The eldest son of the ruler of Dubai has died at the age of 33.

Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who competed at endurance and was also involved in racing, suffered a heart attack and died on Saturday (19 September).

He has been buried at Umm Hurair Cemetery in Dubai.

Sheikh Rashid’s international endurance results include a win at the CEIO3* held in Gubbio, Italy, second place at the CEI3* in Wadi Rum, Jordan, both in 2006.

The same year, he also won team and individual gold at the 15th Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar, aboard nine-year-old Magic Glenn, also known as Nashmi or “The Brave” in Arabic.

He last competed under FEI rules in 2008.

The nation is currently in three-days of mourning for the prince, who was the son of Godolphin founder His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai.

UAE flags are being flown at half-mast.

Sheikh Rashid’s brother— current endurance world champion Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum — paid tribute to his late sibling on social media.

“Today, I lost a best friend and a childhood companion.. my dear brother Rashid. You will be missed,” he said.

Sheikh Rashid’s racehorses — including 2013 Group One Golden Shaheen winner Reynaldothewizard — ran under the banner of Zabeel Racing International and were trained by Satish Seemar.

The British Prime Minister David Cameron, world leaders and members of other royal families are among those that have offered their condolences to Dubai’s royal family.

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Endurance GB’s (EGB) “in principle” agreement to a blanket sponsorship from Sheikh Mohammed’s Meydan corporation is provoking a storm of protest on its members-only forum.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, includes a new training programme and provision of electronic equipment for FEI rides in the UK.

Rides will be reinstated at Sheikh Mohammed’s British base, Euston Park. They were cancelled in 2013 when UAE doping and horse injury scandals drew worldwide media attention.

Some members are threatening to leave EGB or stop officiating if it goes ahead.

Negotiations between British Equestrian Federation (BEF) chief executive Andrew Finding and Meydan CEO Saaed Al Tayer — who served together on the FEI Endurance Strategic Planning Group — were leaked to H&H in June, but members were notified only after last week’s deadline for items to be put to the AGM on 22 November.

One poster on the forum wrote: “I can smell the bullshit from Yorkshire. The reason none of this is on ‘our’ website is because they didn’t want the membership to know it’s a done deal and we’ve sold the society’s soul.”

UAE riders have received FEI yellow cards for offences including horse abuse this year. Asked if the UAE had turned over a new leaf, EGB chairman John Hudson said: “Clearly EGB cannot answer for the BEF or the UAE. However, from personal objective observation by EGB officials attending all FEI rides in Britain this year, there has been no evidence of any significant breaches of FEI rules by riders of any nation, or of horse welfare issues.

“These observations, together with the enhanced FEI rules and their stronger enforcement by impartial officials, provides confidence that future events in GB will be run to the same high standards or better.”

He added that EGB is financially sound and not reliant on the Meydan backing.

“EGB believes that inclusiveness, not exclusion, is the key to improving standards and culture,” he said.

This news story was first published in H&H magazine (9 October 2014).

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As H&H magazine went to press, the FEI announced that a protest brought by former H&H editor Lucy Higginson and H&H contributor Pippa Cuckson (pictured) against the FEI for a ground jury’s handling of a horse abuse case in endurance has been successful.

The pair protested that the yellow card awarded to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa was an insufficient penalty for the abuse of his winning horse in the King’s Cup 120km endurance race at Sakhir, Bahrain earlier this year (8 February). The FEI Tribunal upheld the protest and ruled he should be disqualified.

Videos from the race caused an outcry on social media. The clips showed a groom leaping out of a following vehicle and beating the horse several times (news, 13 February). A second clip showed the rider lashing the horse with exceptionally long reins, against FEI rules.

After the video went viral the FEI reported that the Sheikh had been handed a yellow card for “abuse of the horse”.

This ruling could have large ramifications for the FEI’s yellow card procedure as it has overruled the ground-jury with the benefit of “hindsight”.

In May, the same rider received a further yellow card for abuse and was automatically suspended for two months.

This news story was first published in H&H magazine on 18 September 2014

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There were exhibitions of great sportsmanship, transparency at vetgates and heart-warming stories throughout the endurance competition at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) last week. Who can ever forget Jordi Santacreu jumping for joy as Mystair Des Aubus pinged down the final trot-up lane, ears still pricked, to secure Spain’s team gold?

