Olympic bronze medallist Daniel Deusser (GER) is back in the number one spot in the Longines Rankings for the third time. He takes over at the top with a total of 3,385 points.

Deusser, a member of the German squad that took team bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, was lying second at the end of the previous rankings period just 25 points behind 2012 Olympic champion, Steve Guerdat (SUI), who has held the position since February 2020 is now down to second spot.

Deusser is no stranger to being world number one. In 2017 he took over pole position from fellow-countryman Christian Ahlmann who had enjoyed a lengthy period at the top and in 2015, Deusser broke the 16-month reign of Scott Brash (GBR).

Based in Belgium, Deusser was part of the silver medal winning team at the Longines FEI European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam (NED), just pipped at the last fence by Belgium. He was also part of the silver medal winning teams at the European Championships in 2013 and 2015.

With his loyal stallion Cornet d’Amour, Deusser won the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Lyon (FRA) in 2014 and finished third in Gothenburg (SWE) in 2016.

As the equestrian calendar starts opening up again, the new rankings reflect some strong points-earning performances, with Switzerland’s Martin Fuchs staying in third position on 3,101, Ben Maher (GBR) up into fourth on 3,008 ahead of Kent Farrington (USA) and Scott Brash (GBR). Sweden’s Peder Fredricson has dropped from fourth to seventh, ahead of Ireland’s Darragh Kenny. McLain Ward (USA) and Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (BRA) make up the top 10 with just three points between them.

The full Longines Rankings list is published here.

With the equestrian sports calendar suddenly bursting into action again after the many complications imposed by the pandemic over the last year, this week all eyes are on St Gallen in Switzerland where the much-anticipated Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2021 series gets underway.

And there is great news for the show organisers, as it has been officially confirmed that a limited public audience will be permitted to the showgrounds at the Gründenmoos. 

This will be a season like no other, with just four of the seven legs of the Europe Division 1 series going ahead following the cancellation of the rounds at both Falsterbo (SWE) and Hickstead (GBR) in July and Dublin (IRL) in August, and some of the parameters have been changed. 

Updated

The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Covid-19 By-Laws have been updated to allow for invitations to be re-allocated so that every Division 1 country can compete in the same number of events. The updated allocation list is published here.

Therefore this season, Division 1 nations will compete in three events each instead of four, and teams will consist of four athletes instead of five with a maximum of 10 teams at each leg.

The new system offers more countries the opportunity to compete before the Tokyo Olympic Games which begin in July, and Chefs d’Equipe and selectors will be watching every horse and every rider very closely. 

Quality

The quality of the 10-nation line-up for St Gallen confirms that fact, and it’s likely to be a mighty clash when the Europe Division 1 sides of Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, Sweden and the hosts from Switzerland take on the non-Division 1 teams from Brazil, Egypt, Israel and Mexico next Sunday afternoon.

With the exception of Italy, all of these countries will face each other again in Tokyo in the first week of August, and every outing in the lead-up to final Olympic selection will be a crucial one. There’s also the psychological advantage of having beaten your rivals for Olympic glory in the lead-up to the Games. And there’s a lot of confidence to be gained by a good result at each leg of this summer’s series which will move on to La Baule (FRA) on Friday 11 June, then to Sopot (POL) on Sunday 20 June and finally Rotterdam (NED) on 2 July.

No chances

The Swiss are taking no chances on home ground as Chef d’Equipe Michel Sorg sends out the No. 1 and No. 3 riders in the Longines world rankings, Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs, along with Bryan Balsiger and Beat Mandli. And there’s a mass of experience in both Henrik Ankarcrona’s Swedish side of Malin Baryard-Johnsson, Rolf-Goran Bengtsson, Douglas Lindelow and Evelina Tovek and in Rob Ehrens’ Dutch foursome of Bart Bles, Jeroen Dubbeldam, Kevin Jochems and Jur Vrieling.  

The British have been rebuilding steadily, and Di Lampard has chosen Scott Brash, Harry Charles, William Funnell and Holly Smith to fly the flag, while Germany’s Otto Becker sends Christian Kukuk, Maurice Tebbel, Andre Thieme and Philipp Weishaupt and they will definitely have to be taken seriously.

