The reigning national endurance champion tells Martha Terry about the full-circle moment of completing her second 160km ride, her sport’s unique camaraderie and what makes a horse a winner, in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers

Endurance rider Emma Martin was 12 years old when she completed her first 160km ride. Nearly 40 years on, last season she bagged her second – and with it the title of national champion.

As Emma and two other top endurance riders, Amie Grainger and Victoria Davies, were tackling the final loop of the 160km, she admits fighting back the tears. After some 14 hours in the saddle, when the enormity of their imminent achievement began to soak in, they laughed, cried and discussed getting tattoos to mark the moment.

Just as she had as a determined 12-year-old – the youngest rider on the smallest horse – in 2025 Emma had set her sights on the 160km goal. One-day rides at this maximum distance are rare in the UK – maybe just one or two a season. So Emma clubbed together with Amie and Victoria to request the ride to be put on, at Thetford.

“The three of us rode round together, vetted together and finished together,” Emma says. “To achieve 100% success round a 160km is almost unheard of. There were tears – it was such a sense of relief and achievement.

“We talked all the time, except on the last loop when we were all trying not to cry. You remember the little things, like a pig running towards us and getting zapped by an electric fence. We talked about getting tattoos, but I’m quite glad that’s gone quiet as I don’t like pain!

“Winning the national title wasn’t really a goal,” she muses. “I’d set out to do the 160km and then realised with those points that I was in with a chance. I did 10 rides, and completed every one, so I had an inkling that the title could be a possibility.”

Emma Martin: ‘A top endurance horse needs attitude’

Back in 1986, Emma Martin was a budding little endurance rider with a plucky 12.1hh, Sandpiper, a roan “Heinz 57 with some Welsh”. This was a pony who could turn his hoof to any discipline and was certainly a match for his bigger counterparts.

In 2025, she rode her mother Julie’s Nightfire Hallelujah Louis, a grey Arab, bred, built and trained for the job.

“My mum took a back seat to crew, and Louis and I got going together,” says Emma.

“We’ve had him since he was an unbroken five-year-old and he’s always had attitude. He’s very sharp out hacking, he shies, spooks and bucks, but at competitions he’s completely focused, like he knows his job and just does it. His attitude is his best attribute; they need it to get to the top.”

She lays the endurance drive firmly at Julie’s feet.

“I caught the bug from her early on and it’s never gone,” Emma says. “She’s won national championships and was very competitive. She’s still stewarding, volunteering, crewing for me and doing pleasure rides – so it’s in the blood.”

The ultimate distance ride may not have been on the agenda in the intervening decades, but Emma has never really stepped away from the sport. She’s evented, done dressage, hunting with bloodhounds, “a bit of everything”, but her heart has always been in endurance.

“It’s addictive,” she says. “Even if I have time out, I always come back to endurance. I love the length of time you spend with the horse, that partnership, and also the camaraderie with other riders, the preparation and the training.

“You get camaraderie in all horse sports, but I’ve never experienced anything like endurance.”

Training smarter, not longer

Endurance riding puts very different demands on horses – and riders – than the likes of showjumping and dressage. However, like many competitors across the disciplines, Emma has a full-time job and has to fit training and caring for her two horses around that. She counters the suggestion that endurance horses need endless mileage.

“You don’t have to do as much training as you might think, especially once you’ve got to a certain level, it’s more a case of keeping them ticking over,” she says.

“The longest ride I’d do would be about three hours at the start of the season, with a lot of walking. I like to do different types of training – polework, hacking, lungeing, hillwork – it’s not all time in the saddle. And I don’t do much on the roads because of the concussion.

“It’s not just about long rides, it’s knowing when to give a rest or put your foot on the gas. It helps that I’ve done it since I was tiny – it’s natural to me, listening to the horse, knowing when they need more or less.

“We’d start with a low-level ride early in the season, of about 40–60km, to check out how the horse is, then up to an 80km. Each ride brings them on.”

Yorkshire-based Emma juggles this with her job as a probation officer in Wakefield prison, doing condensed hours over four days, with one day working from home.

“Three days a week I am in prison, working with prisoners helping them progress through their sentences – I’ve been qualified since 2004 and I really enjoy it.

“My mum and I share the care of the horses, and she helps with the schooling and lungeing,” Emma explains. “As well as Louis, I have an eight-year-old, Vlacq Mr Pizzaz (Zaz), who is part Arab, thoroughbred and British Riding Pony.”

Zaz stepped up to open level last season – meaning he can now do 80km rides – but whether he’ll eventually step into Louis’ shoes is still up in the air.

“It’s an extra-special thing to be a 160km horse,” says Emma. “A horse might happily do 80s or multi-day rides, but to do a 160km one-day asks a lot of the horse and your relationship – that’s why I’ve only done it twice.”

Buying a potential endurance horse is a gamble, Emma explains, because you simply don’t know whether they have what it takes.

“Louis has very good conformation – they need to be so sound, with straight action, to get through the vettings,” she says. “You’re going on soundness, because you can’t really tell their attitude, so you are taking a punt. Mum likes a short pastern, and we’d usually go for Arab, whether part or pure.

“Paces are important, because you want something comfortable,” she adds, “but I must be able to adapt as I’ve ridden so many different types. The majority of horses can do the sport up to a level. Training helps, but a low resting heart rate is something you can’t always control.”

‘Vets, crews, rivals – we’re all helping each other’

Speaking of heart rates and soundness, the bucolic rides Emma describes around the hills, vales and forests of Britain seem a world away from the gruelling tests of international endurance in the desert, which have been under the welfare spotlight.

Emma highlights just how rigorous the vettings are across the board.

“Not many sports have a vet assessing you constantly while you’re competing,” she says. “The vets are working with you, giving advice and monitoring the horses’ welfare. And they’re really strict.

“At the end of every loop, if you have a problem you can be eliminated – it helps if your horse has a straight, sound action. Then they check the respiration, mucous membranes, gut sounds, for dehydration and that the heart rate is below 64bpm.”

Besides the vets and crews working alongside the rider, Emma insists, “we’re all helping each other” – and that includes rivals.

“At Red Dragon, the crew of the guy who was closest to me in the national rankings hadn’t managed to get to a certain checkpoint, so my crew crewed his horse,” she says unpretentiously. “We share knowledge and experience, look out for each other and ask for help.

“Endurance is amazing, and anyone can do it,” she adds. “A sense of direction and ability to read a map is handy, but I’d say any horse and competent rider can do it… although maybe not a 160km.”

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If you can find a hotel near Royal Windsor Horse Show then I think it’s worth extending your stay to visit the Berkshire town, too. I say this because I grew up in the town next door to Windsor – and stayed there for 28 years – and my grandma lived a stone’s throw from the castle, so I know both the town and the horse show very well.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place in the stunning grounds of Windsor Castle (14–17 May 2026) and finding accommodation near by will allow you to make the most of your trip. Visitors will be treated to a packed schedule of world-class showjumping, driving and endurance, as well as a huge number of national showing classes. There is something for everyone including plenty of shopping and stunning displays, which includes a dressage masterclass from Olympians Carl Hester and Becky Moody this year. If you’ve not got your tickets yet, check out the Royal Windsor Horse Show ticket options.

I’ve rounded up a great selection of accommodation by type – not just hotels, but guest houses, B&Bs and holiday lets, too, so you can easily find what you’re looking for. I’ve calculated the distances to the show ground – I’ve measured those under a mile away by the best walking route as this is the easiest way to access the horse show from the town centre.

The closest low-cost hotel is the Travelodge Windsor Central – it’s right in the centre of town next to the Windsor & Eton Central Station, and walking distance from the show – but I’ve found an option for every budget below.

• Hotels near Royal Windsor Horse Show
• Guest houses, inns and B&Bs near Royal Windsor
• Holiday lets and apartments near Royal Windsor

Hotels near Royal Windsor Horse Show

Guest houses, inns and B&Bs near Royal Windsor Horse Show

Holiday lets and apartments near Windsor Horse Show

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The owner and rider of a horse who twice represented Britain and completed extraordinary feats of endurance has paid tribute to his character and their bond after his death aged 27.

Annie Joppe’s Arab Dilmun, with whom she contested the 2009 European Championships and 2014 World Equestrian Games (WEG), had spent a happy retirement with Annie, being pampered, loved and bossing the yard until the end.

“He was a star,” Annie told H&H.

But Annie nearly did not buy Dilmun at all; she said she first saw him advertised as a five-year-old, thought he looked good and went to see him.

“I went to try him, agreed to buy him and had the most terrible journey,” she said. “He wouldn’t load, it was awful, so he went back as I’d only had him on trial.

“Then, a year later, a friend of mine said ‘I’ve got this horse for sale’ and it turned out to be him. It was quite freaky really; I didn’t know she’d bought him.”

Annie said natural horsemanship techniques helped Dilmun learn to load happily, and “after that, he was brilliant”.

“He was a pure Arab, quite stockily built, but it was his spark,” she said. “He had such a strong character; grumpy as anything if you tried to change his rugs and he hated grooming! I remember our first squad training and the vets examining him and he stood there, ears flat back, stamping his foot. He was such a character, he was just the boss.”

Annie and Dilmun completed four international three-star 160km rides.

“There are very few who can do that,” she said. “A lot of riders don’t want to do it themselves but I’ve had horses and you know their limit, and that they won’t do it. You get horses like Dilmun and it’s in their head more than anything else. They have to want to do it and he was astonishing, so determined.

“When you were out on loops in competition, his preference if he was in a group was to be just in front of a couple of mares and he’d be in heaven. He just loved it. They weren’t allowed to come past, they had to be just behind, but he’d be so happy, striding along.”

“With endurance, you’re together all the time,” she added. “All the competitions we did meant hours together, looking after him constantly. He would feel a little bit at sea when he had to go overseas, literally, or away for a big competition, and he would turn into a completely different character and be so clingy.”

Annie cited those two championships as her highlights.

Dilmun at his best

“WEG is the ultimate, or it was – we don’t have WEG any more, which is terribly sad but I suppose understandable,” she said. “It was a very exciting experience and he was at his best.

“He did quite a few national rides, including a 120km national one in Cumbria when he was relatively young and that’s when I just knew he could do it. The Cumbrian fells can be quite gruelling but he went on and on, and he won the best condition award.”

Dilmun retired some seven years ago after a last, shorter, ride in Cornwall.

“He got the usual grade ones, so it was quite a good way to retire,” she said. “ He retired when he wanted to, then we did a bit of hacking out occasionally but he wasn’t particularly bothered with it. He was happy to be retired in the field, ruling everybody; all the horses, all the humans, everything.”

Annie had to make the hardest decision owing to the effects of a field injury Dilmun sustained in retirement combined with his age.

“The bond we had was like no other. It was incredible,” she said. “He’d always listen for my voice, he’d always do his very, very best, and do everything right to the end.”

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An 82-year-old rider who has completed 20,000km (12,427 miles) of competitive endurance riding in four decades has no plans to stop, as she continues to live her childhood dreams.

Pat Guerin has been competing in endurance since 1978; in the past 48 years she has represented England, been shortlisted for the British team and completed the top-rated Endurance GB (EGB) rides.

“I am absolutely delighted and still can’t quite believe I have ridden so many successful competitive kilometres,” said Pat. “It’s been an incredible journey.”

Pat started riding aged five but her first taste of endurance came a few years later. In 1977, she moved from Suffolk to Cheshire, where her answer to a local newspaper advertisement for someone to exercise hunters led to a 40-mile ride on Exmoor with Treble Chance, in 1978.

She bought Blue G a few years later, with whom she achieved great success.

“Among Pat’s many highlights are third and fourth placings in the EHPS Summer Solstice 100-mile rides, the unforgettable experience of mass starts in the dark, and being shortlisted for a Great Britain team to compete in the USA in 1988,” an EGB spokesperson said.

In 1989, Pat Guerin represented England in the team that won at the first home international and she finished in the top five of the prestigious Mana Trophy, three times with CF Winter Amadeus and once with Blue G.

She is still competing with Amadeus, now 19, and with Farid My Lad, 16. Both are Arabs and Amadeus is a three-time winner of the Arab Horse Society pure-bred performance horse award.

Pat said she believes in varied training, careful management of horses and knowing when to rest. She and her horses have flatwork lessons and compete in dressage as well as hacking and her horses live out as much as possible. She also credits her support team, including her husband and friends, as part of her success, and values the social side of endurance, which she said is an “ all-inclusive sport where everyone is friendly, helpful and encouraging.”

“Endurance GB is my absolutely amazing happy place,” she said. “As a child I dreamed of having my own pony and riding for miles and miles. Endurance has certainly fulfilled that dream.”

Pat plans to continue riding in 32km and 40km rides, and aims to return to some of her favourites such as the Red Dragon.

The EGB spokesperson said: “Pat Guerin’s 20,000km achievement stands as a testament to commitment, horsemanship and a lifelong passion for endurance riding within the Endurance GB community.”

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Sniffer dogs could be used in a crackdown against horses being given microdoses of prohibited substances in efforts to “save lives”.

At the FEI Sports Forum (31 March–1 April) FEI veterinary director Göran Åkerström gave an update of ongoing research projects taking place, including a trial with sniffer dogs in endurance.

The project, in collaboration with Swedish University of Agriculture, involves using sniffer dogs to detect microdoses of heart-rate lowering substances – prohibited under the FEI’s equine anti-doping and controlled medication regulations (EDCMRs) – in horse saliva.

Mr Åkerström said that in endurance there is a heart rate cap of 64.

“If a horse has a 65 it cannot continue. Why is that in place? It’s because if a horse’s heart rate is too high, it’s probably too tired,” he said, adding that pushing horses with a high heart rate can become “life-threatening”.

“What we sadly have observed is that very few people, but they do exist, have medicated horses with substances that lower heart rate. They are short-acting and they are microdosed, so we wouldn’t find them in regular testing. We needed a testing method that was non-invasive, so we started looking at saliva.”

Mr Åkerström said that a dog would be used to sniff custom-made swabs that have been in a horse’s mouth for one to three minutes. The dog would sniff a range of samples and if the dog detects a positive case, then that horse will be immediately blood tested and this sample will go to the lab.

“If the sample is positive, that could be grounds for a legal case for violations of the EDCMRs,” said Mr Åkerström.

“We have a proof of concept; we know that micro-dosed substances administered intravenously can be detected in saliva afterwards by trained dogs,” said Åkerström, adding the dog can also detect substances in horse saliva that have been given orally.

“The concentrations that the dog can detect is just incredible – we’re talking picograms (one-trillionth of a gram), so the dog is more sensitive than the lab. But we will always only use the lab for any legal purposes.”

Mr Åkerström added that using sniffer dogs would be a “selection method for targeting samples” and could “potentially save horse lives” – as well as acting as a “good deterrent”.

The project is ongoing and field tests will take place in July.

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The owner of the top endurance horse J St Jake has paid tribute to his “indomitable will” and love of his sport after his death aged 29.

In 18 consecutive seasons, Jake and Helen McFarland represented Ireland over some of the toughest rides there and in Britain. They completed 19 160km/100-mile rides, Jake’s last at the age of 24. Among their most notable achievements were winning the Scottish and northern championships and a premier award at the Golden Horseshoe Ride.

Helen told H&H she bought 14.2hh Jake, who was by an Arab stallion and out of a traditional Connemara mare, when he was seven.

“He was sold as a hunting pony but one who was too strong for a child!” she said. “As soon as I saw him, I knew there was Arab in him, and as soon as I rode him, I realised he loved nothing more than to go.”

Helen and Jake took on shorter rides of 40-60km in their first season together but by their second, were ready for the 160km challenge. Helen explained that it is unusual for horses to get to this level in their second season but Jake’s fitness from hunting, and junior eventing, plus his enjoyment of endurance, meant he was happy to take on the challenge.

“We did the Cairngorm 160km four times, which no other horse has done,” she said. “I think there are some who have done two but he did four, in consecutive years.

“In rides like the Cairngorm, there are fewer riders at that ultimate level so you’re often on your own, with your horse for company, so you really need to enjoy each other’s company and have a horse who’s a willing partner. And you only have to think; almost before you’ve put your leg on, the horse is keen to go.”

Jake’s love of going made him stand out, Helen said, adding: “Anyone who rode him – and very few were prepared to! – or ever saw him towing grown men around the vet gate while impatient to return to the route, realised that control was something to aspire to rather than a realistic expectation. It’s quite ignominious, being carted by a 14.2hh!

“I got the feeling, the first endurance ride I took him on; I felt him sigh, as if to say ‘This is what I was made for. Thank you’. That first ride was in the Wicklow Hills, which isn’t for the faint-hearted but after three and a half hours, he was still pulling like a train. From his first ride, he was in love with the sport and wanted nothing more than to chase down those miles. He was an absolute pet to deal with; a kind horse who no one could say a bad word about – and with an indomitable will.”

Helen also remembered the second day of a Red Dragon ride (pictured) when having completed 50 miles on the first day, aged 20, Jake came out ears pricked, desperate to take on the next day’s challenge.

Helen was keen to point out the differences between endurance as she knows it and that in some other countries.

“This type of endurance is the absolute opposite to certain types of competition,” she said. “It’s never about speed, we do it for the pleasure that both horse and rider get from it.”

But having recorded just over 11,000km (6,837 miles) with Helen, Jake was retired after his final Cairngorm ride in 2019; he had a minor injury a few weeks later, then the next year, a heart murmur he had became slightly more troubling.

“I thought ‘That’s it’,” Helen said. “He had a retirement anybody would be happy to have, living on 20 acres with his friend.

“He’d been great until the end of August, then started losing a bit of condition. Bloods were clear, his teeth were done and there was no obvious reason, then one morning he was gone – like everything else, he took the decision out of my hands.

“There’s no easy thing when you love them so much, it rips you apart, but I think, and hope, he had a fantastic life. He enriched everything in the 23 years we shared.”

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A rescued pony stepped in at the last minute to help a young rider to a dream win in the national para endurance championship.

Alfie-Jay Errington won the 23km Endurance GB Emerald Championship with Redwings Milky Way, a 20-year-old Welsh pony who has been taking part in endurance rides for over a decade with his rehomers Niamh and Sarah Richardson.

