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On a day of very differing fortunes for the eight competing countries, The Netherlands won through on home ground at the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 Europe Division 1 series in Rotterdam (NED) this afternoon.
Victory was extra-sweet as this was the third Dutch victory in a row in front of their home crowd which included their former Queen, now Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands, who is such a longtime supporter of the sport. But it was hard-won, going right down to the wire with Team Ireland challenging every inch of the way to finish a very close second.
Not for the first time, the heroes of the day were Harrie Smolders and Monaco NOP. If ever there was a man who can keep his head under pressure it is the 43-year-old double-Olympian, and if ever there was a horse that can rise to the occasion it is the 14-year-old gelding who has twice carried his rider to second place at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final and who helped The Netherlands to team silver at last summer’s FEI World Championship in Denmark.
Asked how he manages to handle extreme pressure like he did today to clinch the win, Smolders replied, “I knew I had to go clear, one down and we lost.
I just focus on the things I need to do to make it as easy as possible for my horse. That’s probably easier said than done, but it has to do with experience, with the right focus, a cool mind, and then you have to execute it.
“But Monaco and me love this kind of pressure! I love it because when your round really counts for something that brings out the best in me!”, he said.
Kept them thinking
The 12-fence course designed by Quintin Maertens certainly kept them thinking, the vertical at fence five after the 4-metre-wide open water, the line from the triple combination at fence eight to the delicate 1.60m vertical that followed and the final run from the penultimate double to the big oxer at the end of the track all took their toll.
The teams were already well separated after the opening round after Norway racked up 44 faults, Denmark posted 28, the defending series champions from Belgium who won last Sunday’s leg in Sopot (POL) already struggling with 20 on the board and the big guns from Germany and France carrying 16 apiece.
The leading teams going into round two were Italy on eight, the Dutch with just five and Ireland out in front with just four faults after clears from pathfinder Michael Duffy (Cinca) and anchorman Daniel Coyle (Gisborne VDL) so counting only the four collected by Cian O’Connor (Eve d’Ouilly) with Trevor Breen’s eight (Highland President) the drop score.
The Italians slipped off the radar when collecting 28 second time, out but the Dutch and Irish slugged it out to the very end.
Good start
A clear from Vrieling got the Dutch off to a good start in round two and when van Asten made a dramatic recovery from the unexpected 16 he posted first time out to pick up just a single time fault at his second attempt they began to consolidate their position. Maikel van der Vleuten’s fabulous nine-year-old O’bailey was a real eye-catcher when putting just a single time fault on the board in round one and a baby mistake at the very first fence was his only error next time out. But that meant that Smolders had to go clear to keep his country in the frame. Because by then Duffy had posted his second clear of the day, Breen had added just four and O’Connor produced a brilliant clear. If Ireland’s last man in, Coyle, could match that then they would be untouchable for victory. Smolders had to pile every bit of pressure on him by leaving all the fences in place.
And he delivered, so when Coyle’s stallion made his first mistake of the day at the vertical after the water it was a done deal for the Dutch whose final scoreline of six faults left them two clear of Ireland in second place and a whopping 22 faults ahead of Germany and France who finished third and fourth respectively based on time. Italy (36 faults), Belgium (37), Denmark (44) and Norway (79) filled the remaining placings.
Contagious
The Dutch delight was perfectly understandable and quite contagious. Smolders spoke about his great day.
“It’s an amazing feeling, we had a full house, the Royal Family is always here for the Nations Cup and we had such a great atmosphere. After the first round we were only one fault away from the lead so we knew there were still chances and we had to step up, do better, and all our riders did an amazing job in the second round. It was a tough course but very well built, not super-big but an intelligent course with a tough last line so you really had to know what you were doing”, Smolders said.
“Monaco was again outstanding! He loves Rotterdam, he always feels amazing here, he enjoys this show so much and he’s such a smart horse. He knows when it’s important….”, he added.
And what about that tricky line from the triple combination to the following vertical? “It was a half-distance and you were riding into the corner there, it was a tall vertical with only three rails and a very delicate fence so you really had to know your horse very well, what suits them best, and you had to use the gear-box! You needed a horse that is obedient and can lengthen or shorten the stride very well to ride that”, Smolders explained.