However the best teams in the world know that there is nothing predictable about Nations Cup Jumping, that’s the charm of it as it makes compelling viewing and stirs national pride.

Qualification

The 2021 series will not count toward qualification for the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final which once again returns to the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) from 30 September to 3 October. Instead, all ten Division 1 teams - Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden - will be eligible to compete for the prestigious title that last went to Team Ireland in 2019.

And this year’s Final will also decide which nation is relegated to the EEF Series in 2022. Previously that was the fate of the country that finished bottom of the Division 1 standings at the end of the season, but this time around it will be the tenth-placed team in Barcelona, so the Final will have an even sharper edge to it.

It’s going to be quite different, but it’s also going to be very much the same as the best of the best go head-to-head over the four legs of fantastic sport and then chase down the ultimate prize, the title of Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ 2021 champions.

The action at St Gallen kicks off at 13.30 local time on Sunday 6 June, and if you can’t be there then you can follow every exciting moment on www.feitv.org

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…

The FEI Jumping Quiz arrives on Wednesday!
It's time to test your knowledge of FEI Jumping competitions. Connect every week to answer a quiz session and get as many points as you can!
Beware: the clock is ticking and the faster you answer, the more points you earn! Climb to the top of the leaderboards to win one of our great prize, there is notably a Longines timepiece, a Horse Pilot Tempest sweatshirt and many FEI.tv subscriptions to be won!

 

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has kicked off year-long centenary celebrations today, calling for the equestrian community to show its commitment to “Shaping the future of equestrian sports together.”

A video highlighting the achievements, successes and milestones of the organisation and the sport has been produced to mark this special occasion. Iconic moving and stills images capture a historic century in the equestrian world and pays tribute to the incredible diversity that exists within the community. Olympic individual and team silver medallist and former European Jumping Champion Peder Fredericson (SWE) narrates a story that brings together members of the community in a truly authentic equestrian celebration.

The Covid-19 pandemic has meant the FEI has had to adapt its centenary plans which will now extend through to the end of May 2022. A dedicated 100 Years Hub has been created on FEI.org, featuring stories, interviews, online competitions and other fan engagement activities which will allow people to share their memories and experiences over the next 12 months. Fans around the world are encouraged to take part in the #FEI100Years digital celebrations.

“The FEI’s 100 year celebration is about bringing together each and every individual who connects with the horse at any level,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

“We want this to be an inclusive celebration commemorating our collective journey over the past 100 years and looking ahead to shaping the future of equestrian sports together as a united community.

“Equestrian sport is rich in diversity and the one key factor that binds everyone together is our shared connection with and passion for the horse. For equestrian sport to continue to grow and flourish we need to make sure that together we cherish all members of our community and that everyone contributes to the key values at the heart of the sport.”

A key initiative in the drive for greater inclusivity in the community is a plan to formalise the international status of Grooms and formally acknowledge the vital role they play with structures that ensure their wellbeing while they safeguard the wellbeing of the horses in their care.  

Together with representatives from national associations and the global community, the FEI will address the global status of Grooms on 2 June during the online FEI Sports Forum. A dedicated session will explore concrete measures to raise the profile of Grooms internationally and discuss a more structured framework of cooperation between the FEI and the Grooms community.

The FEI was created in 1921 to oversee the Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing with just eight member signatories: Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United States of America. Today, alongside the Olympic disciplines, the FEI also governs the non-Olympic disciplines of Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining as well as the Para Equestrian disciplines of Dressage and Driving and has grown in membership to 136 affiliated National Federations.

The sport has experienced exponential growth globally over the last decade with more than 4,600 international events now run under FEI rules annually, across all disciplines. In 2009, there were 27,000 athletes registered to compete internationally and this number grew to 43,000 in 2019.

The FEI has been governed by 13 Presidents over its 100 year history, including three successive female Presidents. During the 27 years that The Princess Royal GCVO (GBR), HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbòn (ESP) and HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein (JOR) were at the helm, the FEI earned a reputation for being an International Federation that championed gender equality on the field of play as well as in the administration of the sport. The FEI’s longest serving President, the late Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh was due to celebrate his 100th birthday in the same year as the FEI.

