The Canadian Equestrian Federation has expressed its disappointment at Tiffany Foster’s disqualification at the Olympics.

A strong stance on hypersensitivity was displayed by the FEI at the London Games when Canadian rider Tiffany Foster was disqualified from the team showjumping.

Canadian team manager Terrance Millar said: “We are very unhappy about this. It is a decision that lacks any common sense. It is just blind application of a rule. It lacks judgement.”

Tiffany’s horse Victor was found to have “clear and obvious hypersensitivity on the front of the coronary band on the left forelimb” by FEI vets on 5 August, just 15 minutes before the start of the team jumping.

Vets said there was “no accusation of malpractice”, but the horse was deemed unfit to compete.

But teammate and 2008 Olympic gold medallist Eric Lamaze was outraged and at the time said he would not compete for his country again until the Canadian Equestrian Federation stepped up its support for Tiffany.

A protest lodged by the Canadian chef d’equipe was denied by the FEI Appeal Committee, as there is no right of appeal to elimination for veterinary reasons.

Canadian Olympic team vet Dr Sylvie Surprenant added: “In our opinion, the horse was fit to compete. However, the FEI hypersensitivity protocol is such that if the horse is sensitive to the touch, regardless of the cause, the horse is disqualified. While the FEI rules were followed, we believe there should be a review of this protocol.”

But FEI secretary general Ingmar de Vos said it was “an obvious case of hypersensitivity”.

It is the second time the condition has been in the news in relation to the Olympics. Last month, Ireland’s Denis Lynch was dropped as an individual for his country at the Games after his horse Lantinus 3 tested positive for hypersensitivity (news, 12 July). Again, there was no suggestion of malpractice, but it was the third such incident for Denis in 12 months.

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Canadian rider Tiffany Foster has been disqualified from the showjumping events at the London Olympics after her horse, Victor, was found to be suffering from hypersensitivity.

The official FEI statement said: “The Veterinary Commission have stated that the horse has an area of inflammation and sensitivity on the left forelimb just above the hoof. There is no accusation of malpractice, but the horse has been deemed unfit to compete by the Ground Jury.

“The Canadians have filed a protest, but a decision by the Ground Jury on hypersensitivity is not appealable.”

Canadian team manager Terrance “Torchy” Millar said: “We are very unhappy about this. It is a decision that lacks any common sense. It is just blind application of a rule. It lacks judgement and horsemanship. The horse has one small nick on one coronet band. He could have got it anywhere. The horse is sound.”

The decision was announced just 15 minutes before Tiffany, competing at her first Olympics, was due to compete.

Read more about this case in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale FRIDAY 10 August

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All horses show normal nerve sensation or sensitivity in the legs. Where that sensation is increased beyond normal limits it is termed “hypersensitivity”.

Overly sensitive legs could give a horse an unfair advantage [as they would be more careful to avoid hitting jumps] and are a concern on welfare grounds.

Hypersensitivity can be caused by a range of normal things, including injuries and infections, as well as malpractice.

No intentional hypersensitising has ever been proved [although it happened accidentally at the Beijing Olympics in 2008].

FEI vets test for hypersensitivity by thermographic [thermal imaging to identify hot spots] and clinical examination [by palpation].

If hypersensitivity is found a further examination is made at a later time to confirm the persistence of the condition.

The ground jury then takes a decision on whether to disqualify the horse on welfare grounds. No appeal is allowed.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (15 September, 2011)

Irish showjumpers Billy Twomey and Denis Lynch, and French rider Simon Delestre were all disqualified from the penultimate leg of the Global Champions Tour in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday following hypersensitivity tests on their horses’ legs.

Following tests, which include veterinary examinations and the use of a thermographic camera, all three riders’ horses — Twomey’s Romanov, Lynch’s All Inclusive NRW and Delestre’s Vancouver DML — were deemed unfit to compete.

In a statement the International Equestrian Federation stated that although the horses had been disqualified there was “no indication of malpractice”.

• What is hypersensitivity?

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The International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) has admitted that US showjumper McLain Ward’s horse was “incorrectly eliminated” from the FEI World Cup final.

Mr Ward has said he is satisified with the decision and welcomed news that the protocol used to disqualify his mount, Sapphire, had been revised (see below).

The prize-money and points Mr Ward won in the event’s second round will be restored to him.

The ground jury eliminated Sapphire, who was leading after the second round of the 2010 final in Geneva, Switzerland, after vets claimed the horse showed signs of hypersensitivity.

Drug tests and swabs were later found to be negative and Mr Ward filed an appeal/protest with the FEI.

New guidelines issued

Following this case, the FEI has provided further clarification of the rules surrounding the examination of horses’ legs for potential hypersensitivity and the disqualification process that would follow a positive result.

The new guidelines state that all horses tested for hypersensitivity will continue to undergo a thermographic examination as part of the evaluation process.

It also states that no horse can be eliminated from a competition for hypersensitivity after the competition has taken place.

