Patrick Kittel escapes disciplinary action by FEI over ‘blue tongue’
No action will be taken against Patrick Kittel, the dressage rider at the centre of last year’s controversial “blue tongue” row.
The governing body of horse sport — the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) — has made the decision after thorough investigation of the incident in Odense, Denmark on 18 October.
The row erupted after a video clip of Patrik Kittel warming up his horse Watermill Scandic using hyperflexion — or rollkur — was posted on YouTube by a Danish journalist.
At one point, the horse hangs his tongue out of the side of his mouth and it appears to go blue. Afterwards, Patrick told H&H he had received hate mail over the incident.
The FEI immediately launched an investigation, and has ruled this week that no further action will be taken.
In a statement, the International Equestrian Federation says studies of video evidence and witness statements concluded that there is “no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Mr Kittel were excessive”.
The Swedish dressage rider has received a written warning regarding the “appropriate and inappropriate” use of warm-up techniques.
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Horse sport’s governing body will continue in its review of warm-up activities.
To read the FEI statement in full.
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