But there weren’t many horses like him. By vetgate four, some survivors looked dead-eyed, as if all they could do was support their own weight.

If this represented the world’s best, why the mere 22% completion rate? Yes, the going was horrendous early on and the temperature clammy, but the idea of endurance is to conserve energy, which means slowing down where you have to.

FEI qualifications remain so slack Sheikh Mohammed could have defended his 2012 title despite attempting just one CEI in 733 days. The UAE’s Qurun Al Elm has had eight riders in 11 FEI starts. This was only his second outing under Abdullah Ghanim al Marri; they won Compiègne’s 120km CEI riding a last loop at 33.2kph in May.

Spectators gasped when the grey collapsed at vetgate three with colic.

FEI rules perpetuate a poor standard of equitation. Many nationalities were initially towed along, out of control, by fast-riding Middle Eastern teams on expensive purchases produced by professional trainers. UAE and Qatar each provided three of the 44 horses now grounded for 60 days with metabolic failures that needed veterinary intervention.

When FEI endurance chairman Brian Sheahan told media he was “proud to be associated with this championship” I thought I was in a parallel universe. The FEI still has a mountain to climb to rehabilitate endurance.

➤ Pippa Cuckson was presented with the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists’ 2013 Bureau Award at WEG for her exposure of the endurance scandal in H&H and other media.

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Tamper-proof GPS units on horse and rider are among unprecedented surveillance measures in place at today’s endurance ride in Sartilly (Thursday 28 August) as the FEI strives to avoid a scandal-free Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

FEI vice-president John McEwen outlined the level of scrutiny in a letter to national federations, urging them to circulate it to riders and officials, and stressing that: “the eyes of the world are upon us”.

Earlier this year Princess Haya handed over responsibility for endurance to Mr McEwen, to prevent any “conflict of interest” questions as a result of her husband Sheikh Mohammed’s involvement in the sport.

Tougher new rules were applied from 1 August, following the FEI’s clean-up after controversy about doping, fatalities and cheating raged for over a year.

“Not only is it important that these rule changes are now in place, it is also critical to the future health of the discipline that there is greater awareness of the commitment to address the issues that endurance has faced, and our determination to overcome them,” said Mr McEwen.

Other surveillance measures at Sartilly include:

• Fixed and roving video surveillance at the vet gates, and in the cooling area and rest areas.
• All video recordings will be in high definition, recorded continuously and with the capability to produce individual, HD and colour pictures.
• An approved FEI timing system to send horses to vet lanes in strict order of arrival, removing any perceived conflict of interest as horses will be automatically diverted away from own-nation officials.
• Additional FEI officials, in excess of those required by the rules.
• More dope testing and a pre-event testing facility.

The French Arab Horse association, L’ACA, has spoken out about the negative impact the endurance scandals have had on the breeding of Arabian horses — France sells many into the Middle East endurance community. The association has started a campaign called “Doping is Killing”, and will be selling posters and bumper stickers on its trade stand at WEG.

First published in H&H magazine 28 August 2014

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Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin racing operation has increased its global presence further by establishing a permanent base in Australia.

From 1 August, Godolphin’s royal blue silks will be worn by all runners prepared by Sheikh Mohammed’s Australian head trainer John O’Shea. The Sheikh’s racing in Australia has previously been run through his thoroughbred breeding operation, Darley.

His bloodstock advisor John Ferguson said: “Godolphin represents the crown jewels of Sheikh Mohammed’s horseracing operations and the establishment of a permanent presence in Australia is not only testament to his ongoing commitment to the racing industry but, also to the country at large.”

First published in Horse & Hound magazine on 24 July 2014

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“Bold steps” to help improve the welfare of horses in international endurance events — including athlete penalties, extended rest periods and increased accountability for riders, as well as a review of all 2,700 endurance officials — were revealed last week (29 April).

However, the proposed rules do not extend to national rides, such as Middle Eastern desert rides, and some would like to see them go further.

“I would like to see increased completion rates, reduced injuries and illness in the horse, and better course-design,” said Brian Sheahan, chair of the endurance committee at the FEI’s sports forum last week.

“To maintain integrity, we need a reduction in doping, improved compliance by athletes and trainers and rule enforcement by officials.”

Last year the Endurance Strategic Planning Group was set up to help clean up the sport and advise changes. There was a 70% increase in testing in endurance in 2013.