“Niamh Richardson, 16, and her mum Sarah were attending the Lion’s Tail Endurance Ride in Leicestershire on 24 September when they heard that Alfie-Jay was sadly unable to take part in Endurance GB’s para endurance national championships because his pony was lame,” a spokesperson for Redwings said.

“Not wanting Alfie to miss his shot at the championship, Niamh offered Alfie the ride on Redwings Milky Way.”

Sarah rode alongside Alfie-Jay and Milky Way, who were victorious.

Alfie-Jay’s mother Sophie Errington said: “Alfie has learning difficulties that make life a little hard to handle for him at times, but he has found his sport in endurance as everyone is so kind and understanding. All he had talked about for a month was the para championships, and we are so grateful for the kindness of Niamh and Sarah, and Redwings Milky Way, who is such a beautiful and understanding pony, for the fact he was still able to take part. For them to win was just a bonus.”

Milky Way was one of a large group of ponies rescued by Redwings from common land in Wales in 2004.

“Due to problems with indiscriminate breeding, overpopulation, disease and malnutrition, the ponies faced a challenging future on the commons,” the spokesperson said, adding that Redwings and others rescued all the ponies in need.

Sarah Richardson said Milky Way is very experienced, so she and Niamh knew he would look after Alfie-Jay.

“Lots of riders passing us were calling out to Milky Way, and Alfie asked me why,” she said.

“I explained that he’s a bit famous after his long and successful endurance career and Alfie loved that! Alfie regularly competes in Superman or Batman colours, and it was Superman that day – which felt especially apt as Redwings Milky Way saved the day!”

The Richardsons also rehomed Redwings Heron, a 30-year-old pony who has been part of the family since 2010.

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The FEI Tribunal has dismissed a Spanish request to the FEI to overturn a ground jury decision and pay €1,000, after a horse went missing for two hours during a championship competition.

The Spanish equestrian federation appealed the ruling of the ground jury during the young riders European Endurance Championships last September, owing to an “unusual set of facts”.

The dispute related to Clara Latorre Sala, the person responsible or PR, and the horse Eryvan, who were on the Spanish team. During the first phase of competition, Clara fell from Eryvan, who “left without the rider”, the FEI Tribunal report states.

“After some [searching], the horse was ultimately found a couple of hours later,” the report adds. “The horse then returned to the veterinarian gate in the competition area, was checked by a veterinarian and deemed fit to compete.”

The report states that the president of the ground jury offered the rider the chance to go back to the point of the fall and continue from there, but counting the elapsed time. The rider and the Spanish federation refused this, “as they considered that the combination should have restarted from the vet gate, where [the horse] had been taken without the PR and appellant’s consent”.

The president of the ground jury refused this, the horse was eliminated and the appellant lodged a protest, which the president later dismissed.

After the competition, the federation lodged the appeal to the Tribunal, asking for the president of the ground jury’s decision to be dismissed, and for the FEI to pay the €1,000 “for the damages caused to the Spanish team due to the negligence of the competition officials and the organising committee” and “which could be quantified as the competition fee”. The federation also wanted an investigation to “clarify the responsibilities that may be appropriate for the removal of the horse from the field of play without the consent of the PR”.

The FEI’s position was that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to adjudicate in “a clear field-of-play decision”.

The Spanish federation said that once Clara had fallen, Spanish officials were looking for the horse, with the aim of returning him to the site of the fall, to continue. The federation said it was someone from the organising committee who found him, and was told to take him to the clinic at the main venue, “leaving the field of play without informing the PR”, and “transported without the PR’s consent”. The federation added that its aim in its initial request was to ensure the combination could “continue the competition in a fair and competitive manner”, and that going back to the fall site would have “created a big disadvantage”.

The FEI’s position was that the ground jury president told the rider restarting from the vet gate “was not feasible” and that the decision was a field-of-play one, so “immune from any further challenge”. The FEI added that restarting from the fall site was allowed in the rules, but restarting from the vet gate was not.

The Tribunal agreed that it was a field-of-play decision, so “not appealable in front of the Tribunal”, noting that the appellant did not lodge a protest within 30 minutes of the announcement of the results.

“Rather, the appellant seeks monetary compensation”, the report states.

The Tribunal said it was not in a position to hear the issue, and it was considered inadmissible. The Spanish federation will have to pay costs of CHF500 (£455).

Hannah Bradley, consultant solicitor at Setfords Solicitors, told H&H: “Albeit that this case turns on a very unusual set of facts, it is a reminder that if the applicable regulations preclude a right of appeal, a Tribunal is unlikely to interfere with the decision of a ground jury or steward. These regulations are drafted keeping in mind the special perspective, insight and experience which those responsible for making such rulings at competitions hold.”

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The use of whips has been banned in some rides by Endurance GB (EGB) as it “remains committed to being at the forefront of equine welfare”.

The board and members of the national governing body for endurance voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of banning the use of whips, and the use of any other item as a whip, in all competitive endurance rides (CERs) affiliated to EGB from 2024. Whips will still be allowed in graded endurance rides.

The vote, at the EGB AGM on 25 November, brings EGB in line with the FEI, which also bans whips, and any item used as one, at all times on the field of play and in training areas.

“Key elements of the AGM are board and member proposals to make changes to the rules that govern the sport,” an EGB spokesman said. “These rule changes are voted on by the membership and ensure the sport remains agile and in touch with the environment in which it operates.

“With the current focus on the equestrian world’s ‘social licence to operate’ the board of Endurance GB and members voted overwhelmingly to ban the use of whips (or the use of any other item as a whip) in all competitive endurance rides affiliated to Endurance GB.

“Endurance riding in the UK remains committed to being at the forefront of equine welfare and biosecurity.”

EGB chair Phil Nunnerley told H&H the welfare of the horse is “considered to be paramount in endurance riding”, and that the ban on whips is “consistent with the priority attached to welfare”.

British international endurance rider Harry Ingram added: “We haven’t had whips at FEI level for a long time so this rule brings the more competitive national classes in line with the international rules.

“Horses generally want to eat up the miles in endurance, so there really is no reason to carry a whip and what better way to really put horse welfare first than to ban them altogether?”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Aachen has been named as the main 2026 equestrian World Championships venue – as Burghley loses its bid to host the eventing.

It was confirmed during an FEI board meeting, at the FEI General Assembly on 18 November, that the showjumping, dressage, para dressage, eventing, driving and vaulting World Championships will be held in Aachen, Germany, from 10–23 August 2026. Al Ula in Saudi Arabia will host the endurance on 17 October 2026.

In August, the FEI revealed the five shortlisted bidders across the disciplines: Aachen, which applied to host six disciplines; Burghley and the Netherlands’ Boekelo, which both applied to host the eventing; and Samorin, Slovakia and Al Ula, which both applied to host the endurance. Burghley had held the World Championships twice before, in 1966 and 1974. Aachen is known for its summer CHIO, and the venue held the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

FEI president Ingmar de Vos said the allocation is a “significant decision for the future of equestrian sport”.

“We examined every aspect of the bids we received and especially the sporting infrastructures, the conditions for the horses, accessibility and sustainability. The FEI is delighted to have secured such outstanding hosts for our most prestigious championships three years in advance, which allows plenty of time for preparation and planning,” he said.

“I would like to congratulate the winners, who submitted outstanding bids. We are all well aware of Aachen’s unique track record of organising extremely successful large-scale events. We were impressed with Al Ula’s proposal, which not only contains all the components of a successful event, but seeks to showcase the heritage and potential of an entire region.”

Mr de Vos thanked all organisers who took part in the process, for their “strong bids and commitment to the sport”.

“It was not easy to choose between such strong bids. We hope that those who didn’t get it this time will consider bidding for future events,” he said.

CHIO Aachen general manager Michael Mronz thanked the FEI for its “trust”, and said the venue “feels honoured” to host the championships with the German equestrian federation.

“We would like to invite the world of equestrian sport to Aachen so that we can celebrate an unforgettable event together in 2026,” he said.

Former Burghley course-designer Captain Mark Phillips told H&H: “I think it’s sad that in 2022 the FEI went down a devolved route with different disciplines being at different venues, which worked really well for television audiences, because it meant it wasn’t an overdose of equestrian television over a short period of time. After one World Games the FEI has gone back to allocating it all to one venue.”

Al Ula named as 2026 equestrian World Championships venue for endurance

An FEI spokesman said Al Ula is undergoing “spectacular development as a nature, cultural, education and sporting centre”, and the venue is home to the annual Fursan Endurance Cup.

“The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (SAEF) and the Royal Commission for Al Ula have collaborated to secure this honourable hosting opportunity,” said SAEF president HH Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Saud.

“This responsibility weighs greatly upon us, and we are confident that Al Ula will deliver an authentic and unprecedented sporting experience within a unique and fascinating context.”

It was also decided at the board meeting that Samorin will host the 2025 European Dressage Championships, from 28–31 August. The endurance Euros will run at Castiglione del Lago, Italy on 6 September 2025, and the vaulting at Stadl Paura, Austria, from 30 July– 3 August 2025. The driving will take place in Lähden, Germany – around the end of August/beginning of September, with the date to be confirmed.

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A rider who “escaped”, and “ran away” when FEI officials wanted to take a mandatory sample for dope-testing after his horse failed a hyposensitivity test, has been suspended for two years.

The FEI Tribunal has ruled on the case of Saudi Arabian rider Ayedh Al Maghamer, in relation to a charge of evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection, with eight-year-old Talaqah at a CEI1* endurance ride in Saudi Arabia on 11 February this year.

“The horse was selected for a mandatory in-competition doping control test after the failed hyposensitivity examination but the PR [person responsible, Al Maghamer] refused testing and escaped with the horse, which prompted these proceedings,” the Tribunal report states.

Hyposensitivity testing involves monitoring a horse’s reaction when pressure is applied to a limb using a blunt “pin” in three tests. Under FEI rules, if the horse does not react to a set level of pressure, he is marked as hyposensitive and disqualified. This leads to a mandatory four-week stand-down period from competition for the horse, plus dope-testing to check for nerve-blocking agents, among other possible substances.

In Al Maghamer’s case, the FEI officials said the rider “insisted on being retested” after the standard three tests.

“He then ran away from the steward accompanying him to EADCMP [equine anti-doping and controlled medication programme],” the official’s report stated. “He refused EADCMP testing.”

The officials’ report added that Talaqah was “too fractious to test” at the first two vet gates, and “could not be approached safely”, but at the third vet gate, the officials “decided he must be tested”.

“The groom restrained by applying a hand lip twitch,” the report states. “We could then safely apply the boots and actuators. The groom released his hand from the horse’s lip, so the horse was not restrained in any way during the test. After being informed that his horse had abnormal findings (in the hyposensitivity testing) in his left foreleg and was disqualified,, the PR was angry and kept requesting further testing, which we politely refused. He was accompanied by a steward and a national judge for EADMCP but refused testing and escaped with his horse.”

The FEI said the ground jury told Al Maghamer of the consequences of failing to submit the horse for sample collection but “nonetheless, the PR disappeared with his horse, which resulted in the impossibility to conduct an in-competition test”.

The only submission from Al Maghamer in relation to the proceedings was: “I objected to the committee’s decision regarding the fine and suspension, because the committee present at the race did not inform me that a blood sample had been taken from the horse. They only said exclusion because the horse did not sense the sensitivity device, and the passport was received and the chip was handed over, and the committee did not inform me of the analysis.”

The Tribunal was “comfortably satisfied” that Al Maghamer had breached anti-doping rules, stating: “The Tribunal agrees with the FEI that evading, refusing or failing to submit the horse to sample collection is a very serious offence. Indeed, the entire anti-doping system, as well as the integrity and credibility of the equestrian sport, relies on the cooperation and abidance by the rules, of all participants in the context of the testing procedures.”

The Tribunal ruled that the combination be disqualified from the event. Al Maghamer was banned for two years, fined CHF7,500 (£6,848) and ordered to pay CHF2,000 in costs.

Hannah Bradley, solicitor at The Equine Law Firm, told H&H FEI rules make it clear that failure to submit a horse for sample collection is a serious matter.

“The indicative period of ineligibility in the rules for evading sample collection is significantly higher than the indicative period of ineligibility for a positive controlled substance test, and equal to the indicative period of ineligibility for a positive banned substance test,” she said.

“It is also important to note that the FEI’s equine anti-doping rules apply a ‘strict liability’ principle to rule breaches. This means that unless the person responsible can prove that they bear “no fault or negligence” they will be liable for the violation, even if the breach of the rules was accidental.

“The outcome of this case is a reminder to parties to cooperate promptly with disciplinary investigations and to seek advice, where possible. Whilst the substantive outcome of this tribunal may not have been different had the respondent given his full cooperation, he would have likely received a reduced fine.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Mike Bell, the respected member of the endurance community finished the “endurance ride of life” on 9 June, aged 82.

The sport played a big part of Mr Bell’s life with his horses, Border Isca and Border Pascale. His partnership with them took him from pleasure rides to being a gold series rider in the early days of the Scottish Endurance Riding Club (SERC) border branch.

Mr Bell served as chairman of the border branch and, along with the Endurance Horse and Pony Society and the British Endurance Riding Association (together now Endurance GB), was involved with Hadrian’s Challenge, a competition between branches surrounding Hadrian’s Wall, which ran for 21 years.

When Endurance GB was formed, Mr Bell was SERC’s representative and elected as part of the management board for endurance riders in the north for several years. He adored his horses and they gave him their all, competing in the Golden Horseshoe ride several times. He was man of the month in Horse & Hound one year when he came back after a life-threatening virus, which added to his mobility disabilities.

He managed to combine competing all over Britain with selling Ortho-Flex saddles and equipment, trading as Border Trails Endurance, at the same time. His horse was passed to his adoring “crew’, his wife Sally, while Mr Bell would be off to the tradestand to sell saddles. He also was widely known for his riding holiday business that he ran with Sally in Northumberland in the 1980s.

Endurance riding, helping run events and promoting the sport with information stands for Endurance GB was what kept him going. Disability and ill-health blighted the last few years of his life. The sport of endurance may have changed but his involvement in it, with his enthusiasm and love of horses, will be remembered by his friends from way back. To finish really is to win.

He leaves Sally, son Jameson, and grandson Harrison.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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A 70-year-old endurance specialist who won four awards, including the premier and top lady titles, at the famous Golden Horseshoe ride (21–22 May) has proved that age is no barrier if you have the right ingredients, including the right horse.

Candy Cameron, who is a British Horse Society stage four coach, runs Loch Ness Riding in Inverness and she has been riding and training endurance horses since the 1980s. She first rode in the Golden Horseshoe, a 160 km endurance ride across Exmoor National Park, 35 years ago in 1988.

In 2023, Candy’s horse Ell Daam (Al) also won the highly-regarded Best Condition award at the event, replicating the result of her former horse, White Trooper, who took home the Best Condition prize once during his career.

Al, a 10-year-old pure-bred Arab, was brought over from France, as Candy explains: “This was his first attempt [at the Horseshoe] but he was brilliant. He’s the ultimate endurance horse. He doesn’t over do it at the start and he doesn’t try to race the others, which some horses often do. When you look at him you wouldn’t think he’s going to set the world alight, but he gets on with the job at hand. You need a horse who is going to cross the finish line, as in endurance to finish is to win!”

The Golden Horseshoe is held over two days.

“It can be an energy-sapping ride due to the weather and the rocky, stoney terrain, hard ground and deep heather we have to move across,” says Candy, who has also ridden from Windsor to Versailles, and in other rides across the world during her career.

Candy Cameron drove from Inverness to Exmoor to compete in the Golden Horseshoe. She spreads the journey over two days, with regular breaks.

“We stop over and turn the horses out so they can have a rest and a graze,” Candy says. “Training wise, I would usually take a horse on at least two rides of 60km or so in length ahead of the Horseshoe. I would space them out about three weeks apart. It’s not just about the fitness; a horse needs to get used to moving over the terrain. If you’re constantly riding them on surfaces, they won’t be able to cope with the twists and turns underfoot. I also advise riders to work on their schooling, incorporating lateral work so the horse becomes more supple and gets stronger.”

When asked what makes her return to the iconic ride year after year, Candy says: “I love riding in beautiful places and enjoying the British countryside. We’re so lucky in endurance to be able to experience all the lovely terrain and stunning views on horseback.

“Endurance is also a family sport. You often see generation after generation coming up through the levels. It’s something everyone can get involved in.

“And of course, we love our horses. Their welfare is paramount.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Bahrain has been stripped of its world endurance team gold medal after one of its horses tested positive for an anabolic steroid at the re-scheduled championships in Butheeb, UAE, (20–26 February).

Hera Durances, ridden by Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed, was found to have the banned substance stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolo inl her system. These are anabolic steroids used to improve performance by promoting muscular development.

FEI anti-doping rules state that banned substances have “no legitimate use in the competition horse and/or have a high potential for abuse” and “are not permitted for use in the competition horse at any time”.

The horse was disqualified, so the Bahraini team no longer had three counting scores. This means the world team title has been reallocated to France, Portugal takes team silver and Italy bronze.

“While it is never optimal to have medals redistributed following an event due to medication control and anti-doping-related offences, we view this as confirmation that the systems we have in place are thorough and effective”, said FEI legal director Mikael Rentsch.

“The FEI’s clean sport programme has extensive processes to ensure we not only educate the community, but also have the tools to follow up and uphold the rules at play in order to guarantee a level playing field, and safeguard the welfare of our human and equine athletes.”

The rider, Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed, and trainer, Muhammad Abbas Khalid, both “explicitly admitted” the rule violation, according to their FEI Tribunal consent awards. Their admissions meant that their bans were both reduced by six months.

This means both were given an 18-month period of ineligibility (suspension), instead of two years. They were each fined CHF5,000 (£4,435) and ordered to pay CHF1,000 for the B-sample testing.

The horse, Hera Durances, was provisionally suspended for two months from 20 March, which the 11-year-old mare has now served and is back competing, finishing second at a ride this month with another rider.

H&H has approached the Bahraini and French federations for comment.

A statement confirming the new result on the French federation website said: “France, which had won gold at the World Equestrian Games in 1994, 2002 and 2006 and finished 2nd in 2010 and 2014, confirms its position as the leading nation in the discipline and has once again demonstrated its irreproachable team spirit, which has allowed to win this new world title.”