Played out
Dutch Chef d’Equipe Jos Lansink reflected on how the competition played out.
“It was a fantastic day for us, in the second round they all rode very strong and the horses were great. It was not an easy course today, you really had to make the time at the beginning and then the difficulties came after the water jump. But now we can all be very happy!”
For Smolders one of the great satisfactions today was winning with Princess Beatrix once again watching on and clearly enjoying every moment. Having her there is the icing on the cake for all the Dutch riders.
“She is a lover of our sport and always a big promoter so it’s always very nice if we can do like we did today - these are unforgettable moments for us!”, he said.
Today’s result sees Germany move to the top of the Europe Division 1 leaderboard ahead of Switzerland in second, Belgium in third and Ireland in fourth place. The fourth leg of the six-competition qualifying series takek place in Falsterbo, Sweden in three weeks’ time.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
It is one of the great highlights of every Jumping season, and in just 100 days the focus of the world of equestrian sport will turn once more to the prestigious Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 in Barcelona, Spain (28 September - 1 October).
This trophy is one that every nation wants to lift, confirming supremacy in a team sport that is steeped in a long tradition of camaraderie, national pride and cutting-edge competition. The format has taken a few twists and turns during its 111-year history but the theme remains the same, and the smiles on the faces of the winning riders say it all.
Celebrated
The Real Club de Polo in the heart of the beautiful Spanish city of Barcelona staged equestrian Jumping during the celebrated 1992 Olympic Games and, 91 years after it was built, the stadium at the elegant venue has undergone a rebuilding project to expand the spectator viewing area for this year’s Final.
It has been home to the Final since 2013 when France came out on top ahead of Brazil. Four years later Longines took up the title sponsorship of the series, and the defending champions going into this year’s season-closer are Team Belgium.
Last year’s victory was their third in eight years, and the country that took team bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games got off to a great start on the road to the 2023 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final with a brilliant win at the second leg of the Europe Division 1 qualifying league in Sopot, Poland last weekend.
There are six legs in this series which continues today (Friday 23 June) at Rotterdam in The Netherlands, and a total of eight nations - Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland - are fighting for one the seven places on offer at the Final.
Battle is over
For some countries the battle is already over, because the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia claimed their spots at the Middle East qualifier staged in Abu Dhabi (UAE) in January while USA and Mexico booked their tickets through the North America, Central America and Caribbean league which concluded in Canada last month.
The fate of the Europe Division 1 teams is unlikely to be decided until the last of their qualifiers takes place in Dublin, Ireland on August 11.
The Swiss are currently leading Europe Division 1, and although they are one of the strongest nations on the world circuit they have never won the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ series title, even going back to the very early years.
Extra incentive
They may have an extra incentive to make it happen this time around because at this year’s Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final there is again a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on offer to the highest ranked team not already qualified. So, should they not succeed in picking up one of the three places up for grabs at the FEI Jumping European Championships in Milan (ITA) in September then they’ll be hungry to take it.
However they’ll face plenty of powerful opposition, including a mighty challenge from Team USA who are in the same position but who will have one further opportunity to make the cut to Paris at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile at the end of October.
There are multiple reasons why the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 is already set to be a tense thriller from start to finish, not least because it represents team Jumping at its very best and is always guaranteed to provide superb sport…..
So don’t miss a hoofbeat…..
For more about the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023 series
Peter Weinberg was showered with champagne when Team Belgium came out on top in the gripping second leg of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Europe Division 1 2023 series in Sopot, Poland today.
The Chef d’Equipe who led his country to victory at last year’s series Final in Barcelona (ESP), where they also picked up a qualifying spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, said his whole team handled the pressure really well on an afternoon when it was impossible to predict the outcome until the very end.
“The most nervous of all today was me - they kept their nerve and produced one brilliant round after another and that’s how we won!”, he said after double-clears from both pathfinder Koen Vereecke partnering Lector vd Bisschop and third-line rider Gudrun Patteet with Sea Coast Enjoy Z were supported by Niels Bruynseels and Matador and anchorman Wilm Vermeir riding Crescendo MB Z for a final scoreline of eight faults.