“It’s not just a matter of increasing testing, it’s important it now runs in parallel with education,” said chairman of the FEI veterinary committee John McEwen.

The main changes

Rules will define yellow card offences, rather than leaving this to the discretion of the ground jury.

Injured horses must be presented at a vet gate within 30min or a yellow card will be awarded and the horse is disqualified for 60 days.

If a horse is eliminated due to lameness, it will be stood down for 14 days. If there are two consecutive lamenesses, 21 days. A third means a 90-day suspension.

Each metabolic elimination — such as for dehydration — results in 10 penalty points. One that needs “immediate action” means 25 penalty points. A “catastrophic injury” (fracture) incurs 50. Accumulating 100 points leads to a two-month suspension.

Does it go far enough?

DR Tim Parkin from the University of Glasgow called for injuries at national events to be included in the Global Endurance Injuries Study, which he is running for the FEI.

“Adding in data from national events is only going to improve that situation,” he said.

World Horse Welfare’s Roly Owers said: “The need to make evidence-based decisions is so important for equine welfare.”

Fred Barrelet of the Swiss Federation said there was not enough accountability and the onus shouldn’t just fall on riders.

Others said that injuries might occur in training.

Juliette Mallison from the German Federation said the sanctions for catastrophic injury “aren’t sufficient”.

Belgian coach Pierre Arnould added: “Today’s rules are good and tomorrow’s will be better. But the problem is not the rules, it’s the application of the rules.”

Sheikh Mohammed has been cleared of having any knowledge of the drug scandals involving his organisation last year in a review carried out by Lord Stevens, according to The Guardian.

Sheikh Mohammed ordered the investigation into his own equine operations, following a series of doping scandals last year.

Goldophin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was banned from racing for 8 years in April after 11 horses tested positive for anabolic steroids ethylestranol and stanozolol during a “testing in training” programme.

In September H&H revealed that a shipment of illegally imported equine drugs, which had been labelled as “horse tack”, was seized and destroyed by border forces at Stansted Airport on 3 May. It later emerged the drugs were seized from a Dubai Royal Air Wing flight.

In a separate raid on 7 August at Moorley Farm East in Newmarket — a property which was being run by leading endurance trainer Jaume Punti Dachs but owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Management Ltd breeding operation — another 124 medical products were seized by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

The report, which was led by former Metropolitan Police Chief Lord Stepehens has concluded that Sheikh Mohammed had no knowledge of the drug-related incidents and that the problems came from “a sense of complacency” within the Sheikh’s management structure.

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Equestrian journalist Pippa Cuckson’s efforts at exposing the scandal surrounding Middle East endurance have been recognised with a prestigious award.

Pippa, who is a regular contributor to H&H and former deputy editor of the magazine, has been award the 2013 Bureau Award by the International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists (IAEJ).

The award was established in 2012 to honour outstanding contributions to the industry. Its inaugural recipient was US showjumping chef d’equipe George H. Morris.

IAEJ Bureau members praised Pippa’s “intrepid reporting” exposing doping in Sheikh Mohammed’s endurance operation. She has reported on the issue for H&H, the Daily Telegraph and other publications, including Horse Sport International and Chronicle of the Horse.

“I am just doing what any news reporter ought to be doing, because this issue provides a snapshot of the two issues that will ultimately destroy equestrian sport,” said Pippa.

“Our responsibilities to horses when we use them as a piece of sporting machinery and how the moral compass of stakeholders seizes up when they get a sniff of big money.”

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Princess Haya and former Met Police chief Lord Stevens are to investigate Sheikh Mohammed’s equine operations, following news that the illegal veterinary drugs seized at Stansted in May came in on a Dubai government plane.

The shipment, labelled as “horse tack”, was seized and destroyed by border forces on 3 May. On Sunday The Guardian reported that it was found on a Dubai Royal Air Wing Flight.

A spokesman for Princess Haya said her husband Sheikh Mohammed “was not even aware” of the seizure until he “read about it in media reports 2 weeks ago”.

He added that Sheikh Mohammed was “deeply troubled by this development” and “immediately asked Princess Haya to take action to ensure these kinds of management failures never happen again. Princess Haya has a proven track record in this area through her FEI Clean Sport initiative.”