It clarifies that the rider (person responsible) for a horse that is disqualified for hypersensitivity will receive a written description of the examination process and the rights of the person responsible under the circumstances.

If a horse is disqualified more than 12hrs before a competition, the rider may submit a written request to the ground jury for the horse to be re-examined. The horse will then be re-examined on the day of the competition.

If the horse is not showing signs of hypersensitivity, then it will be allowed to compete, but remains eligible for examination for signs of hypersensitivity throughout the entire competition.

The new guidelines are effective immediately.

Read the guidelines on the FEI website

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The statement below was release by the FEI to clarify what hypersensitivity is and how they detect it through use of thermographic and clinical examinations.

All horses show normal nerve sensation or sensitivity. Where that sensation is increased beyond normal limits it is called hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity can be produced by a range of normal occurrences, such as an insect sting or accidental self-inflicted injury.

Hypersensitisation is the term used to define the artificial production of hypersensitivity and is contrary to horse welfare and fair play.

At FEI competitions, the determination of hypersensitivity in the horse is made by a combination of thermographic and clinical examinations, carried out by at least two experienced equine veterinarians.

Thermography is a means of detecting abnormal heat patterns of the skin through the use of an imaging camera. The clinical examination is carried out by observation and palpation (applying manual pressure).

Both examinations are made on the front of all four limbs of the horse, particularly from the fetlock to the hoof.

In the event that hypersensitivity is found, a further examination will be made at a later time to confirm the persistence of the hypersensitivity.

Video evidence is taken of both clinical examinations for presentation to the Ground Jury, who will make a decision on disqualification on horse welfare grounds. There is no appeal against the decision of the Ground Jury.

All such cases are subject to follow-up Medication Control Programme (MCP) testing for the detection of any Prohibited Substances.

Video explaining hypersensitivity

New measures to combat the hypersensitisation of horses’ legs during major show jumping competitions were unveiled recently by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

The move aims to eliminate the practice in which substances applied to horses’ legs increase their sensitivity. This makes it painful for the horse to hit a show jumping pole and makes it lift its limbs higher.

“It’s very hard to know how many horses are hypersensitised,” said vet John McEwen, head of the FEI’s veterinary committee which drew up the hypersensitisation protocols.

“We suspect it’s done by a small number of riders, but just because it’s not widespread doesn’t mean it must not be eliminated.

“The work we have done on this — at the request of riders and the FEI show jumping committee — has been a slow evolution. It’s a difficult issue, but we think we’ve got it right.”

Every horse competing in a CSI, CSIO and championship from now will have its legs scanned for heat with an infrared camera — known as thermography — and be examined by two vets at the start of the competition, either after the trot-up or the first time they leave the arena.

If the horse shows a clear abnormal reaction, it will be banned from competing.

Random checks will be made throughout the show, and any horse displaying a change in temperature and/or an extremely high or low temperature in its legs, will be further examined.

If abnormal sensitivity is confirmed by the vets, and/or visible changes on the skin of the legs detected, video evidence will be recorded.

But while horses will be eliminated, riders will not be sanctioned.

“Riders have never been successfully punished [for hypersensitisation] as their level of involvement is difficult to prove,” said an FEI spokesman.

British vet Dr Andrew Higgins, chair of the FEI’s medication advisory group, set up in 2005 to look at doping issues, said: “The level of testing being introduced indicates the seriousness of the issue. We’re not pointing the finger at all top riders, but those on the circuit know who these people are, and we’re going to find them.”

Mr McEwen explained that while the types of substances being used are known, detecting them using leg swabs is difficult because they can often be washed off before FEI tests are taken.

“But even if it has been washed off, sensitivity will continue,” he said. “Looking for the product is not the way to go, it’s looking at whether the leg has been abused.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (22 November, ’07)

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More random equine dope tests are to be introduced this year, as well as elective testing and leg-swabbing trials, as part of the International Equestrian Federation’s (FEI) tougher stance on doping in equestrian competition.

In May 2005, the FEI unveiled new anti-doping and medication control rules and set up working groups to move the plans forward. Last week, the medication advisory group (MAG) and veterinary committees met to report on progress.

“There will be an increase in testing during 2006 — which may mean up to 30% more tests at some events,” said Dr Andrew Higgins, MAG chair and British vet.

A leg-swabbing kit is to be trialled, to try to combat hypersensitisation (applying substances to horses’ legs to increase their sensitivity).

“Riders have said they want something done about hypersensitisation abuses for a long time,” said Dr Higgins. “But the range of substances used to sensitise a horse’s skin is so huge that this is a great challenge for us.

“There are some horror stories of substances that are said to have been applied or injected beneath the skin, including oven cleaner, mercury blisters, scalding water and so on.

“Any abuses of this nature cannot and will not be tolerated, and we will do all we can to fight the abusers.”

Studies currently underway include temperature testing of legs, and thermographic imaging research.

Read more about the FEI’s plans in today’s Horse & Hound (9 February, ’06)

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