The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, the horse Spootnick Davril (FEI ID 104YN31/BEL), ridden by Raoul Ronsmans (FEI ID 10014170/BEL), tested positive for the Banned Substance O-desmethylvenlafaxine, following samples taken at the CEI2*70 + (2) Monpazier (FRA), on 27-29 August 2021.

The athlete explained that the positive test result probably came from the actions of his groom, who had urinated in the stall of the horse during the above mentioned Event, while taking anti-depressant medication containing the Banned Substance since several years.

In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal accepted the agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete, according to which the athlete bears no fault or negligence for the Rule Violation and therefore shall not serve any period of ineligibility and the otherwise applicable period of ineligibility. The athlete will also not incur any fines.

The full Decision is available here. 

The FEI and Belgian based equine nutrition brand Cavalor have extended their commercial agreement for a further five years, with digital activations playing a key role in the new partnership agreement.

The agreement with Cavalor, the FEI’s Official Nutrition Partner and Title Partner of the FEI Best Groom Award, was officially renewed at the recent FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Antwerp (BEL).

A world leader in equine nutrition for high-performance horses, Cavalor has helped thousands of horse owners and athletes achieve top level performance through proper nutrition and care.

“Cavalor is a valued FEI partner, and their continued commitment and support is testimony to the strength of our partnership,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“The commercial landscape has changed considerably since we first entered into our agreement with Cavalor in 2019. In addition to ‘traditional’ channels of sponsorship, the FEI’s social media and digital platforms can now provide Cavalor with more opportunities for brand visibility, and deeper exposure to an engaged audience.

“Cavalor’s value goes well beyond just the products it provides, and we are looking forward to helping them find creative ways of taking their in-house expertise on equine nutrition to a more international audience. Cavalor will now have an opportunity to create targeted advertising campaigns and present educational videos on the FEI’s social channels, which we know are highly valued and appreciated by our knowledgeable online audience.”

Cavalor President Peter Bollen was in Antwerp at the FEI Awards Gala presented by Longines to hand the Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award to Sweden’s Marie Johansson in recognition of her hard work looking after the horses ridden by Dressage athlete Patrik Kittel.

The award is given each year to grooms who work behind the scenes providing the best possible care for their equine athletes. Carmen Thiemann (GER), groom to Eventing legend Ingrid Klimke and the 2020 recipient of the award, was also present at the ceremony in Belgium.

“Cavalor’s products are based on years of intense research and development, the selection of the highest quality ingredients, as well as strict manufacturing and quality control processes,” Peter Bollen explained.

“Our partnership with the FEI reflects this attention that we give to quality and we are proud to work with an organisation that holds itself to same high standard as we do in terms of horsecare and wellbeing.

“The new terms of our agreement open up a whole host of possibilities in terms of audience engagement and we look forward to working with the FEI to bring these ideas to life.”

FEI President Ingmar De Vos and Cavalor President Peter Bollen at the FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Antwerp (BEL) in November 2021. (c) Dirk Caremans/FEI

Julien Epaillard was a happy man after winning today’s fourth leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2021/2022 Western European League in Madrid, Spain. The 44-year-old French rider was one of just six to make it through to the second-round jump-off in which his exciting chestnut gelding, Billabong du Roumois, returned the quickest clear to grab those precious maximum points towards qualification for the 2022 Longines Final in Leipzig, Germany next April.

He admitted this evening that today’s winning round didn’t quite go to plan. “I knew there were a lot of fast riders coming after me and it wasn’t the most beautiful jump-off I ever rode in my life, but it was big pressure and I also had a little bit of luck!”, Epaillard said after pinning Germany’s David Will and C Vier into runner-up spot and Ireland’s Denis Lynch and GC Chopin’s Bushi into third.

It was the perfect end to an amazing week for the Frenchman who won all three of the big classes at the Spanish fixture. On that form he was always going to be tough to beat today.

Busy

Spanish course designer, Javier Trenor, presented a busy 13-fence first-round track with a tight time-allowed of 69 seconds, and it proved to be a significant challenge to the 68-strong starting field. 

The triple combination at fence five with its short distance to the oxer final element was highly influential, but for Swiss stars Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerisy) and Martin Fuchs (The Sinner) it was the end of the course that caught them out, Guerdat’s gelding clipping the penultimate oxer and Fuchs’ horse lowering the previous one to deny them a spot in the second-round decider. 