Princess Haya says she will now conduct a “thorough investigation” into the seizure at the airport and a separate raid on 7 August on Moorley Farm East in Newmarket, in which 124 medical products were seized by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

The yard, run by leading endurance trainer and European champion Jaume Punti Dachs, is owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Management Ltd breeding operation.

The investigation will include drug use and acquisition, and the licence status of employees within the Sheikh’s operation, particularly “vets and farriers”.

Princess Haya met with Lord Stevens — who headed FEI Clean Sport commission and who is to oversee this inquiry — on Tuesday (1 October).

“We will look into events surrounding the seizures at Stansted and Moorley Farm, including the chain of custody for the medications in question and their intended purpose,” he said.

“We will also look beyond those specific events for a wide-ranging assessment of veterinary procedures and practices to determine whether they are in support of horse welfare and in keeping with all applicable laws and regulations.

“Sheikh Mohammed is adamant that any evidence of violations of law or regulation in any jurisdiction should be shared with the appropriate authorities. Our primary focus is on preventing any future systemic failures. We will identify best practices and develop protocols and procedures to streamline and improve management and operations.”

He added that following the meeting he has “begun assembling a team of experts” but that as yet there is no time frame on the project.

“We have agreed that we will not wait until the inquiry is finished to suggest any improvements that should be implemented more quickly,” he added.

For the full story on what Princess Haya’s directive includes and what the end of her tenure as president means for the FEI and sponsorship see this week’s issue of H&H — out today Thursday, 3 October.

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In a surprise announcement, Princess Haya has said that she will not seek a third term as FEI President.

Earlier this year, proposals were put forward to change the rules to allow the FEI President to stand for a third four-year term.

But today Princess Haya, who was elected in 2006, announced that she would not seek to extend her presidency beyond November 2014.

“After my election in 2006, I proposed limiting FEI Presidents to two four-year terms… because it is essential to ensure fresh thinking and avoid a sense of entitlement,” she said.

“I cannot in good conscience put aside my beliefs and the commitment I made seven years ago now that the term limit I supported applies to me,” she added.

According to the FEI, the third term proposal was put forward by FEI regional group chairs and national federations.

Princess Haya said she was “honoured” by their efforts, but was “confident” they would understand “why I feel I must keep my word when my current term ends next year”.

Princess Haya has been instrumental in brokering a number of lucrative sponorship deals for horse sport — including a nine-figure deal with watchmaker Longines and £13.4m from the Saudi Equestrian Fund to help shore up the showjumping Nations Cup.

But some national federations have said they would oppose any attempt by Princess Haya to serve a third term as FEI President.

They have pointed to an alleged “conflict of interest” between her role as the arbiter of clean sport and her marriage to Sheikh Mohammed, whose endurance and racing interests have been caught up in recent doping scandals.

Statement from FEI President HRH Princess Haya on FEI Governance

In my first meeting in Lausanne with the FEI Bureau after my election in 2006, I proposed limiting FEI Presidents to two four-year terms. I suggested that reform, which was later adopted as an FEI Statute, because it is essential to ensure fresh thinking and avoid a sense of entitlement within the leadership of an International Sport Federation.

Whilst I very much appreciate and am honoured by efforts of the FEI Regional Group Chairpersons and the National Federations to amend the FEI Statutes to permit me, or any FEI President to seek a third term, my views on the benefits of a two-term limit have not changed since the day I was elected. I love being FEI President. I am passionate about the work and our sport. I love the people I work with at the National Federations and at headquarters.

However, I cannot in good conscience put aside my beliefs and the commitment I made seven years ago now that the term limit I supported applies to me. I am deeply grateful to all the National Federations that favour changing the Statutes to allow me a third term. I am confident they will understand why I feel I must keep my word when my current term ends next year.

I was first elected to this job seven years ago because our National Federations wanted transparency, good governance and change and I promised a transformational presidency. Together, through thick and thin, we have achieved more than 80% of all pledges laid down in my manifesto and programme in an open, democratic and transparent manner. I am so very proud of the people who worked together with me to achieve this.

My focus in my final year in office is on delivering the remaining pledges. I will complete this shared mission with respect, determination and energy — and with the support of the entire community and above all the help from 132 National Federations.

I intend to leave the FEI in November 2014 knowing that our International Federation is fit for the future. I will work as hard as ever towards that goal until my final day in office. And then I will step aside, confident that I have done the right thing.