A spokesman for campaign group Clean Endurance told H&H it “finds it deeply regrettable that yet again endurance is sullied by a doping case at a major championship”.

“Although we are satisfied with the FEI’s due process which led to the Bahrain team gold medal being rescinded, we very much regret that team France did not get the highest podium on the day,” said the spokesman.

“Their team-based ‘to finish is to win’ strategy, as well as their horsemanship, comforted many endurance stakeholders in their belief that our sport could still have a future.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The FEI is debating an increase to the minimum age for horses in international endurance, with the age Arabian horses reach maturity and their long-term wellbeing in mind.

It is looking at upping the minimum age of horses in one-star rides from six to seven years old. This would not affect the “novice” qualification level, which is open to horses aged five and above.

“Many of the Arabian horses which predominate in the sport of endurance do not reach physical maturity by the age of six,” states the FEI proposal, adding that the suggested change is “to protect younger horses from competing at excessive speed in CEI*”.

The idea was debated during the FEI Sports Forum (24–25 April). Some suggested a speed cap for younger horses instead of a change to the minimum age, others voiced concerns about the impact an extra year of care would have on breeders. An appeal was made to all federations to share their data and research with the FEI.

Equine vet and deputy chairman of the FEI endurance committee Sarah Coombs explained the reasoning behind the proposal and also agreed to consider the idea of capped speeds for horses stepping up to CEI*.

“All the time, we’re looking at our rules through the lens of what’s best for horse welfare, as of course you are as well,” said Dr Coombs.

“There’s emerging evidence across the disciplines that the excessive demands put on young horses shortens the length of their athletic careers, and possibly puts those horses at risk. As everyone in the room knows, different horses mature at different rates.

“What we were very conscious of is you have a horse going from a fixed speed national ride and then straight into his first CEI*, where we know the speeds are highest.

“We wanted to do something about that juxtaposition to protect the interests of these younger horses and hopefully mean they will go on for a long time.”

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Bahrain may lose its world team gold medal after one of its horses tested positive for an anabolic steroid.

The 11-year-old mare Hera Durances, ridden by Abdulrahman Mohammed Alzayed and trained by Muhammad Abbas Khalid, tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol and its metabolite 16-beta-hydroxystanozolol. The positive finding came following samples taken at the FEI Endurance World Championship in Butheeb, UAE (20 to 26 February).

Hera Durances finished 18th individually, so any ramifications will not impact the individual medals. But her score counted towards Bahrain’s team total. And as only three of the five-strong team produced counting scores, if she is disqualified, the team will lose its medal.

At present, France holds team silver, with Portugal in bronze and Italy fourth.

The FEI clean sport database states that although anabolic steroids have been used in instances with “bona fide medical intent, [they] have also been used illicitly in equine sports to attempt to improve performance, mainly due to their effect of promoting muscular development”.

“The use of anabolic steroids long term, or at high doses carries significant risks,” it adds.

Stanozolol is listed as a banned substance, which means it is defined by the FEI as having “no legitimate use in the competition horse and/or have a high potential for abuse”. The FEI states that banned substances “are not permitted for use in the competition horse at any time”.

An FEI spokesman told H&H: “The athlete, as well as the trainer, have provisionally been suspended as of 20 March 2023. Both now have 20 days to get back to the FEI. The horse has also been provisionally suspended until 19 May 2023.”

She added: “While the proceedings are ongoing the FEI cannot provide any further information.”

H&H has attempted to contact the Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation for comment.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Philippa Verry is an extraordinary horsewoman, not that she’d like you to think of her as exceptional. She’s ridden at Olympia, hunted throughout her life with various packs, and – in her late 50s – turned her hand to endurance riding, and winning. All this without the use of her arms, since she was born without them as a side-effect of thalidomide. But Philippa has never let this apparent disadvantage deter her from achieving anything she wants in the equestrian world.

“I am not disabled,” she says, when H&H visits her Devon yard. “I can do whatever anyone else does. I have never had any problem doing anything; some jobs just take me longer. There’s always a way if you want to do something badly enough.”

Philippa credits her paternal grandmother, who brought her up, for giving her the self-belief and attitude that “anything is possible”. She arranged riding lessons for the young Philippa with the inspirational Anne Gascoigne, who imbued her not only with a passion for horses but her optimistic outlook.

Philippa has no groom at home, so does all the stable chores herself. The place is immaculate. Here’s a snapshot of a day on Philippa Verry’s yard, as she demonstrates how she grooms, tacks up and prepares her horses for riding.

Philippa, aged 60, is more flexible than most people half her age. She explains that she does most jobs with her feet and toes that would typically be done with hands and fingers. With a horse that’s new to the yard, she goes about the jobs slowly for a day or so while they get used to her way of doing things.

“If it’s a two-handed job, I need to sit so I can use two feet,” Philippa explains. “I have chairs all round the yard – I buy them at the tip for a pound.”

And when it comes to tacking up, she uses a specially constructed platform so that she can sit at a convenient height to put the bridle on.

When it comes to riding, nothing holds Philippa back. In her 20s, she won a dressage scholarship at Windsor Park Equestrian Club, which she took up to train with John Lassetter. And although she’s had opportunities to pursue a para dressage career, on reflection she decided “it wasn’t for me”.

“I have the utmost admiration and respect for para riders, she says. “What they’ve achieved is incredible; that extra bit of grit and determination to do what they’ve done. People say I’d be such an inspiration, but as I’ve always competed on level terms, for me that is the achievement. I just consider myself as someone who rides in a unique way.”

Her tack is adapted so that the reins attach to the stirrups, and she finesses the contact with her toes.

Philippa likens her specialised reins to using side-reins for lungeing.

“You wouldn’t think twice about doing that,”she says. “But what I do has more give because I can soften with my feet whereas side-reins attached to the tack cannot.”

Philippa is a relatively new convert to endurance riding. After her first novice ride, she came back buzzing: “I knew there and then endurance was going to be my new passion. I found it the most friendly sport I’ve ever been involved in, made lovely friends along the way, and I absolutely love it. That wonderful bond that you build with your horse after spending so many hours in the saddle together over every sort of terrain imaginable. Totally trusting and respecting each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“It is a wonderful sport, it’s not ‘win at all costs’, horse welfare is paramount and everyone helps each other, even though it’s competitive. I’ve never known anything like it.”

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“Horses will die” is the warning from campaigners, in response to the World Endurance Championships’ move to the UAE. The event had been to run in Verona in October, but the FEI pulled the plug as horse and rider safety “could not be guaranteed”.

The FEI reopened bidding and six venues were in the mix, including Samorin, Slovakia, and Pisa, Italy, both of which have previously hosted the event. But it will run at Boudheib International Endurance Village (BIEV), in February.

The FEI said “the safety and security of human and equine athletes is the FEI’s top priority”, and a spokesman added: “Under the guidance and support of the late former deputy UAE prime minister HH Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Boudheib protocol initiative was implemented in BIEV and other venues to ensure that the welfare of the horses and horsemanship prevail.”

But Sheikh Sultan, driver of the horse welfare-led initiative, died three years ago.

“Clean Endurance had high hopes the FEI would attribute the championships to a venue that not only more closely resembles the terrain and conditions the horses have been prepared for, but also lacks the negative associations in terms of horse welfare and rule infringements the UAE has been known and suspended for in the recent past,” a spokesman for campaign group Clean Endurance told H&H. “The fact the FEI mentions the, to our knowledge, long-defunct Boudheib initiative, and states that the competition will benefit from forestry tracks, fringes on disingenuous in our opinion. Equestrian sports have a lot of work to do to maintain their social licence, and we believe this decision is counterproductive in that regard.”

The spokesman said that after all the efforts made to clean up endurance “we’ve gone back 10-15 years”, and the campaigners cannot understand why the UAE was chosen.

“I don’t think there’s much we can do now as the Boudhieb thing is something people know about, but we’ll be keeping an eye out, and watching the live stream. But for sure, horses will die and be injured. No doubt.”

FEI president Ingmar de Vos said the federation was “very pleased with the decision”.

“The FEI board was impressed with the world-class permanent infrastructure and facilities offered by the BIEV and the proven ability of the organisers to guarantee all the logistical organisation for our human and equine athletes in a short period of time,” he said.

“The safety and security of human and equine athletes is the FEI’s top priority, and the organiser’s track record of commitment to horse welfare was a key factor. We are confident the organisers will [run] a championship to remember and that the venue will deliver on all its promises.”

The spokesman told H&H: “The FEI board was well aware of previous issues with the discipline in the UAE, but also noted that those issues did not involve the BIEV and that previous sanctions imposed had been served. Therefore, the FEI is confident that with the procedures and protocols now contained in the FEI endurance rules, horse welfare will be safeguarded during the entire staging of the event.”

An Endurance GB spokesman told H&H its board was disappointed by the decision to remove the event from Verona but understands the reasons.

“The FEI have emphasised that in reaching their decision, the safety and security of human and equine athletes was considered paramount,” she said. “They have highlighted the fact that the organisers have a track record of commitment to horse welfare and outstanding facilities to back it up.

“Endurance GB recognises that the FEI now has a burden of responsibility to ensure delivery of a world-class championship event, with absolutely no compromise on horse welfare or fairness. With this expectation, the board supports their choice, based on these parameters.”

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Italy is bidding to retain its position as host of the 2022 endurance World Championships after the plug was pulled weeks ahead of the scheduled event.

This year’s championships were set to be held in Verona from 19 to 23 October, but were cancelled in September as the safety of horses and riders “could not be guaranteed” (news, 15 September).

“This was not a decision we took lightly, as we fully understand the ramifications it will have, but we had to take our responsibilities and respect the assessment of our technical experts,” FEI president Ingmar De Vos said at the time.

The FEI reopened the bidding, and has extended the cut-off date for the 2022 championships to be held to 30 April 2023.

Six venues are in the mix, with a decision due in November. These are: Bouthib in the United Arab Emirates (between 26 and 29 January or 20 and 26 February); the French venue of Fontainebleau (25 March); Lisbon in Portugal (between 31 March and 1 April); Punta del Este in Uruguay (22 April); Samorin in Slovakia (29 April); or keeping the event on Italian soil in Pisa (29 April).

Italia Endurance asd and Sistemaeventi.it srl, the same organising committee that hosted the 2021 World Championships in Pisa, has put its hat in the ring to take on the rescheduled 2022 fixture, with a view to running it again at the Pisa San Rossore racecourse.

Gianluca Laliscia, chief executive and chairman of Sistemaventi.it srl, said they have the “full support of the Italian Equestrian Federation”.

“It is our objective to create a very environmentally friendly and eco-sustainable event, such as the one hosted in 2021,” he said.

Mr Laliscia added the venue offers an “already tested” track, excellent infrastructure, technical services and an expert organising committee.

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A 14-year-old rider who was told she would “never be an athlete” owing to a heart condition, is excelling in a new discipline with her former racehorse.

Warwickshire-based Amber Boiles was born with tetralogy of Fallot, a condition where a person’s heart has four defects. Amber had a hole in her heart, one ventricle too big, one too small, and another ventricle problem.

Lee Sterrey, Amber’s mum, told H&H her daughter had surgery to fix the condition when she was around a year old but doctors warned she would struggle with sport in the future.

Despite this, Amber learned to ride aged three and enjoyed competing in showjumping. In November 2021 she bought former Flat racehorse, Ignacio Zuloaga, known at home as Wilson. When she discovered Wilson had been retrained by his previous owner Ness Woodhouse to compete in endurance, Amber decided to attend an event.

“I wasn’t looking for an ex-racehorse but we found him and sort of fell in love. When you think of a thoroughbred you often think they’re quite hot headed, but he’s the opposite,” Amber told H&H.

“The plan had been to continue in showjumping because that’s what I’ve done my whole life, but we discovered Wilson really doesn’t like poles. When Ness suggested I come along to one of her endurance rides I found that Wilson really enjoyed it, and I thought we’ll keep going. I’ve always enjoyed going on long hacks, and Wilson seems to enjoy getting to look around at the views and not really having to focus, the way he would have in racing.”

Amber and Wilson were fifth in their first 26km graded event in April, and Wilson was awarded grade one – the highest grade – for fitness. The pair went on to complete a number of team events, including being part of the Hearts ‘n’ Cromwell winning team at the inter-regionals earlier in the year.

When the team qualified for the Endurance GB Red Dragon Festival in Wales in September but were unable to attend, Amber decided to enter the two-day Dragon’s Claw Challenge at the festival as an individual. Amber and Wilson won the challenge and Amber was awarded the young rider trophy for the entire event.

“Every ride I had done leading up to it had been on flat land with only little hills, so I definitely wasn’t expecting what I saw in Wales. Some of the hills were practically vertical,” said Amber.

“On the first day I started to struggle with my breathing as Wilson had become quite strong, and a rider that came up behind stopped to check I was ok. It’s really nice that everyone really looks out for each other. I was exhausted when I got back but I was not going to let that stop me competing on the second day. I wanted to complete the challenge for Wilson.”

Amber, who hopes to continue with endurance and see more young riders in the sport, said she does not let her heart condition stop her.

“When I was younger I tried tetrathlon but I really started to struggle with swimming and running, but equestrian sport suits me a lot better. You have two brains to think about, not just your own, so I’m more thinking about Wilson than what I’m doing,” said Amber.

“Because I have a condition I’m different to people, but I’m not really different. I don’t want to be brought down or compete in a lower class, I want to be up there. The doctors said I would never be an athlete but that sentence has stuck in my head and I want to prove them wrong.”

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Safety concerns for horses and riders have led to the plug being pulled on the FEI Endurance World Championships at the 11th hour.

The FEI has reopened the bid process for the 2022 championships after terminating the agreement with the Verona organising committee with less than six weeks to go. The 2022 championships were originally set to be held from 19 to 23 October, but the FEI has now extended the time-frame within which the event can be held to 30 April 2023.

“This was not a decision we took lightly, as we fully understand the ramifications it will have, but we had to take our responsibilities and respect the assessment of our technical experts,” said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.

“We waited until now, because we had genuinely hoped that the issues that had been previously raised with the organising committee would have been resolved following several site visits and meetings, but unfortunately, this was not the case. To cancel earlier would have been premature, and to cancel any later would have been even more disruptive.”

Mr De Vos added there is “no doubt a lot of hard work and commitment” went into planning the event, from the organising committee, the FEI and experts.

“This is really unfortunate for everyone involved but if the experts are of the opinion that the safety of the athletes – both human and equine – cannot be guaranteed, the [FEI] board has no other option but to follow their recommendations,” he said.

The FEI board confirmed the termination of the host agreement in a teleconference yesterday (8 September). This followed FEI concerns over track readiness, athlete safety and the lack of detailed planning schedules in the lead-up to the championship, which was conveyed to the Verona organising committee on 26 August. The committee was given 10 days to remedy the situation and address issues raised.

The board reviewed information from the organising committee, plus feedback from technical delegates. It noted the tight deadlines for the completion of the track, owing to delays in planning and upgrades, plus constraints on carrying out the work until early October as the Fiera del Riso (risotto festival) was taking place at the same venue.

The board concluded the information was “insufficient to justify maintaining the championship”.

“Athletes around the world, as well as national federations have been preparing for this championship, and we are extremely conscious of the impact the cancellation will have on their plans,” said Mr De Vos.

“However, previous experiences have taught us that there is no room for compromise when it comes to athlete and horse welfare. We will now focus all our attention on finding a new host for the FEI Endurance World Championship.”

The bid process will reopen on Monday (12 September). Qualifications will remain valid and the nominated entries will reopen with an extended qualification window.

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Three venues are preparing to host the new-style equestrian World Championships in 2022, following a step away from the World Equestrian Games (WEG) format of all disciplines at the same venue.

The Italian venues Pratoni del Vivaro and Verona, and Herning in Denmark, are the three hosts for this year’s championships, which will also serve as qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Pratoni del Vivaro is home to the eventing and driving (14–25 September), Verona hosts the endurance on 22 October and Herning will hold the showjumping, para dressage, vaulting and dressage World Championships from 6 to 14 August.

“These well-established venues and organising committees have proven experience in hosting major international events,” FEI director of games operations Tim Hadaway told H&H, adding that they were allocated the championships following a “full evaluation process of the bids”.

“By allocating these multi-discipline championships to Herning and Pratoni del Vivaro, we are working with hosts that already have the necessary experience and required infrastructure to organise world-class equestrian championships.

“Herning is already recognised as one of the biggest exhibition facilities in Denmark, with a very professional forward-thinking team, and a lot of experience behind them.”

He said as dressage World Cup hosts, and a previous venue for the 2013 Europeans, Herning has the infrastructure needed, offering “the best in field of play and training arenas, stabling, great facilities for spectators with the exhibition and shopping villages undercover”.

“Pratoni del Vivaro is an iconic and legendary location for equestrian sport, with many decades of hosting championships and international events at every level,” added Mr Hadaway.

“With a lot of investment going into the site, the historical facilities built to host the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, and again showcased during the 1998 FEI World Equestrian Games, will have a new field of play, a new sand arena being constructed for eventing dressage, as well as new training and warm-up arenas.

“The stables and other infrastructure are also undergoing upgrades to ensure the best possible conditions will be on offer for horses, athletes and grooms alike.

“The partnership between [eventing World Championship] cross-country course-designer Giuseppe della Chiesa, who also represents the organising committee as the director of sport, and his counterpart driving course-designer Josef Middendorf, from Germany, are working closely to ensure the cross-country and driving marathon courses will showcase key features of the historic hills of Pratoni.”

Isola della Scala, where the 160km endurance championship ride will be held on 22 October, has “spectacular scenery”, with the vetgate built outside the historic Pala Rioso.

“The close collaboration between Verona organising committee and Veronafiere-Fieracavalli, organisers of the FEI jumping World Cup and many other major international events, highlights the experience and passion they have to run the 2022 edition, and we are confident they will deliver a truly unique and top-class event,” said Mr Hadaway.

Herning, home to the 2013 European Championships, is expecting 200,000 spectators across the nine days of championship competition.

“We have an ambition to make Herning2022 a multi-event with the sport as the centre of attention,” said Jens Trabjerg, Herning’s chief executive of sport.

