FEI General Assembly Highlights

The FEI General Assembly was held November 21st in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The following highlights were a result of the detailed meetings.

Anti-Doping and Medication Committee

The membership of the Anti-Doping and Medication Commission was announced as follows:

– Chairman: Dr. Arne Ljungqvist (SWE) representing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA)

– Peter Wylde (USA), representing the Jumping Athletes

– Carl Bouckaert (BEL), representing the Eventing Athletes

– Wayne Shannon (GBR), representing the Dressage Athletes

– Kristin Kloster Asasen (NOR), representing the National Federations

– John McEwen (GBR), Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee

– Ken Lalo (ISR), chairman of the FEI Tribunal

– Tim Ober (USA), Athlete veterinary

– Alex McLin (SUI/USA), FEI Secretary General

– Sven Holmberg (SWE), FEI First Vice President

– The representatives of the Laboratories are currently being confirmed.

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FEI Dressage Task Force

Following the resignation of all the members of the FEI Dressage Committee, the Bureau has agreed to the setting up of a Dressage Task Force to deal with the following aspects:

– issues surrounding the very significant area of the training and development;

– assessment and selection of judges for major championships and Olympic Games;

– fitness for purpose of the method of judging Dressage;

– competitions needs thorough review â€“ both in terms of the number of judges, their positioning and the judging process;

– following significant feedback from NFs, it is clear that the decision to move from 4 to 3 riders in a team is not universally accepted as the best for the sport and this therefore needs reviewing;

– the system for qualification for Championships, and the receipt of Certificates of Capability for Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games;

– finally there is a need to review the consultation process within Dressage and how it affects the structure of the committee going forwards to ensure maximum involvement by the key stakeholders both internal to the sport and external within the greater sporting/Olympic/Paralympic environment.

The confirmed members of the Task Force are: Frank Kemperman (NED), chairman and representative of the event organisers; Richard Davison (GBR), riders representative; Robert Dover (USA), trainers representative; and Alain Francqueville (FRA), chef dâ€™Ã©quipe.

The Task Force will be in place until the 2009 GA by which time a new Dressage Committee will be elected.

Veterinary

The Chairman of the Veterinary Committee presented a detailed report on the Committeeâ€™s activities. The main items include:

â€¢ The Olympic Games 2008 Hong Kong were recognised as a great success and, very importantly, they have left a legacy from the work done on the welfare of competition horses in hot and humid climates. The FEI climate monitoring project at the test event produced critical information. Special thanks are offered to the Olympic Games Organising Committee and especially to the veterinary surgeons who gave up much of their time to contribute. The FEI is also very grateful to WHW and Peden for their sponsorship of the highly informative Heat and Humidity workshop held in February.

â€¢ 2007 Medication Control Report: Testing increased. The number of positives tests showed a decrease since 2004 from 4% to 1% in 2007; the rate has been running at 0.7% in 2008.

â€¢ Capsaicin may have legitimate as well as illegitimate usage, but it will be considered in future, if it is detected in medication control samples, to be a doping offence due to its possible usage in abuse.

â€¢ A Horse Movement Group was created and has been recognised as essential for the development of the sport. Its objectives are, among others, the facilitation in testing and certification protocol; and increased acceptance of a model Health Certificate. The Group will also work on strategy for Emerging Diseases which is a priority with the changing climates and global competition.

â€¢ Research: the very important Footing research project is progressing. A seminar was held in March to review and get input from riders, trainers, and veterinary surgeons. Other projects include Prof. Jeffcottâ€™s project Equitation Science.

â€¢ The Committee is in discussion with the FEI Legal Department on the creation of an appeal procedure for pony measurement rules.

Athletes Committee

The General Assembly accepted the modifications to the FEI Statutes in order to allow members of the Athletes Committee only, to sit on more than one Committee. This modification would in the future enable Athlete Committee members to sit on their respective discipline committee – the link thereby being made by one individual.

The General Assembly approved another change to the Statutes which now allows the Chair of the Athletes Committee to vote on the FEI Bureau.

Development Matters

The National Federation of the Dominican Republic has been disaffiliated because it is no longer in compliance with IOC requirements. On the request of the IOC and NOC, a transitional structure was provisionally affiliated under control of the FEI to implement the FEI transitional plan.

The International Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has approached FEI to establish an ad-hoc group for dealing with equine diseases and horse movements. The group will consist of experts who have extensive experience in the various aspects of horse transport and disease control.

FEI/USEF Joint Development Plan for Eventing: the USEF has contributed USD 150,000 into a development fund for use within Groups IV, V, and VI. The objective of the programme is to help grow Eventing in Group V by combining the participation of North American riders and coaches. FEI will contribute CHF 50.000 towards the programme.

