Session 1: Equine Ethics & Wellbeing Commission Final Report and proposed action plan

Session 1: Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission final report and proposed action plan
Monday, 29 April, 9:30 – 12:30

The first Session of the FEI Sports Forum 2024 was dedicated to the final report produced by the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission and the proposed action plan developed by the FEI Headquarters on the basis of the recommendations outlined in the report.

In her introduction, session moderator FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez reminded delegates of the reasons for the Commission’s creation, its composition, and the timeline it had followed. She thanked the Commission for its valuable work and introduced the session panellists, FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström and FEI Legal Director Mikael Rentsch. The Secretary General highlighted the responsibility of the entire community for preserving and enhancing horse welfare.

Since the Commission’s remit had finished, the time had come for the FEI to take ownership of the Report and translate it into action.

FEI Welfare Strategy
The Report outlined 30 recommendations – six of those presented at an early stage in the Commission’s work – which had been divided into six priority areas of focus - training and riding, tack and equipment; recognising physical and emotional stress; accountability, enforcement and knowledge; the other 23 hours (the life of horses outside of competition); competitive drive; not fit to compete (masking health problems). Once combined, the early recommendations, the Final Report recommendations and priority areas of focus generated 62 action points.

The Commission had further outlined a suggested approach urging the FEI to be a Leader; be Trusted; be Transparent; be ProActive; and be Accountable, and had proposed tools for action.

This approach had informed the FEI Welfare Strategy, the initial stage of which was presented at the session, based on a Welfare Vision for a good life for horses, and a Welfare Mission, with the FEI serving as the guardians of FEI horses by formulating and implementing rules, guidelines, educational programmes and other initiatives. Where required, the FEI applies sanctions to ensure good horse welfare with the overall mission to lead, drive and develop equestrian sport globally.

Tools
An essential tool for action to deliver this Welfare Strategy is the Five Domain model, which had been updated in 2020 to achieve and measure horse welfare through nutrition, physical environment, health and fitness, and interactions with the environment, with other horses and with humans. A positive mental state equals good welfare.

Action plan
Swedish ethology and animal science expert Malin Axel-Nilsson was due to be a panellist in the session but was unable to attend. However, she had already assisted FEI Headquarters with entering the 62 action points into a matrix listing the actions already put in place by FEI, possible future actions, ways for the FEI to support and collaborate with the National Federations and other official stakeholder groups, and had linked it to the relevant domain of animal welfare.

FEI Secretary General thanked Malin Axel-Nilsson for her hard work and her very significant contribution to the development of the action plan.

The FEI Veterinary and Legal Directors presented the main elements of this matrix and provided details for some of the key proposed actions, including a broader approach to reviewing tack and equipment; resuming scientific research on hyperflexion and rollkur; and developing guidelines, principles, rules and registration of trainers across the disciplines to ensure ethical training methods. Other key projects discussed in detail were the development of harmonised post mortem reporting protocols in national events with the support of the NFs; updating the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse in collaboration with World Horse Welfare; strengthening the awareness and use of the FEI Equestrian Charter, and the implementation of an Out of Competition Testing Programme.

An in-depth Communications strategy is to be developed and will be presented at a special session at the FEI General Assembly 2024 in Oman in November.

Feedback
The work accomplished by the FEI to date was commended by delegates, many of whom expressed valuable suggestions. The importance of education, information and communication was highlighted on several occasions. The need to consult closely with athletes, trainers and Officials was also raised, and there were calls to celebrate examples of good horse welfare. Several NF representatives shared positive experiences of implementing the Equestrian Charter in their national rules.

The FEI Secretary General emphasised that the FEI Welfare Vision and Mission would inform all FEI activities going forward. She urged participants to consult the presentation used during the session, urging Sports Forum participants and the community as a whole to provide their feedback by 15 May to an email especially created for this purpose welfare@fei.org. This will be used as part of developing a detailed action plan to be presented at this year’s FEI General Assembly.

Panellists
♦ Göran Äkerström - FEI Veterinary Director
♦ Mikael Rentsch - FEI Legal Director

Moderator: Sabrina Ibáñez - FEI Secretary General