The Stutteri Ask Stadium, a 120m x 72m main arena, will be home to the dressage and showjumping World Championship classes. Dutchman Louis Konickx, technical delegate at the Tokyo Olympics, is confirmed as showjumping course designer.

The para dressage World Championship classes will be held in a newly built outdoor arena – the BB Horse Arena – which seats around 2,500. Vaulting will take place indoors at the Jyske Bank Boxen, a major concert arena at the venue.

Competitors will also have access to three warm-up arenas next to the Stutteri Ask Stadium, including one indoor, plus four surfaces near the stables, a lunge arena, and a hand-grazing area.

“The planning is on track, and we experience a completely overwhelming interest from many sides to be part of this World Championships,” added Casper Cassøe Krüth, chief executive of operations.

Herning organisers will hold a major international dressage and showjumping fixture in March to showcase the facilities. FEI representatives will be attending, to oversee testing of the arena footing and see how preparations are advancing for the championships.

Carola Brighenti, sport manager at Pratoni del Vivaro 2022, told H&H that this is a “historic venue” for equestrian sport in Italy and the benefits these championships bring are hoped to span far beyond one week in September.

Excitement is building for the pre-championship test event this spring, as well as the lasting gift the investment in the site is hoped to bring.

“A very important part is that there is a huge legacy project for the venue,” she said, adding that the aim is for it to host more international fixtures in future.

“We are very focused on the test event and championships, but hopefully the venue will be a multi-discipline venue for everyone after.”

A total of 12 nations are intending to send eventing teams to the test event (11–15 May), which kicks off a run of top-tier competition in the Rome area.

“We have the eventing, then the driving [18 to 22 May], and the following week is the five-star showjumping Piazza di Siena – it’s going to be an amazing three weeks of equestrian sport in the same city,” she added.

• Ticket box office and volunteer applications are open for both Pratoni and Herning. For information, visit pratoni2022.it and herning2022.com

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Britain’s governing body for endurance is calling for investigation into and the “strongest possible condemnation” of those behind any wrongdoing related to the deaths of at least two horses in a UAE ride.

Endurance GB (EGB) wants national federations across the world to “unite behind the FEI in calling for an investigation” into the fatalities in a private class run during HH The President of the UAE Cup at Boudheib International Endurance Village in Al Khatim, Abu Dhabi.

Mekadesh Park, ridden by Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed Alli Saeed Al Baloushi for Alyamamah Endurance Stables, is listed as having suffered a catastrophic injury at gate four. Rum Rebellion, ridden by Awadh Alsuwaidi for Sudan Endurance stables, is shown in the ride results as having died at gate one. Baldikova de Becherel, a 10-year-old mare from France ridden by Yasser Abduikareem Al Ameri for Al Hareth Al Badi stables, is shown as eliminated on metabolic grounds at gate two, but “there are unconfirmed reports of this horse having also suffered a catastrophic injury”, an EGB spokesman said.

“The eliminations list from this 100km CEN private stables competition show that there were two catastrophic injuries, one severe injury (musculoskeletal), nine failed to complete, of which one minor injury and two metabolic, and also nine disqualifications,” the spokesman added. “A total of 46 horses finished out of 158 starters.”

EGB director of welfare Antonia Milner-Matthews said it was “shocking” to hear of the horses’ deaths.

“This may have been a ‘private class’ and so technically beyond the jurisdiction of the FEI, but it was part of an event featuring international classes,” she said. “Endurance GB calls on national federations around the globe to unite behind the FEI in investigating the actions of those involved and taking appropriate measures.”

The EGB spokesman added: “This is NOT a sport and it is NOT endurance.”

H&H has approached the FEI for comment.

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A senior figure in endurance who admitted to using a vet’s stamp to falsify horse passports has had his suspension reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport – as flaws in the FEI vaccination system are highlighted.

Trainer Pierre Arnould, former Belgian endurance national team leader and member of the FEI endurance committee, used FEI vet Peter Wijnendaele’s old stamp and added a forged signature to four horses’ FEI passports – including Sonschein, who participated in the 2018 World Equestrian Games. In April 2020, Dr Wijnendaele discovered that a Belgian horse’s passport contained his name and stamp, years after 2005, when he had left Belgium. He found further instances of his stamp being used in horse passports, and informed the FEI. In October 2020 Arnould was told of FEI disciplinary proceedings relating to four endurance horses whose passports showed vaccinations between 2017 and 2018.

During a FEI Tribunal hearing in March this year the FEI stated the horse passports were “unlikely” to be the only ones falsified and claimed the organisation had evidence of further cases. Arnould submitted that he had never been subject to any sanction during his equestrian career, highlighted that he was a member of the FEI endurance task force from 2007 to 2009 and argued the case against him was “driven by people motivated by jealousy of his achievements”.

The Tribunal suspended Arnould for 20 months for fraud and conduct that brought the FEI and or equestrian sport into disrepute. He was fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,917) and ordered to pay 7,000 francs (£5,485) toward FEI legal costs.

In April Arnould lodged an appeal with CAS, in which he asked for the duration of the suspension and the fine to be reduced. He also asked for the suspension to be postponed, pending CAS’s decision and for the order to be amended to allow him to attend equestrian events as a spectator.

At a CAS hearing on 25 October Arnould argued the sanction was “not proportionate” in comparison to comparable decisions ruled by CAS or the Tribunal. He believed the FEI wanted to “set an example” and “definitively rule him out” from the FEI where he is “influential”. Arnould argued the Tribunal’s decision violated his right of defence because the Tribunal “is not impartial”, the original hearing should have been held in French – his preferred language – instead of English and the decision failed to address any of the legal arguments made by him.

The FEI requested CAS dismiss the appeal in its entirety and order Arnould to pay the arbitration costs as well as a contribution to the FEI’s legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the CAS hearing. The FEI argued Arnould had not offered any defence to the charges, adding “it was not even in dispute he knowingly and deliberately falsified the passports”. The FEI said if Arnould wished to claim the horses were vaccinated, he must bear the burden of proving that but he has offered no evidence to support this claim.

The CAS panel stated the main issue to be resolved was whether the sanction and fine imposed on Arnould was proportionate.

“Indeed, the appellant [Arnould] does not deny he knowingly and deliberately falsified the FEI passports, but claims that the sanction is not proportionate in comparison to similar facts before the CAS or the FEI Tribunal,” said the panel.

The panel noted there were no consistent FEI Tribunal precedents regarding the length of suspension imposed upon cases involving similar violations, and found several mitigating factors; it was Arnould’s first violation of FEI rules, and he had successfully passed all veterinary checks at the competitions he attended with the horses, which “highlights the defects of the vaccination system currently implemented by the FEI”.

Neither Arnould or the FEI was able to establish with a “sufficient degree of certainty” the vaccination status of the horses relating to the disciplinary proceedings, and while the CAS panel considered the financial advantage Arnould would have had from avoiding bi-annual vaccinations, this was “much less” than the risk incurred for the welfare of the horses and his own career. The panel understood the importance of vaccinations and compliance with the rules, but said the FEI vaccination system as it currently exists is “insufficiently robust” and “should be improved to make it more reliable”.

“The FEI could impose the use of the vaccination stickers in the horses’ passports, in addition to the stamp and signature of the veterinarian. This would also allow a better tracking of the vaccination of horses and would make the veterinary checks at competition more reliable,” said the panel.

“This system could also be modernised by computerising it. For example, the information relating to the horse vaccination, could be included directly in the horse’s microchip. This would ensure horses are properly vaccinated and that the vaccination is performed by competent veterinarians.”

The panel was satisfied Dr Wijnendaele voluntarily left his stamp with Arnould, and was a very close friend at the time. The vet had previously stayed at Arnould’s home during trips to Belgium and provided two horses to Arnould’s daughter and accompanied her as a groom at the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

The panel partially upheld Arnould’s appeal. The panel ruled his suspension should be reduced to 14 months and considered this to be proportionate and “struck a balance” between Arnould’s conduct, the mitigating factors, the fact he used a vet’s stamp in violation of the rules and that he is an “emblematic figure” in endurance – and therefore responsible for setting an example by complying with regulation. Following the suspension, Arnould may attend FEI events in any capacity. The fine of 5,000 Swiss francs was upheld owing to being “reasonable in light of the procedure”.

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A LEADING vet has aired cautious hope that targeted hyposensitivity testing is having a “very deterrent effect” in endurance.

FEI veterinary director Göran Åkerström shared the news of the “very successful control programme” at the federation’s general assembly last week (14–17 November).

He said the programme, which ran across 2020 and 2021, was designed to protect horses from being nerve blocked before or during rides.

A total of 395 horses were examined at FEI events, with 452 examinations. Of these, four positive cases were found.

“It’s been a really, really useful tool and the reactions from the endurance community have been very positive,” said Mr Åkerström.

“What we understand from chefs d’equipe, trainers, riders and officials is that this has changed mentality and attitudes at the events and has had a very deterrent effect on these matters.”

He added that the programme has been a “real success”, giving the example that in Jordan, athletes were asking for their horses to be checked, even if they were not selected for testing.

“So far, it’s really good and we’ll keep on rolling this out,” he said.

Hyposensitivity testing involves monitoring a horse’s reaction when pressure is applied to a limb using a blunt “pin” in three separate tests. If a horse does not react to a set level of pressure in these tests, he is marked as hyposensitive and disqualified. This leads to a mandatory four-week stand-down period from competition for the horse, plus dope-testing to check for nerve-blocking agents, among other possible substances.

Mr Åkerström confirmed the four who failed the hyposensitivity testing had “no such findings”. But in cases where desensitising agents are discovered, this can lead to the FEI opening an abuse case.

Nerve blocks have a use in veterinary medicine, but are strictly prohibited in competition owing to the serious associated welfare risks. In a nutshell, they mask a horse’s natural warning system (lameness), which is useful when trying to establish the source of an injury in a horse. But when used incorrectly, such as in horses taking part in endurance rides, they have the potential to hide signs of lameness, which can lead to catastrophic injuries.

Other major news included a scientific breakthrough on glanders testing. This looks likely to be particularly significant for those transporting horses to nations that require a glanders test, such as the US.

“We have suspected for some time that there are regional variants of this bacteria and that has meant that not all the analytical labs have been able to detect all types of bacteria,” said Mr Åkerström.

“This is really concerning as it creates a distrust between countries. And now there has been a breakthrough. There is evidence that there are differences and this means that we can move on. There is also a new test method that is easy to use, as we understand, and is waiting just to be evaluated.”

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Until recently the Connemara gelding Carrowkeel Storm was a proven all-rounder who was more commonly found on the endurance circuit. But when his owner, Hannah Sedgwick, took him to a showing competition to keep another horse company on the lorry, she realised that her pony of a lifetime could have the right features to make it in the show ring.

After only contending a handful of shows together, the pair are set to make their debut in the SEIB Search For A Star mountain and moorland (M&M) final at Your Horse Live, after qualifying on their first attempt at West Wilts Equestrian Centre.

Hannah was first acquainted with Storm, now 11, when he was an unbroken five-year-old.

“He was living in a field next to where we kept our old horse and my mum, Clare, had helped his owner move him into a new field,” explains Hannah, who works as a pub supervisor. “She said to Mum that if we needed something to do, we were more than welcome to do some work with Storm. When I came back from my ski season I instantly fell in love with him and after having him on loan he was then kindly gifted to us by his owner.”

Hannah’s sister, Jess, had been competing in endurance with her horse so Hannah took Storm out to further his education.

“He was a slow learner so we decided endurance would be a good way for him to see the world and learn the ropes without any pressure,” she says. “We both loved it. We did some local competitions and in 2016 we were selected for the home international team as a novice combination. We went to Ireland for a few days and managed to win our class there.”

Storm has now competed up to 64km level.

“He manages these well considering he’s a stockier type, though he’s usually competing against Arabs. We mainly did it for fun, aiming to beat our last time.”

Storm’s show ring debut happened by chance.

“Jess had a youngster and wanted to take him out in-hand for some experience,” says Hannah. “We decided to take Storm to keep him company and while we were there I thought I might as well enter a class. We competed in the working hunter and came second. We then tried some flat classes and on our first attempt we came away with overall M&M champion; it was then that I realised he could be quite good at this job.”

Hannah went to Your Horse Live in 2019 and watched the SEIB SFAS final.

“I was really inspired and decided to set my stall out and try to qualify,” she says. “In 2020 I had my daughter so I was lucky to have Mum and Jess to keep Storm ticking over.

“On the way to our qualifier at West Wilts we got stuck in traffic and had to ride in a torrential downpour. I’d only done a few showing classes so I was still slightly unsure about what to do, so I couldn’t believe it when we got our ticket.

“Our preparation for the final has been quite relaxed, with some hacking, dressage and a few lessons with my instructor. Storm is very laid back and can be stubborn so he always performs better when he’s fresh and the event ahead of him is exciting.”

Road to the SFAS finals: ‘He’s a sensitive soul’ – quirky Welsh cob defies the odds to become show ring champion

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The FEI tribunal has ruled an endurance trainer’s suggestion that a horse tested positive for beta blockers at a UK event owing to a groom being on heart medication, was “weak, to say the least”.

Feline X tested positive for banned substance atenolol, a beta blocker used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and obstructive cardiac disease, following blood and urine samples taken at the CEI*80 at Euston Park on 16 June 2019. A banned substance is a substance deemed by the FEI to have no legitimate use in competition horses and/or have a high potential for abuse. Banned substances are not permitted for use in competition horses at any time.

On 26 August 2019 the FEI provisionally suspended Feline X’s rider Pane Singh Amar Singh (the person responsible) and trainer Fadhl Manea Saleh Al Mathil (the additional person responsible).

In December 2019 Mathil submitted to the FEI that he did not understand the positive finding, and upon receipt of the notification he “analysed the situation” with his team to determine how it could have occurred. Following an investigation it “appeared” one of his grooms, who is in contact with horses and their feeding, has a heart condition and needs to take regular antihypertensive pills. He added this was not an “excuse”, but it was the only option he could think of that could have caused the positive sample. Singh did not provide any submission to the FEI with regard to the allegations.

The case was submitted to the FEI Tribunal on 29 March 2021. The FEI submitted to the Tribunal that in endurance, trainers by definition take decisions with regard to horses they are registered for, and Mathil is presumed to be the person responsible for taking “relevant decisions on the conditioning of the horse for the competition”.

Under anti-doping rules it is the FEI’s burden to establish all elements of the rule violation to the satisfaction of the Tribunal. As Feline X tested positive for a banned substance, this constituted “sufficient proof” of the violation and Mathil or Singh did not dispute the presence of the atenolol in the horse’s system. While Mathil did submit the sample could have resulted from human-horse contamination, he did not provide any evidence supporting this allegation such as the name and testimony of the groom, or documentation evidencing the groom‘s alleged medical condition.

“No document was provided to actually prove that it was indeed a human-horse contamination instead of voluntary doping. If we were to accept such concise, unsubstantiated and non-corroborated statement as a proof of human-horse contamination, then the whole anti-doping system, and efforts to eradicate doping in sport would be undermined,” said the FEI.

On 10 August 2021 the Tribunal ruled the FEI had sufficiently proven the offence under the anti-doping rules, and the Tribunal was “not convinced” Mathil or Singh had established the source of the banned substance on the balance of probabilities.

“The person responsible (PR) [Singh] did not submit any position, which in itself does not need any further explanations,” read the decision.

“As to the additional person responsible (APR) [Mathil], the Tribunal rules he failed to submit conclusive information and evidence, to prove that it was indeed through the medicines of his groom (or a third party) that the horse’s system was contaminated with atenolol. The APR’s explanations are weak, to say the least, and are not substantiated. Accepting a sole letter – without any supporting evidence, at all – as a fact is therefore not something admissible in the Tribunal’s view. Rather, it was the APR (and the PR)’s burden of proving how the prohibited substance entered the horse’s system. Both failed to prove how the prohibited substance entered the horse’s body.”

Singh and Mathil were banned for two years. The Tribunal took into account the pair had been provisionally suspended since 26 August 2019, and did not compete or train during the period of suspension, so the ban is in place until 25 August 2021. Both were fined 7,500 Swiss francs (£5,867) each.

Singh and Mathil can appeal the Tribunal’s decision to the Court of Arbitration of Sport within 21 days.

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An endurance rider and trainer has been given a record ban for three separate doping offences in a year – two while he was provisionally suspended.

The case of Saudi Arabian Rafae Alamri related to three anti-doping rule breaches in 2019. The case was heard by the FEI Tribunal and a decision was issued at the end of last month.

The first offence occurred at the CEI2* 120km at Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, on 2 February 2019. Blood samples taken from the horse Walfan, trained and ridden by Alamri, were found to contain reserpine, a tranquiliser with long-term sedation effects, and heptaminol, a stimulant that dilutes blood vessels, both of which are banned substances. The sample also contained controlled medication phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone, anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic effects.

Alamri was provisionally suspended from all competition as of 4 March 2019, and Walfan was provisionally suspended from 4 March to 3 May 2019. On 19 March Alamri wrote to the FEI legal department with a “short explanation”, in which he apologised for the findings and claimed he was “not aware of the medicines” as pharmacies had given him the drugs, and he was “new to this type of competition”, as was Walfran.

The second offence related to Walfan at the CEI1* 110 at Al Qaseem, Saudi Arabia, on 9 March 2019, where the gelding tested positive for phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone. At the event Alamri was the registered trainer, and the rider was Ali Alhashem – but Alhashem and Walfan were prevented from competing as the horse was provisionally suspended. The FEI issued separate proceedings against Alhashem and on 6 October the FEI Tribunal sanctioned him to six months’ ineligibility.

The third case related to the CEI2* at 120 Al Ula, Saudi Arabia on 1 February 2020, where the horse Ankor Class, trained by Alamri and ridden by Alhashem, provided urine and blood samples which tested positive for phenylbutazone and oxybutazone. On 31 March Alamri was notified by the FEI that this third rule violation would be processed in a consolidated procedure with the first and second offences.

On 4 April the FEI received an email from the Saudi Arabian equestrian federation who confirmed they had contacted Alamri to notify him of the charges relating to Ankor Class. The federation “reminded him” he was provisionally suspended and not eligible to participate or attend in any capacity, including as a spectator, any event authorised or organised by the FEI or any national federation. He was also prohibited from training any FEI and/or national horses during his provisional suspension.

