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Proposed solutions that would secure the future of the European equine industry through safe and expedited horse movement between EU Member States and Britain following the UK’s departure from the EU, have been sent to Michel Barnier, the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UKTF) and to Lord Frost, the British Prime Minister's Europe Adviser and Chief Negotiator of Task Force Europe.
The proposals, which cover equilibrium in equine health status between the EU and Britain, digital passports to facilitate seamless international transport of guaranteed high-health status horses and zero tariffs for cross-border movement, are outlined in a comprehensive 14-page dossier produced by the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) Task Force for Brexit and EU Animal Health Law, a collaboration of the key European Sport Horse and Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding industries.
The six-member task force was formed earlier this year by the IHSC, constituted jointly by the global governing bodies for equestrian sport and racing, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) in 2013.
The IHSC, together with the International Thoroughbred Breeders’ Federation, European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders Associations and the European Equestrian Federation, has proposed simple and workable solutions that will ensure horse welfare and safeguard both European and British interests.
High health horses in Britain have the same health status as those in EU Member States and the task force is requesting that a trade agreement between the EU and Britain should reflect this fact.
Zero tariffs are already in place, and the task force is requesting that they be maintained, with the scheme being extended to geldings. Currently only stallions and mares are eligible for tariff-free cross-border transport.
Digital passports would provide EU Competent Authorities with full traceability and sanitary guarantees, offering immediate, 24/7 access to secure fail-safe identification and ownership information, as well as real-time monitoring of a horse’s movements.
The high health status of each horse can be instantly validated through access to up-to-date vaccination and medical records, allowing for a higher level of monitoring and prevention of potential disease outbreaks in line with the biosecurity requirements of the EU Animal Health Law, thus facilitating speedy transit for these horses. The digital equine passports can also be adopted for use between EU Member States and A-listed 3rd countries.
If approved, the e-Passport would have no financial implications for the EU as costs around final development, implementation and running of the system will be met by the equine industry.
Using a two-pronged approach, the task force is seeking to have its proposals captured in the text of both the Trade Agreement and in the EU Animal Health Law, which comes into force on 21 April 2021.
Should a trade agreement with Britain not be reached, the task force is asking the EU to declare an equilibrium of health status for A-listed 3rd countries. The proposals also include regional agreements on the bio-secure traceable movement of high health horses signed between neighbouring EU Member States. A Tripartite Agreement previously existed between France, Britain and Ireland, and there is currently an agreement between France and the Benelux countries.
“The equine industry is of crucial importance to the economic, social, sporting and cultural fabric of both the European Union and the United Kingdom, and as representatives from all sectors of that industry, we believe that there are simple solutions that can guarantee a secure future for the European equine industry”, IHSC President Ingmar De Vos said.
“It is one of the most important animal breeding and production sectors in Europe, larger and with greater economic impact and employment than a number of other European agricultural sectors, with a net worth of over €52 billion per annum, providing 210,000 direct and more than 500,000 indirect jobs.
“Our goal is to reach an agreement that will allow for a continuation of the historical expedited movement of horses for breeding, sale and competition between EU Member States and Britain. While there are some sectors currently under discussion that seem to remain difficult in the negotiations, we believe that there are simple solutions within the equine industry that can be readily included in a Free Trade Agreement. Indeed, they are also workable even in a no deal scenario.
“We are asking the negotiators on both sides of the table to take our proposals on board and incorporate them into the texts of the Trade Agreement, if there is one, and the EU to include them in the incoming EU Animal Health Law, which comes into effect next April.
“Without agreement on this, we estimate that the industry in Europe could shrink by as much as a third, with a potential €17 billion reduction in economic contribution, and the potential loss of 250,000 jobs in a marketplace already threatened with critical unemployment levels and a significant reduction in foreign direct investment in the European Union as the economic focus shifts to North America and Asia. So failure is not an option!”
European Task Force for Brexit and EU Animal Health Law
Chaired by FEI Veterinary Director, Dr Göran Akerström, the European Task Force for Brexit and EU Animal Health Law also includes Simon Cooper, Vice Chairman International Stud Book Committee and Director of the General Stud Book (Weatherbys); Paul-Marie Gadot, Veterinary Advisor to France Galop and the IFHA; Des Leadon, European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations Veterinary Committee Chairman; Brian Kavanagh, Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, IFHA Vice Chairman and European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation Chairman; and Ronan Murphy, European Equestrian Federation EU Committee member.
International Horse Sports Confederation
The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), world governing body for horse sport, and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), joined forces in 2013 to create the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC), the first formal vehicle for co-operation between the world’s leading governing bodies for equestrian sport. The key mission of the IHSC is to encourage cooperation and the exchange of information on all matters of mutual interest between the IFHA and the FEI, as well as representing the collective interests of the horse industry with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and other international bodies.