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H&H has learnt that there are moves to stop Princess Haya from standing for a third term as president of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

The FEI’s attempts to reduce doping offences in endurance are undermined by a “conflict of interest” in the “highest appointment of the FEI”, according to Charles Trolliet, head of the Swiss Equestrian Federation.

Princess Haya is the junior wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. More than 20 positive doping tests since 2005 have involved horses trained in stables owned by the Maktoum family.

Sheikh Mohammed himself was given a six-month endurance ban after a positive steroids test in 2009.

Earlier this year, Sheikh Mohammed’s Moulton Paddocks racing stables in Newmarket were caught up in a doping scandal when several horses tested positive for banned anabolic steroids.

Mr Trolliet told H&H that the Swiss and Dutch federations will now oppose changes to the FEI Statutes that would allow Princess Haya to stand for another four-years when her second term ends in 2014.

The proposal is due to be discussed at the FEI General Assembly in Montreux, Switzerland, in November.

Mr Trolliet’s announcement follows the growing disquiet and controversy over the FEI’s endurance strategic planning group, which was established to tackle high incidences of doping and injuries in Middle Eastern endurance.

He is upset that, at some point, the “clean-up” operation appears to have morphed into something else.

“The purpose seems to be more of a strategy to develop the sport, rather than solve the problems we described,” he told H&H.

He is also unhappy that members of the group are “not neutral” and too close to FEI hierarchy.

They include Saeed Al Tayer, who is closely involved with Sheikh Mohammed’s racing as well as endurance operations. The other members are Brian Sheehan, a vet and chair of the FEI endurance committee; Joe Mattingly, chair of the US endurance high-performance committee, and French vet Jean-Luis Leclerc.

A version of this story appeared in Horse & Hound 19 September 2013

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Concerns about equine doping and severe injuries in the Middle East are already the worst-kept secrets in FEI endurance. But this niche discipline seems set for wider scrutiny following the Godolphin steroids scandal that rocked the racing world.

Mahmood al Zarooni, who trained for Sheikh Mohammed’s elite Godolphin operation at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket, was banned for a record eight years after 11 racehorses tested positive to anabolic steroids, following a spot-check by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) last month.

Al Zarooni also admitted giving steroids to four other horses.

Sheikh Mohammed is the ruler of Dubai, one of the seven principalities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He personally underpins the global racing economy with worldwide bloodstock investments worth billions and owns an estimated 5,000 racehorses.

His junior wife, Princess Haya of Jordan, is president of the FEI, the body that governs global horse sport, and has actively campaigned for clean sport.

Sheikh Mohammed said he was “shocked and appalled” by al Zarooni’s actions. He ordered root and branch investigations into stable management practices, as well as co-operating fully with the BHA.

The Swiss demand change

But al Zarooni has previously worked as assistant to Mubarak Khalifa Bin Shafya — who came before the FEI tribunal in 2008 and 2011 for endurance doping matters. He has trained both endurance and racehorses at Sheikh Mohammed’s Al Asaafa stables in Dubai.

This, combined with renewed coverage of the six-month suspension served by Sheikh Mohammed himself in 2009 (for a horse testing positive for banned substances), has put Middle Eastern endurance under a media microscope. This comes in the week the FEI is due to respond to demands for change from the Swiss Equestrian Federation (SEF).

In a letter, seen by H&H, SEF president Charles Trolliet warned that the “negative evolution” of endurance in the Middle East is now so unacceptable that concerned endurance riders and officials elsewhere in the world believe a breakaway movement should be considered.

In his letter, Mr Trolliet highlights a “dramatic incidence” of doping and “incidences of inequity” [unequal treatment] in competition — the latter involving completely enclosed “recovery areas for certain riders” around vetgates.

These included the World Championships at Euston Park, Norfolk, last year, where Sheikh Mohammed won the individual title and the UAE team gold.

Regarding doping, the SEF produced graphs using FEI tribunal data showing how, from January 2010, 41 endurance horses worldwide tested positive for various banned and controlled substances.

More than 80% of the disciplinary cases involved FEI Group VII (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Qatar) and seven of the 13 people consequently suspended from Group VII were from the UAE.

Horses ridden by three medallists, all from the UAE, at FEI championships in the past eight years also tested positive.

