The FEI Working Group tasked with expanding current guidelines for Stewards to facilitate clear implementation of the policy on warm-up techniques has finalised its report on guidelines to prevent any form of aggressive riding at FEI events.
The completed document will be submitted to the FEI Bureau at its meeting on 15 April. A further update on the proposed warm-up guidelines will then be issued.
The working group, chaired by Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman, was made up of Richard Davison (GBR), Rider/Trainer; John P. Roche (IRL), FEI Director Jumping/Stewarding; Jacques Van Daele (BEL), FEI Honorary Dressage Steward General/Judge; Wolfram Wittig (GER), Trainer; and Trond Asmyr (NOR), FEI Dressage and Para Equestrian Dressage Director/Judge.
The working group also drew on the expertise of a number of other specialists, including but not limited to the delegates at a round-table conference held in Lausanne on 9 February 2010.
Editor's Note: the necessity of an FEI Steward Working Group arose following a major controversy on the internet after a video was posted of a rider training his horse with the LDR method, which some considered cruel. A major outcry followed with the request to give FEI stewards more power to reprimand riders in any equestriandiscipline who are showing unauthorized and aggressive behaviour towards their horse (whipping, yanking, pulling, kicking, tampering with tack, etc).
One month ago the American show jumper Michael Morrissey forced his horse to clear a water jump while whacking it 13 times with the whip. Not a single FEI steward at the CSI in Wellington objected to this cruel behaviour of his rider! It is incomprehensible that such conduct is allowed. See a video clip of Morrissey beating his horse in Karen Robinson's blog.
Photo © Dirk Caremans
Related Links
FEI Working Group for Steward Guidlines Established
Eurodressage Editorial: Redefinition
FEI Responds to Eurodressage's Editorial "Redefinition"