A total of 13 horse-and-rider combinations collected four first-round faults, while with just a single time penalty each Spain’s Manuel Fernandez Saro (Jarlin de Torres) and rising young British star Jack Whitaker (Haya Loma N) slotted into seventh and eighth places respectively and collected some valuable qualifying points.

Led the way

Sweden’s Douglas Lindelow produced the first clear of the competition with Casquo Blue and led the way against the clock with a fence down in 43.34 seconds, but Epaillard always looked like he was going to be a lot quicker as he set off, next to go with the 10-year-old Billabong. This pair’s partnership is at an early stage however, and Billabong first rattled the oxer at fence two before lifting the front pole off the second element of the former triple combination, only for it to drop right back into the cups for no penalty, so when they raced through the finish in 41.24 seconds they went well out in front.

And, try as they would, they couldn’t be caught despite a sensational effort from three-time World Cup champion Marcus Ehning from Germany who posted the quickest round of the lot. Ireland’s Lynch had raced through the finish in 42.87 seconds before Ehning set off with his exciting young stallion Stargold whose enthusiasm for his job proved his undoing. Throwing a playful buck on landing after the third-last fence, he couldn’t make the perfect turn to the penultimate vertical which hit the floor for four faults in the super-fast time of 40.62 seconds.

Austria’s Max Kuhner and the nine-year-old Eic Coriolis de Isles also hit the same fence, stopping the clock in 45.25 seconds, and although last man in, Germany’s David Will, gave it a good shot with C Vier their time of 42.71 seconds was more than a second off Epaillard’s target, leaving the Frenchman with a crisp, clear victory.

Breeder

Epaillard has only been riding Billabong since mid-summer this year, the Selle Francais competing under the saddle of the son of the horse’s breeder until then. The new partnership has really gelled over the last few months. “He’s a super horse, he won the 3* Grand Prix in Gorla Minore (ITA) and the 4* Grand Prix in Saint-Lô (FRA) last month, and now a 5* here today - he’s super competitive!”, he said of his relatively new ride who looks set for a big future.

And today’s win was extra special because of his connection with Madrid. The French horseman, who also has a longtime base in Normandy, France, considers the Spanish city his second home. “I live between Madrid and Normandy because my son goes to school in Madrid and my wife is Spanish and lives here, so I split my time between the two places”, he explained.

Happy

Runner-up David Will was happy with his result - “as last to go in the jump-off I wanted to try it all, but it is really difficult to beat Julien and this our first indoor show with C Vier”, he pointed out. He’ll be heading for the qualifier in Basel, Switzerland in January, while Lynch plans to go to the next leg in La Coruna, Spain in two weeks time. “I’ll also go London (in December), I take every show as it goes but the goal is definitely Leipzig and now that I have picked up some points early it takes the pressure off a bit”, the Irishman added.

Epaillard has La Coruna and the late-December qualifier in Mechelen, Belgium in his sights, and with 23 points is lying sixth on the Western European League leaderboard this evening. Today’s third-place result has boosted Lynch to pole position, and with 37 points already accumulated he looks well set to make the cut to the Final.

First-leg winner, Kevin Jochems from The Netherlands, lies second and Sweden’s Jens Fredricson is currently in third ahead of Austria’s Kuhner in fourth and Germany’s Christian Kukuk in fifth place. But there’s still a long road to the Leipzig finale, with another seven qualifiers and a lot more excitement to come before the final line-up is decided.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….. 

Result

Standings

It was a very particular triumph for German star Helen Langehanenberg when topping the third leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup™ 2021/2022 Western European League in Madrid, Spain this evening. The 39-year-old athlete is a former winner of the prestigious series, an Olympian and this summer became a European team gold medallist. But today’s success was all the sweeter because her brilliant but sensitive mare Annabelle really showed what she can do when she settles to her job.

“She is such a very special horse, full of talent but with so much temperament that she is not always easy, but I’m very happy today. I was last to go and there was plenty of pressure but that’s good for me, it means I just have to go for it! And today she allowed me to support her and it felt really good”, Langehanenberg said.

