Hugely Successful Fei Endurance Courses Attract Almost 1,400 delegates in UAE

Close to 1,400 people have attended a series of FEI Endurance educational courses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE) over the past four days in advance of this week’s Endurance season opener, a CEI1* 80-kilometre ride. The attendees, numbering 1,347 in total, included athletes, trainers, grooms, Veterinarians, Judges, Technical Delegates and Stewards.

The courses were an important element in the legally binding agreement signed between the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) and the FEI prior to the lifting of the provisional suspension at the end of July. The FEI Bureau had suspended the EEF in March of this year following an investigation into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in the country.

Chair of the FEI Endurance Committee, Brian Sheahan, acted as Course Director alongside Dwight Hooton (USA) a member of the FEI Veterinary Committee and veterinary advisor to the EEF, and FEI Endurance Director Manuel Bandeira de Mello. The EEF Assistant Secretary General Faisal al Ali attended the first session on 10 October, and Dr Ali Al Twessi from the EEF Endurance Department was also on hand to offer translation services.

The athletes, trainers and grooms’ sessions, which attracted 1,065 attendees, 25% of which were female, covered FEI and national rules, mandatory rest periods, penalty points, the entry system, field of play and veterinary aspects, including Vet Gate procedures, anti-doping rules (human and equine) and medication procedures.

John Robertson, Deputy Chair of the FEI Endurance Committee, was in charge of the courses for FEI Judges (Levels 1, 2 and 4), Stewards and Technical Delegates. A total of 190 Stewards attended, including 160 from the police force who will be working at events, as the national rules are now fully compliant with FEI rules.

Brian Sheahan and Dwight Hooton also ran a course for Veterinarians, with 68 attendees. Both the Veterinarians and Judges were then required to sit an exam, with a 100% pass rate.

The EEF’s new entry system, delivery of results to the FEI, horse welfare issues including cars in the field of play, video cameras in the stabling area and prevention of accidents in the vet gate area were discussed at two separate meetings, one with Adnan Sultan Saif Al Nuaimi, General Manager of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, and the other with Dubai Equestrian Club General Manager Mohammed Essa Al Adhad.

There was a general consensus that the courses and the individual meetings had all been extremely successful and effective.

“We have a fantastic sport in Endurance and it was wonderful to have had such successful courses in Group VII, particularly from an attendance perspective but also for the enthusiasm of all the delegates”, FEI Endurance Director Manuel Bandeira de Mello said at the end of the four days. “The courses were really interactive and there was a huge thirst for knowledge and a desire to increase the depth of understanding of all aspects of the discipline from everyone who attended. There has been great team work here in Dubai, and everybody is fully committed to success.”

Almost 1,400 people have attended a series of FEI Endurance educational courses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE) over the past four days as part of the agreement signed between the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) and the FEI. (EEF Media Centre)

Provisional suspension

As part of the ongoing clean-up of the discipline in Group VII, Abdul Aziz Mohd Yasin Sheikh, Head of Endurance at the United Arab Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF), has been provisionally suspended as an FEI Official by the FEI Secretary General, Sabrina Zeender, for consistently failing to observe the FEI Rules and Regulations at a number of events from which duplicate results were submitted to the FEI.

The provisional suspension, which is in accordance with Article 156.1 of the FEI General Regulations and which comes into immediate effect, is for an indefinite period. For the duration of the suspension, Mr Sheikh may not take part or be involved in the organisation of any FEI competitions or events, or any event under the jurisdiction of a National Federation.

Mr Sheikh has 30 days to appeal the decision to the FEI Tribunal from the date of notification (13 October 2015). He is the second UAE official to have been provisionally suspended by the FEI Secretary General following the suspension of Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, Head of the EEF Veterinary Department, last month. Both suspensions have the full support of FEI President Ingmar De Vos.

The events and duplicate results in the UAE that were used specifically for qualification purposes have now been deleted by the FEI IT Department. Any horse/rider combinations that used these duplicate results as qualification for subsequent events, and were therefore ineligible to compete, have now been disqualified.

In Memoriam: Fritz O. Widmer (SUI), 1922-2015

Fritz O. Widmer (SUI), former FEI Secretary General and Treasurer, and longstanding Vice President of the Swiss National Federation’s Competition Department, has passed away after a long illness. He was 93.