The FEI Driving World Championships, due to be held behind closed doors in Valkenswaard (NED) from 7-11 October, have been cancelled due to increased case numbers of Covid-19 in the Netherlands. The decision to cancel the Championships, which were for four-in-hand horse teams, was made by the City of Valkenswaard today.
“It is devastating that the FEI Driving World Championships at Valkenswaard have had to be cancelled at the last minute, as everyone involved has put in so much effort to try and make them happen”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “but sadly the new Government restrictions in the Netherlands make it impossible for the Championships to go ahead next week.
“The start list for the Championships was looking very strong in such a challenging year for our sport, with 13 nations lined up to take part, including eight with full teams, but it is clear that health considerations have to take priority.
“We have done everything possible to hold these Championships, including looking at a possible alternative venue in Germany, and we are very grateful for the proposal we received, but regrettably it is simply not feasible given the short timeframe, ongoing concerns around Covid-19 and restrictions imposed by the authorities.”
The United States of America, which won gold on home ground at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2018 in Tryon (USA), was not going to be defending its team title as they had just one driver heading for Valkenswaard, but Australia’s Boyd Exell, who took the individual title on the final day in North Carolina two years ago, was aiming to defend his crown.
Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands and Poland were all due to send teams to the Championships, while Austria, Romania, Switzerland, Uruguay and the USA were the five nations sending individuals.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving two Prohibited Substances.
The case involves the horse Leslie O’Nil (FEI ID 105PA88/FRA), ridden by Ludovic Saroul (FEI ID 10014413/FRA). Samples taken from the horse at the CEI2* 120 in Al Ula (KSA) on 2 February 2019 tested positive for the Banned Substances Mephentermine and Oxetacaine.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal accepted the agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete. The FEI Tribunal took note that the FEI accepted that the athlete bore no significant fault or negligence for the rule violation, as he was able to establish how the Prohibited Substances entered the horse’s system.
As a result, the period of ineligibility was set at 18 months, starting from the date of the FEI Tribunal Final Decision (10 September 2020). The provisional suspension (effective from 11 March 2019) was credited against the full suspension, meaning that the athlete was ineligible until 10 September 2020.
The results of the athlete and horse at the event were disqualified and the athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 1,500. Each of the parties will bear its own legal costs.
The FEI Tribunal Final Decision can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the Final Decision.
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 those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) 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.
Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
The FEI Board has suspended the National Federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a detailed investigation into the circumstances around two National Endurance Events (CEN) in January and February 2020 - the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and The President's Cup – that should have been held as International Endurance Events (CEIs) as the number of foreign athletes far exceeded the quota permitted for National Events.
Under Article 101 of the FEI General Regulations, National Events must be limited to no more than four National Federations (NF) and/or more than 15 foreign Athletes aside from “Athletes living outside their country of nationality” (Article 119.6 of the FEI General Regulations). However, in this particular case, the investigation led by Bird & Bird LLP, found that a total of 93 foreign Athletes from 24 different NFs participated in the 2020 Sheikh Mohammed Cup and total of 88 foreign Athletes from 21 different NFs participated in the 2020 President's Cup.
The FEI Board met via videoconference on 16 September to hear presentations from Bird & Bird and the UAE NF legal representatives. Legal counsel from both parties responded to questions from the FEI Board prior to the Board Members reaching their in-principle decision, which has been formally notified to the UAE NF on 24 September 2020.
The Board concluded that the UAE NF had violated the FEI Rules, in particular, Articles 101, 109.2 and 100.7.2 of the FEI General Regulations and Article 2.8 of the FEI Statutes (see Notes to Editors below). In the case of the Sheikh Mohammed Cup, the violations were deemed intentional, and in the case of the President’s Cup, the violations were considered at the very least negligent. The Board also concluded that the reason for re-classifying the events as CENs was to avoid the application of the new FEI Endurance Rules that were scheduled to take effect as of 1 January 2020.
Given the serious nature of the rule violations, the FEI Board unanimously agreed that a significant sanction was required and in accordance with Article 8.3 of the FEI Statutes, the UAE NF will be suspended with effect from 24 September 2020 as follows:
The suspension also affects any events (including national Events) in the UAE, which become “Unsanctioned Events” during the suspension period and any FEI Athlete, Horse or Official participating will be liable to a period of ineligibility of up to six months in accordance with Articles 113.4 and 155.7 of the FEI General Regulations.
The Board also imposed a financial sanction on the Organisers, requiring them to pay a percentage of the prize money – 50% for the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and 10% for The President’s Cup - as well as the organising dues that would have been payable to the FEI had the Events been held as CEIs. The Board also decided that the UAE NF must pay the FEI’s legal fees. The suspensions imposed on the UAE NF will remain in place until all financial sanctions have been paid in full to the FEI, as per Article 164.5 of the FEI General Regulations.