However it was a narrow victory, with the first-round leaders from Argentina finishing a close second with nine faults ahead of Germany and Switzerland in third and fourth when posting 12 faults apiece and separated only by time.
Sensational
The Argentinians were sensational in round one, heading the leaderboard with a zero scoreline after faultless runs from Matias Albarracin (Full Option van’t Zand), Matias Larocca (BM Gran Fantasia) and his father Jose Larocca (Finn Lente), so that the five faults picked up by Mariano Ossa (Elton van het Exelhof Z) was their drop-score. It was a really big day out for the Larocca family as they owned all four horses on the Argentinian team.
Belgium, Switzerland and Ireland were lying equal-second with four faults each at the halfway stage while Germany - hoping to record their third successive Sopot win - already had eight on the board. Meanwhile Poland, Italy and Hungary went into round two carrying 13, 16 and 25 faults respectively.
Argentina’s advantage began to be compromised however when pathfinder Albarracin missed his distance to the double at fence five second time out, landing in the oxer second element and taking a tumble for elimination. Polish course designer Szymon Tarant had set a track with plenty of twists and turns that required accuracy and control every inch of the way especially through the last line of three fences, while the time-allowed of 77 seconds played its part too.
“When you got to the last line you started thinking about the time, the white gate vertical (fence 10 of 12) was delicate and you had to take care there, and then there was still a triple combination with a planks coming out which is not easy, and I think also there were a few faults on the last fence (oxer). The most difficult part of the triple was coming out over the plank, it was very easy to make a fault there”, Belgium’s Gudrun Patteet pointed out afterwards.
Compatriot
Her compatriot Vereecke, winner of Friday’s Longines Grand Prix with the same horse, Lector, set her side up nicely with his second-round clear but eight from Bruynseels ensured the pressure was still full on, especially when Matias Larocca produced another fabulous and faultless round from the 15-year-old stallion BM Gran Fantasia to bring Argentina back into contention.
Meanwhile although the Irish were slipping behind, the Swiss were still in the frame thanks to a brilliant double-clear from Bryan Balsiger (Chelsea Z). And even when Steve Guerdat made it all the way to the very last fence with Is-Minka before putting that on the floor they were still in with a chance if Martin Fuchs could stay clear when last to go for his side with Commissar Pezi.
Patteet’s second clear piled all the pressure on Argentina’s penultimate partnership and when Ossa’s horse lowered both the plank at fence 10 and the first element of the triple combination that followed while also adding a time fault then those nine faults would have to be counted. So now it was up to Switzerland’s Fuchs to leave all the poles in place and pile the pressure back onto Belgian shoulders.
And it looked like the 2019 European champion and 2022 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion was about to do it until he ran out of room at the final element of the triple combination for four faults which ensured the final Swiss tally of 12.
So when anchor Vermeir clipped just one along the way the Belgian victory was already assured. It may not have been Argentina’s day in the end, but they had plenty to be proud of, especially when Jose Larocca brought the competition to a close with a second foot-perfect performance.
Ambitions
Earlier in the day his Chef d’Equipe, Enrique Solari, talked about Argentinian ambitions right now. “There is a chance (of Olympic qualification) with one spot at the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona which we are shooting for of course, and then if not there are three spots at the Pan-American Games in November in Chile. We are very focused on that, it is our goal to get to Paris in 2024!”, he explained. Having finished second at their last outing in the EEF series in The Netherlands last month and again today things are looking positive.
For today’s winners however it was all about the Europe Division 1 series of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2023. The teams chasing points were Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland and the win has moved Belgium into third on the league leaderboard - behind Germany and Switzerland - ahead of round three in Rotterdam, The Netherlands next Friday where they have also opted to compete. The series consists of six legs in total and moves on to Falsterbo (SWE) and Hickstead (GBR) in July, and to Dublin (IRL) for the last qualifier in August.
The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 will be staged in Barcelona (ESP) from 28 September to 1 October.
Mentally strong
Asked how her team managed to pull off the win today, Belgium’s Gudrun Patteer said it was achieved because “we had four mentally very strong riders so I was quite confident that we would not do worse in the second round and I had a good feeling about it!”
