Plans to develop para dressage with the intention of sending a competitive UAE team to the LA28 Paralympic Games have been revealed by The Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi.

The Royal Stables has put together a support team, including Laura Richardson as performance manager and Russell Mackechnie-Guire as technical lead, to oversee the programme.

“Our mission is to create an inclusive and empowering environment where every aspiring para dressage athlete can reach their full potential,” said Ms Richardson, who is also general manager of The Royal Stables.

“With the leadership of our exceptional team, the support of our community and the backing of visionary sponsors, we are excited to embark on this journey to the Paralympic Games and showcase the incredible talent from the UAE.”

Other targets include the Asian Championships and the Asian Games.

HE Buthaina Abdullah Mohamed Ali Al Mazrouei, a board member of The Royal Stables, added: “This initiative is a testament to our dedication to fostering talent and breaking barriers in equestrian sports. We are thrilled to support our para athletes in achieving their Paralympic Games dreams.”

A press release from The Royal Stables stated that Dr Ghanem Al Hajri, secretary general of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, addressed attendees at the official launch (10 April) “affirming [the federation’s] commitment to inclusion, collaboration and long-term athlete development”.

“Dr Al Hajri also expressed confidence in para dressage as the next major growth discipline in the UAE, and in the potential of UAE athletes to reach the world stage,” it added.

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Leading British showjumper William Funnell is taking a step back from the sport to take on a new role as chef d’equipe for the United Arab Emirates showjumping team.

The four-time Hickstead Derby-winner and European team gold medallist will be training the UAE riders ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, for which the nation qualified in Doha at the start of this year.

“I’ve taken on the job as trainer for the UAE team through to Paris,” William told H&H. “We’re in the process of building a new team of horses for the Olympics.”

William is already involved with UAE-based Al Shira’aa and has worked with some of the UAE riders, describing it as “a pleasure” to be involved with them and seeing “the progression of equestrianism in the UAE”.

The UAE squad had a very successful Asian Games last month, coming home with team bronze, while Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi (Dalida Van De Zuuthoeve) and Abdulla Mohd Al Marri (James VD Oude Heihoef) won individual silver and bronze respectively – a great achievement in the run-up to an Olympics.

“We have a talented group of five riders, who have been based with me in Surrey since the Asian Games and we fly to the UAE at the end of this month for a series of shows, a four-star Nations Cup and then the opening qualifier for the new five-star Longines League of Nations, so we have to have a team ready for that,” said William, who will be assisted in his role by fellow showjumper and long-time friend Duncan Inglis.

Paris 2024 Olympic showjumping: a medal is the goal

“We’ll make a campaign for each horse and rider right up to the Olympics,” William said. “It’s a nice focus and something I’m going to be committed to fully for the next seven or eight months. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think we could go to Paris with a really good chance of winning a medal. We have a lot of work to do, but that’s the goal.

“It came at the right time, because I don’t think I have a horse for Paris.”

William said that he will continue riding, but it will have to take a bit of a back seat during this period. One key target remains, however.

“Hopefully I’ll have enough time to keep my eye in and have another crack at the Hickstead Derby,” he said.

• Read more from William in his exclusive H&H column in this week’s magazine, in shops from Thursday, 16 November.

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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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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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The decision by the FEI to suspend activites within the UAE across all FEI disciplines in response to rule-breaking in endurance is under the spotlight as lawyers describe the decision as “unprecedented” and appeals are prepared. H&H speaks to lawyers in Europe and Abu Dhabi, as well as a Dubai-based showjumper, about the situation...

ARABIC and European lawyers are taking and considering action against the FEI’s suspension of the UAE federation, describing the decision as “killing the sport”.

H&H reported on 1 October that the FEI had fully suspended all activities across any FEI discipline until 31 December, and all national endurance activities until 31 March 2021. This move was a result of an investigation into two major endurance rides run as national events at the start of this year.

Lawyers and members of the equestrian community in the UAE have asked why other disciplines should suffer for endurance’s mistakes, and the UAE federation has said it will appeal the decision.

Maisa AlSaidi, managing director of Abu Dhabi-based Equine Legal Consultancy, told H&H the FEI’s decision is “unprecedented”.