“The decision to suspend the UAE National Federation was not taken lightly, but it reflects our commitment to good governance, integrity and horse welfare”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“Regrettably we were forced to suspend the UAE Federation in 2015 following an investigation into Endurance horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations. It is extremely disheartening that we are tackling similar issues in 2020 and that we have had to revert to the suspension of the National Federation. However, the UAE National Federation’s clear intent to avoid the application of the new Rules at the biggest events in their calendar was reflected in their actions around these two events and, as a community, we cannot allow individual NFs to apply the rules only as and when it suits them.
“It is my sincere hope that this suspension will drive change within the Federation and give rise to a new era for Endurance in the UAE equestrian community.”
The UAE National Federation was notified of the decision by the FEI on 24 September 2020 and has 21 days to appeal the decision to the FEI Tribunal.
Notes to Editors:
Please refer to the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Rules & Regulations
Article 2.8 of the FEI Statutes states:
It is a condition of membership that National Federations comply with, and are bound by the FEI Rules and Regulations including but not limited to the Statutes, General Regulations, Sport Rules (which include the FEI Human and Equine Anti-Doping Rules) and any Decision issued by the authorised bodies of the FEI in relation to the conduct of international equestrian Events, all of which shall also bind Organising Committees, Officials, Horse Owners, Persons Responsible, Athletes, team officials and other individuals and bodies involved in FEI Events.
In addition, by virtue of accepting an accreditation to an FEI Event, such person agrees to be bound by the FEI Rules and Regulations. National Federations are granted an exclusive license to use, modify, print and distribute as appropriate the documents referred to in this Article, which are FEI property, for the purpose of regulating Equestrian Sport within their national territory.
Article 100.7.2 of the FEI General Regulations states:
To ensure that all clubs and societies affiliated to NFs and all OCs abide by the GRs and Sport Rules when organising International Events or Competitions.
Article 101.1 of the FEI General Regulations states:
A National Event (CN) is limited to national Athletes who shall take part according to the regulations of their NF. Foreign Athletes may only take part, subject to the appropriate laws if applicable, as specified under paragraphs 2 and 3 below or under Article 119.
Article 101.3 of the FEI General Regulations states:
3.1 Not counting "Athletes Living Outside their Country of Nationality" (Article 119.6), a CN with more than 4 NFs and/or more than fifteen (15) foreign Athletes is allowed if it would be within the requirements of a CIM. If a CN under such conditions takes place, there will be no ranking or qualification points earned.
3.2 Any other CN with more than four (4) NFs and/or more than fifteen (15) foreign Athletes (not counting "Athletes Living Outside their Country of Nationality" as per Article 119.6) is not allowed [the Foreign Athlete Quota]. If a CN under such conditions takes place, there will be no ranking or qualification points earned. Furthermore, after consultation with the NF, the OC can be subject to further sanctions and eventually to a fine in an amount commensurate with the violation and taking into account the circumstances of the violation and possibly up to the total prize-money paid out at such Event, if any.
Article 109.2 of the FEI General Regulations states:
International Competitions may never be held under national rules.
Articles 113.4 of the FEI General Regulations states:
An Athlete and/or Horse, even if registered with the FEI, is not eligible to participate in an International Event or National Event (and so may not be invited by an OC to such Event or entered by an NF in such Event) if that Athlete and/or Horse has participated, in the six (6) months prior to the first day of the International Event or National Event in question, in an Unsanctioned Event.
Articles 155.7 of the FEI General Regulations states:
An Official is not eligible to participate in an International Event or National Event (and so may not be invited or nominated to participate in such event) if he/she has participated, in the six (6) months prior to the first day of the International Event or National Event in question, in an Unsanctioned Event.
All FEI Rules & Regulations can be found here.
FEI Board
The FEI Board is made up of the President, Ingmar De Vos (BEL); Vice President and Chair of the FEI Regional Group VIII, Jack C. Huang (TPE); Vice President and Chair Group IV, Mark Samuel (CAN); Chair of Group VII, Sami Al Duhami (KSA); Chair of Group V, Carmen Barrera (ESA); Chair of Group IX, Mary Binks (KEN); Chair of the Jumping Committee, Stephan Ellenbruch (GER); Chair of the Driving Committee, Karoly Fugli (HUN); Chair of Group VI, Luiz Roberto Giugni (BRA); Chair of the Athletes’ Committee, Maria Gretzer (SWE); Chair of the Veterinary Committee, Jenny Hall (GBR); Chair of the Dressage Committee, Frank Kemperman (NED); Chair of the Audit & Compliance Committee, Brian Mangan (IRL); Chair of the Eventing Committee, David O’Connor (USA); Vice President EEF Group Armagan Özgörkey (TUR); President EEF Group, Theo Ploegmakers (NED); Chair of Group III, Marina Sechina (RUS) and Chair of the Endurance Committee, currently filled by Dr Sarah Coombs (GBR), Chair of the Endurance Temporary Committee.