Chasing

She was chasing the score of the very first of the 12 athletes into the ring, Spanish superstar Beatriz Ferrer-Salat who set a really tough target for the rest when posting 79.220 with the 12-year-old mare Elegance, and who stayed out in front until the very last pair overtook her. On an afternoon of great sport the home crowd had plenty to cheer about with five Spanish starters and two of them finishing in the top three when Juan Matute Guimon steered the 15-year-old gelding, Quantico, into third place.

Ferrer-Salat is a five-time Olympian and six-time national champion, and with the 12-year-old Elegance was a member of the Spanish team at this summer’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Putting her strong score on the board as the action got underway today, she could then sit back and let the rest try to better it. 

Compatriot Juan Matute Guimon was the first to come really close when scoring 78.160 with his 15-year-old gelding who put on a lovely show without ever looking under any pressure when third-last to go. The quality of the horse’s one-tempi changes down the centreline were a joy to watch as was the athlete’s smile as he cruised to a great finish in piaffe/passage. At just 24 years old the highly popular and super-talented Matute Guimon is already a legend, making a remarkable recovery from a brain bleed in May 2020 to bounce back to the very top of the game.

Grand Prix

Second-last into the ring was Germany’s Frederic Wandres who won yesterday’s Short Grand Prix with Bluetooth OLD, but their mark of 77.230 would only be good enough for fourth spot today when Langehanenberg and the extravagant mover Annabelle soared out in front with a score of 80.500.

Annabelle’s reach in the lateral movements is extraordinary, and today she showed moments of real flamboyance. But for her rider it is always a case of getting the balance right in order to maintain control and to keep her confidence.    

“When she was young she was a real mare - when you touched her there wasn’t a centimetre between too much and not enough, it was so difficult to find the perfect aids for her but I’m so happy with what we have reached now. It’s still only the beginning, I feel there is so much more we can do if she allows me to support her.  The more she does the more relaxed she becomes. She always has enough expression but she doesn’t always have enough relaxation but routine will bring relaxation so I’m working on that. She’s easy to train, but she almost tries to be too perfect!”, Langehanenberg explained. 

Retirement

Runner-up, Ferrer-Salat, couldn’t attend the post-competition press conference because she was busy with a retirement ceremony for her great old campaigner, the 20-year-old Delgado. Third-placed Matute Guimon meanwhile was proud and honoured to be in the prizegiving ceremony with his compatriot, and with today’s winner Langehanenberg. 

“It’s such a cool feeling after my comeback in Lyon”, he said, referring to his eighth-place finish at the French fixture that hosted the second leg of the 2021/2022 Western European League four weeks ago. Until making such a successful return to the series he had been intending to head for the Winter Equestrian Festival circuit in Wellington, USA in January, but now he may change his plans. “I might join Helen in Amsterdam (NED) or Den Bosch (NED) instead!”, he said tonight. 

He’s delighted to be back in partnership with Quantico. “When I got back to the barn the first time after my accident he looked at me as if to say ‘is that really you?’ He is such a special horse, not the easiest but such a nice horse and we have a unique bond - we are two hearts together!”, the young Spanish star said.

Final

Tonight’s result leaves him lying tenth on the Western European League leaderboard from which the top nine will make the cut to the series Final in Leipzig, Germany next April. Today’s win sees Langehanenberg move into fifth spot when adding the maximum 20 points to the 13 she collected for fourth place at the opening round in Herning, Denmark last month. However it is Wandres who continues to head the standings going into the next round in London (GBR) in three weeks time.

For German athletes getting to the Final is a really tough task because so many of them are vying for places and only three per country are permitted to compete. As Langehanenberg explained today, “Isabel (Werth, defending champion) is going anyway and Jessica (von Bredow-Werndl) will try as well - and if she goes with Dalera then nobody can beat her! Frederic (Wandres) has good points already and he will try to qualify too, but we will for sure try out best and we will see if we can make it!”

The Western European League action will resume at the London International Horse Show, with the Short Grand Prix taking place on Thursday 16 December followed by the points-deciding Freestyle on Friday 17 December.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result 

Standings

Patience pays off for talented young professional with Pepita Con Spita

Hunter Holloway (USA) knew she had a talented mount in the 10-year-old Westphalian mare Pepita Con Spita well before stepping her up to the World Cup level last month in October. But the 23-year-old professional was insistent upon waiting before she allowed her mare to make the next step in her career. In fact, it took six international grand prix victories in 2021 to convince her. The patience paid off, as it took just three World Cup starts for the pair to top the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Las Vegas (USA) at the South Point Arena, just minutes from the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

Holloway led an all-American, all-female podium in Vegas, finishing ahead of 21-year-old Natalie Dean (USA), who earned a third World Cup placing in as many starts aboard her own Chance Ste Hermelle. Laura Hite (USA) finished third after jumping the first clear round of her World Cup career aboard her longtime partner, Calypso van de Zuuthoeve.