She was delighted with the performance of her lovely nine-year-old stallion Sea Coast Enjoy Z (Emerald/Parco). “He has done one Nations Cup in the second league at Gorla Minore (ITA) where he was also double-clear and this is only his second Nations Cup and the second time he jumped 1.60m. I’ve always believed in him and now he is confirming my expectations!”, she said of the horse she bought as a four-year-old and which she has slowly been building up to the top level.
“My chef really believes in this horse, he says he’s a championship horse but of course he’s still very young. So we will try to give him more experience so he is important to the Belgian team in the future. He maybe goes to Falsterbo and to Dublin but we have to wait and see what our chef says first….”, she added.
As the prestigious 19th Asian Games draws ever-closer, equestrian athletes and fans alike are eagerly awaiting the events set to unfold in Hangzhou, China. With just 100 days remaining until the equestrian events kick off on 26 September, the excitement is building among riders, teams, and the equestrian community.
From September 26 to October 6, the magnificent Hangzhou International Equestrian Park will serve as the playing field for the competitions across the 3 Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. A state-of-the-art venue, spread over an impressive area of approximately 54,000 square meters, awaits the arrival of world-class equine and human athletes with meticulously designed training arenas, stables and veterinary facilities.
Organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Asian Games bring together the OCA’s 45 member countries to compete in a diverse range of 40 sports.
Since its debut appearance at the 9th Asian Games in 1982 held in New Delhi, India, equestrian sport has become an integral part of the Asian Games program. Following a brief absence in the 11th edition in Beijing, it returned in 1994 and has been a core of the programme ever since.
At Hangzhou 2022, we can expect an impressive roster of 20 nations to participate in the equestrian events, including powerhouse equestrian countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, alongside emerging contenders like Palestine, Qatar, and Uzbekistan, vying for supremacy and national pride.
A Rich History
Over the years, legendary riders and talented teams have etched their names in Asian Games history.
In Jakarta (INA) 2018, Ali Al Khorafi from Kuwait clinched the individual Jumping gold medal with his remarkable horse Cheril, while Ali Al-Thani of Qatar secured the silver aboard Sirocco. Meanwhile, Ramzy Al-Duhami from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia galloped to a bronze medal victory astride Ted.
Notably, the Saudi Arabian team, comprising Abdullah Al-Sharbatly, Khaled Al Eid, and Khaled Al Mobty alongside Ramzy Al-Duhami, claimed the team gold.
Hong Kong’s Jacqueline Wing Ying Siu left an indelible mark in Jakarta, winning the individual Dressage gold medal with her extraordinary horse, Jockey Club Fuerst On Tour, while Japan took the top spots in the team competition.
In Eventing, it was Yoshiaki Oiwa from Japan who emerged victorious, capturing the individual gold with Bart L JRA. India's Fouaad Mirza secured the silver medal on his mount Seigneur Medicott, while Alex Hua-Tian from China claimed the bronze riding PSH Convivial.
The Japanese Eventing team, comprising Ryuzo Kitajima, Takayuki Yumira, Kenta Hiranaga, and Yoshiaki Oiwa, also stood atop the podium, proudly taking home the team gold medals.
Equestrian sport’s rich history at the Asian Games is a testament to the sport's growth and popularity in the region. The inclusion of equestrian events in the program since 1982 speaks volumes about the enduring appeal and impact it has had on the Asian sporting landscape, which is growing every year.
With Hangzhou 2022 on the horizon, it offers a unique opportunity for riders and teams to showcase their talents on a continental stage, while inspiring a new generation of equestrians across Asia.
The countdown has begun, and the stage is set…
The Asian Games runs from 23 September to 8 October, with the equestrian events slated for 26 September to 6 October.
Photo caption: Jacqueline Siu of Hong Kong pats her horse JC Fuerst On Tour after winning the individual dressage event during the equestrian competition at the 18th Asian Games at Jakarta International Equestrian Park on August 23, 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Photo copyright: FEI/Yong Teck Lim
About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org
The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.