Widmer had considerable influence in the development of equestrian sport in Switzerland and worldwide. An accomplished rider, he competed internationally in Dressage and Jumping until 1960, and also competed in all three Olympic disciplines at national level. He served as an FEI Jumping Judge and judged Dressage nationally up to Grand Prix level.

During his 14 years of service at the Swiss National Federation, Widmer was instrumental in drafting the Jumping Rules, as well as the development of the license system.

He became FEI Secretary General in 1976, serving under the presidency of HRH Prince Philip, the FEI’s longest serving President. Widmer contributed enormously to the modernisation and business development of the FEI, transferring it from its traditional Brussels headquarters to Bern in Switzerland, forming a secure financial base and solid foundation for its current structure.

Fritz O. Widmer

Widmer priortised horse welfare and was fully committed to the fight against doping. After leaving the FEI in 1989, he was became an honorary member of the FEI Bureau.

“Fritz Widmer devoted 13 years of his life to the FEI and a whole lifetime to equestrian sport”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said. “He will be sadly missed, but his reputation will live on for generations to come.”

The FEI expresses its sincere condolences to Fritz Widmer’s family, friends, the Swiss National Federation and the global Jumping and Dressage community.

Paris, Las Vegas and Gothenburg bid for 2018 FEI World Cup™ Finals

Three major cities are vying to host the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in 2018, with Paris (FRA), Las Vegas (USA) and Gothenburg (SWE) all bidding for the global indoor season finale. The deadline for receipt of bids expired at 12 midnight last night, 1 October.

Two of the venues – Las Vegas and Gothenburg – are regular hosts of the FEI World Cup™ Finals, but this is the first time that a bid has come in for the Finals to be staged in Paris.

GL Events, organisers of last year’s widely acclaimed FEI World Cup™ Finals in Lyon, as well as major annual events in Lyon and Paris, are bidding to host the 2018 Finals in the newly refurbished Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy (POPB).

Olympic champion, Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, pictured with Casper Gebeke, Longines Sweden country manager, after winning the twelfth and final qualifying round of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2014/2015 Western European League with the mare Albfuehren's Paille at Gothenburg, Sweden today. (FEI/Roland Thunholm)

Las Vegas Events (LVE), which hosted this year’s FEI World Cup™ Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center, have come back to the table with the same venue for 2018 after attempts to find an alternative location were unsuccessful, although LVE are looking at other options for future bids. LVE have now hosted six hugely popular FEI World Cup™ Finals, two in Jumping and four combined Finals with both Jumping and Dressage, at the Thomas & Mack Center, which is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment.

The Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg, which hosted the first FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final back in 1979 and a further 21 Finals since then, is now bidding for its 23rd Final and is considered by many to be the home of the FEI World Cup™ Finals. The joint Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final are already booked to return to Gothenburg next year, and Gothenburg is also the host city for the FEI European Championships 2017, when athletes in Jumping, Dressage, Para-Equestrian Dressage and Driving will be battling it out for the medals.

World champion Joanne Eccles (GBR) captivated crowds at the FEI World Cup™ Vaulting 2014/15 second qualifier at the Salon du Cheval in Paris where, on WH Bentley and lunged by her father John Eccles, she won the female individual competition and the Pas-de-Deux with her sister Hannah. (Eric Malherbe/FEI)

“We are delighted to have three global cities bidding to host the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final and FEI World Cup™ Dressage Final in 2018”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said. “The FEI has a long-standing partnership with both Gothenburg and Las Vegas, but it is also very exciting to see Paris entering a bid. We look forward to announcing the successful host city next month.”

The bid process for the 2018 Finals was reopened in August to allow LVE to come back with a revised proposal. Bidders will present to the FEI Evaluation Commission later this month, and an announcement on the successful host city for the dual Finals will be made after the FEI Bureau meeting during the FEI General Assembly in Puerto Rico on 10 November.

Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel cleared of wrongdoing by FEI

Swiss Jumping riders Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel, whose horses tested positive for Prohibited Substances earlier this year, have been cleared of any wrongdoing following separate legal agreements with the FEI. The agreements, in which the FEI accepts that the positives were caused by poppy seed contamination, have been independently approved by the FEI Tribunal.

Under the terms of the agreements, there are no sanctions against either Guerdat or Bichsel other than the automatic disqualification of the horses’ results at the events where they tested positive in accordance with Article 9 and Article 10.1.4 of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping (EAD) Rules.