Jumping

A detailed report on the activities of the FEI Jumping Committee was presented. It dealt with, among other things:

Rules Revision

The revised Rules for Jumping Events â€“ 23 edition, effective January 1, 2009 â€“ were approved.

Stewarding

The system is being restructured for all FEI disciplines. The CVs for all stewards on the FEI list have been requested from NFs. All stewards in each discipline with no or very little equestrian experience will have their names removed from the FEI list.

Specific guidelines relating to the introduction of Regional Stewards Generals in each discipline, reporting system and education of stewards were approved by the FEI Bureau on the occasion of its meeting in April 2008.

Thermography

In Jumping a number of international events were selected at which testing for hypersensitization of limbs was carried out. The FEI is training independent veterinarians to carry out the procedure and will have a panel of specialists qualified to function at CSIs.

â€œCode of Ethicsâ€ for Horse Dealers

An initiative has been taken to establish a â€œCode of Ethicsâ€ for horse dealers.

Other items, such as modifications to the Rolex Rankings, to the rules for the 2009 FEI European Jumping Championship, and to the rules for the FEI Word CupTM Jumping were also reported.

Eventing

A detailed report on the activities of the FEI Eventing Committee was presented. The great success of every aspect of the Eventing competition at the 2008 Olympic Games was acknowledged.

Eventing Safety Programme

The Safety Program is based on one objective: reduction of the number of horse falls. The structure of the program includes:

â€¢ Monitoring of the sport – Data gathering

The FEI safety database has been integrated in the FEI IT structure which will allow for a more flexible and practical approach. The introduction of a National Safety Officer for all NFs involved in Eventing is being monitored; this Officer will act as a liaison between the FEI and NFs in regard to falls or riders. A watch system of riders with dangerous riding and falls is being developed for 2009.

â€¢ Research: cross country fences safety devices/ rider protection

The introduction of deformable structure/frangible technology at all events as of January 1, 2009 was approved. The situation will be reviewed at the end of 2009 and, if necessary, technology will be adjusted.

â€¢ Training and Education

The Education of Officials is currently being reviewed to ensure greater knowledge on safety. Education systems for riders and trainers for Cross Country are being developed.

Education of Officials

The Eventing Committee is working on an integrated education system to apply to all disciplines taking into account the specificities of each one of them. The system will include an ongoing evaluation and external verification of procedures. A Course Director programme will also be developed.

Development

The FEI Eventing Committee is actively working on development schemes in Eastern Europe and South America in view of the 2011 Pan American Games.

Rules Revision

The revised Rules for Eventing â€“ 23 edition, effective January 1, 2008 (with one adjustment further to discussions with the FEI Regional Groups in Buenos Aires in regard to qualification results of horses and riders) â€“ were approved.

Driving

A report on the activities of the Driving Committee was presented. The revision of the Rules for Driving Events â€“ 10th edition, effective January 1, 2009 â€“ was adopted. It was an extensive one and is the result of a great deal of input from various stakeholders.

Endurance

Rules

The revision of the Rules for Endurance â€“ 7th edition, effective January 1, 2009 â€“ was adopted. They are the result of a major review which began in January 2007. In fact, it was the largest and most in-depth consultation process ever undertaken in this discipline. It was done by a Task Force in cooperation with the National Federations involved in the sport. The new rules are largely based on the concern for the welfare of the horse. The major topics to be noted are the categories of endurance events; rest periods (as amended following a revote by the General Assembly following a failure to approve the original timings); and progress from one level to the next. Another significant improvement is the introduction of a pre-FEI national system (Novice Qualifying) for riders and horses, though not necessarily as a combination. All horses and riders must have successfully completed Novice Qualifying to be eligible for CEI Star Qualifying. To progress from one FEI star level to the next, riders and horses must have graduated from the qualifying process. The full text of the rules is available here.

Education Programme

This Education Programme, for which sponsorship has been secured for the next two years from Hydra Properties, will work on the revision and formatting of all of the Courses for Endurance Judges (Levels I and II), Technical Delegates and Stewards to reflect the new rules.

Vaulting

A detailed report on the activities of the FEI Vaulting Committee was presented. It dealt with, among other things:

Rules Revision

The revised Rules for Vaulting Events â€“ 7th edition, effective January 1, 2008 â€“ were approved with a clarification concerning the Team Juniors, which remain unchanged at under 16. The rule change was an enormous task; the Guidelines for Vaulting Judges were also revised in their entirety. The additions and subtractions made to both were made bearing in mind key objectives, such as to professionalizing the sport, providing for the education of officials, and developing the sport in a sustainable and realistic manner.

Reining

A detailed report on the activities of the FEI Reining Committee was presented.

Rules Revision

The revised Rules for Reining Events â€“ 3rd edition, effective January 1, 2009 â€“ were approved. A new competition format with a second qualifying competition for the FEI World Equestrian Games has been decided upon.