"She's been a fantastic horse to bring along," Holloway said. "Hopefully she'll be a team horse for the future, so that's something we'll look forward toward. Building a relationship with her has been awesome. She's a sensitive type of mare that gets better and better with each class in each year."

Guilherme Jorge (BRA) designed the course for Saturday night's feature event in the South Point Arena, a most unique venue on the North American League in that the competition arena is located within the South Point Hotel. Rails fell throughout his winding track, which featured technical tests at every turn, particularly through the final line. The final 1.60m vertical fell for Conor Swail (IRL) and Vital Chance de la Roque, who kicked off the 2021/2022 NAL season with wins at Vancouver (CAN) and Sacramento (USA).

Six other combinations advanced to the shortened track, but clear rounds were still hard to come by. Holloway was the first to produce a double-clear effort, and she set a stiff standard at 37.77 seconds. Only Natalie Dean could replicate a second clear round, but she settled for second, more than three seconds (40.83 seconds) behind the winner. 

"That mare is super consistent going quick, and the faster she goes, the better she is," Holloway said. "So, I was always going to go for it. That was my plan from the start with her, to give it my best go."

From here, Holloway's focus is forward, and she continues on with the NAL with the confidence that her mare is fully prepared for bigger tests ahead.

"[The Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final] is something that we’re aiming for with that horse. She’s a perfect age for it, and she’s going to be really ready for it by then," Holloway said. "We’re excited to keep going with her and see how things shake out."

While Swail did not make the jump-off, his 11th place finish helped him regain his lead in the NAL standings with 43 points. Tiffany Foster (CAN) sits second with 42 points, while Dean moved into third with 41 points. The North American League continues in Fort Worth (USA) on 18 December 2021.

FULL RESULTS

STANDINGS

The number may be unlucky for some, but for the winners of the 13^th edition of the FEI Awards, tonight was definitely one to remember as the stars of equestrian sport were honoured in Antwerp (BEL).This year’s celebration also included the winners of the FEI Awards in 2020, which was celebrated virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Peder Fredricson (SWE) took the Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Award, adding to his already impressive trophy cabinet of Olympic and European Championship medals, as well as his number one spot on the Longines World Ranking that he took in October 2021 for the first time in his career.

Along with winning individual silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in August, his outstanding performances helped Sweden to its first Team Jumping Olympic gold medal in almost 100 years. The medal marked 29 years since Peder Fredricson made his Olympic debut at the age of 20 at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, when he was an accomplished Eventer and the youngest-ever Olympic equestrian athlete for Sweden.

The now 49-year-old, who was unable to attend tonight’s gala dinner in person, thanked sponsor Peden Bloodstock’s Managing Director Martin Atock and everyone who voted for him in a video address.

“I’m really proud and grateful for the Peden Best Athlete Award. It means a lot to me, my team, and all my owners,” Fredricson said. “Thank you very much to the FEI, to Longines for the beautiful watch and also to Peden Bloodstock for supporting the Award. I would like to thank all the people who voted for me too. I’m also very excited to be number one in the Longines Rankings. It’s a goal I’ve had for a couple of years.

“I always try to do my best and improve myself, my team and the horses, rather than beat anyone else. We all work really hard to keep the horses fit and healthy, to achieve these goals and win many medals along the way. I’m also very grateful to my horse owners who stand by me and provide me this good string of horses. Thank you very much!”

The evening saw 19-year-old Greta Busacker (GER) take home this year’s Longines FEI Rising Star Award and an elegant timepiece from the FEI’s Top Partner, Longines.

Individual and team champion at this year’s FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders, and bronze medallist at the 2021 German National Championships for Young Riders, Greta Busacker is quickly making a name for herself in the sport. Her win made the FEI Awards a decidedly family affair, with her mother and Eventing legend Ingrid Klimke a recipient of the 2019 and 2020 Peden Bloodstock FEI Best Athlete Awards.