The federation told the FEI the Alamri stated he was not the trainer of Ankor Class. He alleged he did not attend the event and that his name was added by the horse’s owner in the entry system “in error”. As Alamri did not inform the federation of this before the event, he has accepted “any consequences” related to this error. Alamri did not submit any explanation in respect of the second or third doping offence.

In relation to the first offence the FEI submitted to the Tribunal that as Alamri did not dispute the presence of the substances or provide an explanation, the FEI had discharged its burden of establishing that Alamri had violated an anti-doping rule. With regard to the second and third offences, the FEI submitted Alamri did not dispute the presence of the samples, or respond to the FEI notification letters. Given this, the FEI maintained it had discharged the burden of establishing that Alamri had violated the rules.

In order to determine the applicable length of ineligibility, the FEI submitted the fault or negligence for each rule violation by Alamri must be evaluated – but as Alamri had failed to establish how the prohibited substances entered Walfan or Ankor Class it was not possible to evaluate the degree of level of fault or negligence based on the applicable rules. As a consequence, the FEI submitted that the presumption of fault, as stipulated in the rules, should stand for each violation.

Under anti-doping rules, if an aggravating circumstance is established by the FEI, the period of ineligibility can be increased up to a maximum of four years unless the person responsible can prove to the Tribunal that they did not knowingly commit the offence. The FEI outlined a number of aggravating circumstances; the sample in the first offence involved three different prohibited substances, no evidential explanation was provided, and the combination of the prohibited substances is uncommon and not normally associated with a legitimate medical treatment and may have been administered for intentional purposes. And given Alamri’s explanation in relation to the first offence that “the horse is new and I want to prepare him for the races” and the nature of the detected substances, the FEI concluded the products were intentionally administered, and as Alamri was also the trainer it was “impossible” to accept the claim that a “cocktail” of substances had been administered without his knowledge.

The FEI submitted that the rule violations took place within 12 months and Alamri was notified of each violation after each occurrence, so they should be considered as separate offences for the purposes of deciding an ineligibility period. The FEI explained to the Tribunal that the period should be examined in greater detail owing to the “unique elements” of the case; three violations have been consolidated, substantial delays occurred due to a backlog of cases the FEI legal department was dealing with, and although Alamri had not competed as a rider since 2 February 2019, he was a registered trainer on the FEI database. As such he violated the provisional suspension served on 4 March. The FEI “explicitly” removed Alamri from the database in 2019 following the second offence, but he was again registered by his national federation as a trainer in 2020 which was a “clear violation” of the rules.

Continued below…

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When considering when a period of ineligibility should start, the FEI submitted Alamri “consciously and deliberately” violated his provisional suspension so he should not receive any credit for it. Consequently the FEI requested the ineligibility starts from the date of the Tribunal’s decision.

The Tribunal found the FEI had established the adverse analytical findings and sufficiently proven the violations of the rules and noted Alamri had failed to establish how prohibited substances entered Walfan and Ankor Class in all three cases.

After reviewing the sanctioning scenarios proposed by the FEI and with regard to aggravating factors, the Tribunal upheld the three charges. The Tribunal ruled Alamri should serve a ban of seven and a half years, and must pay a fine of 35,000 Swiss francs (£27,620) beginning on the Tribunal decision date – 24 June 2021. He must also pay the FEI’s 4,000 Swiss francs (£3,156) legal costs. Alamri may appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days of the notification.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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H&H finds out what the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on the case, and what the reactions of the FEI and welfare experts were to the decision

THE FEI and World Horse Welfare have both been disappointed by the overturning of a record ban given to the rider of a horse who suffered a fatal injury in competition.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has eliminated all sanctions — a 20-year ban and a fine of 17,500 Swiss francs (£14,500) — given by the FEI Tribunal to UAE endurance rider Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Qasimi last year, ruling that the burden of proof of horse abuse had not been sufficiently met by the FEI, so no sanctions for horse abuse could be imposed.

H&H reported on the Tribunal’s findings (news, 18 June 2020) on the case of Castlebar Contraband, ridden by Al Qasimi in a CE1* at Fontainebleau, France, in October 2016. The 10-year-old gelding sustained what the event organiser described as “the worst fracture I have ever seen”. Castlebar’s leg, the attending vet said, was “only hanging from the skin and ready to fall off”.

Post-mortem samples from the horse showed the presence of controlled medication xylazine, used as a sedative, analgesic and muscle relaxant but prohibited in competition. The substance, which is rapidly excreted from the body, is known to be used in endurance to lower the heart rate.

The FEI Tribunal accepted the treating vet’s statement that she had followed standard protocols, which do not include use of xylazine, in putting the horse down, denying the defence claim that the drug had been used in the process.

The post mortem found “multiple lesions with a highly targeted location, consistent with recent injections”, which the FEI said showed that the horse had been nerve-blocked in training, before and during the competition.

The FEI’s view was that this desensitisation, in combination with osteoarthritis in the right front fetlock, led to stress fractures that caused the catastrophic injury. The Tribunal was “comfortably satisfied” that the horse had been nerve-blocked during the event, which “likely caused pain and unnecessary discomfort”.

But the CAS panel ruled that neither the rider nor his vet could have “reasonably detected” alleged bone fatigue in the horse.

“Despite extensive veterinary evidence presented by the FEI and its expert witnesses, the panel found there was no proof the horse had been nerve-blocked or abnormally desensitised in competition,” an FEI spokesman said.

The CAS panel said as the horse had passed the horse inspection the day before the event, and the vet checks during the competition, it could not be ruled as unfit to compete. The panel found 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”.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said: “Although we respect the CAS decision, we are extremely disappointed. The FEI has to stand up for horse welfare and clamp down on horse abuse, and the FEI endurance rules have been improved from a welfare perspective since this case.”

FEI veterinary director Göran Åkerström said the FEI is “incredibly frustrated” to have lost the case, but that the incident was a main driver for the development of the FEI’s hyposensitivity control system, which provides physical evidence of nerve-blocking.

“The CAS decision has resulted in a system that is already being used and which will help prevent similar tragic injuries in the future,” he said.

World Horse Welfare CEO Roly Owers said the charity is “bitterly disappointed” by the decision. “The one positive that has evolved since this case is the development of better methods of detecting physical evidence of nerve-blocking which will hopefully help to deter this dreadful practice and benefit horses in the future by preventing similar tragic and unacceptable losses,” he said.

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Royal Windsor Horse Show tickets will go on sale at 9am tomorrow (Thursday, 6 May).

There are plans for the 2021 show, which has new dates this year of 1-4 July owing to Covid, to welcome up to 4,000 spectators a day.

Five-star showjumping returns to Royal Windsor this year, featuring a total prize fund of more than €500,000 (£431,000) and finishing with the Rolex grand prix on Sunday, 4 July.

There will also be the usual high-profile showing classes, international driving and endurance, but no dressage this year.

Membership tickets, limited to 500 members plus guests, and general entry tickets will both be available to buy from tomorrow (6 May).

Organisers have said they will allow up to 4,000 spectator tickets on each of the four days of the show, adhering to the Government Covid-19 guidelines as of 17 May.

There are also plans to release further tickets, after 21 June, should the Government’s planned roadmap out of lockdown continue as planned.

“We are delighted that we have been able to reschedule Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2021 and are looking forward to the return of what has become known as one of the best international horse shows in the world,” said show director Simon Brooks-Ward.

“The show is set to be a spectacle for the whole family, with the highest calibre of competition alongside remarkable entertainment acts.”

There are plans for the shopping village, with 100 stands plus food outlets, to be up and running this year, and for displays to go ahead alongside competition.

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s musical ride and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery’s musical drive are both on the 2021 schedule, as are the Land Rover Shetland Pony Grand National and DAKS Pony Club mounted games. More international acts are set to be announced “in due course”.

The show, which marks its 78th year in 2021, will host more than 128 showing classes and entries are “already open and filling fast”. The CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving grand prix will run across all four days, while a three-star endurance competition has been added for the first time this year to run alongside the one- and two-star CEI rides.

A show spokesman said the 2021 show will be held in accordance with “all Covid-19 guidelines required” by the Government, local authorities, health authorities, veterinary and equestrian associations.

“Organisers will be implementing new protocols and facilities to enable a positive experience within this Covid-19 era, with the emphasis being on the safety of competitors and spectators attending,” he added.

For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.rwhs.co.uk

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In April 2020, Dr Wijnendaele discovered a Belgian horse’s passport contained his name and stamp, although he had left Belgium in 2005. H&H finds out the facts of the FEI Tribunal case involving a leading figure in endurance

A SENIOR figure in endurance who falsified horse passports has been suspended for 20 months.

The FEI Tribunal found Pierre Arnould, former Belgian endurance national team leader and member of the FEI endurance committee, used FEI vet Peter Wijnendaele’s old stamp and added a forged signature to four horses’ FEI passports; “undoubtedly amounting” to fraud and bringing the FEI and/or equestrian sport into disrepute.

In April 2020, Dr Wijnendaele discovered a Belgian horse’s passport contained his name and stamp, although he had left Belgium in 2005. He found further instances of his stamp being used, and informed the FEI. In October 2020 Arnould was told of FEI disciplinary proceedings relating to four endurance horses.

The FEI’s case was that the horses were trained by Arnould and in his care at the time of the vaccinations, which were validated by the same stamp and signature, and the passports did not contain vial labels. The FEI said Arnould’s conduct was “very serious”, breaching important FEI rules. Dr Wijnendaele told the FEI he recognised the writing in the four cases as Arnould’s.

One of the horses, Sonschein, participated in four international competitions, including the 2018 World Equestrian Games, with a passport vaccination entry of 21 April. Arnould said, as with many horses in his stable, this horse would “in general” be vaccinated by vet Stefan Midgen – but would not stay long since the arrangement was to return the horse to its owner for rest periods. He said this horse was vaccinated as it competed and nobody “raised any issue” in relation to the vaccinations.

The FEI stated the passports were “unlikely” to be the only ones falsified, and the organisation had evidence of further cases. The FEI said failure to vaccinate is an offence for “obvious health and biosecurity reasons”, adding that forging passports also risked undermining the credibility of FEI procedures.

Arnould said Dr Wijnendaele “voluntarily” gave him the stamp in the presence of witnesses, and told him that “in case he needed to arrange a vaccination passport, the stamp could help him”. Arnould added this could not be considered fraud as he had Dr Wijnendaele’s permission to use it and added because the horses were vaccinated, there was no mistreatment of them. He testified he used the stamp in December 2012 “five or six times”, told Dr Wijnendaele via telephone beforehand, and the stamp was used for “convenience or emergency”. Arnould confirmed when he used the stamp, the horses were duly vaccinated. Dr Wijnendaele said he had never given any stamps to Arnould and had not given anyone permission to use his stamps.

One of Arnould’s four witnesses, Dr Midgen, confirmed he performs vaccinations at Arnould’s stable. He said he does not keep records of horses he has vaccinated and had no recollection, for example of having vaccinated one of the horses in the case, but said its name was familiar to him. Dr Midgen said whenever he vaccinates, he checks the passport, sticks the vial label in, dates and signs it.

Arnould submitted he had never been subject to any sanction during his equestrian career. He was a member of the FEI endurance task force from 2007 to 2009, and in 2020 was put forward by the Belgian national federation for the FEI endurance committee chair position. He argued the case against him was “driven by people motivated by jealousy of his achievements”.

The Tribunal said Arnould is not a vet, so had no legitimate use for the stamp and there was no other credible explanation than the passport entries were made by Arnould to fraudulently claim the horses had received vaccinations from an FEI vet. The panel considered Arnould’s involvement as a leader and official in the sport, and that he is held in high regard by the Belgian national federation. He was suspended for 20 months and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,917) and must pay 7,000 francs (£5,485) toward FEI legal costs.

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Endurance GB will open competitive ride entries at the beginning of next month, following the Government’s announcement that outdoor sport can resume in England from 29 March, but the flagship Golden Horseshoe Ride is cancelled.

One of the calendar’s feature events, the famous ride on Exmoor was scheduled for 22-23 May, but it will not take place this year.

“A combination of personal circumstances” affecting the Chisholm family, who organise the event, has led to its cancellation, along with uncertainty over “the impact of the restrictions on accommodation on Exmoor itself as UK tourism picks up”.

Other highlights of the endurance season look secure, with King’s Forest Summer hosting the inter-regional championships on 18-20 June and Cirencester accommodating the home internationals on 9-11 July.

This year’s national championship rides will continue at the British Horse Feeds and Golden Paste Company’s Red Dragon Festival of Endurance, which is scheduled for a week earlier than usual, on 24-27 September.

The UK’s FEI ride calendar has not yet been confirmed pending updates on international travel arrangements.

The first competitive rides of the endurance season are now expected to take place at Bilbury Salt Way in the Cotswolds and Tilford in Surrey on 11 April.

Phil Nunnerley, chairman of Endurance GB, said: “We welcome the Government’s announcement, and the re-opening of our sport is eagerly anticipated by everyone involved from riders to crews, organisers and volunteers. There is a great deal of excitement and momentum building for the 2021 season and we are anticipating a bumper year for the sport.

“Our major championship rides are all held at large venues which lend themselves to social distancing. So while these events may not have the usual social accompaniments this year, we are as confident as we can be that they will run, restrictions permitting.”

He added that the cancellation of the 2021 Golden Horseshoe Ride was “a great pity” but for “entirely understandable reasons as the Chisholm family will be re-opening their business the previous weekend but there were also uncertainties connected with accommodation locally and attempts to find an alternative weekend later in the year had drawn a blank”.

Endurance GB announced that Covid safety measures would be put in place at all events, including “health pre-screening and a full audit trail for all attendees”.

“Huge demand” is anticipated when entries open, and numbers are expected to be capped according to the social distancing capacities of each venue.

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The equestrian world is planning for the resumption of competition and training in March, in line with the Government’s roadmap

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Esther Young, Endurance GB’s operations director, said: “It will be vitally important for attendees to continue to follow the Covid safety measures, and we anticipate that we will be living with social distancing for much of the season.

“We are confident in our measures. There were zero transmissions at post lockdown events last year, and we were running events safely right up to the Christmas lockdown.”

Endurance GB’s calendar may still be subject to change and riders are being advised to check the sport’s website and social media regularly for updates. Welsh rides remain on hold at present pending announcements from the Welsh First Minister on the plans to relax Covid restrictions in Wales.

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The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national federation will remain suspended from FEI membership until 31 December 2020 – as a reduced suspension on endurance activity is confirmed.

On 24 September the federation was suspended by the FEI from all activities across any FEI discipline until the end of the year. The sanction followed a detailed investigation into the circumstances around two national endurance events in January and February 2020 – the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and The President’s Cup.

Under FEI rules, national events must be limited to no more than four national federations and/or no more than 15 foreign athletes, apart from “athletes living outside their country of nationality”. The investigation led by international law firm Bird & Bird LLP, found 93 foreign athletes from 24 different national federations participated in the Sheikh Mohammed Cup, and 88 riders from 21 federations in the President’s Cup.

Following an appeal by the UAE, a two-day hearing was held by CAS on 12-13 November and yesterday (17 November) CAS ruled the federation’s suspension remains in place until 31 December. The FEI had suspended UAE endurance until 31 March 2021, but the CAS ruling means endurance can now resume from 1 January 2021.

The suspension affects any UAE events, including national, which become “unsanctioned events” during the suspension period. Any FEI athlete, horse or official found participating in an unsanctioned event will be liable to a period of ineligibility of up to six months.

“We welcome today’s CAS decision confirming a violation of the FEI rules occurred which warranted a full suspension of the UAE national federation’s membership across all disciplines and significant financial penalties”, said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.

Article continued below…

All equestrian competition suspended in UAE after ‘clear intent’ to avoid new rules

The FEI has suspended the UAE national federation following a ‘clear intent to avoid the application of the new rules’

Appeals made as federation’s suspension is ‘killing the sport’ *H&H Plus*

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“We are grateful to CAS for expediting the hearing of this appeal so that we are able to provide clarity to our community on the issue prior to the FEI general assembly next Monday (23 November).”

CAS ruled 25% of the prize money awarded at the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and 5% of the prize money awarded at the President’s Cup must be paid to the FEI, plus organising dues that would have been payable to the FEI had the events been held as CEIs. The FEI Board had ruled that 50% of prize money for the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and 10% for the President’s Cup was to be paid, in addition to the organising dues.

“At the request of the parties and in order to fast track the ruling, CAS provided today’s decision without the full rationale, which will be provided at a later date,” said an FEI spokesman.

In September the UAE expressed its deep regret about the suspension. A statement said the organisation follows the principle of transparency with the FEI, and had translated the FEI endurance rules into Arabic at the beginning of the year, making them easier for owners, trainers and riders to understand. It added that the events were run according to endurance rules without any violation of international or local rules.

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An endurance rider who competed a horse with a “cocktail” of drugs in his system, blamed the positive test results on an operation he claimed he was unaware the horse had undergone days earlier.

Moro Tianko, trained and ridden by Saudi Arabian Mohammed Alalewi, tested positive for prohibited substances following the CEI2* 120km Al Ula on 2 February 2019. The gelding’s blood sample tested positive for banned substance tolfenamic acid (an anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic effects) and controlled substances lidocaine (a local anaesthetic used in the treatment of some skin diseases), flunixin, diclofenac, phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone (anti-inflammatory drugs with analgesic effects).

The FEI notified Mr Alalewi on 4 March 2019 of the findings and he was provisionally suspended until further notice pending a preliminary hearing at the FEI Tribunal. Moro Tianko was also provisionally suspended for two months. The rider was informed of his right to request an analysis of a B sample, which he did not do – and he did not challenge the results of the A sample.

On 6 March Mr Alawlewi submitted a “short” statement to the FEI alleging “he did not know the horse had an operation days a few days before the race”, and that the horse “took some treatments and medications that appear in the analysis”. He apologised and said he had regret for the “unintentional mistakes” and said these would not be repeated.

Under FEI rules, if there has been a violation involving both a banned substance and a controlled medication in a sample from the same horse at the same event, the person responsible shall be considered to have committed one doping rule violation and the sanction will be imposed based on the banned substance. Therefore the FEI charged Mr Alaweli based on the presence of the tolfenamic acid.

