October 2007 • VOLUME 26 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Welfare of horses

From its early days, the FEI has provided the framework in which international competitions with horses must be run. An important part of this framework is based on the persuasion that horses deserve protection against overuse or abuse. The sport must be acceptable to the public, the media and the sponsors, and safeguarding the welfare of the horse is a key factor in this.

In recent years, the number of FEI events has increased, as well as the number of national competitions; many top horses compete in both. In addition, when the season in Europe or the USA comes to a close, many horses are being transported to the Southern hemisphere for additional sporting events, or they participate in indoor shows. Not only the number of competition days, but also the transport to and from events and training activities must be added to the agenda. The current absence of a natural 'resting' season means that there is less opportunity for horses to get a rest period, to recover form the 'wear and tear' which accompanies a demanding sports career. This increases the pressure to use medication if a horse is unfit but is scheduled to compete, which underlines the importance of medication control programmes.

The FEI has always advocated that instead of accelerating the horse’s recovery by medication with the next event in mind, it is better to provide a rest period (perhaps also accompanied by veterinary treatment), allowing mental and physical improvement away from the competition site.

Many aspects of the FEI rules and regulations were developed and will be updated in respect to the welfare of the horse during its athletic career. To this effect, all rulebooks and event schedules include the Code of Conduct, by which the FEI underlines respectful behaviour towards the horse.

http://www.horsesport.org/veterinary/welfare/welfare.htm?sub=veterinary&active=veterinary3

The above comes directly from the FEI. Who judges whether they are meeting their own goals?

When we look in the warm up arena do we see respectful behaviour to the horse? Is rollkur considered respectful? It must be, as the FEI has clearly decided to support those riders who use rollkur, now renamed hyperflexion.

The FEI states "Horses deserve protection against overuse or abuse." The statement begs the question: who gets to decide what is abusive?

The FEI states "The sport must be acceptable to the public, the media and the sponsors."

We know that across the world, across international boundaries, people are saying that things are not acceptable. Petitions have been written. Letters sent. Discussion boards across the world have expressed their horror at the pictures and the videos they have seen. Is this not the public?

Has the FEI become so isolated that they do not realize that worldwide dressage is becoming known as the one horse sport that many think is cruel to horses? A sport that many have turned away from. We get calls from riders who have quit riding rather than participate. Letters from readers continue to express their disgust. But this must not be the public that the FEI is talking about.

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