“I’m very pleased to receive the Longines FEI Rising Star Award. Words can’t describe how honoured I feel because there are so many young talented riders out there,” she said. “They work as hard I do and I get to stand here. This is for my whole team, my family, my friends. Without them I’d be nothing.”

She also paid tribute to her horse, the 10-year old Oldenburg gelding Scrabble, with whom she has been competing since 2019. “With Scrabble, I’ve learned to be patient. When I stand in the starting box and the countdown is on, I know that I can trust him one hundred percent. He has such courage and never gives up. Our connection is such a strong bond. Thank you Scrabble!”

Longines’ Vice President Marketing Matthieu Baumgartner was present in Antwerp to present the Longines FEI Rising Star Award created to recognise young athletes between the ages of 14 and 21 who demonstrate outstanding equestrian sporting talent.

“Young athletes like Greta are the future of equestrian sports and we are delighted and honoured to play a part in what we know will be a long and accomplished career,” he said.

“Longines presents an award which celebrates young talent, while telling their story of determination and passion for a sport. These young stars are the future of equestrian sports and we hope that they will continue to inspire budding equestrians around the world for many years to come.”

It was definitely Sweden’s night as Marie Johansson took the Cavalor FEI Best Groom Award, in recognition of her hard work and dedication in looking after Dressage athlete Patrik Kittel’s horses. Patrik and his wife Lyndal Oatley were on-hand to celebrate Marie Johansson’s win.

The award, presented by Cavalor Founder and Managing Director Peter Bollen, is given each year to grooms working behind the scenes to provide the best possible care for their equine athletes. The Longines’ Vice President Marketing presented an elegant timepiece to the winner for her outstanding achievement.

“This award means everything to me”, she said. “It’s amazing that we grooms can also be a part of this gala. I’m so happy about all the people who voted for me, it’s such a big thing. I’m super happy and super proud! Really!”

The 2021 FEI Solidarity Award went to China’s Equuleus Charity, which aims to support young, underprivileged students to reach their equestrian dream while successfully completing their academic studies.

Presented by FEI President Ingmar De Vos, Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee, the award is given each year to an equestrian development project or an individual or organisation that has demonstrated skill, dedication and energy in expanding equestrian sport.

“I would like to thank, first of all, the FEI and FEI Solidarity who really care about what people do,” Founder and CEO Michelle Wang Qiang said. “I would like to thank the Chinese Equestrian Association, who support colleges, students, and our charity and I would like to thank our partner foundations and also Alex Hua Tin and his mother Sarah Noble.”

To celebrate the FEI Awards and pay tribute to China’s time-honoured tradition of valuing and cherishing horses, Michelle Wang Qiang has written, in calligraphy, an iconic text on how to identify an exceptional horse by eighth century Tang Dynasty scholar, poet and government official Han Yu. She has dedicated her calligraphy work to the FEI Awards Ceremony.

Taking the FEI Against All Odds Award was Beatrice de Lavalette (USA), who lost both legs in the March 2016 terrorist attack at the Zaventem Airport in Brussels (BEL) and went on to make her first Paralympic debut in Tokyo earlier this year in the sport of Para Dressage.

The Award, which is given to someone who has pursued their equestrian ambitions despite a physical handicap or extremely difficult personal circumstances, was presented by FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez and President of the Belgian Paralympic Committee Anne d'Ieteren. To further recognise Beatrice de Lavalette’s accomplishment, the Longines’ Vice President Marketing rewarded the winner with a refined timepiece.

“The Against All Odds Award means everything”, Beatrice de Lavalette said. “The FEI stands for the highest standard of competition I can achieve, so being recognised by them is awesome and a true honour. It shows me that everything I have done these five or six years has been seen and people have realised how big it really is.”

“As a result of the attack, I lost a part of myself and my freedom. It took me a while to get through my sadness of losing my legs, losing my ability to walk, and waking up in a completely different life. Every time I get on a horse, I gain my freedom back. I get to ride a horse almost as everybody else. I get to ride a horse pretty damn well. I love doing it. Experimenting and doing different things with the horses gives a sense of power that I often lose being in a chair. So having that sense of freedom and that power back means everything.

This year’s winners were decided by combining 50% of the public votes cast on FEI.org and on the Chinese social media platform WeChat, and 50% of the judges’ votes.