In June 2020, the FEI welcomed its top tier classification in the Association for Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) governance review. The FEI was one of six International Federations that ASOIF said “stood out from the rest”, a testimony to the robust governance structures and best practices that the organisation has put in place over the years.

Longines FEI World Endurance Championship 2021

The defending champions from Spain claimed team gold once again at the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship 2021 at San Rossore in Pisa, Italy today where the UAE dominated the individual podium when clinching the top two places.

This was the first championship to run under the new FEI Endurance Rules, and history was made when Boni Viada de Vivero became the first Chilean rider to stand on a World Championship podium when scooping individual bronze, while Brazil also celebrated their first-ever medals when taking team silver ahead of France.

In a dramatic competition it seemed that the individual title looked set to also fall into Spanish hands when Omar Blanco Rodrigo and his brilliant grey, For Ferro, moved up from fifth to first after the second loop and stayed out in front until the closing stages. However the speed and supreme fitness of the UAE horses, Haleh who clinched gold for Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi, and Birmann Aya who slotted into silver medal spot for Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi, saw them surge ahead in the final loop to finish neck-and-neck and hand-in-hand without a challenger in sight.

Heart rate 

Haleh’s heart rate never went above 50 beats per minute and at the very end of the 160km test registered just 47. At the final vet-check the 10-year-old Australian-bred gelding looked completely unfazed as he nibbled some grass while the French-bred Birmann Aya, who has a tremendous record for speedy finishes, was also chilled with a heart-rate of 54.

Chile’s Viada de Vivero produced the most mature of rides, and the 27-year-old got a great reception from the Italian supporters as he is based in Italy. Lying 19th after the first loop he improved to 17th, 16th, 10th and then fifth before clinching third and bronze with the nine-year-old As Embrujo.

Al Kitbi was never far off the lead however, finishing the first two phases in third place, moving into second after loop three and staying there until the final push over the 20km sixth-phase course. In contrast Al Faresi, who is also 25 years old, was lying 13th after the first loop but improved to third by loop four and in the end only one-hundredth of a second separated him from his gold-medal-winning compatriot.

Team

But the individual gold and silver medallists were the only two of the five-man UAE team to complete. A total of 12 countries contested the team title but just three finished, and it was a major battle for the medal placings. The strong side from Bahrain were big favourites, but HH Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa retired and his four running mates were all eliminated. The gold and silver medallists from Spain and Brazil each finished with just the essential three team-members while the bronze medallists from France completed with an impressive four.

And although the Spanish appeared to be running away with it at the outset, they were under intense pressure when their two main contenders were eliminated for metabolic issues for their horses. Jaume Punti Dachs and Alex Luque Moral claimed individual gold and silver along with team gold at the last World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia five years ago, but Luque Moral’s Eryvan was vetted-out after Phase 4 and the Punti Dachs’ JM Bucefala experienced the same fate after Phase 5 today. 

So Blanco Rodrigo could take no chances with For Ferro over the last 20km, he must finish safely if his team was to stay in with a chance, and when he clinched individual sixth spot and Angel Soy Coll, another member of the victorious 2016 team, finished fourth with Warrens Hill Chayze that bolstered the Spanish effort. 

Desperately close

It was desperately close however, because the third score posted by 2008 and 2010 individual gold medallist Maria Alvarez Ponton was critical and there was huge tension while her horse, Mandany, was closely examined at the final vet-check. But a big roar went up when he was passed, leaving her in individual 15th place and finalising the total team time of 23:10:34 which left Spain in gold but just 3:01 ahead of Brazil in silver while the French posted 23:43:01 for the bronze.

The Brazilians lost Rodrigo Moreira Barreto at the first vet-gate but Philippe de Azevedo Morgulis (Saiph SBV), Andre Vidiz (Chambord Endurance) and Renato Salvador (Uzes Trio) stood firm to finish eighth, ninth and tenth respectively, thereby giving the victorious Spanish a real run for their money.

The French, who claimed team silver at the last four World Championships, lost Charles Cappeau and Camil des Ormeaux after the fourth loop, but Nicolas Ballarin (Anir de la Teuliere), Gaele Ollivier Jacob (Pot Made), Margot Thomas (Kalon Milin Avel) and Roman Lafaure (Akim Cabirat) all completed to ensure their place on the podium.