“It has suspended activities in all disciplines, although the disputed violations are specific to endurance,” she said, adding that the decision was announced the day before the UAE showjumping season was due to start.

“The impact of this decision has been far-reaching; it has harmed all components of the UAE equestrian community. The UAE organises world-class equestrian events in all disciplines and has attracted equestrians from all over the world.

“The composition of the UAE equestrian population is unique due to the nature of UAE society, which has a high number of ex-pats. There are very successful and talented UAE riders in addition to a large number of international riders, who compete in the UAE’s national and international competitions in showjumping, dressage and other disciplines. This has resulted in a well-developed market of riders, horse owners, breeders, national and international service providers.”

Ms AlSaidi said her firm wrote to FEI president Ingmar De Vos on 30 September, on behalf of some 50 members of the UAE equestrian community affected by the decision, to draw the FEI’s attention to the “severe implications” of its decision.

“Reality is far beyond expectations,” she said, adding that she has seen junior showjumpers, some in their final year of youth competition, crying.

“I have talked to international showjumpers who had shipped their horses, preparing for the season, and were devastated by the decision, describing it as ‘killing the sport’,” she said.

“UAE owners cannot have their horses compete in any country, which will affect the wellbeing of their horses. National and international service providers in the UAE who make their profits when a season starts are affected, without being party to the dispute.

“The spine of this sport is the riders and the horses. Disputes between the FEI and national federations should not penalise equestrians and horses, especially when these equestrians are not the subject of the dispute. We should in fact do whatever it takes to protect them and keep the sport at the level it deserves.”

Piotr Wawrzyniak is a lawyer with Dutch firm Schelstraete, which has been working within the equestrian industry for decades, and which posted on social media asking for riders affected by the suspension to get in touch.

He told H&H the firm is in contact with the UAE federation’s counsel, and any appeals lodged will be discussed and co-ordinated with the federation.

“Recently, many people we know in the business have been asking about the situation with the UAE and the FEI,” he said. “The stories we hear are very sad.”

Mr Wawrzyniak pointed out that the coronavirus had severely affected equestrian events across the world, and that the FEI itself has reported major losses as a result.

“What about all the athletes, companies and people providing services to the equine businesses in and from the UAE?” he asked. “Our interest is to help all those who are affected by the FEI’s decision and obviously to support the appeal – that if we understand correctly – shall be lodged by the UAE federation.

“Obviously, there might be legitimate grounds for the FEI to take action but the FEI should also take into account the interest of those who have not been involved in any wrongdoings and there are lots of them.

“At this moment all these people are anonymous and we are not talking only about UAE citizens but also many other people who cooperate with the UAE, such as non-UAE riders competing UAE-registered horses. Currently they are facing a very difficult situation. We think their voice needs to be heard, too.”

Mr Wawrzyniak said his firm believes the appeal can be based on an area of Swiss law.

Dubai-based saddler and showjumper Anita Sande told H&H: “We’ve got nothing.

“The federation is the only Middle East one that really supports the sport, which is why I can afford to be here; the federation really tries to do things right.

“It’s nothing new that endurance is a problem but showjumping has never done anything wrong so it’s not fair.

“This is very, very bad. We have a season from October to April and everyone in the industry lives from that. I can’t understand how the FEI can do this.”

An FEI spokesman told H&H: “The FEI president sent a detailed response to the Equine Consultancy letter on 2 October. We are aware that the UAE federation and potentially other parties intend to appeal the FEI board decision, therefore as legal proceedings are anticipated this is an ongoing legal case and we are unable to comment further at this time.”

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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.

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This year’s FEI World Endurance Championships will take place in Slovakia after the event was stripped from Dubai.

Three applications to hold the event were received when the bid process was reopened in April, following the FEI’s decision to reallocate the championships.

The decision was made on Tuesday (14 June) by the FEI.

Fontainebleau in France and San Rossore in Italy were the other two candidates, but the FEI bureau ruled neither was suitable owing to health and safety concerns.

The event will be held at Samorin Equestrian Centre on 15-18 September, with the qualification period finishing on 16 July.

FEI secretary general Sabrina Ibáñez said the organisation was “very happy” to receive three bids and “appreciates the willingness to support the FEI at such short notice.”