The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
FEI Contact:
Didier Montes
Sport Communications & Media Relations Manager
didier.montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21
The highly anticipated Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport has been released, following the successful conclusion of the 6th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Amsterdam (NED) in October 2022.
Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), the statement is informed by 10 systematic reviews and methodology outlining the new consensus process. This work was carried out by a group of more than 100 expert researchers and clinicians from around the world, who reviewed and synthesised new scientific evidence and updated existing recommendations with the aim of optimising the care of athletes at all levels of participation who have, or who are at risk of, concussion.
The statement includes a series of new (SCOAT6, Child SCOAT6) and updated (CRT6, SCAT6, Child SCAT6) age-appropriate tools for clinicians and sports organisations to help them better identify and manage sports related concussion in the short and longer term. It also features new evidence-based strategies for returning to active sport and education after concussion, early exercise and treatment recommendations, approaches to prevention, targeted rehabilitation, and a call for a working group to be set up to guide further research on the potential long-term effects of concussion on health.
The FEI is a member of the Organising Committee for the 6th International Consensus on Concussion in Sport, alongside the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), World Rugby and Fédération Internationale d’Automobile (FIA). The role of the sports organisations is limited to funding, logistics and administration.
In light of the new recommendations, the FEI will conduct a comprehensive review of its existing protocols and policies, implement necessary changes to align with the latest scientific consensus, and ensure dissemination of this information to its stakeholders.
Germany entered the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of Hungary with a bit of added pressure. Prepared to start with a full team of riders, the squad was left short-handed following the late scratch of Lisa-Maria Klössinger.
But no drop score would be needed, as Team Germany, with just three riders, recorded a comfortable victory under the tutelage of Chef d'Equipe Götz Brinkmann. The trio of Rudolf Widmann (Ferrari OLD), Franziska Stieglmair (Samurai 504) and Lisa Müller (Gut Wettlkam's D'avie FRH) finished on a total score of 416.873%, more than 10 points ahead of runners-up, Hungary (405.301%).
"There was a lot of pressure. Of course you can make mistakes, but if that happens [with three riders], you're out of the running...I was pretty proud of all of them, that they were able to handle that pressure and solve all the problems."
-Chef d'Equipe Götz Brinkmann (GER)
Stieglmaier and Müller were the only riders to score above 70 percent across the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special, with Stieglmaier firmly asserting a German victory with an individual win in the Special aboard her longtime mount, Samurai 504. She and the 12-year-old Hanoverian gelding received a winning score of 71.234%—a personal best for the pair.
"It's a really special partnership. I bought him as a 2-year-old. When he was young, he was a little scared of everything, but now he's my partner in crime. If I don't make a mistake, he also won't."
Franziska Spieglmaier (GER)
Anchor pair Müller and Gut Wettlkam's D'avie FRH set the team ahead from the onset, winning the Grand Prix (72.543%) and finishing second in the Special (70.000%). Collectively, the squad did not finish worse than seventh in a single test.
"It was really fun to ride with our team," Spieglmaier said. "There was really good team spirit, and we helped each other really well. This win is very good for all of us."
Germany maintains its lead in the 2023 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series standings. Sweden sits second, followed by Denmark.
"We have many strong riders [in Germany]. It's not only riding in a foreign country and riding for Germany, but many others also could have ridden, and [German National Coach Monica Theodorescu] chose us," Brinkmann said. "That makes us really, really happy."
The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season continues in Rotterdam (NED) on 24 June 2023.
Following on from their Eventing Team’s success in securing a Paris 2024 Olympic Games slot in Baborówko (POL) earlier this month, Poland’s Dressage Team has emerged victorious in the FEI Dressage Olympic Qualifier for Group C held at Pilisjászfalu (HUN), earning a place next to their compatriots next Summer.
In a fiercely contested competition, Poland topped the leaderboard, ending the day on a total of 204.892 points, just ahead of Hungary, who finished on 202.152 for the home crowd, and Israel taking third place on 192.522 points.
The qualification was determined during the Grand Prix test, which was part of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ hosted near Budapest, showcasing the skills and finesse of fifteen talented athlete combinations.