Dream result

For the new individual champion Al Kitbi it was a dream result. “I’m in this sport now 11 years and this is my first World Championship and I’m so proud of it!”, he said. The final loop was particularly tough. “Until the last five kilometres the rest were pushing and making it hard for us, and in the final vet-check I was so nervous I thought my heart might burst!”

For Chile’s Boni Viada de Vivero today was a day he will always remember. “I can hardly believe it! I knew I had a good horse but to have one that’s in the top-three in the world - now that is just incredible!”, he said.

Results here 

The United States of America has withdrawn its full team of horses from the FEI Endurance World Championship in Pisa (ITA) after one of its horses, stabled offsite, developed a fever.

The USA Team Veterinarian informed the President of the Veterinary Treatment Commission in Pisa on Thursday 20 May that they had a febrile horse. Subsequently, results from a blood test indicated a viral infection. The USA team immediately put in place additional biosecurity measures to prevent any possible transmission of disease. 

Following consultation with the FEI and the President of the Veterinary Commission, the USA decided today to proactively withdraw the entire team, as their horses had all travelled and been stabled together over the past two weeks.

The horses, which arrived in Pisa several days ago, have been stabled 2kms outside the venue. A risk assessment conducted by the FEI Veterinary Department and the Veterinary Commission established that there was a negligible risk of transmission to any other horses taking part in the World Championship. The USA Athletes and team staff discussed the protocol measures directly with the FEI Veterinary Director as part of the decision making process.

“I commend the USA Team veterinarian, the USA Chef d’Equipe and the Athletes for their professionalism and proactivity in addressing this difficult situation, which resulted in the USEF decision to withdraw the team from the Endurance World Championship”, said FEI Veterinary Director Göran Akerström.

“This is a really unfortunate situation for the U.S. Team and I understand their bitter disappointment, but this decision was necessary and is completely in line with the biosecurity measures and rules we have in place to avoid the spread of infectious disease. 

“The welfare of our horses must be put above any sporting goals and ambitions, and today the USA Team have done just that. It’s the right thing to do - and the only thing to do - for the safety of all the horses competing at the Event. We will continue to monitor all the participating horses closely to ensure a biosecure and successful championship for all the participating nations and athletes.”

The five USA Athlete/Horse combinations withdrawn from the Championship are:  

• Karen BINNS-DICAMILLO / RGS RAGNAR ZE MONARCH
• Holly CORCORAN / POETE
• Jessica DICAMILLO / JUST BELIEVE
• Jeremy REYNOLDS / TREASURED MOMENTS
• Cheryl VAN DEUSEN / HOOVER THE MOVER

 

A total of 31 nations will line up for the start of the FEI Endurance World Championship on Saturday 22 May, 12 of which will be battling for the team medals. 

The line-up for the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship in Pisa, Italy has been confirmed, with competitors from 32 countries and five continents ready to challenge for the 2021 individual and team world titles on Saturday May 22.

Amongst them are the 2016 World Champion, Spain’s Jaume Punti Dachs, and his wife Maria Alvarez Ponton who has taken individual gold twice during her successful career - first at Terengganu in Malaysia in 2008 and again in Kentucky, USA in 2010. Also vying for top spot this time out will be Alex Luque Moral from Spain and Bahrain’s Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa who respectively took silver and bronze at the 2016 World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia. A total of 13 nations will be chasing down the team title.

The event will be staged in the magnificent Parco Naturale Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli, one of the largest and most ancient nature parks in Tuscany.

Landscapes

Close to the lovely city of Pisa which is considered one of the pearls of Italy with its world-famous Leaning Tower in the Piazza dei Miracoli, the park extends over 23,000 hectares and boasts a huge variety of landscapes.

Its meadows, hills, pine forests and marshes are bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea providing a gentle sea breeze. And within the park lies the San Rossore Estate, home to San Rossore Racecourse, the historical home of Italian racing, as well as Villa del Gombo, a presidential home built after World War II. This venue has hosted a number of major FEI Endurance events including the 2019 World Championships for Junior & Young Riders, the World Championship for Young Horses and in 2018 the European Championship for Juniors & Young Riders.

