USEF Supports FEI’s Progressive Bute List

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , , , ,
The USEF released a statement today in support of the FEI's decision to allow bute and other NSAID's at competitions.
"The USEF is supportive of the rule change allowing certain non-steroidal medications included on the "Progressive List" passed at the FEI General Assembly in Copenhagen earlier this month. The list includes medications that would be allowed in FEI competitions and which are already permitted in USEF competitions. 

These medications are not considered by WADA to be performance enhancing in human athletes and because of this distinction, they are not prohibited. While it is the human athlete that is solely responsible in making the decision to use these non-performance enhancing medications, it is the responsibility of the FEI to protect and ensure the welfare of our equine partners. By placing restrictions on the use of the NSAIDs to include low level administrations and continuing a rigorous program of veterinary examinations and inspections, the FEI is providing for equine welfare while still prohibiting the non-judicious use of these and other medications consistent with the Clean Sport initiative..."  Read the full press release


Major US media outlets are starting to give the story more attention, and I will be interested to see if this increased attention leads to more reaction from the US public.  In particular, I would recommend Sarah Lieser's article at the Chronicle, which is the first acknowledgement in a major news outlet of the story that we reported on Friday of a possible Eurpoean boycott of the WEGs.  Look for other sites to pick up on this over the next few days. 

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News and Notes

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , ,

If this is your first time checking back with us after the Thanksgiving break, thanks for coming and I hope you had a good holiday.  Please make sure you check out our posts about a possible European boycott of the WEGs and Princess Haya's response.  TheHorse.com just posted her full letter.  Also, this is USEA convention week, so get hyped for Eventing Nation's invasion coverage of the convention.  Now, for some Monday news and notes...

Here are results from the only eventing competition this weekend, Pine Top, in GA.
Badminton Horse Trials has joined the protest against the FEI, with its eventing director sending yet another letter to Princess Haya, in which he said Badminton was "very unhappy."  Read more.  Princess Haya gets more hatemail than Bill O'Reilly.
H&H Forums help to change British Eventing qualification rules.  
Finally, the Jurga Report has a good post about Americans and their silence over the FEI NSAID's controversy.  Go eventing.
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News of the Weird

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Ridiculous Commentary and , ,
Ex-racehorse Lukas rated as World's smartest horse.  

"Lukas' repertoire now includes nodding "yes" and shaking his head "no," kissing, catching and fetching, giving curtsies, waving, performing a Spanish walk, bowing, playing hide-and-seek, staying and coming, rearing, pushing a barrel, spelling (five-letter words), counting (up to five), identifying shapes, distinguishing among three colors, and putting a hoop on a cone."

On a related note, Lukas claims to have found the World's most gullible human, who he trained to feed him whenever he does a simple trick.  Look for this pair sometime soon on Stupid Pet Tricks.


A riding academy in Lithuania once used to torture children who couldn't sit the trot was recently converted into a detention center to torture terrorists.
A Colorado man found out that it doesn't work to steal an ATM with your truck by hooking it up to a chain and dragging it away.  I always wondered about that.  The more you know... A donkey in Zimbabwe figured out that doing the same thing with a man doesn't work either.  Go eventing.
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FEI President Princess Haya Defends Bute Decision

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , , , , ,
FEI President Princess Haya responded today to the growing dissent within the equestrian community about the FEI's decision to allow low levels of bute and other NSAID's.

"...In equestrian sport, the predominant argument in recent years justifying a complete ban on the use of these substances close to competition has been that the horse cannot choose for itself, and that therefore only such an approach can guarantee horse welfare. There are, however, arguments that, just as in human athletes, the use of NSAIDs is acceptable to the extent it does not exceed certain levels (in humans, there is no limit), and is in fact more humane as it allows for very basic treatment close to competition that could be required to treat, for example, simple travel related stiffness. There is also the argument that the banning of such substances is unrealistic as, since these are arguably a necessity, a ban creates a situation that does not allow for legitimate treatment by penalizing it...

The levels were advised by experienced national team veterinarians, including those of the US and German Teams. The intention is to allow a single subclinical treatment up to 12 hours before competition that would achieve a mild anti-inflammatory effect. The initial 8 μg/ml allowed is a safety margin, however the intent under new regulations is to ensure that the treatment only takes place in supervised areas and with the oversight of the Veterinary delegate."  

Read more (click and scroll down).  Princess Haya's website.  The plot thickens...