With every combination executing the same movements, the panel of international judges were evaluating technical proficiency, suppleness, proper framing, smooth transitions, and the harmonious connection between rider and horse. Ultimately, the slot went to the team with the highest total score based on the scores of their three best athletes in the CDIO3*-NC Grand Prix Competition.
Leading the charge, Żaneta Skowrońska-Kozubik of Poland and her remarkable mount Romantic P delivered an exceptional performance, firmly placing Poland at the top of the leaderboard. While Lisa Müller of Germany and Gut Wettlkam’s D’avie FRH clinched the individual victory with an impressive score of 72.543%, Skowrońska-Kozubik's commendable marks propelled Poland ahead of Hungary in their quest for a coveted ticket to Paris.
The Polish team's success was further bolstered by the outstanding performances of three other athletes who secured positions in the top 10. Mateusz Cichon and Herzregent 2 claimed sixth place with a score of 67.913%, Magdalena Jura and Ron secured eighth place with 67.283%, and Marta Sobierajska and Ultrablue De Massa finished in 10th place with 65.565%.
The home-team of Hungary displayed remarkable determination throughout the competition, narrowly missing the top spot and settling for second place. Benedek Pachl and Donna Friderika delivered an impressive performance, earning them fourth place with a score of 68.804%. Anikó Komjáthy-Losonczy showcased exceptional skill aboard Dior S, securing seventh place with a score of 67.696%, while Jazmin Yom Tov, the youngest athlete in the event at just 21 years old, claimed ninth place with her mount Konfucius.
The top 10 was completed by Franziska Stieglmaier of Germany with Samurai 504, who secured the Individual bronze medal with a score of 69.522%, and Rudolf Widmann, also representing Germany, finished fifth aboard Ferrari OLD with a score of 67.978%.
Germany's outstanding performances positioned them as the leaders in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ competition, with the Grand Prix Special set to captivate audiences on Saturday.
As the event unfolds, the anticipation continues to build. Will Germany retain the Nations Cup points, or will Poland, Hungary, or Israel rise to claim the top honours?
Looking ahead
Overall, there are 15 Olympic team slots up for grabs for Paris 2024 - one has been allocated to France as the host country, with the remaining fourteen team quota places allocated through FEI Olympic Group Qualification Events such as this one.
The six highest ranked teams from the 2022 FEI Dressage World Championships, Herning (DEN) - Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands and the USA have secured their places. Also from Herning, the place for the highest ranked team from the Olympic Group G went to Australia.
Now with Poland clinching the Group C allocation, this leaves just 6 slots left for teams to win: the 3 highest ranked teams from the 2023 FEI European Dressage Championship in Riesenbeck (GER) this September, the 2 highest ranked teams from FEI Olympic Groups D and/or E at the 2023 Pan American Games, Santiago (CHI) in October, and the final spot to the Olympic Group F, for which the allocation procedure for is still to be decided.
Photo Caption: Polish Dressage riders qualify for the Olympics Games in Paris 2024 during the FEI Dressage Olympic Qualifier - Group C.
Team Poland - Magdalena Jura, Mateusz Cichon, Chef d'equipe Andrzej Salacki, Marta Sobierajska, Team Vet - Dr. Maciej Przewoźny, Żaneta Skowronska-Kozubik Daniel Karpinski
Copyright © FEI/Łukasz Kowalski
The first in-person meeting of the FEI Board for 2023 took place at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI). The Board members tackled a packed agenda over two days – on 6 and 7 June.
The approval of the rules of the newly created Longines League of Nations was the,hallmark decision taken by the Board on this occasion. The rules are effective for the 2024 season and available now on the FEI website.
The presentation of the Interim Report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing (EEWB) Commission by the Commission’s Chair Professor Natalie Waran was another key topic, which generated a lot of discussion, with the FEI Board keen to continue to tackle and develop non-regulatory Recommendations, especially in the areas of education and communication, prior to the presentation of the Final Report by the EEWB at the FEI General Assembly in November 2023.
The FEI President also provided an update on the wide-ranging activities of FEI Solidarity across the world and reminded the Board members that the deadline for National Federations to submit applications for FEI Solidarity support in 2024 was 1 July.