The 2021 Longines FEI Endurance World Championships will get underway at the Racecourse at 07.00 on 22 May when a total of 81 competitors and their horses will set out on the 160 kilometre course. The statistics show a gender balance of 56% men and 44% women on the start list.

All health protocols will be in place as the Show Organisers, who have successfully created the event in a very short period of time, send out a great sporting message. 

Preparation  

“While preparation of the field of play and the course proceeds incessantly, not only San Rossore but also the city of Pisa and Tuscany seem to have come back to life. In spite of the problems caused by the pandemic we are ready to safely welcome the delegations from all over the world, well aware of the fact that this great event will have an important economic effect on the tourism and hospitality sector…..”, says Gianluca Laliscia, the former Endurance champion who heads the Organising Committee company sistemaeventi.it. 

Recently appointed FEI Endurance Director, Christina Abu-Dayyeh, says, “while it was an enormous disappointment having to postpone the 2020 edition of the Longines FEI Endurance World Championships due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, this has only increased our passion to make these Championships even more spectacular in 2021!”

The event will be preceded by a spectacular Opening Ceremony on Thursday, 20 May, in the aptly-named Piazza dei Cavalieri beside Pisa’s famous university, the Scuola Normale Superiore. 

The Longines FEI Endurance World Championships 2021 will be broadcast live on FEI TV so fans and followers can watch the action unfold from all around the globe.

The line-up for the Longines FEI Endurance World Championship in Pisa, Italy has been confirmed, with competitors from 32 countries and five continents ready to challenge for the 2021 individual and team world titles on Saturday May 22.

Amongst them are the 2016 World Champion, Spain’s Jaume Punti Dachs, and his wife Maria Alvarez Ponton who has taken individual gold twice during her successful career - first at Terengganu in Malaysia in 2008 and again in Kentucky, USA in 2010. Also vying for top spot this time out will be Alex Luque Moral from Spain and Bahrain’s Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa who respectively took silver and bronze at the 2016 World Championships in Samorin, Slovakia. A total of 13 nations will be chasing down the team title.

Magnificent

The event will be staged in the magnificent Parco Naturale Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli, one of the largest and most ancient nature parks in Tuscany. Close to the lovely city of Pisa which is considered one of the pearls of Italy with its world-famous Leaning Tower in the Piazza dei Miracoli, the park extends over 23,000 hectares and boasts a huge variety of landscapes.

Its meadows, hills, pine forests and marshes are bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea providing a gentle sea breeze. And within the park lies the San Rossore Estate, home to San Rossore Racecourse, the historical home of Italian racing, as well as Villa del Gombo, a presidential home built after World War II. This location has hosted a number of major FEI Endurance events including the 2019 World Championships for Juniors & Young Riders, the World Championship for Young Horses and in 2018 the European Championship for Juniors & Young Riders.

The 2021 Longines FEI Endurance World Championships will get underway at the Racecourse at 07.00 on 22 May when a total of 81 competitors and their horses will set out on the 160 kilometre course. The statistics show a gender balance of 56% men and 44% women on the start list.

All health protocols will be in place as the Show Organisers, who have successfully created the event in a very short period of time, send out a great sporting message. 

Preparation  

“While preparation of the field of play and the course proceeds incessantly, not only San Rossore but also the city of Pisa and Tuscany seem to have come back to life. In spite of the problems caused by the pandemic we are ready to safely welcome the delegations from all over the world, well aware of the fact that this great event will have an important economic effect on the tourism and hospitality sector…..”, says Gianluca Laliscia, the former Endurance champion who heads the Organising Committee company sistemaeventi.it. 

Recently appointed FEI Endurance Director, Christina Abu-Dayyeh, says, “while it was an enormous disappointment having to postpone the 2020 edition of the Longines FEI Endurance World Championships due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, this has only increased our passion to make these Championships even more spectacular in 2021!”

The event will be preceded by a spectacular Opening Ceremony on Thursday, 20 May, in the aptly-named Piazza dei Cavalieri beside Pisa’s famous university, the Scuola Normale Superiore. 

The Longines FEI Endurance World Championships 2021 will be broadcast live on FEI TV. so fans and followers can watch the action unfold from all around the globe.