The FEI will make close to CHF 3 million available in development funding through FEI Solidarity, including just over CHF 1 million through the newly created FEI Covid-19 Relief Fund for National Federations that have been severely impacted by the ongoing pandemic.
The new Relief Fund was approved by the FEI Board at its online meeting on 10 September. Allocation of funds to over 40 National Federation projects in 23 countries and other development initiatives go forward for approval at the FEI General Assembly 2020, which will be hosted online in November.
A total of 105 of the 137 National Federations have been identified as eligible for support from the Covid-19 Relief Fund, which will provide targeted financial assistance to boost grass roots equestrian activities at riding clubs and schools, particularly the care and upkeep of horses.
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact globally, and a major adverse effect on the equestrian world in general but some countries, especially those that had fewer economic resources to begin with, have been hit particularly hard,” FEI President and Chair of the FEI Solidarity Committee Ingmar De Vos said.
“The Covid-19 Relief Fund will provide a financial injection aimed at maintaining equestrian activities in these countries and we hope that it will allow these communities to withstand the current economic difficulties created by the pandemic.
“The FEI has had to undertake cost saving measures across the board, but without impacting essential services to our community. While this has meant the cancellation or postponement of what we have identified as ‘non-essential’ projects, that has not affected FEI Solidarity, which makes funds available so that we can provide support to those most in need, particularly in the Covid-19 era.
“We want our community to know that we are constantly listening and monitoring their needs and that we are committed to assisting them during this difficult time.”
The FEI Covid-19 Relief Fund was initially presented by the FEI President to the FEI Solidarity Committee during its annual meeting in early September and will be funded by the FEI Solidarity reserves that have been built up in recent years.
During their meeting, the Committee also agreed to make available emergency funding for Lebanon to assist the country’s recovery from the devastating explosion in Beirut at the beginning of August. The funds will be provided to the National Federation of Lebanon to provide vital support to ensure horse welfare.
The FEI Solidarity Committee also awarded the first FEI Gender Equality Grant to the National Federation of Costa Rica, following a bid process open to all National Federations, to support the organisation of courses promoting female participation and development at all levels of the sport in Latin America.
The grant of CHF 20,000 was created to promote and encourage gender equality in equestrian sport around the world and will be awarded annually to one National Federation project or programme with the aim of promoting gender equality on or off the field of play. This includes, but is not limited to, programmes relating to governance and administration, the growth of athlete participation or the development of skills for coaches, officials, grooms and farriers.
“We’re fully committed to providing our members with the tools and resources that will help to develop our sport, and promote the values which are at the heart of our community. Gender equality is inherent in our competition structure and we are dedicated to ensure that this is replicated at all levels of management throughout the industry”, Ingmar De Vos said.
“Now, more than ever, we need to stay positive and take concrete action that will assure our long term future. We’re at a crunch point and it is important for us to work together to ensure our collective well-being in the future.”
About FEI Solidarity
Launched in 2011 by former FEI President HRH Princess Haya, FEI Solidarity promotes and develops equestrian culture and sport worldwide in a sustainable and structured way, working directly with the FEI’s member National Federations and recognised Continental Associations by providing the tools, the knowledge and the infrastructure required to develop the sport and nurture talent from grassroots to the world stage.
FEI Solidarity support is focussed on four key pillars of activity (National Federation, Athlete, Coach and Values) with specific programmes available in each of the pillars in order to best target and fulfil specific development needs. For more information visit the FEI Solidarity Hub on InsideFEI.org.
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, Vaulting and Reining.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decisions in two cases involving Prohibited Substances.
The first case involves the horse Captain Future 3 (FEI ID 104OK61/AUT), ridden by Felix Koller (FEI ID 10067976/AUT). Samples taken from the horse at the CSIO5*- NC EUD1 in St. Gallen (SUI), 30 May to 2 June 2019, tested positive for the Banned Substance Diisopropylamine.
In its Final Decision dated 18 August 2020, the FEI Tribunal accepted the agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete. It was found that the team veterinarian most likely injected the horse at the event. The FEI Tribunal took note that the FEI accepted that the athlete bore No Significant Fault or Negligence for the rule violation. Therefore, the standard two-year applicable period of ineligibility was reduced to one year, with the provisional suspension (effective from 7 August 2019) credited against the full suspension, meaning that the athlete was ineligible until 6 August 2020. The results of the athlete and horse at the event were disqualified and the athlete was ordered to pay a fine of CHF 1,500. Each of the parties will bear its own legal costs.