The allocation of the FEI General Assembly to Oman was another important decision.
The Board was informed of the proposed main changes to the FEI Rules and Regulations, which will be submitted for consultation with National Federations and Stakeholders on 28 June. In accordance with the FEI Rules Revision Process Policy, the FEI Endurance Rules are the only ones undergoing full revision this year.
The Board heard a comprehensive overview on the veterinary research projects, which are being conducted by the FEI in cooperation with prestigious academic institutions as well as an outline of future plans.
The FEI President presented the timeline for preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the Board approved the proposed way forward.
“We had two very productive days of meetings focussed on the future and sustainability of our sport,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “It was very good to see the entire FEI Board gather in Lausanne – a first since the Covid 19 pandemic – where we were able to take a number of important decisions, including the approval of the Rules for the Longines League of Nations. This was the result of a comprehensive and successful consultation process, and it’s testament to the community’s ability to think out of the box, that we have been able to re-imagine this result with so much support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the FEI Jumping Committee for their hard work and excellent solutions.”
“The future, but especially what we are and what we can do now, was also at the heart of our discussions around the recommendations of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, and I am looking forward to continuing our work around the findings of the EEWB so that we can strengthen the systems we have in place, and ensure our core value “Horse First” is embedded in everything that we do, and with every stakeholder we work with.”
The comprehensive list of decisions and additional details are available here.
Photo caption: On 6 and 7 June, the FEI Board met at the FEI Headquarters for two-day in-person meeting. (c) FEI
The FEI Tribunal has issued a Consent Award in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.
The horse Hera Durances (FEI ID 106FU45/BRN), trained by Mr Muhammad Abbas Khalid (FEI ID 10220213 /BRN), tested positive for the Banned Substance Stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol, following samples taken at the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb (UAE), 20-26.02.2023.
The trainer admitted the rule violation and accepted the proposed consequences. In its final decision the FEI Tribunal imposed an eighteen-month ineligibility period on the trainer; the provisional suspension already served shall be credited against the imposed ineligibility period. He was also fined CHF 5,000.
The FEI Tribunal also disqualified the athlete and horse combination from the event. Consequently, Bahrain no longer has three results counting towards the team score which earned them the gold medal at the event, resulting in the team gold medal now going to France, silver to Portugal and bronze to Italy.
The press release regarding the decision and the updated results of the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb is available here.
The full Consent Award is available here.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are medications that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
The FEI has created an online Reporting Mechanism to centralise the feedback from grooms attending international equestrian Events and to provide deeper insights into the needs and priorities of the community.
The Grooms Reporting Mechanism was created to raise the well-being of equestrian grooms, and to enhance their working conditions, welfare, and overall status in order to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for these dedicated professionals.
"The Gooms Reporting Mechanism is a game-changer for the equestrian industry, empowering grooms to have their voices heard and their experiences acknowledged,” Director of the International Grooms Association (IGA) Lucy Katan said.
“This mechanism not only fosters transparency and accountability but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement within the FEI and with Organising Committees, ensuring that the welfare and working conditions of grooms are taken into consideration at every stage of the decision-making and planning process.
“But a tool like this is only as good as the people using it, and the IGA hopes that individual member of the Grooms’ community will make a conscious effort to provide their feedback, both negative and positive, so that collectively we can elevate the professional standing of grooms worldwide.”
Key elements of the Grooms Reporting Mechanism include:
“What came through strongly during the setup of the International Grooms Association in 2022, was that grooms needed to be provided with a way of communicating directly with the FEI to relay their concerns about Event facilities,” Chair of the FEI Grooms Consultative Group Frank Kemperman said.
“By allowing grooms to express their opinions and concerns, they can have a direct influence on the decision-making processes that affect them and the FEI in turn can more quickly identify the key areas for improvement that will make the Event experience more comfortable and enjoyable for grooms.
“International grooms have a unique lifestyle and the care and services they provide are key to any equestrian athlete’s success. And as any athlete will tell you, a happy groom makes for a happy horse! It is our moral and social duty to ensure that we support these important members of our community with the best conditions in which to do their jobs.”
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