An FEI dressage discussion board can be organised this yr to take on issues within the game – however the equestrian group has been warned that it might be a “grave error” to suppose welfare problems are “only a dressage drawback”.
The Swedish Equestrian Federation’s horse welfare council and the Gothenburg Horse Display co-hosted a gathering on the display (21–25 February) on horse welfare and social licence, attended via representatives from Nordic and Polish federations, display organisers, equine researchers, the FEI and Global Horse Welfare.
The Swedish federation’s secretary normal Johan Fyrberg instructed H&H that “horse welfare should be addressed inside the game, but in addition outdoor it”.
“The trend we now have observed is horse abuse instances happening in non-public industry, at stables and in coaching. There aren’t very many instances, however there are some, and that’s critical.
“There’s a large dialogue about this in the entire of the equestrian international at the moment, and the dialogue may be very intense within the Nordic international locations,” he stated, including that even supposing this is applicable to all equestrian disciplines, the new instances “have most commonly been associated with dressage”.
“The purpose of the assembly used to be to be proactive and unfold wisdom between international locations, and have a look at how we will engage extra as federations with what’s going on in non-public coaching, and inside the better equestrian group.
“It’s essential federations paintings in combination to take on the demanding situations, and it’s no longer such a lot that we want new laws and laws, we want to apply the principles that we’ve got.”
An consequence of the assembly used to be a letter to the FEI signed collectively via the Nordic federations, the Swedish, Danish and Norwegian and Finnish, that have “joined forces to create alternate”
“After a number of notable instances the place unacceptable coaching strategies had been printed not too long ago, it’s obtrusive that we want to act on a global degree. In spite of all efforts up to now, there’s nonetheless a lot paintings that should be accomplished to safe horse welfare always and to safe the game’s social licence on a global, in addition to nationwide degree,” reads the letter.
This letter known as for the advent of an FEI dressage discussion board, the place stakeholders “in combination can get a hold of projects for enhancements” within the game. The federations additionally wish to deal with judging in pageant, schooling and coaching of younger horses, and the function of younger horse championships.
“We want to imagine why there are championships for younger horses; is it to organize the horses for a a hit long term or for industrial causes? Those are issues we are hoping to speak about within the dressage discussion board,” stated Mr Fyrberg.
An FEI spokesman stated: “We’ve got thanked the nationwide federations for his or her positive way and for highlighting the significance of following the important thing subject matters defined within the equine ethics and wellbeing fee (EEWBC) ultimate record, particularly, be a pacesetter, be depended on, be clear, be proactive and be responsible,” he stated.
“All of those observe to the FEI and nationwide federations alike and we’re in entire settlement that it’s our collective accountability to make sure the welfare and integrity of our game, each inside and outdoor the sector.”
The spokesman added that “because of this”, the EEWBC’s suggestions and proposed motion plans can be mentioned on the FEI Sports activities Discussion board on 29–30 April.
“It’s most probably that some movements might require rule adjustments, which might be submitted to the vote of the overall meeting 2024,” he stated.
“A dressage discussion board, as proposed within the letter, can be organised after this yr’s Olympic and Paralympic Video games. We’re thankful to the nationwide federations for his or her worry and proportion the similar resolution to make a good affect all of a sudden and successfully.”
Global Horse Welfare leader government Roly Owers spoke on the Gothenburg assembly and instructed H&H that some of the key messages is, “that is about movements and no longer phrases”. He additionally emphasized the significance of the equestrian group taking new traits in equine analysis and proof on board.
“It is a long-term factor, and it’s by no means accomplished with as a result of public attitudes and our working out of excellent welfare adjustments. Subsequently, we all the time want to be progressing and creating,” he stated.
“Regularly, numerous those [horse welfare] problems are regional and there’s other contexts, however public acceptance is a collective accountability and comes to everybody.”
Mr Owers added that fresh instances of horse abuse are “no longer just a worry for the dressage international, however a priority for the equestrian international”.
“Some other folks have a focal point on specific disciplines, and prior to now we heard so much about staying power and different disciplines. It might be a grave error to suppose that is only a dressage drawback, as it maximum for sure isn’t,” he stated.
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