FEI reacts to undercover documentary filmed at Helgstrand Dressage

The FEI has mentioned it takes “all allegations of horse abuse very severely” in line with the printed of the undercover documentary filmed at Helgstrand Dressage – and that it’s “carefully addressing this factor”.

This week the equestrian global used to be rocked via the displaying of TV2’s Operation X, The Secrets and techniques of the Horse Billionaire. The primary a part of the documentary aired in Denmark on Wednesday night (22 November), and the second one phase will air on 29 November. Each portions are to be had now to Danish audience who’re paid subscribers of the TV2 app). The documentary isn’t lately to be had in the United Kingdom.

H&H has seen each portions of the documentary – which incorporates exchanges, filmed on a hidden digital camera, between undercover reporter Rebekka Klubien and grooms and body of workers at Helgstrand Dressage. All over those conversations, it’s stated that horses are regularly noticed with whip and spur marks, or bleeding mouths. Pictures additionally presentations horses being ridden in rollkur and tight draw reins.

In a commentary this night (24 November) the FEI mentioned it’s “acutely aware of the distressing pictures” offered within the Operation X documentary.

“The FEI takes all allegations of horse abuse very severely and always the welfare of the pony should be paramount,” mentioned an FEI spokesman.

“The welfare of horses is on the core of our values and laws, and any motion or omission which reasons or is prone to motive ache or useless discomfort to a horse constitutes a contravention of our regulations.”

The spokesman added that equestrian recreation is “constructed on a basis of recognize and welfare for our equine companions”.

“Any deviation from those ideas is unacceptable, and the FEI stays resolute in its dedication to upholding the absolute best requirements of equine welfare, keeping up the integrity and wellbeing of our athletes – each equine and human,” he mentioned.

“The FEI will then again collaborate intently with the Danish nationwide federation (DRF), and there’s a mutual popularity of choices and any sanctions imposed. We can proceed to keep in touch as the placement develops, and need to guarantee the equestrian group, our stakeholders and the general public that we’re carefully addressing this factor.”

The day prior to this H&H reported that the DRF had excluded medal-winning Andreas Helgstrand from the Danish nationwide group and that the DRF board “strongly distances itself from the unacceptable strategies of using, coaching, and treating horses the announces obviously display”. DRF additionally appealed to riders at Helgstrand Dressage filmed within the documentary to return ahead to stand the federation’s disciplinary committee. As well as, DRF referred to as a forestall to nationwide competitions operating with Helgstrand Match, a part of Helgstrand Team.

The FEI spokesman mentioned that it’s for the governing our bodies to “guarantee that there are regulations in position to sanction any welfare breaches and uphold horse welfare”.

“There may be an onus on everybody throughout the equestrian group to stick to such regulations and perfect practices in equine care and welfare, to be able to deal with equestrian recreation in a robust, wholesome and ethically sound means for the long run,” he mentioned.

In line with the printed of the documentary, Helgstrand Dressage issued a commentary on Wednesday night (22 November), and mentioned that the photos had made a “giant influence” at the stud.

“It isn’t adequate. That is unhealthy using and remedy of horses that we don’t need to see at Helgstrand Dressage. It does now not reside as much as our pointers and values set, and it’s not an expression of our tradition. We need to repair that,” learn the commentary.

“We will be able to see that there was a shift in our worth set, and it’s our duty as control to make certain that our coaching and remedy of horses takes position in one of the simplest ways. We will be able to see within the programmes that this has now not came about. We will be able to and should do higher.”

Learn Helgstrand Dressage’s complete commentary in H&H’s document of phase probably the most documentary.

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H&H senior information author

Since becoming a member of H&H in 2018, Becky has coated a large vary of equestrian information together with welfare issues, veterinary research, FEI Tribunal hearings and street protection campaigns. She has additionally interviewed most sensible riders together with Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to call only a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, in addition to the Royal Highland and Blair Fortress World Horse Trials nearer to house. She used to be additionally a key a part of the faraway reporting group for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.