In a submission to the Tribunal the FEI stated Mr Alalewi did not corroborate his statement with any reliable evidence such as the horse’s medical records, log book indicating the date of operation or information on where the operation took place, or the exact names of the medications administered to the gelding and their purpose.

The FEI stated that to accept a “simple statement” as proof would undermine the whole anti-doping system and efforts to eradicate doping in the sport, adding that banned substances are never found in competition horses because they are substances with no legitimate use and have a “high potential for abuse”.

The FEI submitted Mr Alalewi had failed to establish on a balance of probability the “threshold requirement” of how the prohibited substances entered the horse’s body.

It was also stated by the FEI that as Mr Alalewi was the trainer and the rider of the horse, it was difficult to believe he would not have been aware of an alleged operation as any operation would have a “crucial impact” on the horse’s training and competition schedule. The FEI added, assuming this “highly improbable scenario” took place, Mr Alalewi’s lack of knowledge of a “supposed operation” amounted to a “flagrant breach” of his duty of care as a trainer.

Under FEI anti-doping rules, cases that present aggravating circumstances can carry an increased period of ineligibility of up to a maximum of four years – unless the person responsible can prove to the satisfaction of the Tribunal that they did not knowingly commit a violation.

The FEI submitted that a number of aggravating circumstances were present in this case, namely the analysis of the blood sample finding five different prohibited substances and Mr Alalewi not establishing the source.

Other aggravating circumstances submitted by the FEI were that the horse tested positive for several anti-inflammatory drugs which in combination “could be damaging to the horse’s organs such as the liver or kidneys”, and if there was an operation, sedation would normally be used (which carry around 48 to 72 hours detection time) – and no sedatives were found in the sample.

It was submitted by the FEI that without any “specific evidence to the contrary” for the presence of the prohibited substances, this suggested “intentional administration”. It was explained by the FEI that in endurance, trainers are key decision-makers for the horse and it was therefore “impossible to claim that a cocktail” of prohibited substances would have been administered without the trainer’s knowledge.

Article continued below…

FEI contamination warning: another horse’s positive dope test caused by groom’s urination

The groom confirmed on the day of the event he had urinated “close to the horse” and inside the trailer

Rider blames horse licking show staff member’s hands for positive dope test

The rider said staff at the event were not properly instructed or supervised

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The FEI recommended that owing to these factors, an increased ban of three years be imposed – adding that Mr Alalewi’s provision suspension period already served to be credited against this. A fine of 10,000 CHF (£8,426) and 2,000 CHF (£1,692) costs was also recommended.

On 4 November the Tribunal found Mr Alalewi’s theory that the prohibited substances were the result of an operation is “mere speculation”, adding that his lack of knowledge of the operation is “suspect”. As a result, the Tribunal decided the trainer had not established on a balance of probability how the tolfenamic acid entered the horse’s system.

The Tribunal considered the aggravating circumstances and given the “totality” of these, the Tribunal agreed with the FEI’s recommendation of a three-year ineligibility period and the recommended fine and payment of costs. The parties may appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration of Sport within 21 days.

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Riders and grooms should be aware of the risk of contamination from human urine the FEI has warned yet again, after another horse tested positive for a prohibited substance proven to be caused by a groom urinating in a horsebox.

Chilean Paula Llorens Clark’s ride S H Sciro tested positive for o-desmethyltramadol (a metabolite of tramadol) following the CEIYJ2* 120 event in Llay Llay, Chile, on 30 March 2019.

On 15 May 2019 the FEI notified 22-year-old Paula of the result and she was provisionally suspended for two years, with a provisional suspension of two months also given to the gelding.

The rider identified the source of the prohibited substance, by human to horse contamination by urination, from her groom who had been prescribed tramadol by his doctor, three times daily for seven days.

In a declaration to the FEI the groom confirmed on the day of the event he had urinated “close to the horse” and inside the trailer on several occasions where grass was stored. This was given to the horse on the day of the event. The groom said the gelding also had access to areas that were not disinfected and were contaminated with his urine, so the horse had “most likely” ingested contaminated grass.

The FEI consulted with its external expert, who confirmed the plausibility of the source, and in a preliminary decision on 12 August the FEI Tribunal lifted the rider’s suspension. On 9 September the FEI submitted a settlement agreement, signed by the FEI and Paula, to the Tribunal.

In a witness statement provided by Paula to the Tribunal she provided background of her riding experience and commitment to horse welfare and said she was “shocked” her horse has returned an positive test as she is aware of the risks of contamination. She added that to avoid these risks, she has procedures to avoid contamination at her stables. She explained to her support team the importance of following the procedures at the stables and when travelling to events.

The FEI said all riders and grooms should be aware of the risk of contamination from urination in horses’ stables, especially when the rider or support personnel is taking prohibited substances prescribed by a doctor.

Article continued below…

Driver urinating in horsebox caused positive dope test: showjumper’s suspension lifted

The European team bronze medal-winning showjumper’s horse had tested positive for a metabolite of tramadol, at a CSI3* event in

Rider blames horse licking show staff member’s hands for positive dope test

The rider said staff at the event were not properly instructed or supervised

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“Such behaviour should always be avoided and can be prevented through the responsible person’s management of procedures to avoid a positive test. The FEI has warned about the risk of contamination via the FEI clean sports notice on reducing risks of contamination, through urination and any person responsible, groom or other support personnel should inform themselves about such risks,” said an FEI spokesman.

In the agreement Paula admitted the violation of the equine anti-doping rules and waived her right to a final hearing. The FEI was satisfied she had established on a balance of probabilities how the substance entered the horse’s system and that she bore no fault or negligence for the rule violation. Paula will not serve any period of ineligibility, but her results from the event are disqualified.

In a final decision issued on 19 October 2020 the Tribunal ruled that the agreement between the FEI and Paula was approved. This decision is subject to an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 21 days.

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The FEI has suspended the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national federation following a “clear intent to avoid the application of the new rules” at two major endurance fixtures this year.

This is the second time in five years the UAE has been suspended by the FEI; the 2015 case related to an investigation into endurance horse welfare issues and non-compliance with FEI rules.

The current suspension, announced today (25 September), follows a “detailed investigation” into the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and the President’s Cup in January and February 2020.

It is a full suspension of all activities across any FEI discipline, plus a further suspension for national endurance activity and a hefty fine topping CHF 1.5 million (£1.26 million).

The FEI states these “should have been held as international endurance events (CEIs) as the number of foreign athletes far exceeded the quota permitted for national events”.

FEI rules state that national events (CENs) must be limited to no more than four national federations and/or more than 15 foreign athletes, other than those living outside their country of nationality.

The investigation found 93 foreign athletes from 24 different national federations took part in the Sheikh Mohammed Cup, with 88 foreign athletes from 21 different federations competing in the President’s Cup.

“The decision to suspend the UAE national federation was not taken lightly, but it reflects our commitment to good governance, integrity and horse welfare”, said FEI president Ingmar De Vos.

“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 [NF].

“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 FEI board met via videoconference on 16 September to hear presentations from legal firm Bird & Bird and the UAE’s legal representatives and the decision was formally notified to the UAE yesterday (24 September).

The board concluded that the UAE’s national federation had violated FEI rules.

“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,” said an FEI spokesman.

“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.”

In 2019, the FEI endurance rules underwent a major overhaul to better protect horse welfare and the integrity of the sport, among other reasons. These were presented on and discussed in depth at the 2019 FEI Sports Forum before final adjustments were made over the summer and they were approved at the 2019 FEI General Assembly in November, to come into force on 1 January.

The FEI spokesman added that given the “serious nature of the rule violations, the FEI board unanimously agreed a significant sanction was required”.

The UAE national federation has been handed a full suspension of all activities — including national events — across all FEI disciplines until 31 December 2020, plus a suspension of national endurance activities until 31 March 2021.

The suspension also affects any events in the UAE which become “unsanctioned events” and any FEI athlete, horse or official participating will be liable to a period of ineligibility of up to six months.

The board also told organisers to pay 50% of prize money for the Sheikh Mohammed Cup and 10% for the President’s Cup, plus organising dues that would have been payable to the FEI had the events been run as CEIs.

The national federation has also been told to pay the FEI’s legal fees, and suspensions will remain in place “until all financial sanctions have been paid in full to the FEI”.

The UAE national federation has 21 days to appeal the decision to the FEI Tribunal.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the fine payable by the 2020 Sheikh Mohammed Cup’s organising committee comes to CHF 1,059,768 (£892,160), plus the organising dues. The fine payable for the organising committee of the 2020 President’s Cup is CHF 493,117 (£415,128), which includes the monetary value of non-cash prizes, plus the organising dues.

Article continues below…

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What rules did the UAE break at the two events?

The specific rules the FEI claims the UAE national federation broke are articles 101, 109.2 and 100.7.2 of the FEI general regulations and Article 2.8 of the FEI statutes.

These are:

• 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 [GRs], 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 [OCs], 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.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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The Spanish endurance chef d’equipe suspended for his actions at the 2018 World Equestrian Games has had the sanction reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. H&H looks into the case...

The Spanish endurance chef d’equipe suspended for his actions at the 2018 World Equestrian Games (WEG) has had the sanction reduced – as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rules it may be more useful for the equestrian world to have him as involved “as much as possible”.

In February 2019, the FEI Tribunal found Ignasi Casa Vaque, who at the time of WEG was also endurance director and national head FEI vet for the Spanish national federation, deputy chairman of the FEI endurance committee and an FEI official vet, broke rules after the endurance ride was restarted, then cancelled (news, 20 September 2018).

In videos circulated online, Dr Vaque could be seen arguing with and shouting at the ground jury president. He was suspended for 12 months, the maximum sanction available, and fined 2,000 Swiss francs (£1,700).

In his appeal to CAS, Dr Vaque said the WEG endurance ride had been “disorganised, chaotic, and extremely disappointing”. He said following the cancellation, there were already “high tensions”, and while he was “very emotional”, he had not been remotely aggressive or violent.

It was his view the FEI had acted disproportionately and “legally incorrectly” by imposing the 12-month suspension, adding other cases of “much worse incorrect behaviour” had been given lesser sanctions.

The FEI argued that given Dr Vaque’s high-ranking position, he is expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and conduct, and had a “heightened duty” to act appropriately during the event.

The FEI accepted the circumstances around the endurance at WEG had been challenging but added this did not excuse Dr Vaque’s behaviour, and there was no basis to overturn the Tribunal’s decision. The FEI said the 12-month suspension was not disproportionate, and Dr Vaque had not been treated unequally.

The CAS panel did not “entirely” agree with the FEI Tribunal’s findings, stating Dr Vaque’s reactions were in connection to the FEI’s omissions in connection with the whole WEG endurance event, not just the cancellation of the race – and extreme reactions from others surrounding Dr Vaque could be seen in the video footage. The panel also considered the FEI Tribunal decision was not well reasoned.

“There is no doubt the appellant crossed the line, but there is also no doubt that he was provoked. Having that in mind, in the view of the panel, to punish only the appellant, both with the longest possible suspension available and the additional fine, is not appropriate nor necessary,” the panel stated.

The panel added Dr Vaque was a first-time offender who never disobeyed any of his duties, and was “extremely helpful” to the whole community, in extremely challenging conditions at WEG.

“Since [Dr Vaque’s] exceptional character and the veterinarian expertise were not challenged in the present dispute, it may be more useful to the equestrian world to have the appellant involved as much as possible,” said the panel.

Dr Vaque’s appeal was partially upheld; his suspension was reduced to three months, and his fine remained at 2,000 francs. The FEI was ordered to contribute 5,000 Swiss francs (£4,200) to his expenses and legal fees.

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Forty British riders, officials and trainers have written an open letter to the FEI to raise concerns about new rules that require riders to complete two additional CEI3* (160km) rides in order to qualify for next year’s championships. H&H finds out more...

Concerns surrounding horse welfare in endurance and qualification for the World Championships have been raised as new rules come into play.

On 23 June the FEI announced the 2020 endurance World Championships, due to be held in Pisa, Italy, in September, would be postponed until May 2021 owing to the pandemic. This meant two endurance championships would take place next year, with the Europeans in the Netherlands scheduled for September 2021. New rules came into force on 1 July, including amended qualifying criteria for both championships, requiring riders to complete two additional CEI3* (160km) rides.

In an open letter on 6 July to the FEI, signed by 40 British riders, officials and trainers, it was said the new rules are “not conducive” to improving equine welfare, and will make it prohibitive for nations where endurance is not a professional sport to qualify a team for the championships.

Rider Harry Ingram, who coordinated the letter, told H&H Covid-19 meant there had not been enough time to gain the necessary qualifications and said there is a question as to whether the new criteria is in the best interest of horses’ welfare.

“A short-term solution would be for the FEI to reconsider the qualifying criteria for next year and base it on the previous rules; one 160km ride,” he said.

“We support a lot of what the endurance temporary committee is doing but we don’t see the benefit of the new qualification criteria.”

H&H endurance blogger Annie Joppe, who signed the letter, told H&H she believes the new rules are going to have the “opposite effect” on improving welfare, and make qualifying difficult.

“If someone doesn’t listen it’s going to go so wrong,” she said. “Only the countries with lots of money will have enough horses to go to the World Championships. It won’t be a World Championships if only five countries attend.”

Endurance GB (EGB) chairman Phil Nunnerley told H&H the signatory group had not requested support from EGB on the letter. He said EGB had held a consultation with its members on the new rules and the organisation was “broadly very supportive” of them. He added EGB is in talks with the FEI on hosting a qualifying ride this year.

“We made it clear to the FEI that we hoped it would continue to recognise qualification for the World Championships would be difficult and that they might consider extending the qualifications to be based on the pre-1 July rules,” he said.

An FEI spokesman told H&H the organisation had “taken note” of the concerns raised in the open letter. He added decisions relating to the new rules and qualification period were taken by the FEI board at its extraordinary meeting on 19 June, where it was agreed to prolong the qualification period.

“There will be further discussions on the qualification criteria for the World Championships at the board meeting on 21 July and more information will be provided,” he said.

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A rider who appealed his abuse ban, partly by claiming the complaint should never have been filed, has failed in his attempts to overturn the ruling.

H&H reported last year that UAE endurance rider Abdul Rahman Saeed Saleh Al Ghailani had been found guilty of horse abuse by the FEI Tribunal, which fined him 4,000 Swiss francs and banned him for 12 months.

He was reported to the FEI by Pauline van Drumpt, of campaign group Clean Endurance for the abusive riding of his “exhausted” horse Sarab at a CEI3* in Abu Dhabi last February. The Tribunal found his “excessive” kicking and rein-pulling, with high hands, was likely to cause Sarab pain or unnecessary discomfort, and that his support crew’s chasing the horse was also against the rules.

Al Ghailani took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, claiming that the initial complaint was inadmissible, as he said it did not comply with rules governing protests. He said it should have been submitted to the ground jury of the event, and noted that instead, it was filed six days later.

He also said his riding was a “field of play” issue, to be ruled on by the ground jury and one that cannot be reviewed unless there is evidence of bad faith on the in-field decision-maker.

He added that he had not breached any rules; that his support team was running towards the crew car rather than chasing the horse, and that he did not abuse the horse. He said he did not kick excessively, pull the reins with high hands or push it beyond its limits.

“[He] draws the attention of the panel to the fact that the type and extent of these actions are commonplace in… endurance,” the CAS panel report reads. It adds that Sarab passed six vet checks during and at the end of the ride, that other riders at the event acted in the same way and were not penalised, and that he “stopped kicking the horse once it became clear it was having no effect”.

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The distressing footage of alleged cheating and abuse has been sent to the FEI by campaigners

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The FEI pointed out that its rules state that anyone witnessing horse abuse must report it “without delay”, so there is no formal time limit, and the submission was admissible. It added that while the rider was correct about field of play decisions, this does not apply in this case as no such decision was made, and the FEI can, under its rules, open an abuse case against anyone.

The panel found the FEI’s rules allow it to act against horse abuse regardless of any ground jury finding, and that preserving and protecting equine welfare, one of the FEI’s “paramount objectives” can only be met if a legal process allows the FEI to take action regarding the riders concerned.

It also found that the ground jury’s failure to sanction the rider was not a field of play decision, and the complaint was admissible.

The panel ruled that, having watched the videos, the rider was guilty of horse abuse. He was “clearly kicking and flapping forcefully”, and “powerfully pulling the reins up and down”, as well as stating that the horse was “clearly exhausted”, and that Al Ghailani’s actions did cause it pain or discomfort. The panel “strongly disagreed” that such actions were common in endurance, and found the support crew did chase the horse.

The panel upheld the Tribunal verdict, but decreased the ban from 12 to eight months, as it was the rider’s first offence, no concern were raised by the ground jury and the horse passed all vet checks, as well as the fact it was “not obvious” abuse.

A Clean Endurance spokesman said: “This is the first time CAS has issued a decision on an appeal in an endurance horse abuse case, and another landmark in the battle to improve horse welfare in the Gulf countries.”

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The 2020 Endurance World Championships have been postponed owing to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on equestrian sport.

In a statement yesterday (23 June) it was announced the championships, due to take place from 3-6 September at San Rossore, Pisa, Italy, are postponed until May 2021 following agreement between the FEI, the Italian national federation and the organisers.

A spokesman for the FEI said the pandemic and associated restrictions on both travel and training of horses meant it was “simply not possible” to maintain the original date.

The FEI board has agreed to prolong the qualification period for the championships to allow more time for horses and athletes to qualify, following the disruption to this year’s calendar caused by the pandemic.

Two continental endurance championships are scheduled to run in 2021; the Pan American Championships for senior and young riders in Campinas, Brazil, (28-29 July) and the European Championships in Ermelo, the Netherlands, (6-11 September)

The statement added the FEI last week contacted all 51 national federations that compete in the sport to understand their views on the proposed postponement of the World Championships and the potential impact on next year’s calendar.

The federations were asked whether they were in favour of the postponement, and if they would also participate in the continental championships if the World Championships were moved to 2021. Of 34 federations that responded to the questionnaire, 33 were in favour, of the postponement and their participation, where relevant, in one of the continental championships next year.