‘Shocking’ vet reports and ‘cheating’

Mr Trolliet continued: “We abstain from listing the multitude of witnessed and documented cruelties to horses, including shocking veterinarian reports concerning health issues, tremendous fracture frequencies and dangerous treatment protocols… as well as cheating actions before and during the endurance races, in parallel with the non-taking of responsibility of certain officials and FEI staff.”

Ingmar de Vos, secretary general of the FEI, told H&H that a comprehensive response was being sent this week and the Swiss had “expressed their satisfaction with the FEI’s approach”.

Asked to confirm if the FEI had sought a meeting earlier this winter to warn the UAE that its FEI endurance rides faced disaffiliation, Mr de Vos said: “Given the growth of endurance in the UAE, meetings between the FEI and the UAE Equestrian Federation are taking place on a regular basis both in [FEI headquarters at] Lausanne and the UAE.”

In April 2012, distinguished vets debated increased doping and fractures in endurance at the FEI open forum in Lausanne. UAE delegate Dr Hallvard Sommerseth, a vet, identified the UAE as one of the countries being referred to.

He said that the FEI practice of making riders the “person responsible” for doping violations meant that, in the Middle East, the “wrong person” was often punished; there, endurance hinges on the trainer, with horses competed by jobbing jockeys who usually had no prior knowledge of their mounts.

He said the UAE federation undertakes more national testing than most, reporting offenders to the FEI, which then posts offences online for the duration of the winter season — making the incidence look worse than it is.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (2 May 2013)

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The steroids found in Sheikh Mohammed’s racehorses last month shocked the world.

And now, the disgraced trainer, Mahmood al Zarooni’s past links with endurance have come into focus.

This week, H&H investigates the doping record of Arab endurance nations — and finds that matters have got so bad, there are demands for the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to clean up the sport.

To read the full story see today’s issue of H&H (2 May 2013)

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Two horses owned by Sheikh Mohammed are to start their stud careers in China next year.

Jalil – a seven-year-old son of Storm Cat – will stand at the Lisui Farm in Beijing. Jalil cost $9.7m ( £6.1m) as a yearling and went on to win the Group Two Maktoum Challenge in Dubai.

And six-year-old Sousa – who is by Galileo and won the Australian Group One Spring Champion Stakes – will stand at Ordos Farm in Inner Mongolia.

Each stallion is expected to cover around 75 mares. Their stud fees will be free to approved mares.

John Ferguson, the sheikh’s bloodstock advisor, said: “Sheikh Mohammed is eager to support the emergence of the Chinese thoroughbred industry.

“He has selected these two, as they are both exceptional physical specimens, boast stellar Classic bloodlines and both performed with great credit at the highest level.”

In the1930s Shanghai had one of the largest racetracks in the world, but racing was banned in China for almost 60 years after the communist takeover in 1949.

It was legalised in 2008, but gambling is still banned.

Last year plans were announced to build a £2.6bn international racing complex near Tianjin to support the growing interest in the sport.

H&H bloodstock writer Sue Montgomery said: “It’s a nice gesture to support a burgeoning industry.

“They are nicely bred, which may be a significant move for the future of racing in the country.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (27 October, 2011)

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“Do you want to interview Sheikh Mohammed?” demanded a harassed-looking woman, pausing at the end of my desk in the Kentucky Horse Park’s giant media centre.

Well, it wasn’t part of my plan for the first day at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, but I guess if there’s an opportunity to shake the hand of the ruler of Dubai — and competitor in tomorrow’s endurance event — and take down a few of his thoughts, you shouldn’t pass it up. Moments later I was sitting alongside Irish journalist Louise Parkes in a buggy driving off to meet him.

Sheikh Mohammed said that he loves it here in Kentucky — obviously his racing connections mean he is very familiar with this homeland of thoroughbred racing, he has friends here and has been coming here for a long time. And asked about the Arab nations’ interest in endurance, he spoke of the connection the Arabs have with the Arab horse.

I reckon everyone here in Kentucky feels a connection with horses, one way or another. And as my colleague Sarah Jenkins said earlier today, this is mecca if you love horses.

There’s a frission every time you step out of the press tent (sorry, the media village). Who or what might you come across this time?

Taking a stroll with Trevor Meeks, H&H’s photographer, earlier, we saw Brit Nick Turner, chef d’equipe to the Brazilian eventing team, helping that nation’s Serguei Fofanoff work his grey horse, Ekus TW.