More than 300 distinguished guests, including local sporting legends, National Federations, FEI partners and stakeholders attended the 13^th FEI Awards, with equestrian commentator Steven Wilde (GBR) acting as Master of Ceremonies. Also present in Antwerp were all of the 2020 Award winners from 2020 - Ingrid Klimke, Semmieke Rothenberger, Carmen Thiemann, Angelika Trabert, Ebony Horse Club and - who were invited to join in the celebration following the cancellation of last year’s ceremony due to the pandemic.

“This is the first time since 2019 that we have been able to celebrate the stars of our sport in person,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said. “The global pandemic and the EHV-1 outbreak have been very tough on our industry, and I am pleased that we had the opportunity to bring together the community to celebrate these achievements tonight.

“This edition of the FEI Awards is special for me, not just because it is being held in a city close to my home in Belgium, but also because it is the FEI’s Centennial year. These Awards, and the high calibre of nominees every year, continue to be a testament to the growth of our sport and gives us great hope for the future.”

Pictured (left to right): Longines FEI Rising Star Greta Busacker (GER), Cavalor FEI Best Groom Marie Johansson (SWE), Longines’ Vice President Marketing Matthieu Baumgartner, FEI Against All Odds Beatrice de Lavalette (USA), Founder and CEO Michelle Wang Qiang Equuleus Charity and winner of the FEI Solidarity Award. Photo credit: FEI/Dirk Caremans

 

 

 

The Olympic and Paralympic qualification systems for Paris 2024 were the key topics for discussion at the Rules and Regulations session today, with the FEI President calling on the community to work together to safeguard the future of equestrian sport in the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.

Opening the Session, President Ingmar De Vos provided an overview of the comprehensive consultation process on the Paris 2024 qualification systems, which is still ongoing, and the IOC timelines.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set a December 2021 deadline for all sports to submit their Qualification systems for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Due to the postponement of Tokyo 2020, the normal consultation process with the National Federations had to be shortened.

Approval of the Olympic formats will take place at the in-person IOC Executive Board at the beginning of February 2022. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) will publish the approved qualification systems for all sports, including Para Dressage in early 2022.

The FEI President informed delegates that a comprehensive consultation process on the Olympic Regulations and Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) will begin after the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021. The process will include a dedicated session at the FEI Sports Forum in April, the normal consultation process on the documents produced by the Technical Committees and further discussion at the General Assembly 2022 Rules Session prior to voting.

The MERs, which will be reviewed, will be an important element of the Rules Revision. Para Dressage MERs are already included in the Qualification Systems as the qualification period starts on 1 January 2022.

Also under discussion will be field-of-play decisions, the allocation of regional qualifying events and redistribution of unused quota places. The FEI President underscored that the proposed formats with teams of three, if approved by the General Assembly, will only apply to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and not FEI Championships, Games or Finals.

When the President opened the meeting to points from the floor, the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) representatives presented a last-minute EEF proposal on alternative qualification pathways, based on both teams of four and teams of three.

The proposal called for more emphasis on World Championships and the FEI Nations Cup™ Series as qualification pathways across the three disciplines, rather than Regional Championships.

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez raised concerns that the proposal does not meet the IOC’s Olympic Qualification system principles, which include providing more than one opportunity for athletes/teams to qualify, fair and equal opportunities to qualify which do not necessitate expensive or extensive travel, and ensuring continental representation.

FEI Regional Group VIII Chair Jack Huang (TPE) stated that lack of preparation in the lead-up to the Games due to lockdowns around the world during the global Covid-19 pandemic could explain some less than optimal performances, but this would be eliminated by strengthening of the MERs for Paris 2024.

United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Director of Sport Will Connell called for longer term thinking on the Olympic formats that goes beyond Paris 2024, to include Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. “We need to play the long game,” he said.

The FEI President agreed that, as the Olympic Regulations for Paris 2024 would be included in the FEI Sport Forum next year, qualification systems and formats for Los Angeles 2028 should feature in the 2023 FEI Sports forum.

Delegates, both in-person and online, were given the opportunity to speak. Interventions from the floor came from the Russian Federation, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Eurasian Federation, South Africa, Pan-American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC), Denmark, France, Canada, Cote d’Ivoire. There were also comments received online from the Philippines, Botswana, Hong Kong and Sweden, with the latter three countries expressing their support for a continuation of teams of three at the Olympic Games.

