasting companies of these events. I hope the rider in question learns from the sanctions imposed on him for the brutal treatment of a horse in his care.”

The Tribunal mentioned, as it did in 3 previous abuse protests brought forward by Clean Endurance this year, that it encourages the FEI to investigate and open disciplinary proceedings against FEI Officials present if they did not act on the present horse abuse case during the event. To Clean Endurance’s knowledge, the FEI has not acted (yet) on this recommendation by the Tribunal.

Until the FEI does, Clean Endurance regrets that it is apparently up to them to lodge abuse protests with the Tribunal in order to avoid that abusive riders continue to escape the sanctions they so well deserve, and which Officials fail to apply.

In addition to the 12-month suspension, Mr al Marzouqi was disqualified from the event thus forfeiting medals, points and prizes, fined 4 thousand Swiss Francs and required to contribute 1 thousand Swiss Francs towards the cost of proceedings.

The video footage used as evidence before the Tribunal can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q32o7ps3Eng


The full FEI Tribunal decision notice is published here:
https://inside.fei.org/system/files/Decision%20of%20the%20FEI%20Tribunal%20-%20Alleged%20Horse%20Abuse%20Case%202019-08%20-%20Ms.%20Sloan%20vs.%20Mr.%20Al%20Marzouqi%20-%206%20December%202019.pdf

FEI Tribunal issues Final Decisions, 4 of 5 involving Endurance

Inside.fei.org

Dec 18, 2019 Author: FEI

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a horse abuse case and four Final Decisions in cases involving Prohibited Substances.

The horse abuse case, which was opened by the FEI following a protest filed by Rosemary Sloan from Clean Endurance, involved the horse Romeo (FEI ID: 105BQ04/UAE). The FEI Tribunal confirmed that the athlete, Mohamed Ali Al Marzouqi (FEI ID: 10041488/UAE), had committed horse abuse during the CEI1* 100 in Abu Dhabi, Al Wathba (UAE) on 8 December 2018. In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal ruled that the athlete had committed horse abuse and suspended him for 12 months from the date of the Final Decision, 6 December 2019. He was also fined CHF 4,000 and ordered to pay CHF 1,000 towards legal costs.

The Final Decision on this case can be found here.

The first of the prohibited substances FEI Tribunal Decisions involved the athlete Khalifa Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (FEI ID 10093885/UAE) who was riding the horse 8 Minute (FEI ID: 104BW22/UAE), which tested positive for the Banned Substance Nandrolone at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders and Juniors in Valeggio sul Mincio (ITA), 22-24 September 2017. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months as of the date of notification (28 November 2017). The FEI Tribunal accepted the agreement reached on 30 September 2019 between the FEI and Mr Al Jahouri. A two-year period of ineligibility, from 23 September 2017 to 22 September 2019, had already been served. In addition, all the results of the athlete from the date of sample collection on 23 September 2017 until the date of the provisional suspension (28 November 2017) were disqualified. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.

In connection to this case the FEI has also opened procedures against the registered trainer of 8 Minute, namely Mr Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri (FEI ID: 10014750/UAE). This trainer had already been involved in two other banned substance cases as the registered trainer.

The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 9 October 2019 between the FEI and the trainer Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri. The parties agreed that Mr Al Jahouri, who was provisionally suspended from 10 January 2018 until 7 February 2019 connected to the three banned substance cases had served the entire period of ineligibility. Each of the parties will pay their own legal costs.

The third FEI Tribunal Decision involved the horse Dalton des Hayettes (FEI ID: 104TD71/BEL), ridden by Pascal Van Laethem (FEI ID: 10044685/BEL), which had tested positive to the Banned Substance O-Desmethyltramadol at the CSI2* in Deauville (FRA), 15-18 June 2017.

The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete, reached on 21 October 2019. The period of ineligibility of the athlete was reduced to one year, as he demonstrated that he bore No Significant Fault or Negligence. As the athlete already served a Provisional Suspension from 7 August 2017 until 17 August 2018, which was credited in the final ineligibility period, there was no further suspension to be served. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months until 6 October 2017. All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000 and legal costs of CHF 500.

The fourth Final Decision involved the horse Sohair Des Bruyere (FEI ID: 104VK62/QAT), ridden by Elizaveta Minina (FEI ID: 10140497/RUS), which tested positive to the Banned Substance Testosterone at the CEI2* 120 in Doha Mesaieed (QAT) on 20 January 2018. The trainer of the horse was Hassan Khamis Mohammed A Al Shahwani (FEI ID: 10131286/QAT), admitted injecting the horse with the Testosterone. Separate proceedings has been initiated against the trainer of this horse.