Next time out, I saw German eventing team trainer Hans Melzer, riding a bicycle (right). And seconds later I had the opportunity to chat with Des Payton, team manager to the British endurance team, and ask him more about Sarah Rogerson, who has just come off the reserve bench into the squad.

Although Sarah is based largely in Britain, her horse FFC First Csea Lord comes from North Caroline, some six hours from Kentucky. Handy. His owners, Cheryl and Stagg Newman, drove him down last night, arriving about 8.30pm, and having been clipped and shod this morning, he’s good to go.

Weather may be a factor in tomorrow’s endurance competition. Having been very humid earlier in the week, there was rain last night — good news for the ground, which is rumoured to be hard on the endurance course — and today it’s like a hot English summer’s day here, more pleasant than the sticky overcast conditions that greeted us on arrival yesterday.

Must go — there’s about to be a press briefing, after which apparently tickets to tonight’s opening ceremony may be given out. I wouldn’t want to miss that.

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Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum makes his return to international riding on Wednesday (14 October) in the test event for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games.

The Sheik was banned from competition for six months after being found guilty of doping his horse Tahhan at the CEI 2* 120km in Sakhir, Bahrain, on 10 January and the CEI 2* 120km in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), on 28 February.

Traces of banned substances Guanabenz and Hydroxy-Stanozolol were found in the horse’s system.

His six-month suspension ended on 3 October and a spokesman for the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) confirmed that the Sheik is now “free to ride in international competition”.

Riders from the US, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Romania and Spain will compete in the Kentucky Cup Endurance in preparation for next year’s Endurance World Championship at the 2010 Games.

The team from the UAE will be led by Sheikh Mohammed and his son Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, will also ride.

Kentucky Cup Endurance will feature both a 75-mile (120 km) race and a 100-mile (160 km) race comprising a series of loops through the Kentucky Horse Park and surrounding properties.

A report of the Kentucky Cup will be included in H&H’s endurance round-up in the issue on sale 5th November.

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Sheikh Mohammed has been banned from taking part in International Equestrian Federation (FEI) endurance events for six months after being found guilty of doping by the FEI tribunal.

His trainer Abdullah bin Huzaim has also been banned for a year.

Sheikh Mohammed, who is married to FEI president Princess Haya, rode Tahhan in a CEI 2* 120km in Sakhir, Bahrain on 10 January and in a CEI 2* 120km in Dubai on 28 February.

Samples taken on both occasions proved positive for a hypertension drug, Guanabenz, and on one for the steroid 16-b Hydroxy-Stanozolol.

The sheikh, who rides for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) did not ask for a second, or “B”, test to be made on either samples.

In his submission to the disciplinary committee the sheik said he has an interest in some 700 endurance horses and cannot be involved in the medication protocol of each.

He was presented with the horse on both occasions only minutes before the race started and had been assured everything was in order.

In a statement his trainer Abdullah bin Huzaim admitted administering the drugs to the horse without the sheikh’s knowledge.

But under FEI rules the rider is always responsible for drugs infringements and the tribunal issued a statement saying “it is the responsibility of competitors to inform themselves of all substances administered to [their] horses”.

The trainer was also found to be responsible for the breach.

The FEI tribunal issued its decision on 31 July and said it took into account how the sheikh effectively banned himself from competition in April, before he was aware of the FEI investigation, after his own tests on the horse showed drug traces.

The sheikh’s ban runs for six months until 3 October and he was fined CHF 3,000 (£1,666) with CHF1,500 (£833) costs.

On 22 July another UAE endurance rider, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, was suspended from competition for six months and his horse, Bebabeloula, for 12 months.

The horse tested positive for the painkiller Butorphanol and sedative Hydroxyxylazine at a CEI 3* 120km at Al Wathba in the UAE on 13 December 2008.

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Sheikh Mohammed has demanded to know why the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) — an organisation headed by his wife, Princess Haya — delayed notifying him of a positive dope test on his horse, Tahhan.

On 6 April, Sheikh Mohammed suspended himself from competition and began an internal investigation after his own team discovered traces of two potentially performance-enhancing drugs in Tahhan. He competed the horse in CEI2* 120km endurance races in Bahrain and Dubai in January and February this year.

But has emerged that Tahhan was also tested by the FEI during the rides. The horse’s positive results were passed to the FEI legal team on 19 March — nearly three weeks before Sheikh Mohammed’s well-publicised statement that it was he who had volunteered the results.