The FEI President confirmed to delegates that there would be a preliminary vote on teams of three or four prior to a vote on the qualification system.

After the discussion on the Olympic Regulations, the Session then moved on to clarifications on the proposed modifications to the FEI Statutes, General and Internal Regulations, Discipline Rules and the FEI Veterinary Regulations. There was also an update on Biosecurity requirements at FEI Events and use of the FEI HorseApp.

All proposed Rules amendments will be voted on at the FEI Hybrid General Assembly on 17 November 2021 and updated on Inside.FEI.org here in due course.

The FEI Hybrid General Assembly commences at 09:00 CET and will be available to watch on livestream here.

 

Photo caption: Paris 2024 qualification systems dominated the Rules Session discussions at the FEI Hybrid General Assembly today. (Photo credit: FEI/Dirk Caremans)

 

Host cities for key Youth Championships and Finals have been finalised for 2022 and 2023, with allocations agreed by the FEI Board at its in person meeting as part of the FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Antwerp (BEL) on Sunday.

Following the restart of the FEI Jumping Children’s Classics in 2021, the FEI Board awarded next year’s Final to Guadalajara (MEX). The Final will be held from 17-20 February 2022.

Le Mans (FRA) will host the FEI Jumping, Dressage and Eventing European Championships for Ponies from 27-30 July 2023.

The Board allocated the FEI Dressage European Championship for Juniors and Children to Kronberg (GER), 20-23 July 2023, and the FEI Driving World Championships For Ponies Four In Hand/Pairs/Singles to Oirschot (NED), 23-27 August or 30 August to 3 September 2023.

“It is such a pleasure to see the calendar for Youth Championships over the next few years taking shape,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“Youth events are so important for the growth of our sport and an opportunity for the next generation of equestrian stars to build up the mental acuity, stamina and drive that will take them to the next stage of their sporting careers. That we have such experienced organisers coming forward to hold these events is a sign that the community is committed to the future growth and development of our sport.”

Youth development is a key focus of the FEI’s work. In addition to the events allocated today, in 2022 the equestrian community will also see the FEI Youth Equestrian Games in Aachen and the FEI Dressage European U25 Championship to Pilisjàszfallu (HUN).

Following the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to postpone the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2022 in Dakar (SEN) until 2026, the FEI sought IOC agreement for a replacement competition. The FEI Youth Equestrian Games Aachen 2022, which will be held from 28 June to 3 July 2022, will give young athletes aged 14-18 the opportunity to participate in a global competition based on the unique YOG format.

The FEI Youth Equestrian Games will see 30 athletes from 30 nations across six continents participating in a continental team competition and an individual competition.

“It was important for the FEI to find a replacement to the Youth Olympic Games as I did not want to deprive a whole youth generation of the Olympic dream, after all this is the event which launched the careers of equestrian stars of today, like Switzerland’s multi-medalled Swiss athlete Martin Fuchs,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos explained.

“The youth are our future and we need to safeguard their development and find ways of keeping them engaged in equestrian sport so that new generations of athletes continue to be inspired to make the Olympic Games their goal.”

Based on the IOC YOG Programme, the FEI Youth Equestrian Games Aachen 2022 will also host a Culture and Education Programme (CEP). This will run alongside the sports fixtures and focuses on the five themes of Olympism, Social Responsibility, Skills Development, Expression & Well-Being, and Healthy Lifestyles.

A full wrap-up of today’s FEI Board meeting is available here. Images of the FEI Hybrid General Assembly can be found on the FEI Flickr account.

 

Photo Caption: FEI President Ingmar De Vos (center) addresses the FEI Board at its first meeting of the FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Antwerp (BEL). Also pictured (from left) FEI Vice President Jack Huang (TPE), FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez (SUI), FEI Vice President Mark Samuel (CAN), FEI Athletes’ Committee Chair Maria Gretzer (SWE). (Photo credit: FEI/Dirk Caremans)

The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in an equine anti-doping case involving a Banned Substance.

In this case, the horse Easy Boy 23 (FEI ID 105AF89 /ESA), owned by Andrea Alvaro (FEI ID 10114776/ARG), tested positive for the Banned Substances Boldenone, Boldienone and Boldenone Undecylenate, following samples taken at the CSIO4* Wellington (USA), on 25 February to 1 March 2020.