Samples taken from the horse Nino des Buissonnets, ridden by Guerdat, at the La Baule CSIO5* in France on 17 May returned positive for the banned substances Codeine and Oripavine and the controlled medication substance Morphine. Samples taken from the horse Nasa (FEI ID FRA45675), also ridden by Guerdat, at the same event on 16 May returned positive for the banned substance Codeine and the controlled medication substance Morphine. The sample from Nasa also showed traces of Oripavine, but not at a sufficiently high level for the testing laboratory to declare a positive.

Samples taken from the horse Charivari KG (FEI ID 102ZB26), ridden by Bichsel, at the CSIOY (Young Riders) in Deauville (FRA) on 8 May also returned positive for the same three substances, Codeine, Oripavine and Morphine.

The two athletes, Guerdat and Bichsel, were notified of the positives by the FEI on 20 July and were both provisionally suspended. The three horses were also provisionally suspended for a two-month period.

The FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender acknowledged in July that the three positives were probably the result of contamination, but that standard procedure still had to be followed.

The FEI Tribunal agreed to lift the provisional suspensions on the two athletes on 27 July, but requests for the lifting of the provisional suspensions on the horses were denied. The two-month provisional suspensions imposed on the horses expired on 19 September.

Both Guerdat and Bichsel had used the same feed supplier, and independent laboratory tests have proved that the feed was contaminated with poppy seeds. The FEI accepts that the circumstances of the cases were exceptional and that the presence of the three prohibited substances in the horses’ samples is consistent with poppy seed contamination.

The FEI also accepts that the two athletes have demonstrated that they bear no fault or negligence and have also established how the Banned Substances entered the horses’ systems, the two requirements under the FEI Equine Anti-Doping (EAD) Rules in order to have the two-year period of ineligibility and other sanctions eliminated.

Under the terms of the two agreements, neither of the athletes was required to appear before the FEI Tribunal for a hearing. However, the panel of FEI Tribunal Chair Erik Elstad (NOR), Pierre Ketterer (FRA) and Henrik Arle (FIN) was called upon to give its formal approval of the agreements in accordance with the Article 7.6.1 of the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs).

The FEI Tribunal’s Final Decision states that it can find “no grounds to object to or disapprove the terms of the Agreement and is satisfied the Agreement constitutes a bona fide settlement” of the three cases. The cases are now closed.

Olympic champion, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, won the thrilling second round of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping 2015 Final with Albfuehren’s Paille at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas, USA tonight. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

“Both these athletes and the Swiss National Federation have worked in full cooperation with the FEI to secure these landmark agreements and it’s good to know that since the beginning of this year the FEI processes can facilitate such settlements so that athletes are able to clear their names when contamination is involved”, the FEI Secretary General said.

“Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel fully accepted that standard procedures had to be followed, but were able to provide proof that the positives were due to contamination, which meant that we could reach a settlement that was acceptable to both the FEI and to the FEI Tribunal.”

The agreements were reached in accordance with Article 7.6.1 of the EADCMRs, which was implemented on 1 January 2015 following approval at the 2014 FEI General Assembly. The provision, in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations, allows for an agreement between the Person Responsible and the FEI, and the agreements with Guerdat and Bichsel mark the first time that such a settlement has been reached under the new provision.

UAE National Federation Suspension Lifted By FEI Bureau…

UAE National Federation Suspension Lifted By FEI Bureau…

The FEI Bureau has unanimously approved the immediate reinstatement of the United Arab Emirates National Federation to full membership of the FEI following signature of a legally binding agreement between the two parties in which the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) guarantees that horse welfare will be fully respected and that FEI Rules will be stringently enforced at all Endurance events, both national and international, in the country.

The agreement has been signed by FEI President Ingmar De Vos and Secretary General Sabrina Zeender, and by EEF President HE Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Secretary General Taleb Dhaher Al Mheiri, and Mohammad Al Kamali, Secretary General of the UAE National Olympic Committee.

The EEF was provisionally suspended by the FEI Bureau in mid-March following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in Endurance in the UAE.