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FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said: “Our endurance community made it very clear that they want a World Championships, particularly after losing the last edition at Tryon, USA, in 2018, but horse welfare and a level playing field could not have been guaranteed if the championships had run in September, so it was the best solution to move the championships to May next year.

“Having consulted with the national federations we feel we have reached a compromise that works for everyone, but especially for our horses, as there will now be time for them to do the necessary preparation work and achieve their qualification for this major event.”

The future of the endurance World Championships for young horses and the European Championships for young riders and juniors, due to be held in Vic, Spain, (25-27 September) is being discussed by the FEI board this week during a three-day meeting (23-25 June).

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The FEI Tribunal found the rider guilty of horse abuse as well as breaching anti-doping rules resulting in a record fine and ban from competition. H&H explains the case and shares reaction to the outcome from campaigners Clean Endurance and representatives of Endurance GB...

The rider of a horse thought to have been nerve-blocked who suffered a catastrophic open fracture in competition has been hit with a record fine and ban.

The 10-year-old gelding Castlebar Contraband had to be put down at a one-star endurance ride at Fontainebleau, France, in October 2016, after he sustained what the event organiser described as “the worst fracture I have ever seen” to his right foreleg. Castlebar’s leg, the attending vet said, was “only hanging from the skin and ready to fall off”.

UAE rider Abdul Aziz Bin Faisal Al Qasimi had left the scene, witnesses said, and the horse was put down immediately. A post-mortem examination found the presence of xylazine, which is used as a sedative, analgesic and muscle relaxant and is prohibited in competition.

After “multiple delays”, the FEI Tribunal ruled on the charges, of horse abuse as well as breaching anti-doping rules, this month.

The Tribunal heard Al Qasimi, the person responsible (PR), claimed the vet who put the horse down must have administered the substance. Al Qasmi also claimed there were mistakes in some of the FEI’s documents, while his expert witness, a lecturer in veterinary pathology, thought it likely the vet who put the horse down had administered the substance, arguing that the concentration of xylazine in the sample was too large for it to have been given before the accident. He added that he did not agree with some of the statements and interpretations in the post-mortem and histopathology (tissue examination) reports.

The post-mortem showed fragmentation of bone, rounded bone ends and contamination at the injury site, suggesting contact between the bone fragments before the horse was immobilised.

Examination also found osteoarthritic lesions, especially on the right front fetlock, and both old and recent lesions on the nerve tracts of the limbs, especially the front legs.

“The FEI stated one of the many conclusions to be drawn from the post-mortem report was that it was highly likely Castlebar had been nerve-blocked with local and regional anaesthetics/sedatives both before and during competition,” the Tribunal report states. The FEI also concluded that haemorrhage of the tissues surrounding the ulnar nerve in the front leg shows the horse was injected there two to four hours before his death, so during the competition.

The FEI’s experts stated that the bone ends’ condition indicate that the horse was bearing weight on the limb after it was fractured, and that the signs of injection result from treatment that would have changed Castlebar’s sense of his own movement and position, and so “favoured the occurrence” of the catastrophic fracture.

FEI veterinary director Göran Åkerström told the Tribunal: “It is a well-known fact that removing the very fundamental protective function of sensitivity by practices such as local or regional injections of anaesthetic substances will increase the risk of catastrophic injury. This is especially relevant for fractures that are due to bone fatigue (stress fractures), where Castlebar will not show any signs of pain such as lameness while under influence of the injected substance.

“At an endurance ride, this means FEI veterinary delegates will not be able to identify Castlebar as lame and he will continue the competition. The continuous loading of the fatigued bone tissue will then with high certainty lead to a severe fracture.

“Comminuted (multi-fractured) fractures are typical results of bone fatigue.

“The post-mortem report gives very clear information that Castlebar Contraband was injected on several occasions before and also during the competition before the leg fractured.”

The FEI’s witnesses said when they saw the horse, after the accident, he did not seem to be in pain; he tried to take weight on the broken leg, despite the “horrible” fracture, and after his death fell on this side, which is very rare.

The rider and his witnesses all denied this, saying the horse was clearly in pain and distressed. But the Tribunal found these statements were “scripted in a similar manner”, that there were inconsistencies, such as the fact the rider first said he signed a form consenting to have the horse put down, but then admitted a member of his team had signed it. These “make the Tribunal question” what other details in the first statement may not have been accurate; they stated that one member of the team’s “memory of the euthanasia appears to have changed between May 2017 and May 2019”.

“The Tribunal’s view is that the PR was trying to absolve himself of any responsibility,” the report stated, adding that the fact two of his witnesses worked for him “could have had an influence on their recollections of the event”.

The panel found no convincing evidence that the attending vet had administered the xylazine, adding that in a previous doping case, Al Qasimi had also argued that the substance was given by a third party, but this was “unsubstantiated speculation”.

“The Tribunal is comfortably satisfied that Castlebar received nerve-blocking injections during the event,” the report states. “By abnormally desensitising Castlebar’s limbs, this caused or likely caused pain and unnecessary discomfort to [him].”

The panel said the rider “did not seem to be particularly concerned about Castlebar’s wellbeing”.

“But what the Tribunal finds most troubling is that the PR apparently left the accident site after Castlebar’s catastrophic injury, demonstrating a remarkable lack of compassion for a horse he claimed to have loved and treated like a member of his own family,” the report states.

“This Tribunal has never before adjudicated on a horse abuse case of this magnitude.”

Al Qasimi was suspended for 20 years, fined 17,500 Swiss francs (£14,500) and ordered to pay 15,000 francs (£12,400) in costs.

“This was a tragic case of a horse losing its life due to desensitisation and micro-dosing and, while we have had concerns that this has been ongoing for some time, this was the first solid evidence we have had of nerve-blocking during rides as well as micro-dosing,” said Dr Åkerström said. “This has resulted in a change in our post mortem procedures to make them more forensic and also allowed us to prioritise the research and development of the hyposensitivity control system, which is now in place.”

A spokesman for campaigners Clean Endurance told H&H: “While assisting the FEI in the investigation prior to bringing this complex case in front of the Tribunal, Clean Endurance has witnessed first-hand the determined efforts of the FEI legal and veterinary departments, as well as those of the many excellent vets involved.

“Clean Endurance is heartened by the fact these efforts have resulted in an unprecedented sanction for abuse. The extensive information in the FEI Tribunal decision notice should become required reading for any endurance stakeholder as it provides a rare public insight into the very common and abusive training, competing and medication protocols Clean Endurance exists to fight against.”

Endurance GB chairman Phil Nunnerley said: “There was clearly a shocking case of abuse involving this horse and Endurance GB applauds the efforts of the FEI legal and veterinary teams in bringing the athlete concerned to justice.

“It sends out a clear message that the FEI has strong investigative powers and even though this case has taken nearly four years to bring together, the appropriate severity of the sentence shows the determination to clean up the sport internationally to safeguard horse welfare and provide clean competition. The message from the UK is that the wider endurance community at all levels is sickened by this case and will not tolerate such abuse.”

Castlebar Contraband had competed in the UK twice the summer before the fatal run at Fontainebleau, at an FEI ride at Euston Park and a ride in South Wales.

Antonia Milner-Matthews, MRCVS, director of welfare for Endurance GB added: “This sanction is welcomed by us all and it reflects a growing mood of impatience for change in rooting out the minority who bring our sport into disrepute with such devastating results.

“Judging by the FEI findings, they clearly think that the nerve-blocking which ultimately led to the death of Castlebar Contraband had been going on some time. In the UK we place welfare at the heart of everything we do and from this year Endurance GB has mirrored the FEI limb sensitivity wording in our rules, which allows us to eliminate those which are showing hyper or hyposensitive limbs.”

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The FEI Tribunal imposed a record fine and a longer than normal ban from competition after the rider failed to provide any explanation for the presence of the drug in two horses he competed. H&H outlines the case...

The rider of two horses who both tested positive for arsenic in competitions a week apart has been ordered to pay a record fine after he made no explanations for the presence of the drug.

Kekmadar, trained by Rashed Suhail Al Darbi, and Si Quilombo, trained by Ibrahim Joynal Abedin, both ridden by Oman’s Said Al Balushi, were tested at CEI* rides at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, on 8 December and 15 December 2018 respectively.

Both tested positive for arsenic, which is classed as a banned substance and so is not permitted for use in competition horses at any time.

The FEI Tribunal stated in its report on the case that arsenic is a stimulant used in the treatment of acute refractory leukaemia and to avoid convalescence, but that it understands it has been used to enhance racehorses’ performance.

Neither Al Balushi, the main person responsible (PR), nor the horses’ trainers submitted any information or explanation as to how the drug came to be present in the samples.

The Tribunal report notes that the positive findings confirm the banned substance had been used at least twice on horses ridden by Al Balushi.

It adds: “The Tribunal sees a clear pattern of the use of this substance, and finds that the multiple use qualifies for the application of aggravating circumstances, which justify the imposition of a period of ineligibility greater than the standard sanction, of two years.

“The Tribunal finds this violation to be very serious, and takes this into consideration for the imposition of the sanctions. The PR seemingly has not conducted any duty of care, as is required and expected from a rider.”

The Tribunal fined Al Balushi 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,254) and banned him from competition for three years, effective from 7 February 2019. He was also ordered to pay 2,000 francs (£1,650) in costs.

“Having decided that aggravating circumstances exist in the case at hand, the Tribunal has to decide in a next step on the appropriate sanctions,” the report states.

“In taking into account all the circumstances of the case, in particular the presence of the banned substance on multiple occasions and the PR’s failure to provide any explanations for the positive findings, the Tribunal finds a period of ineligibility of three years proportionate in the case at hand.

“In addition, the Tribunal decides to impose a high fine for this serious violation.”

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After eight endurance cases were heard by the FEI Tribunal during the past month, H&H finds out how the FEI’s risk-based strategic approach to dope-testing is paying off...

An increase in dope testing is on the cards for “high-risk” countries, the FEI has confirmed. The body has been increasing testing over the past four years and plans to expand this further.

H&H had asked whether a rise in testing was behind the fact the FEI Tribunal heard eight endurance doping cases in a month (March). In the same period, one reining and one showjumping case were heard.

“From 1 January 2016, the FEI’s global equine anti-doping and controlled medication programme (EADCMP) was rolled out worldwide, with increased testing throughout all levels of FEI disciplines,” an FEI spokesman told H&H.

“In 2017 the FEI took a more risk-based strategic approach, which has led to increased testing in high-risk areas with the aim of safeguarding horse welfare and ensuring a level playing field.

“The strategy has led to a higher number of positive cases, proving that endurance in some parts of the world has major challenges with compliance to [requirements]. The FEI is aiming to continue to increase testing in high-risk countries and will appoint FEI testing vets to carry [this] out at some of the most prestigious events once the FEI calendar returns to normal.”

The FEI has also introduced its hyposensitivity control programme, which detects horses who may have been nerve-blocked during rides.

“Clean sport is an absolute must,” added the spokesman. “It is clear we, like all international federations, need to continue to work to get the message across that clean sport and a level playing field are non-negotiable.”

The FEI Tribunal cases

The positive tests were between January 2018 and September 2019, at events in a range of countries, mostly in the Middle East, and riders of various nationalities.

Two involved accidental contamination involving specified substances — those that may be in a horse’s system as a result of contamination – and riders in both cases were cleared of any wrongdoing, with no fines or bans.

Another case related to a sedative allegedly given to the horse while he was clipped 35 hours before the race, with the banned substance testosterone accounting for two other cases.

Three cases found a mix of controlled medications in horses’ systems. These are substances with a legitimate use in equine veterinary medicine, but must not be present on competition days.

In February 2019 at a CEI2* in Saudi Arabia, Alrahawi was found to have seven controlled medications (two of which were metabolites) in his system.

“The ‘cocktail’ consists of anti-inflammatory medication, local anaesthetics, medications for treatment of skin diseases and corticosteroids,” stated the FEI evidence. “This indicated several medical conditions that in the FEI’s view would render the horse unfit to compete.”

The FEI added the use of anaesthetics also increases the risk of catastrophic injury.

The rider Abdulelah Alonaizi submitted a statement that the trainer Alyazeed Al Dawood, the vet and owner bear responsibility.

He stated he was unaware anything had been given to the horse before the event.

He added he contacted the owner and trainer after the results of the test, with the vet allegedly telling them that there should have been enough time for the drugs to be out of the horse’s system before the event.

The trainer co-signed the statement provided by Mr Alonaizi, but did not provide any explanation for the findings.

Both the rider and trainer were suspended for a year, fined 3,500CHF (£2,909) and ordered to pay 1,500CHF (£1,246) costs.

In the other two cases of multiple substances, one was attributed to human error; the second said this was his first FEI competition and he did not know about the clean sport rules.

Horse Al Jarri tested positive for bute and a metabolite of the drug, as well as dexamethasone, a corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory effect, at a CEI2* in Dubai in November 2018.

Rider Ali Mubarak Salem Mohd Bin Allooba said the drugs are used in routine treatment after long training rides. He added Al Jarri had not done such a ride as the team was happy with how he was going and entered him in the endurance ride instead, but someone forgot to take his name off a list given to the vet.

“The person responsible and his team understands fully that [these drugs] are controlled medications that should not be used so near the competition,” states the explanation. “It was regrettably a human mistake that all the stable staff will work very hard to avoid in the future.”

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I am sitting here at my desk, dressed in my new Ariat Ascent boots and chaps, which feel amazing and so high-tech. I am going to test these in endurance for Ariat and can’t wait to get started when we are ‘allowed out’ — I just don’t want to get them dirty!

The whole world has become smaller. I am used to saying “what a small world!” when I meet someone I know in a remote region, but this is just the exact opposite. It’s such a strange feeling to limit contact with fellow human beings to your household, it must be so much worse for people living on their own.

To ride or not to ride? Morally it is up to each individual rider to make that decision. Will I feel the pressure of potentially harming my fellow human beings by putting our NHS at risk because I have a fall? How likely is this? How can I minimise that risk and continue to do something with the horses? Lungeing and long-reining are far more dangerous with my half-fit competition horses, so the alternatives appear to be ride or not to ride.

There may be competitions later in the year — Endurance GB have cancelled all events until the middle of June — but as things stand at the moment, it is unlikely that competitions will come ‘on song’ in June. I have decided to let Fantom down, although this is quite difficult as he’s jumping out of his skin and does hugely risky things in the field (you would definitely not want to be in the same field as him!).

At present, I am wondering whether to ride Chiara at least to continue her schooling, although obviously I wouldn’t try to proceed with her jumping education. An endurance horse, or at least a hot-blooded Arab, is used to so much freedom and in the process of doing endurance, a very strong bond is formed. We do fun things! OK, there are some things that we have to do to ensure that the partnership is still under direction of the rider, but we cover vast distances, experience different parts of the countryside; in effect we ‘see the world’. A life, albeit temporarily, focussed on schoolwork (even with the imagination stretched to capacity to induce variety) is not the usual life of the ‘hot’ endurance horse. I will have to have my imagination in overdrive in the coming weeks!

I am so lucky — I have space, my horses are at home and my son escaped from work in a very large office in Bristol at the very last minute to return to our family home (working from home), but social distancing from the rest of us.

In the depths of Cornwall there are not many people to be seen at the moment; the locals going about their business within the social distancing guidelines and then there are the not so local people. Yesterday a couple of lycra-clad cyclists, complete with shiny bikes, stopped by the yard to tell me that “there is a sheep with a small sheep, who it seems to be protecting, wandering around”. A small sheep? Surely, they have heard of lambs or do they think that sheep arrive fully grown?

With the wonderfully dry weather, now is the time to do all the many jobs that come with spring with the benefit of having little ‘real’ work to occupy my time. We have been fencing, creosoting, harrowing and rolling, sowing some grass seed and now just have some fertilising to do. Even my school, which suffered badly with all the rain and resembled a greenish swamp, has now been harrowed and restored to its former glory.

My horses are now enjoying being naked by day, but on the very first day the ancient Wizard got bitten by the one and only insect in Cornwall so he’s already in a fly rug. Dilmun’s hair has been coming out for the past couple of weeks by the mattress-load; he must be the hairiest Arab ever. This has now become a mission for me, although of course my clothes have now gained much of the hair Dilmun has lost!

Horses retain their fitness levels for far longer than humans do. My horses are what you might call half-fit, which is probably when they are at their most unpredictable. By the time competitions have restarted, they will probably still be half-fit, but I would have lost any fitness I may have gained. To combat this problem, I am doing my regular RiderCise workouts four or five times a week. The workouts not only make me feel good afterwards, but they actually quite dramatically increasing my riding fitness so that I will be good to go once out training and competing again. I might winge and moan about having to do this exercise, but it helps me keep focussed on my goals.

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The planning continues — the “when it’s all over” scenario has various outcomes to cover as many eventualities as possible. With all endurance in this country having been cancelled up until the middle of June, my first competition on my schedule would be a three-star, which Chiara has been aimed at. However, without being able to train before then, this clearly would be impossible. We will just have to see how it all goes and chill…

This is my last blog for a while, but in the meantime keep safe, be happy and #wewillrideagain!

Annie

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Campaign group Clean Endurance said the ruling ‘sets a landmark precedent for endurance’, while the rider denied his riding was abusive to his horse...

A rider who repeatedly jabbed his horse in the mouth with a harsh bit and “no regard for the horse’s mouth or welfare” has been suspended from competition and advised to pass exams in horsemanship.

The FEI Tribunal found UAE endurance rider Rashed Hamoud Humaid Al Junaibi’s actions in a ride in Abu Dhabi last February were “totally out of line with all general principles of horsemanship”.

Pippa Cuckson, a former H&H news editor and long-term campaigner against poor welfare and rule-breaking in endurance, brought the abuse case.

She submitted video of the ride in which the 22-year-old can be seen leaning back and pulling on the reins “over and over again”, the Tribunal stated, adding that the rider was “completely unbalanced” and his riding was “totally unacceptable”.

Ms Cuckson described his horse 8 Minute’s bit as long-shanked, with a tight, cross-type noseband, the bottom strap of which comprised an exposed chain, used with fixed-length short reins, held by the loops.

She said the fixed-length reins allowed Al Junaibi to lean all his weight against the bit.