“The bureau had no hesitation in opting for Samorin,” she said.

“Horse welfare has to be the most important element in the allocation of these major events and Samorin has a proven track record — having already run both the young horse and European Endurance Championships very successfully.”

She added the timing of the event is also important.

“Both Fontainebleau and San Rossore were proposing mid-October when the reduced daylight hours could potentially have an impact on safety,” she said.

“Safeguarding the safety and welfare of the equine and human athletes is our top priority in all our disciplines.”

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Dubai controversy

The championships were due to be held in Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) on 10-17 December.

However, the FEI decided in April to move the event as it felt the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) national federation was not in a position to “guarantee horses’ welfare would be fully protected”.

The decision was part of the FEI’s ongoing battle to crack down on rule-breaking and improve the welfare of horses taking part in endurance competitions in the UAE.

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Five endurance stables involved in the horse-beating incidents at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, last weekend (30 January) have been locally fined $100,000 dollars each, with their trainers suspended, as the horse welfare crisis in the United Arab Emirates escalates.

The FEI is also under growing public pressure to reallocate the 2016 world championships from Dubai.

Today, a petition calling for a new venue was launched on Change.org.

The Swiss Equestrian Federation has publicly suggested a boycott, while the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) also wants the venue moved.

In a letter to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), AERC president Michael Campbell said: “The suspension imposed on UAE by FEI last year has not made a lasting impression, with the exception of Dr Sheikh Sultan in Bou Thib.

“As the endurance affiliate in the US, AERC requests that USEF register strenuous objections with the FEI regarding the over-riding and equine abuse that continues in the UAE.

“This continued abuse is a blight on the sport of endurance riding throughout the world. The desert-style racing of UAE is not endurance riding as most other countries define it. Endurance communities in many other countries are expressing the same feelings to their national governing bodies.”

Five riders, including the first three past the post, were disqualified on Saturday from a 120km youth event, where a horse also died. Shocking footage showed the youngsters, abetted by numerous grooms illegally on the field of play, bullying and shoving exhausted horses to the finish.

This is the latest in a catalogue of violations this season, in breach of extra conditions imposed for the UAE suspension last March to be lifted. Many have caught on camera by YAS, the live-stream provider.

FEI endurance director Manuel Bandira de Mello flew to the UAE for an emergency meeting with the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) on Wednesday.

The FEI gave EEF until 11 February to provide new solutions, and suspended all rides till then.

EEF chairman Mohammed Al Kamali claimed the EEF had made “swift decisions.” Aside from fining the stables, the EEF has forfeited the licences of all grooms involved in the Al Wathba incident.

In future, the motorised cavalcades that assist illegal mobile crewing will be limited — something FEI rules have failed to achieve so far — and vehicles must display permits, as successfully trialled through “local” rules applied by Sheikh Sultan for Bou Thib.

“It is crucial we maintain the authenticity of endurance to ensure a bright and healthy future for the sport,” said Al Kamali.

“We will show a no-tolerance policy towards any such breach of the rules and regulations.”

Meanwhile, the FEI has declined to comment on the status of the 2016 world championship but said EEF was under no misunderstandings about the gravity of the situation.

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• Five endurance riders disqualified for beating horses *H&H VIP*
• UAE endurance rides postponed as crisis continues
• Tough new local rules designed to reform UAE endurance

A FEI spokesman said: “No further events will be held until agreement on proposed measures to urgently address a number of serious issues in endurance in the region has been reached.

“The EEF fully understands what’s at stake under the terms of the agreement, and the fact that they have suspended the events and now taken action against the riders, trainers, grooms and stables involved in the incidents [last Saturday] clearly demonstrates they are aware there are problems and that they have to be urgently addressed.”

The Dutch equestrian federation also today lobbied the FEI directly with concerns.

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Endurance GB (EGB) has responded to scandals in the sport in the UAE, saying the organisation is “deeply concerned and shocked” by recent footage that has emerged.

On 30 January five riders — including the first three over the line — were disqualified from a junior/young riders 120km ride at Al Wathba for beating their exhausted horses.

A video clip of the final stages of the race went viral, leading for many calls on social media for the UAE to be resuspended immediately (news, 4 February).