The owner admitted having administered the product Anabolde to the horse, containing the Banned Substance Boldenone Undecylenate, which is prohibited at all times. She consequently admitted the violation.

The owner accepted a six months reduction of the ineligibility period. Consequently, in its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal imposed an 18-month ineligibility period on the owner, starting the date of the decision (3 November 2021). She was also fined CHF 5,000.

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

The full Decision is available here. 

The brilliant little Hermes Ryan showed horses half his age how it should be done when galloping to victory for Simon Delestre this afternoon in the third leg of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2021/2022 Western European League series at Verona in Italy. The 16-year-old gelding has provided the 40-year-old Frenchman with some of the greatest moments in his career. And today’s success ranks up there with the best of them. 

“It is amazing that he can win again here at his age! I have been so lucky to have him with me for all these years, and I will not have another horse like him again!”, said an emotional Delestre this evening.

From a starting field of 39 there were 13 qualified for the second-round jump-off, and when The Netherlands’ Willem Greve withdrew Grandorado TN then twelve battled it out against the clock in the race for those precious points towards qualification for the series Final in Leipzig, Germany next April. Few could have expected the drama that would ensue however.

Target

British veteran, John Whitaker, was first out in the second round with Unick du Francport who clipped the vertical second fence in an otherwise foot-perfect run to set the target at four faults in 40.47 seconds. But Germany’s Kendra Claricia Brinkop and her 11-year-old mare Kastelle Memo shaved almost three seconds off that with a fearless clear run that stopped the clock in 37.80 when next to go. And that would prove tough to beat.

Sweden’s Jens Fredricson and Markan Cosmopolit then cruised home in 40.73 but, fourth into the ring, Britain’s Emily Moffitt was eliminated when an awkward approach to the second fence saw her 12-year-old gelding, Winning Good, grind to a halt and unseat his rider. Then Finland’s Noora Forsten set off with Con Cava who ducked out at a fence later on the track, and they came home with six faults on the board before Carlos Lopez and Admara took their turn.

The 56-year-old Colombian and the ultra-experienced 16-year-old gelding who carried him to individual fifth place at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2018 looked set to take a stride out to that vertical second fence but, missing their distance, they came tumbling down on the landing side. While Admara quickly picked himself up and cantered away, Lopez received medical attention before being taken to Verona’s Borgo Trento Hospital with a suspected shoulder injury.

Temporarily

When the action resumed, Germany’s Christian Kukuk brought his grey gelding, Checker, through the finish with a clear round in 39.08 to slot temporarily into runner-up spot behind Brinkop. And that didn’t change when America’s Jessica Springsteen and the horse that carried her to Olympic team silver in Tokyo this summer. the fabulous Don Juan van de Donkhoeve, put in what would be the quickest time when racing through the finish in 36.83 seconds only to leave the very last fence on the floor.

Then both Italy’s Lorenzo de Luca with F One USA and Belgium’s Niels Brynseels and the fiery mare Frenchy VDS left one on the ground before Delestre set off with his little flying machine.

Hermes Ryan doesn’t know he’s a lot smaller than the rest, and as Delestre said this evening “he’s such a fighter!” Setting off with his characteristic determination and enthusiasm the little French-bred dynamo just flew around the nine-fence track and raced through the finish in 37.32 seconds to go way out in front. Ireland’s Denis Lynch and GC Chopin’s Bushi followed with a solid last-to-go round in 38.62, good enough for third place behind Brinkop in second and Delestre at the top of the order. The Frenchman was very happy with his great result. 

On the podium

“Ryan has won or was on the podium of most of the big Grand Prix competitions around the world and it feels so good to win here again six years after the last time, and to have him in such good shape!”, said the rider who also won the Italian leg of the series with Ryan back in 2015. Uliano Vezzani’s course suited a shorter-striding horse as he pointed out. “The jump-off was good for him, all the distances were perfect - where all the other horses had to slow down I could just go, and this was a big advantage today!”, he explained.

The talented and ambitious Brinkop had mixed feelings about finishing second. “This is my first time in Verona and also my first year doing the World Cup shows and I am very happy today, but also a little disappointed that I didn’t win!”, said the 26-year-old who looks to have a spectacular career ahead of her. 

She will have plenty more opportunities to show how good she can be during the remainder of the 11-leg Western European League which continues with round four in Madrid, Spain in three weeks’ time.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat….

Result here 

Standings here