Website www.ewc2021.com

Masterlist here 

The FEI Tribunal’s 20-year suspension of UAE Endurance athlete Sh Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Qasimi has been overruled on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In its decision, the CAS has eliminated all sanctions, ruling that in its view the burden of proof of horse abuse had not been sufficiently met by the FEI.

The initial FEI Tribunal ruling involved the horse Castlebar Contraband, ridden by Sh Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Qasimi at the CE1* in Fontainebleau (FRA) on 15 October 2016. The horse suffered an open fracture to its front right cannon bone during the event and had to be euthanised.

Blood samples collected from the horse post mortem revealed the presence of the Controlled Medication Substance Xylazine, which is used as a sedative, analgesic and muscle relaxant but is prohibited in competition. The substance, which is rapidly excreted from the body, is known to be used in Endurance to lower the heart rate. No valid Veterinary Form, the equine equivalent of a Therapeutic Use Exemption, exists for this Substance.

The FEI Tribunal accepted the explanation of the Treating Veterinarian who performed the euthanasia that she had followed the standard protocol, which did not include the use of Xylazine, refuting the claim by the defendant’s legal team that Xylazine had been used in the euthanasia process.

The post mortem report revealed the appearance of multiple lesions with a highly targeted location, consistent with recent injections, which the FEI stated demonstrated that the horse had been nerve blocked (desensitised) in training, and both before and during the competition. The FEI’s view was that this desensitisation, in combination with osteoarthritis in the right front fetlock joint, resulted in stress fractures that ultimately caused the catastrophic injury.

In his report for both FEI Tribunal and CAS proceedings and during cross-examination, FEI Veterinary Director Dr Göran Åkerström stated that nerve blocking removes the “very fundamental protective function of sensitivity” and increases the risk of catastrophic injury. This is especially relevant for fractures that are due to bone fatigue (stress fractures) as a horse will not show any signs of pain, such as lameness, while under the influence of an injected substance.

In its decision, the CAS Panel stated that neither the athlete nor his Veterinarian could have “reasonably detected” alleged bone fatigue in the horse. Despite extensive veterinary evidence presented by the FEI and its expert witnesses, the CAS Panel found that there was no proof that the horse had been nerve blocked or abnormally desensitised in competition.

The CAS Panel stated that as the horse had passed the horse inspection the day before the event and had also passed the veterinary checks at the Vet Gates during the competition, it could not be ruled as being unfit to compete. The Panel ruled that the FEI had failed to establish that the athlete competed on an exhausted, lame or injured horse or committed “an action or omission which caused or was likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse”.

As a result, the CAS Panel found that the athlete had not committed a violation of Article 142.1 of the FEI General Regulations and that, therefore, no sanctions for abuse of horse could be imposed. The Panel ruled all findings and sanctions imposed by the FEI Tribunal to be “ill founded” and ordered that they be set aside.

The CAS Panel noted “while it is true that circumstantial evidence may have some probative value, the fact remains that, in a case such as the present, which concerns severe allegations of abuse of horse that may, if established, entail heavy sanctions for the Appellant, there must be cogent evidence establishing the commission of the alleged rule violation”.

“Although we respect the CAS decision, we are extremely disappointed”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “The FEI has to stand up for horse welfare and clamp down on horse abuse, so to lose this case on appeal is more than disheartening. The FEI believed that this was an important case to prosecute in order to protect horse welfare, and the FEI Endurance Rules have been further improved from a welfare perspective since this 2016 case. However, the CAS Panel has been clear that they feel that there was insufficient substantive evidence for them to uphold the sanctions imposed by the FEI Tribunal.

“The FEI will of course continue to investigate and prosecute horse abuse cases and we will also work hard to ensure that this CAS decision does not discourage third parties from bringing horse abuse cases forward to the FEI. We need to work together to ensure that those who abuse horses are brought to justice, but we also need to ensure that we have solid and irrefutable evidence.”

The FEI Veterinary Director, who was an expert witness in both the FEI Tribunal and CAS proceedings, was also disappointed with the result. “We are incredibly frustrated to have lost this CAS appeal, especially as the catastrophic injury to this horse involved a combination of risk factors that ultimately led to its death”, Dr Åkerström said.