“The board has been closely following with interest the progress of the FEI in improving horse welfare in the UAE, in accordance with the agreement put in place with the Emirates Equestrian Federation [EEF],” read a statement.

“While there have been reports of numerous improvements, especially at the Bou Thib venue, we are deeply concerned and shocked by the video that has emerged from a CEN [national] event at Al Wathba on the 30 January.”

EGB had previously been criticised for not speaking out against the continued welfare issues and scandals in the sport in the Middle East. The EGB board has now written to the British Equestrian Federation to voice concerns.

“We have asked that these are passed to the FEI,” read the statement. “We have requested that further action be taken and that this is made public as soon as possible. The FEI has a duty to address a culture of riding horses beyond their means in the sport of endurance.

“The board fully supports the FEI to intervene and implement new measures that protect horses and the sport worldwide.”

Last week (Tuesday, 2 February) four endurance rides in the UAE due to be staged were announced as “postponed” as worldwide outrage over the horse welfare crisis continued to escalate. And in another surprise move, all remaining rides in Dubai for the rest of the season have disappeared from the calendar of the Dubai Equestrian Club.

Related articles:

• Five endurance riders disqualified for beating horses *H&H VIP*
• UAE endurance rides ‘postponed’ as crisis continues
• Tough new local rules designed to reform UAE endurance

FEI director of endurance Manuel Bandeira de Mello said: “Following meetings between the FEI and the EEF, the EEF has postponed four endurance events so that agreement can be reached on proposed measures to urgently address a number of serious issues in endurance in the region.

“The CEI1* in Dubai on 8 February [have] been postponed, along with national events on 4, 5 and 6 February. The FEI has set a deadline of 11 February for the EEF to come back with an agreement on the proposed measures.”

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Four endurance rides in the UAE due to be staged in the next few days were announced as “postponed” on Tuesday (2 February), as worldwide outrage over the horse welfare crisis continues to escalate.

And in another surprise move, all remaining rides in Dubai for the rest of the season have disappeared from the calendar of the Dubai Equestrian Club.

The Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) emailed the postponements to its members overnight on Wednesday, without giving a reason.

However, earlier that day FEI endurance director Manuel Bandeira de Mello flew into Abu Dhabi for an emergency meeting. The week before, the EEF was summoned to FEI headquarters in Lausanne.

Mr Bandeira de Mello said: “Following meetings between the FEI and the Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF), the EEF has postponed four endurance events so that agreement can be reached on proposed measures to urgently address a number of serious issues in endurance in the region.

“The CEI1* in Dubai on 8 February has been postponed, along with national events on 4, 5 and 6 February. The FEI has set a deadline of 11 February for the EEF to come back with an agreement on the proposed measures.”

The postponed rides comprise two CEIs and two CENS, of which three were due to be staged at Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC). The fifth is at Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi. The other Abu Dhabi venue, Bou Thib, where HH Sheikh Sultan Al Nahyan, has forced significant reform, is unaffected.

DIEC is still listed as host of the 2016 world endurance championships, in December, though the threat of withdrawal was one of the many conditions attached to the legal agreement between the FEI and EEF for lifting the UAE’s suspension last year, for its major horse welfare abuses.

This season, there has been little evidence of change, with record speeds recorded, 10 horses officially listed as catastrophically injured, of which seven are now confirmed as dead, one of them after being pursued by a TV car and running into a fence. Vehicles are still driving on the track and “hazing” horses, with a catalogue of other rule-breaches caught on the official livestream, YAS.

Last weekend, five riders – including the first three over the line – were disqualified from a junior/young riders 120km ride at Al Wathba for beating their exhausted horses. A video clip of the final stages of the race went viral, leading for many calls on social media for the UAE to be re-suspended immediately.

Footage later emerged of the eventual winner also beating his horse, though the FEI Legal department investigated and confirmed to H&H that there is no mechanism to disqualify in hindsight.

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Showjumping will be included in the Arab Women Sports Tournament (AWST) for the first time this year.

The showjumping competition will kick-off the tournament following the opening ceremony this evening (Tuesday, 2 February).

The event runs from 2-12 February and will be held at the Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The centre is home to one of the largest indoor arenas in the Middle East.