A spokesman for the Sheikh said: “HH Sheikh Mohammed notified the FEI on 3 April 2009.

“The FEI notification to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) federation was on 6 April, 2009. HH Sheikh Mohammed received no communication from the FEI or from any other party, prior to 6 April.

“As a result of this chronological issue being raised by the media, Sheikh Mohammed’s legal team has written to the FEI requesting clarification of why earlier notification was not made to the UAE federation, and the procedure surrounding the use of the FEI website for cases of this nature.”

The progress of doping investigations are published in a “case-status stable” on its website, www.fei.org

An FEI spokesman said: “We introduced the table so the facts of all cases under investigation could be seen.”

Tahhan is one of nine UAE endurance horses under investigation for positive dope tests — to read more, see today’s issue of Horse & Hound (14 May).

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A horse belonging to and ridden by Sheikh Mohammed has tested positive to banned substances during competition.

The horse — Tahhan — was tested last week during routine post-competition checks by Sheikh Mohammed’s personal staff in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Two banned substances — Guanabenz and 16b Hydroxy-Stanozol — were found by his team after an international and national endurance competitions in the UAE.

A statement issued last night on behalf HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the ruler of Dubai had offered the “highest level of cooperation to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI)”.

The statement continued: “His highness immediately requested his representative contact the FEI and advise them of this information in order that they may correct the placings as Sheikh Mohammed considers his results null and void.”

While Sheikh Mohammed stressed he was “completely unaware and utterly condemning of the administration of these substances”, the news is likely to have caused embarrassment in the royal household.

His second wife, Princess Haya, is president of the FEI, an organisation which has been very publicly been trying to clamp down on doping in horse sport.

Late last night, following the release of a statement by her husband, Princess Haya issued her own line.

“Princess Haya has recommended that the role of president in this instance, and all matters relating to this subject, be deferred to Mr Chris Hodson, second vice-president of the FEI, who is himself a lawyer.

“Additionally, although endurance is not an Olympic discipline, but in view of her position as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Princess Haya immediately notified the IOC Ethics Commission of her decision to defer the presidency of the FEI in this matter.”

Sheikh Mohammed has started his own internal investigation into the dopings, and imposed a competition ban on himself — which has not yet been requested by the FEI.

He has also volunteered his acceptance that he is legally the “person responsible” for the horses.

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The rescue of an injured horse rider was delayed when an air ambulance was ordered off the property of Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum.

The Sheikh, who has an estimated fortune of £9billion and is married to International Equestrian Federation (FEI) president Princess Haya of Jordan, keeps tight security at his £75million Longcross House Estate in Surrey for the protection of his family.

The air ambulance crew had landed and were about the cut through the 6ft security fencing to reach the injured rider on the neighbouring Chobham Common, when they were stopped by the Sheikh’s security guards.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the crew were told they had to take off and reland somewhere else — resulting in a 20-minute delay in reaching the unconscious woman, who had fallen off and landed on her head.

The woman was already being attended to by paramedics on the ground before being airlifted to hospital. She has since been discharged.

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The royal family of Dubai set a unique record last weekend as eight of its members competed in the same endurance ride.

HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is passionate about endurance, a sport he competes in alongside his family.

At Euston Park on Sunday, 13 July at an international 80km endurance ride, Sheikh Mohammed competed alongside three of his sons, Sheikh Hamdan, Ahmed and Mayed, and four of his daughters, Sheikha Latifa, Maryam, Futeim and Sheikha.

The ride was won by Sheikha Latifa with her sister Futeim a close second.

• Sheikh Mohammed’s wife, Princess Haya, announced in The Sunday Times on 13 July that she intends to return to the Olympic show jumping ring in London 2012, riding for the country of her birth, Jordan.This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (17 July, ’08)

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He provided Frankie Dettori with the highlight of his career when winning the Derby at Epsom last weekend and now Authorized has been snapped up by one of the world’s leading breeding operations.

The son of top sire Montjeu has been purchased by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stud for an undisclosed sum following his emphatic five-length victory in the world’s premier Classic.

A statement on www.darleystallions.com read: “Authorized has been bought as a future stallion.

“He has been leased back to the current owners, Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, and will continue to be trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam.”

The colt, who has won three of his four career starts, will still contest the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on 7 July, a race for which he is the hot favourite.

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