The FEI Tribunal approved the agreement reached on 22 October 2019 between the FEI and the athlete. The athlete demonstrated that she bore No Significant Fault or Negligence and was suspended for 20 months from the date of notification on 5 March 2018 until 4 November 2019. The horse was provisionally suspended for two months until 4 May 2018. All the results of the athlete and the horse at the event were disqualified. The athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 3,000 and legal costs of CHF 1,500.

The Final Decisions on these cases can be found here.

The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decisions.

Prohibited substance cases under FEI anti-doping rules: 2 of 3 involve UAE Endurance Horses

Inside.fei.org

Dec 18, 2019 Author: FEI

The FEI has announced new adverse analytical findings (AAF) involving equine prohibited substances. The cases involve *Banned Substances under the FEI’s Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

In the following case the athlete has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horse has been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Horse: Chabello (FEI ID 104OU26/MEX)
Person Responsible: Bruno Cavalheiro Rebello (FEI ID 10018978/BRA)
Event: CSI2* - San Miguel de Allende (MEX), 03-06.10.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Ractopamine
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019

In the next two cases, the athletes and the trainers have been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision. The horses have been provisionally suspended for two months from the date of notification.

Horse: Cybele De L'Oule (FEI ID 105VH42/UAE)
Person Responsible: Sh Tahnoon Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (FEI ID 10093006/UAE)
Trainer: Mohd Salem Abdulla Al Ameri (FEI ID 10081586/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Arsenic, Flunixin
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019

Horse: Kassidy De Jansavis (FEI ID 104QP93/UAE)
Person Responsible: Omar Ibrahim Al Marzooqi (FEI ID 10137894/UAE)
Trainer: Abdul Kader Abdul Sattar (FEI ID 10032531/UAE)
Event: CEI2* 120 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Diisopropylamine
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019

In the following case the trainer has been provisionally suspended from the date of notification until the FEI Tribunal renders its decision.

Horse: ***N/A
Person Responsible: ***N/A
Trainer: Ahmed Salem Ali Bakheet Al Rashdi (FEI ID 10027984/UAE)
Event: CEI1* 80 - Bou Thib (UAE), 01-02.11.2019
Prohibited Substance(s): Strychnine, Phenylbutazone and Oxyphenbutazone
Date of Notification: 2 December 2019

*** No PR/Horse Name in cases involving Minors and/or Fast Track Procedures.

Details on these cases can be found here.

Great Britain: ‘We thought he’d live for ever’: heartbreak as 40-year-old champion put down

Horseandhound.co.uk - Full Article

Becky Murray
16 December, 2019 18:07

A 40-year-old “horse in a million” who took four siblings to the top of the sport in endurance and showing has been put down owing to colic.

The Helme family, from Lancaster, Lancashire, paid tribute to 15hh part-bred trotter Bobby, who was put down on 9 December.

Mother Helen said the family fell in love with the gelding immediately despite the fact he was “completely different” to what they had been looking for, when he was bought from a riding school in Durham in 1986 for daughter Becci.

“Becci got into endurance by chance and they were hooked. In 1991 they did their first 100-mile ride at Ludlow. Bobby was very strong, and he would do things like mess about when you took his heart rate but then something clicked,” she said.

“He was passed to my daughter Donna, who was 16, who took him to the World Equestrian Games in The Hague in 1994 where she was the youngest rider to compete – it was amazing. They were 34th and the only Brits to get round along with Gill Smedley...”

Read more here
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/thought-hed-live-ever-heartbreak-40-year-old-champion-put-703323

Double success for Brit in Andalusian endurance horse riding championship

Surinenglish.com - Full Article

Caroline Grahm and her horse Bambina are regional champions in the 80-kilometre category

13 December 2019

Caroline Grahm and her Anglo-Arabian horse Bambina RC followed up last year's success by becoming double Andalusian endurance riding champions over 80 kilometres.

This came after this weekend's final race of the year in Sanlúcar.

Caroline won best rider and Bambina best horse in their first year competing together at this distance...

Read more here:
http://www.surinenglish.com/sport/201912/13/double-success-brit-regional-20191213095154-v.html

Spain: 66th International Raid of Barcelona – Santa Susana

Endurance-world.com - Full Article

13th December 2019
Race Report made with the assistance of The Organisation of Raid de Barcelona – Santa Susanna

Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona. Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December 2019. The french rider Camille Garbet won the 66th Raid Internacional de Barcelona – Santa Susana, the oldest equestrian endurance competition in Europe.

Garbet completed the 192km two-stage race on the back of his horse Baltika d’Aurabelle with a time of 11:45 and demonstrated its enormous quality in the great end-of-season party of the European endurance...

Read more here:
https://endurance-world.com/66th-international-raid-of-barcelona-santa-susana/