Following the suspension and at the request of the FEI Bureau, the EEF proposed an extensive list of actions it would undertake to address the issues. These were integrated into a draft agreement that the EEF sent to the FEI in early June. The FEI Bureau unanimously welcomed the proposals, but informed the EEF that more areas needed to be covered before the agreement that would allow the provisional suspension to be lifted could be signed. The two parties have spent the intervening weeks reviewing and revising the terms of the agreement.

Under the key terms of the agreement, the EEF must ensure that:

Protocols are put in place to avoid equine fatalities;

Applicable rest periods are respected;

Horses on rest periods are blocked from entry in national events (the FEI system already blocks entries in international events);

Use of prohibited fluid administration and any substances prohibited under the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMRs) in and around the Field of Play and at the Vet Gate is prevented;

Prohibited substitution of horses is prevented;

Prohibited vehicles on the Field of Play are prevented;

Any individual or horse suspended by the FEI is automatically blocked by the EEF IT system from competing at national events;

The role and authority of officials in carrying out their duties is respected at all times;

Training and education of Athletes, Trainers, Support Personnel, National Federation Staff Members and Stable Veterinarians is conducted prior to the start of the 2015/2016 Endurance season in October;

FEI rules on post mortems are adhered to and, where possible, the same procedure is applied in the event of fatalities at national competitions;

A national Independent Governance Advisor, approved by the FEI is appointed;

Conflicts of interest are avoided;

Distribution of prize money is in accordance with the FEI approved schedule;

Rules for National Endurance events in the UAE are fully compliant with the FEI Rules and Regulations.

The EEF will provide monthly written reports during the 2015/2016 season on steps taken to ensure ongoing compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations, and agrees to abide by any further recommendations put forward by the FEI. Following completion of the 2015/2016 season, the EEF will provide reports whenever requested by the FEI.

Additionally, the EEF will support a research project to evaluate the causes of injuries linked to the design of desert endurance courses. Endurance Trainers will be obliged to cooperate with this research project.

The agreement also details the new legislation that has been introduced in the UAE prohibiting the trade or use of banned substances in horse racing and equestrian sports in the country and the sanctions that will be imposed for breaches.

“We are very pleased that, after four months of very hard work, the United Arab Emirates have demonstrated with the signature of this agreement that they are fully committed to ensuring horse welfare and complying with FEI rules at both international and national level in the country”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina said. “They are absolutely committed to making this work so that they can return to playing an active and leading role in Endurance once again and, to demonstrate that commitment, they have included the UAE’s highest sporting body, the National Olympic Committee, in the agreement.”

“We are very pleased that the FEI Bureau has unanimously agreed to lift the suspension based on the considerable actions and solutions we have put in place together”, EEF Secretary General Taleb Dhaher Al Mheiri said. “We will continue to work with them to ensure all their requirements are applied in endurance racing across the UAE. As the governing body of equestrian sports in the UAE we take our responsibility seriously. It is our goal to pursue excellence while promoting the growth of the sport and safeguarding the welfare of equine and human athletes.”

Separately, the FEI had commissioned the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU) to conduct an extensive inquiry into allegations of fake events and duplicate results in the UAE. These allegations were not taken into account when the FEI Bureau imposed the suspension, and were dealt with independently, but provisions have been included in the agreement to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The EEF cooperated fully with the inquiry and the detailed report has now been received by the FEI. The report is currently being reviewed by the FEI and a file will be submitted to the FEI Tribunal for further action. Sanctions will be taken against any FEI Officials found to be involved. In addition, the FEI will annul all duplicated results and review any connected results.

At the same time, the EEF Endurance Committee conducted its own investigation into the allegations and has authorised sanctions on any Organisers and EEF staff that are found to be involved. The EEF is currently restructuring its organisational policies to ensure that similar events cannot occur again and will put rules in place for all future FEI events under which either the National Federation or the Organising Committee must provide all equipment, including the timing system.

The EEF accepts that the FEI will be entitled to impose sanctions in case of non-compliance with all the terms of the agreement. These sanctions would include, but are not limited to, the immediate reinstatement of the suspension and withdrawal of the allocation of the 2016 FEI World Endurance Championships, which are due to be held in Dubai in mid-December next year.

The agreement will remain in effect for a three-year period. During that time, the FEI and EEF will meet at least once a year for an in-depth review, in addition to the monthly written reports required under the agreement. The FEI reserves the right to extend the term of the agreement if appropriate.