The second case involves the horse Gelo Delle Schiave (FEI ID 104RW65/ITA), ridden by Pierluigi Sangiorgi (FEI ID 10025969/ITA). Samples taken from the horse at the CDI-W in Lipica (SLO), 24-26 May 2019, tested positive for the Banned Substance Aripiprazole.
The FEI Tribunal, in its Final Decision dated 26 August 2020, ruled that the athlete bore No Fault or Negligence for the Rule violation, as he was able to establish that the Prohibited Substance entered the horse’s system through the ingestion of straw bedding that was contaminated through urination by the support personnel. The standard two-year applicable period of ineligibility was therefore eliminated. The results of the athlete and horse at the event were disqualified. Each party will bear its own legal costs.
The Final Tribunal Decisions can be found here.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the Final Decisions.
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 those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) 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.
**Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances which are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
A fabulous Freestyle finale brought the third and last week of the FEI Dressage European Youth Championships 2020 drew to a close at Pilisjàszfalu in Hungary today, with Germany’s Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel the runaway star of the Pony Championships having bagged three gold medals.
Teams
A total of 51 combinations started in the Pony Team test in which Baumgürtel was joined by Antonia Roth, Shona Benner and Rose Oatley to take the title. A final scoreline of 232.771 gave them more than a 10-point advantage over the silver medallists from Denmark who pinned The Netherlands into bronze by less than a single percentage point.
From a field of 11 nations, Belgium finished fourth ahead of Austria, Poland, Ireland, Finland, France, Czech Republic and Italy in that order.
A great pathfinding score of 75.971 was posted by 14-year-old Roth partnering the nine-year-old stallion Daily Pleasure WE. And when 16-year-old Benner and Der Kleine Sunnyboy WE, Team and Freestyle bronze medallists at the 2019 championships in Strzegom (POL), put 75.886 on the board then Germany was already out in front on Wednesday with two riders still to go.
Youngest team member 13-year-old Oatley and her 10-year-old palomino pony Daddy Moon then raised the bar on Thursday morning when scoring 76.743. So when 16-year-old Baumgürtel posted a massive 80.057 then German gold was safely secured.
After the first day The Netherlands lay in silver medal spot ahead of Belgium in bronze, but the fourth-placed Danes eventually overtook the Dutch which pushed the Belgians off the medal podium. Scores of 76.743 and 75.228 from Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen (Adriano B) and Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen (D’Artagnan) really lifted the Danish effort, while the pure consistency of the Dutch side, and a smart mark of 75.314 from anchor Lara van Nek (Baumann’s Despino NRW), bagged the bronze.
Individual
It was a German one-two-three after Friday’s first stage of the Individual competition, with Baumgürtel once again leading the pack after posting a spectacular new record score. Great Britain’s Phoebe Peters set the previous European Pony Individual record at 81.39 at Malmo (SWE) in 2015 where she won triple gold, but Baumgürtel blew that out of the water when awarded 82.351.
And then she had to sit back and wait to see if anyone else could improve on that. In the end her victory was clear-cut, as none of her rivals earned over 80 percent.
When the Individual competition resumed yesterday her compatriots, Roth and Oatley, were holding silver and bronze, the former posting 77.297 and the latter, daughter of Australian Olympian Kristy Oatley, putting 76.649 on the board for a test filled with glorious trot extensions but hampered by mistakes towards the end.
In the team event Oatley’s score had been matched by silver medallist Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen from Denmark. And when the Dane and the charming gelding Adriano B, gold medallist for Alexander Yde Helgstrand last summer, produced a lovely performance yesterday their mark of 79.000 ensured it wouldn’t be an all-German podium as they slotted in behind Baumgürtel and pushed Oatley off the podium.
Haul
Baumgürtel’s haul of European medals already included Team and Freestyle gold at Vilhelmsborg (DEN) in 2016, Team bronze and Freestyle gold at Kaposvar (HUN) in 2017 and Team gold at Bishops Burton (GBR) in 2018. She intended competing at the Junior Europeans last summer but it didn’t happen when her horse was injured. So she decided to return to Ponies in her final year of eligibility, and she has enjoyed every moment of it.
“Nasdaq is the pony of a lifetime, he gave me an amazing feeling and I’m so happy!” she said after accepting the Individual gold medal. “We bought him as a four-year-old stallion so he’s with us for five years and it has been lovely to see him develop”, she added.
Last year her sister, Lana-Pinou, took over the ride on the pony that brought her all her previous successes, Zinq Massimiliano, so Lucie-Anouk didn’t have high expectations this time around. “I can’t believe it, it’s amazing because I have only been riding Nasdaq since September of last year and he has come so far! When we made it to the Europeans I didn’t expect anything to be honest, I just wanted to enjoy a great pony time and I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to ride here in this lovely place!”, said the rider who hails from Munster region of Germany.