“At various stages, Mr Al Junaibi is thrown about, meaning the horse’s mouth is repeatedly jabbed by the force of his bodyweight,” she said.

She also pointed out that the mare can be seen licking, “indicating soreness or dehydration”.

Expert witness William Micklem, a Fellow of the British Horse Society, gave the Tribunal his thoughts on the bit.

“The result of these forces and pressure on nerves and blood vessels will mean after initial discomfort and pain the mouth and lower jaw area is almost certain to become numb during the competition, and hypersensitive afterwards due to bruising and lacerations,” he said.

He added that the noseband would have caused “unacceptable pressure”, which would cause numbness and pain, and that there was no evidence of a good relationship between rider and horse.

“The reverse is the case, with the horse being treated as a machine and produced in such a way that the use of strength and the strongest of bitting and noseband solutions is required to produce a competitive result,” he said.

Al Junaibi denied abuse, stating that he did not believe the horse suffered any pain or discomfort from his tack or riding. He said 8 Minute was inspected by FEI vets six times during the event and they raised no concerns about head injuries. The mare was eventually eliminated for lameness.

He admitted there were times when he was tired and his balance was “less than perfect”, the Tribunal report states, but it was “a bit extreme to expect constant perfect riding position over 140km”, and he did not feel she would have performed as well as she did had she felt pain or discomfort.

He said when he felt the mare becoming strong, he tried to use his bodyweight to control her speed, and that this did not increase pressure on her mouth.

“Everyone has their own riding style and so long as the horse is well taken care of, it is a dangerous approach to dictate about style,” he said, adding that he believes the mare’s licking was caused by her drinking before a vet gate.

Al Junaibi said the bridle was chosen to “minimise the risk of her becoming out of control while ensuring her welfare was maximised”, that the bit was similar to a Dutch gag, with a milder chain than a standard curb chain, and that he used the looped reins as he has trouble holding reins normally owing to his blisters.

During the hearing, Ms Cuckson said she had been involved with equestrian sport for over 40 years, and this ride was one of the worst she had ever seen.

In its conclusion, the panel stated: “It should be obvious for any person with minimal horsemanship knowledge that leaning back and totally out of balance for so long and continuously, with the bit, bridle and reins used, increases the amount of pressure to a point that [it] causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse. Of course, riders have different styles but no riding style, including jabbing on the horse’s mouth, should cause unnecessary pain to a horse. This contradicts old and all principles of riding that the FEI, riders, trainers and officials worldwide must uphold.”

The panel noted that several items of tack worn by 8 Minute are now banned under 2020 endurance rules, and said, as it has in similar cases, that the FEI should investigate why FEI officials did not react on apparent horse abuse during competition.

Al Junaibi was suspended for three months, fined 2,000 Swiss francs (£1,730) and ordered to pay 3,000 francs in costs. Before he competes again, he is “strongly advised” to “pass all tests with exams available at the FEI Campus regarding horsemanship”.

“This decision sets a landmark precedent for endurance – where more and more harsh bits and tight nosebands are being employed in an attempt to compensate for poor riding skills and lack of proper training of the horse,” said a spokesman for campaign group Clean Endurance.

“This is the sixth allegation of horse abuse in UAE endurance that has been sanctioned by the FEI Tribunal in the past 12 months. Four of these resulted from protests to the FEI by Clean Endurance, the other two by Ms Cuckson including this latest.”

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Royal Windsor Horse Show has become the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic – as riders are urged to take the stance that “life must take priority over business”.

Organisers of the show, which was due to run from 13 to 17 May, incorporating showjumping, dressage, endurance, showing and driving, as well as an Edwardian pageant, announced this morning (19 March) it would not go ahead.

Show director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Following government guidelines stating that mass gatherings will not be supported by emergency services and recent announcements regarding social distancing, it is with enormous regret that we have reluctantly taken the decision to cancel Royal Windsor Horse Show, Royal Windsor Endurance and the Edwardian Pageant.

“The health of competitors, tradestand holders, sponsors, officials, volunteers and visiting public is our top priority. We would like to thank everyone associated with the event for their continued support, and we are already planning a bumper show in 2021 to compensate for this year’s disappointment.”

Anyone who has entered or bought tickets will be refunded. Next year’s show is due to run from 12 to 16 May 2021.

The news came as the director of the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) Eleonora Ottaviani reflected on the situation.

“The rapidity of the spread and ease of contagion, but above all the dangerous nature of a virus with no known cure, must induce serious reflection,” she said.

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“In northern Italy, where healthcare is very well organised, hospitals are still overcrowded, doctors and health workers are pushed to the limits. There are not enough medical devices to save all the people who come to the emergency room with the consequences that can be imagined and these medical devices are no longer available on the market.

“Life must take priority over business. All of us are also responsible for the health of the others; it is time to be aware of this danger and act accordingly, strictly respecting the provisions of the authorities. Stay at home.”

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Well, I have to say something about the coronavirus; it’s affecting everyone in some way or another. While it is so disappointing to not be able to compete, it is really necessary that we, as a human race, pull together in our efforts to minimise the impact on the general population and, indeed, on the more vulnerable people on our planet.

It is hard to accept that we cannot carry on as usual when we are feeling well and active and have fit horses peaking soon for the competitions they are aimed at. However, equestrian competitions, indeed any sporting competition, pale into insignificance compared to the safety and health of our fellow human beings.

That said, I am now beginning to ramp up the training of both Chiara (pictured bove) and Fantom as life has to go on and we have to look to the future (what else would I do anyway?). Unfortunately, the ride we were due to attend last weekend was cancelled due to waterlogged conditions at the venue (yes, do you remember all the problems caused by the incessant rain?!). This was to be a tough training ride over Dartmoor, but with opportunities to conquer some hills and up the all-round fitness a level. These things are sent to try us. I feel for a young endurance rider who had spent all her time and focus on preparing her horse for his first three-star event, which was to be at Fontainebleau at the end of March — this, of course, was cancelled. Where to go from here? These are the sort of dilemmas riders have to face now in all equestrian disciplines.

Yesterday the sun shone, and Chiara and I had a magnificent training ride. It wasn’t warm, but I still managed to wear my shades! The dunes had again changed shape and the local riding school had carved new deep gullies in the sand, which had to be negotiated and areas between the dunes had transformed into lakes. Challenges are all good, and I am pleased to say Chiara rose to the occasion, ploughing on through everything, even having to jump off the path onto the beach at the bottom as the sea had eroded yet more of the ‘dunes from hell’ path.

The beach was like another world with an offshore breeze for once making it almost like an oasis. The sand was iridescent with the sun reflecting in pools of left-behind sea water and was beckoning to us to canter, canter, canter. Restraint of course was the order of the day and we only cantered about five miles as that is the stage we are at in our fitness training, the end goal being still firmly in our sights.

I have joined the exalted ranks of being a ride organiser and my first ride was due to be at the weekend. Last week there was some uncertainty as to whether it will be able to go ahead, a worry that has given me a few sleepless nights. I have taken part on this ride many times and it is so strange not to be riding this time, but it has given me a chance to see how it all works from the other side and the opportunity to introduce new distances and a competitive element into the mix. I have now had to make the decision to cancel this event (a moral dilemma that was really no dilemma) just before Endurance GB announced that all competitions were cancelled until the end of May. I have, however, learned a lot from being an organiser even though the event didn’t actually happen, almost everything was done. Next year…

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Yesterday Fantom and I made a trip to the dunes to begin a little interval training up the steep path from the beach. The result of the winter storms could be clearly seen here with all the rubbish washed up on the shore and even the remains of poor St Piran’s Church and oratory were filled with deep water; history washed away!

Through all the doom and gloom and uncertainty, we need to keep some level of optimism. There could well be a full calendar of events later in the year, even an extension of the season for competitions with firmer ground conditions. We are still allowed to ride out into the countryside, summer is coming, and the sun will shine more and more. Onwards and upwards!

Annie

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Many equestrian sports across the UK are coming to a halt as more bodies announce they are ceasing activities owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the Point-to-Point Authority, the Pony Club, Endurance GB, and the Hunting Office are the latest to cancel all events – following British Eventing’s announcement last night that all eventing would cease with immediate effect.

The British Horse Society (BHS) has cancelled its activities due to take place in Ireland; the BHS on Tour (29 March) and the National Coaching Convention (30 March). A spokesman said an update on the society’s other UK activities would be released today.

At the time of publication, the British Equestrian Federation, British Dressage, British Riding Clubs, and British Showjumping had yet to release statements on whether events under their remit would continue.

The Pony Club’s statement said the trustees had been in discussion yesterday and made the “very difficult” decision to cancel all centrally organised events.

“This includes the winter triathlon at Stoke Mandeville on Sunday (22 March) and the winter series final at Arena UK on 4-5 April,” said the statement.

“Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, requesting that we minimise social contact and non-essential travel, we advise all Pony Club activities cease with immediate effect.

“We would like to thank our members, parents and volunteers for their support in the decision to play our part in preventing the spread of covid-19.”

A spokesman for Endurance GB said its board had taken the decision to cancel all rides for at least the next couple of months.

“Following an emergency meeting, the board agreed unanimously in the light of the government advice and in the interests of ensuring the sport placed no additional burden on the NHS or put the health and safety of members, volunteers and officials at risk – all ride activity would cease until at least the end of May,” said the spokesman.

Endurance GB’s chair Phil Nunnerley added the situation would be under constant review in line with the latest advice, with the aim of resuming the season as soon as practical and safe to do so.

“This is a very sad situation,” he said. “I know during the enforced absence of the sport from the calendar our members will pull together, and our community will be an important focus for us all. I must underline our thanks to our organisers, officials, volunteers and staff for their support during these unprecedented times.”

The spokesman added ride organisers will be contacted and members will have entries refunded, while the board will be looking at ways to “boost” communication across Endurance GB’s social media channels including webinars and online training to maintain interest and focus on the sport.

The BHA said in a statement today (17 March) all racing in Britain is suspended from tomorrow to the end of April. This follows last night’s announcement the 2020 Randox Health Grand National Festival (2-4 April) was cancelled. Two race meetings remain scheduled to take place today behind closed doors at Wetherby and Taunton.

“The BHA took the decision to protect essential emergency services and the health and welfare of staff working in the racing industry,” said the statement.

“Racecourses and racing have obligations to ensure the safety of participants and provide medical cover which clearly cannot be fulfilled in these circumstances. This follows the new advice issued by government yesterday to combat the spread of the virus.”

BHA chief executive Nick Rust added the situation is a “national emergency” of which most have never seen before.

“We’re a sport that is proud of its connection to rural communities and to the local businesses that support our industry. But our first duty is to the health of the public, our customers and to racing industry participants and staff so we have decided to suspend racing following the government’s latest advice.

“Racing is a family and I know we will pull together over the coming days, weeks and months and support each other. By stopping racing, we can free up medical resources, doctors and ambulances, be they private sector or NHS, to assist in the national effort to fight this virus. And we can support industry participants and staff as they face personal challenges ahead and care for their own families.”

Mr Rust added there will be “difficult months” ahead for many.

“We need to focus now on ensuring that we can continue to look after our horses as the virus affects the thousands of participants and staff who dedicate their lives to caring for animals. We need to do what we can to support businesses inside and outside racing and the many people whose livelihoods depend upon this four billion pound industry,” he said.

The Point-to-Point Authority (PPA) announced today (17 March) the 2019/2020 season is now closed.

“This was a very difficult decision to make, recognising that many people’s livelihoods are involved,” said the statement.

“However the Prime Minister’s words made clear everyone should minimise social contact and non-essential travel. Furthermore our sport creates some medical burden, both on the course and potentially at the hospitals, where it would be unwelcome under the current circumstances.”

The statement added the PPA would like to thank everyone who has worked to keep this season going “so successfully” until now.

“We will be working on preparations to ensure we start next autumn in the same successful manner as last, and will soon be in touch with many of you for your thoughts and ideas,” said the statement.

A statement by the Hunting Office was issued to all masters and chairmen announcing all hunting would cease until further notice.

“This follows from the statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday. I realise that for many still hunting that this will not be a popular decision but hunting cannot be seen to carry on when all other social, cultural and sporting activities have been cancelled,” said a Hunting Office spokesman.

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While cancellations continue to be announced across the UK, good news came from the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) where riding schools are planned to re-open this week.

“Beas River, Tuen Mun, and Pokfula riding schools will open on 19 March (Thursday),” said the HKJC statement.

“In order to ensure the on-going safety of all and to mitigate the risk of spreading infection, special measures will be in place until further notice. We thank you for your continued support and understand at this challenging time.”

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Racing looks set to run behind closed doors from this week owing to coronavirus, while national and international endurance rides have been cancelled.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is today (16 March) to discuss the industry’s approach, with racecourses and participants, as it prepares to hold fixtures without spectators, and to ensure those attending do so under strict conditions.

A BHA spokesman said this is “likely to mean that racing moves behind closed doors later in the week, initially until the end of March”. Racing’s fixture list will also be considered.

The aim is to ensure a racing programme that is “sustainable in the light of possible staff absences, including in critical roles, which protects industry staff and supports the wider effort to free up critical public services”.

Today’s card at Kelso is running behind closed doors, in accordance with Scottish government guidance, with strict measures to protect staff and participants.

“The BHA has been closely following official guidance on public health,” the spokesman said. “Details of contingency plans have been shared with the department for digital, culture, media and sport. Racing has continued to observe the government’s request for a proportionate response that takes into account public health and the impact on jobs and businesses.”

BHA chief executive Nick Rust added: “Racing has worked hard to look after our customers and our staff by following the government’s guidance and taking proportionate action.

“We will agree plans to limit attendance to participants and staff only at race meetings from this week and put in place the contingency plans developed by the industry.”

The UK government has also been briefed on the issues involved in staging the Randox Health Grand National. A decision will be announced “as soon as possible”.

Endurance GB (EGB) has cancelled the FEI King’s Forest ride, due to take place on 10-12 April, following the FEI’s recommendation that international events not run for four weeks from 13 March.

An EGB spokesman said: “Both national and international classes had been scheduled up to FEI 2* 120km and in addition, organiser Dianne Luke had been aiming to accommodate a request by British and French riders for an FEI 3* 160km class following the cancellation of the Grand Parquet Endurance CEI 3* Fontainebleau Ride scheduled for a fortnight’s time.”

Ms Luke said she was “devastated” to have to cancel.

“But given the circumstances, and in the light of the FEI recommendations, we had no choice but to cancel the whole event,” she said. “I just feel so sorry for the riders who were looking forward to competing, but I am glad that the decision has been taken now, for the sake of all concerned.”

The FEI King’s Forest summer ride, due to run on 26-28 June, will feature an FEI 160km three-star class as well as the national and young rider championships. It will be the final qualifier before the World Championships in Pisa in September and has been chosen as the selection ride for Team GB.

EGB operations director Esther Young said: “In relation to other fixtures over the coming weeks, we have been contacting ride organisers to discuss the position at each ride and review options. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and where possible will look at rescheduling rather than cancelling rides altogether.”

Riders, crew and volunteers are asked not to attend a competition or training event if they are feeling unwell, with cold-type symptoms and a temperature.

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“We are asking everyone involved with the sport and attending rides to follow all government guidance in terms of washing hands and not touching your face as well as practical social distancing,” Ms Young said.

EGB chairman Phil Nunnerley thanked Ms Luke and her husband Paul for their hard work.

“In addition I must pay tribute to our whole team, fellow board members and ride organisers who are working very hard to deal with this unprecedented situation and thank all our members for their patience as we work through the implications of the changing national picture and the challenges coronavirus presents,” he said.

“As we review and monitor the impact on the sport we will provide regular updates in relation to the latest advice and keep you as members in touch and involved in the decision-making process. Our shared priority as a sport and community will remain to protect and safeguard the welfare and interests of everyone involved.”

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A rider who has overcome the challenges posed by her severe medical condition to win a national title credits her horse for keeping her going – and saving her life.

Georgia Massey, riding her nine-year-old Irish draught mare Indigo Clementine, was named national senior pleasure rider champion, as well as champion of her age group, by Sport Endurance on 1 March. Clemmie was also named top pleasure mare.

Georgia told H&H she thought she would never ride again, when she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2017. She weighed six stone when she was admitted to hospital, and her organs were shutting down.

“The process of regaining my health was not linear and was the hardest battle I have ever had to face,” she said. “I was in and out of hospital constantly for months, but the thought of seeing my horse again gave me the strength to keep fighting.”

Georgia believes the stress of years when she kept her previous two mares on a livery yard where she was badly bullied contributed to her autoimmune condition – one in which the body’s defence system attacks its own tissues.

As a result of the bullying, and having to leave the yard, she had found new homes for both mares, but her partner Lee Chapman and Nick Phillips, who owned a livery yard nearby, persuaded her to see Clemmie, who was still with her breeder Janet George.

“I was so poorly, I just went along with it,” Georgia said. “I didn’t want another horse but Nick said ‘you need something in your life to keep you going’. And when I said yes, three rainbows appeared, so I think it was a sign.”

Lee and Nick looked after Clemmie while Georgia was very ill. And although she still goes through periods of better health followed by flare-ups which result in hospital admissions, she credits the mare for her recovery.

“Without a doubt, she saved my life,” Georgia said. “There was a time when, even doctors said, it was my attitude that got me through when everything else had failed. I remember lying there thinking ‘I’ve got to get well for my horse’. That might sound like a cliché, but something’s a cliché because it’s true.

“She was my motivation to fight this. Being diagnosed with a life-changing condition is so tough because you don’t recognise your body any more; I’m approaching 50, looking different, feeling different; but I didn’t get depressed because I had my horse to focus on.”

Georgia has to plan her endurance rides carefully around her condition, but she cites the support of fellow competitors as another factor in her success.

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She added: “The message I want to get out is that I was given this life-threatening prognosis, in a really dark place and wondering what was to become of me.

“Everything changes. You’re told you can’t do things and on support groups, I heard of other people having surgery and taking drugs and becoming a shadow of themselves, and I thought ‘that’s not for me, I’m going to live my life’. It almost doesn’t matter what the diagnosis or prognosis is; listen to your body and do what you love. It keeps me going and motivated, and it saved my life.

“Clemmie gave me a reason to get up in the morning; a reason to live. If I can do it, anyone can.”

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