FEI Bureau Unanimously Agrees Next Steps On United Arab Emirates Endurance Proposals

The FEI Bureau has today welcomed a series of proposals for reform of the Endurance discipline in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but agreed unanimously that further information needs to be provided by the UAE National Federation before lifting of the provisional suspension can be considered. The FEI Bureau provisionally suspended the UAE National Federation in March of this year following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in Endurance.

The Bureau gave a clear mandate to FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender to work with the relevant departments in FEI Headquarters and seek additional feedback from the FEI Bureau members, before requesting more concrete details on the proposals from the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF). The proposals were contained in a 10-page document, which was sent to the FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender on Friday 5 June.

The EEF proposals include:

*Creation of an EEF Endurance Committee of Enquiry to oversee full application of the rules;

*Involvement of the National Olympic Committee and National Anti-Doping Committee;

*Training and education of athletes, trainers, owners and officials;

*The possibility to ban organisers for non-compliance with the rules;

*Ensuring EEF national rules are fully in compliance with the FEI rules and regulations;

*Working more closely with the FEI, including welcoming FEI observers at EEF national events;

*Full cooperation with the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit inquiry into the duplication of results at a number of events in the country.

The EEF accepts that any breach of these commitments could result in the suspension being reinstated and the withdrawal of the 2016 FEI World Endurance Championships, which were allocated to the UAE in December 2014.

The EEF also detailed the new legislation that has been introduced in the UAE prohibiting the trade or use of banned substances in horse racing and equestrian sports in the country and the substantial fines that will be imposed for breaches.

The Bureau discussed the proposals in detail before reaching unanimous agreement that the Secretary General and FEI Headquarters should work together with the EEF to finalise the agreement between the two organisations. At that point, and only once the Bureau is completely satisfied that horse welfare will be ensured at all times, that FEI Rules and Regulations will be fully implemented and rigorously enforced, and that all pending issues have been addressed, the Bureau will vote on the lifting of the suspension.

“We welcome the proposed agreement of the UAE and see it as a very positive development that they are working to come to a solution”, the FEI President Ingmar De Vos said today. “The provisional suspension can only be lifted if there is a clear commitment to respect the rules before the Bureau can consider the lifting of the suspension. It is clear that more still needs to be done and we require some further work on the details, but their proposals are a very good start to work on the process for reinstatement.”

FEI Meets With United Arab Emirates Delegation On Endurance Issues

An initial meeting between the FEI and representatives of the United Arab Emirates National Olympic Committee and National Federation was held at FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) this afternoon to discuss the actions that need to be undertaken by the UAE National Federation before the FEI Bureau can consider lifting the suspension currently imposed on the UAE National Federation.

The FEI Bureau provisionally suspended the UAE National Federation in March of this year following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in the discipline of Endurance.

Today’s meeting was chaired by FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender. The FEI was also represented by Brian Sheahan, Chair of the FEI Endurance Committee, Manuel Bandeira de Mello, FEI Endurance Director, and Mikael Rentsch, FEI Legal Director. The UAE delegation was made up of Taleb Daher Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the Emirates Equestrian Federation, Faisal Al Ali, Assistant Secretary General, and Abdullaziz Sheikh, Head of the Endurance Department.

“This was a very constructive meeting, during which we informed the National Federation exactly what they need to do before there can be any possibility of the suspension being lifted”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said. “We are now writing to them to explain all the elements they need to fulfil and requesting a detailed plan on how they will deliver on this and the timelines involved. The meeting, which we hope was the first in a series, was only possible following the withdrawal of the UAE’s appeal against the suspension.”

The FEI made it clear to the UAE delegation that only the FEI Bureau can lift the suspension and confirmed that the suspension will remain in force until the Bureau has agreed that all necessary processes have been put in place by the UAE National Federation to ensure horse welfare at all times and that FEI Rules and Regulations will be fully implemented and enforced.

Prior to the meeting, FEI President Ingmar De Vos had welcomed to FEI Headquarters Mohammad Al Kamali, Secretary General of the UAE National Olympic Committee, who had accompanied the UAE National Federation representatives to Lausanne. Neither Mr De Vos nor Mr Al Kamali attended today’s meeting.

FEI Votes To Change Statutes To Allow For Presidential Remuneration

The FEI today voted unanimously to modify the organisation’s Statutes to allow the FEI President to receive remuneration. The amendment to the Statutes opens up the possibility for remuneration, but the final decision still rests with the FEI Bureau, which will discuss the issue at its in-person meeting in June.