Competitors from 17 countries will take part in eight sports at the world’s only all female Pan-Arab sports tournament.

A record number of sports clubs are registered to take part in the third edition of the games, which has the slogan “your world, your court”.

Athletes from 55 clubs are set to compete, which is up from 53 clubs in 2014.

Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, from the AWST organising committee, said that the large number of sponsors and the eagerness of leading national companies to support the Arab tournament shows the progress and impact it has made.

“The support of our sponsors is one of the main reasons behind the tournament’s success and it also helps push the presence of women in sports in the Arab region as well as internationally,” he said.

“The main goal of the tournament for everyone who is involved at any level with the tournament is to see its success.”

As well as showjumping, the tournament also features basketball, volleyball, archery, fencing, shooting, table tennis, and athletics.

A total of 16 sponsors, including Etisalat and the International Petroleum Investment Company — have pledged to support the games.

The tournament is organised by the women sports department, the Sharjah Ladies Club, the general authority of youth and sports welfare, the National Olympic committee and the Sharjah Sports Council.

Tournament manager Nada Al Naqbi said that the success of the tournament is in line with the aim of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi’s hope to make the United Arab Emirates a place that respects women and considers them an important aspect of society.

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Thirty horses, the majority trained in 13 stables owned by the ruling Maktoum and Nayhan families, have been disqualified from the UAE’s most onerous endurance race, the 160km President’s Cup, as the clean-up of the “phantom” rides begins.

The FEI has commenced the marathon task of deleting 15 faked rides from its database, and adjusting results of real races whose participants were not qualified to start.

The 30 horses represent 20% of the President’s Cup starters. They include the runner-up, Kalifa, ridden by Suhail Al Ghailani. Hadeer, the ride of world champion Sheikh Hamdan, was not qualified for this or his previous two races with other riders.

Twelve of the horses were not qualified for any of their FEI career starts. Two of them were the catch rides of Australian visitors Courtney Freeman and Brooke Warner.

Others had only ever run once over 80km. These included Embrujo AG, the horse who created a further social media storm when pictured throughout the race wearing duct-taped visors and ear plugs.

H&H reported in March that at least 13 race rides purportedly staged since 2012 had lifted their results from genuine events. An FEI spokesman said a further two faked rides were finally identified in the official investigation by the Equine Community Integrity Unit.

The scam unravelled after H&H was tipped off that a President’s Cup qualifier listed as running on 21 January this year did not take place.

Many hundreds of horses and riders are potentially implicated and decisions about further disciplinary action are awaited.

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A ban imposed on the UAE has been lifted by the FEI.

The news came today (Monday, 27 July).

The Emirates Equestrian Federation (EEF) was suspended in an unprecedented move in March after an investigation into “major horse welfare issues” and “non-compliance with FEI rules and regulations” in endurance.

However, now a “legally binding agreement” between the FEI bureau and the EEF guarantees that horse welfare will be “fully respected and that FEI rules will be stringently enforced”.

After work between the two parties an “extensive list” of actions have been agreed upon — including protocols being put in place to avoid equine fatalities and applicable rest periods.

The EEF must also provide monthly written reports to prove the compliance.

“We are very pleased that the UAE has demonstrated it is fully committed to ensuring horse welfare and complying with FEI rules,” said FEI secretary general Sabrina Zeender.

“It is absolutely committed to making this work so that they can return to playing an active and leading role in endurance once again.”

The EEF’s Taleb Dhaher Al Mheiri added: “We take our responsibility seriously. It is our goal to pursue excellence while promoting the growth of the sport and safeguarding the welfare of equine and human athletes.”

The FEI has also commissioned the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU) to conduct an extensive inquiry into allegations of fake events and duplicate results in the UAE.

This was not part of the suspension and was dealt with independently. However, the report is now being reviewed by the FEI and will be submitted to the FEI Tribunal for further action. Sanctions will be taken against any FEI officials found to be involved and all duplicated results will be annulled.

The EEF is “restructuring its organisational policies” to ensure that similar events cannot occur again. If they do the suspension could be reinstated and the 2016 FEI World Endurance Championships, which are due to be held in Dubai in mid-December next year, could be withdrawn.