Freestyle
In today’s Freestyle finale she proved untouchable again. The standard of competition was breathtaking, and when Oatley and Daddy Moon set the target at 81.400 with just four more to follow, that really piled on the pressure. Her super-cute Daddy Moon was elastic, responsive, expressive and on the button all the way, and his diminutive rider didn’t hide her delight after riding into her final halt.
But, to the strain of Queen’s “Its a kind of magic”, Baumgürtel followed with another extraordinary performance from Zinq Nasdaq that saw judges Orsolya Hillier (HUN), Eduard De Wolff Van Westerrode (NED), Ulrike Nivelle (GER), Paula Nysten (FIN) and Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington (EST) award 85.735, just fractionally short of the Freestyle world record for ponies set by Phoebe Peters at those 2015 championships.
Denmark’s Liva Addy Guldager Nielsen and D’Artagnan put 78.390 on the board when third-last to go and then her team-mate Sophia Boje Obel Jørgensen threw down a great challenge with a relaxed, harmonious test for 82.555 that moved her into silver medal spot. The question now was whether the final rider, Antonia Roth, could push fellow-German Oatley off the podium once again, but a break in counter-canter proved costly with Roth’s score of 79.710 leaving her in fourth place this time around and the happy, smiling Oatley with the bronze medal around her neck.
Results here
If the stunning Freestyle performances that brought week 2 of the FEI Dressage European Youth Championships 2020 to a close at Pilisjàszfalu in Hungary today are anything to go by, then the future of European Dressage is in very safe hands. Both the U25 and Young Riders athletes and their horses presented top sport and demonstrated an abundance of promise all week, with The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark sharing U25 gold but the Dutch completely dominating the top step of the Young Riders podium.
U25
There was a fairytale finish to the U25 Championship today when Denmark’s Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen steered Foco Loco W to Freestyle gold. The 15-year-old gelding made a dream come true for his owner, Dominican Republic’s Yvonne Losos de Muniz, when he carried her to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where they finished 59th individually. And after sealing victory today, Strandby Hansen said, “I’m so lucky I got to ride this horse and it’s unbelievable what he did for me - he has a heart of gold!”. It was indeed an extraordinary achievement because this was the Danish rider’s championship debut, and she sparkled.
The pair helped Denmark to bronze medal position in Tuesday’s team finale in which The Netherlands claimed gold despite elimination for Mercedes Verweij. It was the top score of 74.765 produced by Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene that clinched it for the Dutch when added to 72.882 from Jasmien de Koeyer and Esperanza and 71.647 from Febe van Swambagt and Edison. Germany claimed silver bolstered by the second-ranked score of the competition from Ann-Kathrin Lindner and FBW Sunfire who put 74.588 on the board.
Turned the tables
Lindner, U25 team gold medallist last summer, turned the tables when pipping Nieuwenhuis for the Individual title the following day while Germany’s Raphael Netz steered Lacoste 126 into bronze with a charming ride. Strandby Hansen missed out on a podium placing when lining up in fourth, but a stand-out performance today saw them awarded 79.025 by judges Paula Nysten (FIN), Peter Hansaghy (HUN), Henning Lehrmann (GER), Elisabeth Max-Theurer (AUT) and Annette Fransen Iacobaeus (SWE) for Freestyle gold. Nieuwenhuis claimed silver on 78.450 while Lindner slotted into bronze medal spot on 77.610.
Foco Loco W, whose stable-name is Dobby, simply smiled his way through today’s winning test, making every movement look as easy as can be. He listened to his rider from beginning to end, presenting lovely tempi changes, piaffe, passage and pirouettes and the only time he was the tiniest bit naughty was when he spooked when someone waved a Danish flag in celebration after he left the arena.
He remained at the Helgstrand Dressage stables in Denmark after Yvonne Losos de Muniz last competed him at the FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier in Herning (DEN) in October 2019. And in November Strandby Hansen, who has been working at Helgstrand for the last two years, got the ride on the horse who took individual silver for Losos de Muniz at the Central American & Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico back in 2014.
Partnership
They’ve been building their partnership together ever since, but today’s Freestyle was a first for the Danish rider, and it’s one she will never forget. “I only got the floorplan last Monday and I rode it just once at home before coming here, I never competed in a Grand Prix Freestyle before!” the delighted rider said.
Foco Loco is at Helgstrand “for training and sale”, and Strandby Hansen, who rides everything from three-year-old stallions to top-level horses, says he has a heart of gold and is a bit of a show-off. “He is so well behaved but still has the fire to do his work, and he loves it. When people started whistling at the end (of the test) he just lifted his legs higher and higher! And today it was so warm, over 30 degrees, but he still kept on fighting for me”, said the rider who is now looking forward to moving up to Senior level.