The vote was taken at an Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) held during the FEI Sports Forum at IMD in Lausanne (SUI). A total of 59 National Federations were on-site to register their votes and there were 27 powers of attorney, giving a total of 86 valid votes. The required quorum is 67, half of the 133 National Federations plus one.

FEI President Ingmar De Vos, pictured at the FEI Sports Forum 2015 at the IMD in Lausanne (SUI). The FEI today voted unanimously to modify the FEI statutes to allow the FEI President to receive remuneration. (FEI/Germain Arias-Schreiber)

FEI President Ingmar De Vos, who opened the second day of the Sports Forum, excused himself from the EGA and handed over to FEI 1st Vice President John Madden (USA) to chair the meeting. FEI 2nd Vice President Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa (BRN) and FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender also presided.

Dr Claude Nordmann of the Swiss National Federation spoke briefly after the vote, calling for a study to be conducted on salaried positions and commenting that the contents of the study would also be useful for other International Federations.

The EGA also voted unanimously to a number of proposed changes to the Internal Regulations of the FEI, including the addition of the President to list of signatories to official documents.

UAE National Federation Appeals Suspension To FEI Tribunal

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Federation has lodged a formal appeal to the FEI Tribunal against its provisional suspension from the FEI.

The FEI Bureau provisionally suspended the UAE National Federation on 12 March 2015 for an indeterminate period following an investigation by the FEI into major horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI Rules and Regulations in the discipline of Endurance.

Prior to lodging its appeal, the UAE National Federation had sent a formal request asking the FEI Bureau to lift the suspension. The request was rejected by the FEI Bureau and, as a result, an official appeal has been lodged by the UAE National Federation.

The appeal process will be managed in accordance with Art. 165 Appeals of the FEI General Regulations and the Internal Regulations of the FEI Tribunal.‎

“It is disappointing that an appeal has been lodged and that the UAE National Federation has chosen to go down the legal route rather than seeking ways to solve the issues and make a lasting commitment to improving the welfare of the horse at Endurance events in which it is involved”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender said.

Ariat Signs Exclusive Licensing And Sponsorship Agreement With The FEI

Ariat International®, the US-based leader in Western and English footwear and apparel, today signed an exclusive licensing and sponsorship agreement with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) at the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas.

Working alongside the FEI, Ariat will develop a new co-branded product collection to launch at the prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final in Gothenburg (SWE) in 2016, with a share of the sales proceeds going to FEI Solidarity. The product range will also be available for purchase on-site at the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Western European and North American League qualifier events from 2016 to 2018, as well as at Ariat retailers and online in Europe and North America. Additionally, this new three-year partnership includes a supporting sponsorship of the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals starting in 2016.

Ariat was the first company to bring athletic shoe technology to equestrian sports and is now one of the leading brand of equestrian footwear and apparel in the world. The US-based company now operates across the US, Europe and Australia. Ariat also sponsors top equestrian athletes from a variety of disciplines, including Beezie Madden, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Jur Vrieling, Tina Fletcher, Shawn Flarida, Mary King, William Fox-Pitt, Chester Webber, Gina Miles, Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin, Will Simpson, and Hannah Selleck.

Ariat International, the US-based leader in Western and English footwear and apparel, today signed an exclusive licensing and sponsorship agreement with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) at the FEI World Cup™ Finals in Las Vegas – pictured left is Beth Cross, founder and CEO of Ariat International and right is Lisa Lazarus, Chief of Business Development & Strategy at the FEI. (FEI/Dirk Caremans)

“The FEI is revolutionizing equestrian sports on a global basis, bringing every discipline to the highest level of competition,” said Beth Cross, founder and CEO of Ariat International. “Ariat is proud to partner with the FEI as the official equestrian footwear and apparel supplier. We offer the most innovative performance footwear and apparel for the world’s top equestrian athletes, making our partnership with the FEI a terrific match. Our goal is to work together to continue to grow the sport globally.”

“The partnership with the FEI represents a perfect opportunity for Ariat International to extend its visibility and brand awareness by engaging with our global equestrian fan base,” said Sabrina Zeender, FEI Secretary General. “With Ariat’s additional sponsorship and a share of the proceeds from the sale of the new product ranges going back into the sport via FEI Solidarity, this is a win-win situation.”