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Endurance GB has declined to comment on why a suspended UAE trainer was allowed to assist British riders at last week’s King’s Forest endurance international (12 July).

The prominent Dubai-based trainer Anzaq Mehmood was seen using slosh bottles at crew points in photographs (not pictured above), which caused a storm on social media.

However, his status has fallen into a “grey area.”

Crewing was not specifically addressed in FEI guidelines about the practical application of the UAE suspension. However, an existing rule prohibits suspended persons from stepping on to the field of play, and was applied in a 2011 case involving Maktoum trainer Ali Al Muhairi.

Mr Mehmood is a Pakistani national, but subject to the suspension because he is administered by the UAE.

A popular figure who has spent several spells in East Anglia, he collaborated with the Dutch team and prepared their World Equestrian Games silver medal-winning horse Laiza de Jamila for Marijke Visser.

He has never been associated with the Maktoum-owned stables at the heart of the doping, welfare, horse-swapping and “phantom rides” scandals leading to the unprecedented UAE suspension in March.

But he was dragged into controversy in April when providing a forged permit to compete from the Pakistan federation. In an email to the Pakistan federation, Mr Mehmood said he had asked a third party to obtain it for him. The Dutch national coach Emile Docquier was dismissed soon afterwards, for undisclosed reasons.

A FEI spokesman said: “At this event [King’s Forest], [Anzaq Mehmood] wasn’t acting as a rider, trainer or official and did not need the authorisation of his home national federation to be on a crew.”

EGB declined to ask a direct question about the appropriateness of accepting his assistance until the suspension is lifted. A spokesman said: “As this is an FEI issue we do not wish to comment.”

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The Dutch equestrian federation will continue its controversial collaboration with a UAE endurance yard, following Dutch success in the World Equestrian Games (WEG) ride in Sartilly last week (28 August).

Marijke Visser, 21, won silver on Laiza De Jalima — 11 minutes behind winner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum — with Joyce van den Berg ninth on Run De Colombier.

Both horses were provided by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Faisal Al Qasimi and trained by Dubai-based Pakistani Anzaq Mehmood.

The Dutch federation has repeatedly spoken out against Middle Eastern endurance practices and when UAE-owned horses were selected, endurance advisor Marc van der Dungen resigned in protest.

Maarten van der Heijden, the federation’s sports director, said: “We have been critical and will continue to be critical. We have shown that with good riding and preparation you have horses still fit to go on.”

Ms Visser also competes in dressage, making her a “good role model”, he added.

Mr Mehmood, based this summer near the King’s Forest in Suffolk, is not connected with the Maktoum-owned stables that have featured in the endurance controversy.

He also saddled Riverwatch for Argentina’s Josephina Chas, 22nd, and was the only professional handler to see all his horses complete Sartilly.

“The biggest thrill was Laiza De Jalima winning the best condition award,” he told H&H. “With horses you have to be patient, and let them tell you when they are ready for the next level.”

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An endurance rider, who was last week banned from competing for 10 months and fined CHF3,000 (£1,745) after his horse tested positive for testosterone, has alluded to suspicious behind-the-scenes activity in endurance racing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Danjera Kadhir, ridden by Rashed Mohd Al Seyegh, was sampled by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) at the CEI JY* 119km in Abu Dhabi on 7 February.

Levels of testosterone found in the horse constituted a doping offence. Following the positive result, the horse’s groom at the See Al Salam Stable in Dubai was dismissed, and left the country at the end of March.

In his defence, 19-year-old Al Seyegh said that he had, as an amateur rider, relied on the “reputation, skill and care of the trainer and the stable itself that his horse was competing free of prohibited substances”.

He said he considered it “highly likely” the groom administered the testosterone, stating this view was shared by the horse’s trainer, Ali Muhammed Al Muhairi.

He also referred to “other people in the industry who also compete among themselves as to the performance of horses for whom they care, such as foremen and grooms”.

But the FEI disciplinary panel said lack of knowledge of the horse’s regime was no defence.

Danjera Kadhir’s case is one of nine involving endurance horses from the UAE to have been investigated this year.

Others include horses ridden by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and his son Sheikh Hamdan (news, 13 August).

This article was first published in Horse & Hound (17 September, ’09)

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