Young Riders
The Netherlands’ Young Rider team was also reduced to just three, this time due to elimination for Thalia Rockx and Golden Dancer de la Fazenda. However, just like their U25 counterparts, the rest of the Riders in Orange didn’t let that stop their country from coming out on top thanks to solid performances from Quinty Vassers, Daphne van Peperstraten and Marten Luiten.
Their score of 222.940 was good enough to edge Germany’s Henriette Schmidt (Rocky’s Sunshine), Luca Sophia Collin (Descolari and Lia Welschof (First Class 88) into silver on a score of 222.030, while 215.794 sealed the bronze for Denmark. And once they got the bit between their teeth the Dutch went on to make it a hat-trick of Young Rider gold when adding the Individual and Freestyle titles.
Judges Kurt Christensen (DEN), Maria Colliander (FIN), Evi Eisenhardt (GER), Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode (NED0 and Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington (EST) were in complete agreement when placing 18-year-old Luiten, a double-silver medallist at Junior level last year, at the top of the Individual scoreboard with the 10-year-old mare Fynona on a mark of 77.559. Germany’s Welschof took silver while Luiten’s team-mate, van Paperstraten, claimed the bronze with Greenpoints Cupido.
However van Peperstraten threw down an extraordinary test for a score of 80.69 when fourth-last to go in today’s Freestyle, and when Luiten was one of several to make mistakes in his tempi-changes he had to settle for bronze behind Welschof.
Maturity
Van Paperstraten, gold medallist at the FEI Junior European Championships in Fontainebleau (FRA) in 2018 and at the FEI Young Riders European Championship at San Giovanni in Marignano (ITA) last summer, showed great maturity in her riding and was thrilled with the result.
“I was already so happy with how things went this week because the gold team medal was something I didn’t expect, and then yesterday I had a great feeling on Cupido and was super-happy with my test although it was a pity we had a mistake at the end. I was still very satisfied with my Individual bronze medal”, the 20-year-old rider explained. “So today I just wanted to enjoy my Freestyle. It was the first time to ride it in competition and I was excited to see how it would work out and fit with the music. When it all worked out I knew we had done a very good job and that’s the best feeling. I couldn’t be more happy!”
She rode a daring centreline of three-tempi changes to her final halt. “I knew that had to be good because if you make a mistake it’s not possible to win a European medal”, she pointed out. “We did it because it’s something different, and Cupi is always amazing in the canterwork. You have to take the risk if you want to take a medal!”
The action now moves on to the FEI European Pony Dressage Championships 2020 which will take place from 28 to 30 August.
Results here
It wasn’t the biggest surprise when Team Germany dominated the first week of the FEI Dressage European Youth Championships 2020 which drew to a close at Pilisjàszfalu in Hungary today. But plenty of drama accompanied their clean sweep of gold in both the Junior and Children’s categories and, as this afternoon’s Junior Freestyle winner Valentina Pistner said, “it’s been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster!”
Juniors
Ups and down are the order of the day in equestrian sport, and although Pistner joined Allegra Schmitz-Morkramer (Lavissaro), Jana Lang (Baron 321) and Anna Middelberg (Blickfang HC) on the top step of the Junior Team podium on Tuesday, hers was the team discount score.
Middelberg and her nine-year-old horse produced the highest individual mark, and the German total of 222.212 gave them a generous advantage over the Danes in silver on 214.818 while the bronze-medalled Dutch posted a final tally of 213.515. However the margin of German victory might have been even greater if Pistner, who finished 27th individually, hadn’t run into trouble.
“Sadly my horse had his tongue over the bit. It happens sometimes and there is little you can do in that situation, but we tried fighting, we tried to finish our test so that we could give a fourth score for the team”, the 17-year-old rider explained. She pulled it right back on Wednesday however when lining up in silver medal spot behind Middelberg in the Individual Championship in which Lang made it a German whitewash when taking the bronze.
One better
And then Pistner went one better when Flamboyant danced his way to the top of today’s Freestyle scoreboard. Middelberg, who took team gold at the FEI Dressage Pony European Championships in Kaposvar (HUN) in 2017 and the Juniors in Marignano (ITA) last year, threw down the gauntlet with a score of 78.480 when fifth-last to go, and that was always going to be tough to beat. Team-mate Lang challenged strongly when posting 77.040, but she had to settle for bronze when, last into the ring, Pistner nailed it with a mark of 79.285.
“It’s such an incredible feeling - this is my third European Championship and my ninth medal!”, said the rider who lives near Frankfurt (GER) and who describes the fabulous Flamboyant as “just the sweetest”.