Chief Of Business Development & Strategy Announces Departure From FEI

Lisa Lazarus, FEI Chief of Business Development & Strategy, has announced that she will be leaving the organisation at the end of May 2015. Lazarus is moving to Singapore with her family.

Lazarus was FEI General Counsel from May 2009 to August 2013, before taking up her current post overseeing the FEI’s commercial activities, including broadcast media distribution and sales, partnerships, branding, licensing and merchandising.

“While I am of course very sad to say goodbye to my talented colleagues at the FEI, and to the FEI Family as a whole, I am proud of the recent accomplishments that have been made in growing the value of the FEI’s media rights and partnerships”, Lazarus said. “Equestrian sport offers so much to its partners with the unique bond between two athletes, human and horse, a demographically compelling fan base, and men and women competing as equals.”

Prior to joining the FEI, Lazarus was Senior Director of Partner Development for NFL International in London.

Lisa Lazarus

“Lisa Lazarus has made a huge contribution to the FEI over her six years with us. She has shared a wealth of expertise and knowledge, and built partnerships that have greatly enhanced the income streams of the FEI and helped to fund the ongoing development of the sport,” explained Sabrina Zeender, FEI Secretary General.

“We are now looking to build on this success, as equestrian sport experiences huge global growth and moves to the next level commercially.”

The FEI has exclusively appointed the global executive search firm Korn Ferry to recruit Lazarus’ replacement.

Paralympic Stars And Experts Headline First FEI Para-Equestrian Forum

Para-Equestrian sport will take centre stage this weekend (21-22 March), when experts and athletes from 22 countries will descend on Essen in Germany for the FEI’s first Para-Equestrian Forum.

The two-day event will put the spotlight on Para-Equestrian Dressage, a mainstay of the Paralympic Movement since the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta (USA), and Para-Equestrian Reining.

The Forum will be opened by FEI Secretary General Sabrina Zeender, Ulf Wilken, Chair of the FEI Para-Equestrian Committee and Dr Jan Holger Holtschmit, chairman of the German National Equestrian Federation Para-Equestrian Committee.

All about the sport

The International Paralympic Committee’s Director of Media & Communications Craig Spence will discuss the promotion of para-equestrian sport, while Amanda Bond, former British Dressage Chief Executive, will update delegates on the latest developments heading into the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in her role as FEI Technical Delegate.

The journey

The London 2012 Paralympic Games marked a historical chapter for Ireland, which qualified its first team and was rewarded with a bronze medal. Damian McDonald, Secretary General of the Irish National Equestrian Federation, will take the stand with Austria’s reigning European champion and London 2012 gold and bronze medallist Pepo Puch, to explain the journey that athletes and their closest supporters experience on their way to the top.

“I think the forum demonstrates how much our sport has developed. I’m looking forward to being part of it and seeing what happens”, Puch said.

Inspiring Para-Equestrians: Austria’s Pepo Puch, pictured here at the London 2012 Paralympic Games where he scored a gold and bronze medal in Grade 1b, is the reigning European Para-Equestrian Dressage champion, and scored double bronze at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014. He will address delegates at the FEI’s first Para-Equestrian Forum on 21-22 March in Essen, Germany. (FEI/Lizz Gregg)

The future

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-Equestrian Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para-Equestrian Dressage and Para-Driving, and will be giving a demonstration of Para-Equestrian Reining at this dynamic Forum.

“We have created the FEI’s first Para-Equestrian Forum to open up discussions for everyone involved in the sport with vested interests in seeing it develop,” explained Trond Asmyr, FEI Director, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage.

“Para-Equestrian sport is now extremely popular in many countries around the world and at many different levels. Testament to the growth at the top echelons of the sport was last year’s record-breaking 33 nations and 100 riders and horses who competed for Para-Equestrian Dressage medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014.

“This Forum will bring everyone in the sport together, and will give us all a valuable opportunity to share ideas and experiences to ensure our sport continues to grow and flourish.”

The full programme for the FEI Para-Equestrian Forum, which is being supported by the German Equestrian Federation and Equitana, Germany’s biggest equestrian sports fair, can be viewed here: http://fei.org/fei/disc/dressage/about-para-equestrian.

Rob Howell