“But this particular case was one of the main drivers for the development of the FEI Hyposensitivity Control System, which provides physical evidence of nerve blocking, something that was virtually impossible previously. So while the CAS decision sadly does not provide justice for this individual horse, it has resulted in a system that is already being used and which will help prevent similar tragic injuries in the future.”

The CAS decision is published here.

Olivia Robinson (AUS) has been appointed as Communications Director for the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), the global governing body for equestrian sports.

Ms Robinson, 43, a highly experienced Communications specialist, is currently the Senior Manager for Corporate Communications within the FEI. She will take over the reins on 1 June from current FEI Communications Director Grania Willis, who will be retiring after 11 years of dedicated and passionate service. Ms Willis will continue to support the work of the department until 31 December 2021 to ensure an optimal handover.

Since joining the Federation in 2006, Ms Robinson has been integral to the growth and evolution of the International Federation’s communications activities, from the initial development of a fan-facing website to the FEI’s first foray onto social media in 2012.

She was a key player in the FEI’s 2016 Olympic and Paralympic #TwoHearts campaign, which achieved worldwide recognition for its creative storytelling around the human and horse connection. In her previous roles at the FEI, she has worked both in media relations and corporate communications. She has driven promotion of the FEI Sports Forum and FEI Awards and led on the creation of strong and engaging content to promote the values of the equestrian community.

“We are delighted that Olivia Robinson is now moving into the role of Director,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

“Olivia, who has been a key member of staff for 15 years, has played an important role in growing the FEI’s global visibility and has championed the promotion of the grassroots development of the sport. She has been instrumental in raising the profile of the annual FEI Awards and is well known for her important role in stakeholder communications. Her 360 degree view of the equestrian landscape and in-depth understanding of the community make her a natural successor to Grania Willis.”    

A talented writer, Olivia Robinson is also fluent in French having spent her formative years in Paris (FRA). Born in the Philippines, she has lived in a number of countries including Italy, Ireland and Bolivia before calling Switzerland home. She studied at Sydney University and has a Masters in Translation (French and Spanish) from Dublin City University.

“I am excited to be embarking on this new chapter in my FEI career,” Olivia Robinson said.

“Our sport has a tremendous heritage but also an extraordinary future, and as we get ready to celebrate the FEI’s centenary, I look forward to working with the team in Lausanne to showcase the sport and the organisation, building on the solid foundations that have been put in place by Grania Willis.”

Olivia Robinson (AUS), currently the Senior Manager for Corporate Communications within the FEI, will start in her new role as FEI Communications Director as of 1 June 2021. © FEI

The FEI Tribunal has suspended US Jumping athlete Andrew Kocher for 10 years and disqualified him from eight events between June 2018 and November 2019 for using electric spurs on horses. The athlete has also been fined CHF 10,000 and ordered to pay costs of CHF 7,500.

The FEI Legal Department notified the athlete on 29 June 2020 that an investigation had been opened following allegations about electric spur use reported to the independent Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU). It was alleged that Mr Kocher had used electric spurs on a number of FEI registered and national horses in international and national events, and during training.

Following the investigation, the FEI formally opened disciplinary proceedings against Mr Kocher in October 2020. He was provisionally suspended on 28 October 2020 pending a hearing before the FEI Tribunal, and this period will be credited against the full suspension, meaning that the athlete is ineligible through to 27 October 2030.

During the suspension the athlete is barred from participating in or attending, in any capacity, including as a spectator, any competition or event that is authorised or organised by the FEI or any National Federation.

The sanctions also include disqualification of all results obtained at events for which the FEI Tribunal was provided with photographic evidence establishing the athlete’s use of electric spurs. The eight events are: CSI4* Hickstead (GBR), 21-24 June 2018; CSI3* Lexington (USA), 14-18 May 2019; CSI2* Lexington (USA), 22-26 May 2019); CSI5* Calgary (CAN), 5-9 June 2019; CSI5* Calgary (CAN), 27-39 June 2019; CSI3* Traverse City (USA), 7-11 August 2019; CSI3*-W Columbus (USA), 2-6 October 2019; and CSI4*-W Toronto (CAN), 5-9 November 2019.

These sanctions form the operative part of the FEI Tribunal decision. The full reasoned decision will be published here in due course. Parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the full decision.