She could have allowed Tuesday’s result to affect her for the rest of the week but she kept her head and carried on. “My motto is ‘just do it, stay calm and try your best because that’s all you can ever do!”, this wise young lady added.
Flamboyant was bought from German Dressage superstar Isabell Werth in December 2017, and the new partnership were already being scouted for the 2018 European Championships just a few weeks later. “We were able to win three silver medals that year and our journey has continued since then, but now it may be time for us to step up to another level”, the new champion revealed this evening. “I’m not sure yet, it hasn’t be fully decided, but I have been riding Juniors since I was 13 and it’s maybe time to move on and try to progress and improve.”
Children
The Children’s team title went to Germany on Wednesday when the three-member side of Clara Paschertz (Danubio OLD), Emily Rother (Jasper 224) and Caroline Miesner (Angelina 331) pinned their Dutch counterparts into silver while France claimed bronze. It was a tight contest when the winning total of 245.468 left Germany just 0.2 ahead of their nearest rivals. The highest marks of the competition went to 14-year-old Rother who put 84.025 on the board, and she made it a golden double when topping this morning’s Individual Championship with 86.145.
This year a new judging system was introduced for the Children’s category, placing the focus on riding skills. So the Ground Jury members have different roles depending on where they sit around the arena, those on the short side overseeing the technical aspects of the test and those on the long side judging the ridden work. A “Quality” score is awarded with marks for position and seat, effectiveness of the aids, precision and general impression, and in this morning’s Individual Championship Rother racked up a massive 95.500 for Quality to secure a clear-cut victory with her nine-year-old gelding.
Courageous team-mate
Silver went to her courageous team-mate, 13-year-old Paschertz, who was last to go and put a strong 81.355 on the board. A member of the winning Children’s team at the Tokyo 2020 Test Event in Hagen (GER) in May of last year, Clara was taken to hospital for observation following a fall from Danubio during the team prizegiving ceremony on Wednesday. But today she showered her seven-year-old gelding with praise after their lovely performance pinned The Netherlands’ Maura Knipscheer, riding the 15-year-old gelding Amaretto, into bronze medal position.
Rother, who hails from Bavaria in the south of Germany, was competing in pony classes until last year. “I have only had Jasper for the last six months and this is just our fifth show together. My parents got him from my riding teacher Sabina Schroedter, and he gives everything to me!”, she said.
Asked what her ambitions were coming to Hungary for these championships, the newly-crowned FEI Dressage Children’s European champion replied, “I just wanted not to finish last!” She definitely succeeded in doing that…..
The FEI Dressage European Youth Championships 2020 continue next week when Young Riders and U25 athletes take centre stage from 17 to 21 August.
Results here
The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2020 in Barcelona (ESP) has been cancelled. The cancellation is a joint-decision taken by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), Spanish National Federation (Real Federación Hípica Española) and the Foundation and Board of the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona (RCPB), longtime host of the FEI Nations Cup™ Final. The Barcelona Final was scheduled to be held from 2-4 October.
“We have looked at every scenario, including potentially running the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final behind closed doors without spectators, but the combination of the situation in Catalonia and the ongoing international travel restrictions has meant that we have unfortunately been forced to jointly agree that regrettably this year’s Final cannot go ahead in Barcelona, the risks are simply too great”, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.
“When we announced changes to the rules for the Final back in April, we were cautiously optimistic that even if the series fell victim to the pandemic, we would be able to save the Final in Barcelona, but sadly that has proved impossible.
“Of course this is devastating news for everyone involved, not least the athletes that were hoping to compete at the Final, to our hosts in Barcelona and of course to our Top Partner Longines, but health and safety have to be our top priorities. While we are all very disappointed now, we very much look forward to returning to Barcelona for the Final in 2021.”
“This difficult decision is very disappointing for our Club and our members and everyone involved”, RCPB Foundation President Emilio Zegrí said. “The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Final is an annual highlight for us, the city of Barcelona and all the national and international spectators who fill the stands year after year, but it was important that we took this decision now, knowing that a last-minute cancellation would have meant significant costs for the National Federations having made travel plans for their athletes and horses. However, we want to transmit a positive message of hope. We will redouble our efforts so that the 2021 Final can be celebrated as an outstanding edition.”
The rule changes for the 2020 Final announced earlier this year when the pandemic first started to impact the FEI Calendar, meant that 22 nations would have been invited to compete at the Final in Barcelona (2-4 October): 10 from Europe, three from North America, two from South America, two from the Middle East, two from Asia/Australasia, one apiece from Africa and Eurasia, plus the host nation Spain.
The European Equestrian Federation (EEF) announced in April that, due to the global pandemic, the launch of the Longines EEF Series had been postponed to 2021. As a result, there will be no promotion and relegation this year, meaning that Division 1 will start with the same 10 teams for the 2021 season - Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.
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