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German Equestrian Federation President Mentions Possible European Boycott of 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , , , , , , , ,

At a recent press conference, Breido Graf zu Rantzau, President of the German Equestrian Federation, discussed the possibility of a European boycott of the 2010 World Equestrian Games over the FEI's decision to allow low levels bute and other NSAID's at competitions.  The article, published by the German Horses and Sports publication is written entirely in German. I used Google translator and a friend who studied German in college to produce this very imperfect translation (where is Gerd, my german dressage coach, when I need him?).  The article is titled "New FEI-Doping Rules: threaten a European separatism from equestrian sport?"

"...the FEI seems to be a power that has underestimated the European equestrian nations.  In the event of a secession from the Games of European federations - from which the FEI not only benefits but lives - the World Equestrian Games organizers and sponsors would not be able to stem the tide. The Europeans will not support the decision against a clear "no" to drugs.

The German President made no secret that a boycott of the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next year has already been mentioned. He said the reasons of our own European Union would be the ultimate consequence.  Negotiations with the German television stations were affected. In any case, it is currently top priority to try to continue with the FEI.

"We cannot help but be united," explains the President, of the German position, "all the tournament organizers are behind us."  These developments were first brought to our attention by Fran Jurga of the Jurga Report.

To make matters worse, the British Equine Veterinary Association, a group of preeminent vets in the UK spoke out today against the FEI's decision about bute:
"This decision obscures the distinction between therapy and subjecting unsound horses to the stresses of competition," said a statement from the group of leading horse vets.

"Furthermore, we have grave concerns that horses competing while under treatment with pain-relieving medicines, are at an increased risk of musculo-skeletal lesions progressing to catastrophic injuries."  Horse and Hound

Update: The Hose and Hound has just uncovered this 2004 press release from the FEI, in which the FEI announced that they were reducing the allowed levels of salicylates (asprin) beneath the levels that they just approved in the progressive list because those levels are open to abuse.  The 2004 press release states:

"The [pre-2004] thresholds for salicylates were 750 µg/ml in urine and 6.5 µg/ml in plasma. Experiences in testing had indicated that abuse of salicylates was possible, obtaining a clinical effect in the horse by administration of low doses without exceeding the threshold....an extensive study in 650 samples for the salicylate content and a subsequent bio-statistical analysis of the results indicated that a decrease of the threshold was possible, thereby making abuse of the substance more difficult".  Read more


My take: In the past few days, we have seen some troubling indicators that the turmoil surrounding the FEI's decision to allow bute is dramatically escalating.  Whatever your opinion regarding the use of drugs at and just prior to competition, the divisions within the FEI are much more significant than the English-speaking media has suggested up to now.

A boycott of the WEGs seems unlikely, as does an outright split from the FEI, such as what happened within the polo world last month, but both are within the realm of conceivable possibility.  Competitions, riders, and governing bodies all follow the money, and if sponsors, such as Deustche Bank, or the fans start withdrawing their support of the FEI, get ready for a big mess.  
Sports are made or broken in moments like these and we are at the precipice of cataclysmic change in the equestrian world.  Inaction and complacency by Baseball's leaders allowed the steroid scandal to permanently cripple their sport.  The FEI's so-called leaders, have stuck their heads in the sand and seem intent on silently weathering the bute storm.  The USEF has also refused to say how it voted on the bute progressive list.  What we need now is a decisive, vocal, fair, and therefore uniting leadership.  The gauntlet has been thrown down over the past few days by FEI Vets, the World Equestrian Fair, Deutsche Bank, a petition to the FEI, British vets, and now the European equestrian federations.  Your move Princess.

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ER Episode 52: The Aussie Show

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Random and , ,

Eventing Nation's good friend Boyd Martin teams up with the Horse Radio Network once again, and the result is a great episode that I know you will enjoy.

Adelaide Four-star winner, Stuart Tinney and organizer Gill Rolton join Boyd Martin and Chris this week for an all Aussie episode. Listen in... Eventing Radio Episode 52 - The Aussie Show with Boyd Martin, Stuart Tinney & Gill Rolton:

  • Co-Hosts: Chris Stafford and Boyd Martin
  • Guest: Thank you to our guests Stuart Tinney and Gill Rolton. Visit Stuart Tinney at www.tinneyeventing.com.
  • News: See all the scores for the Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide.
  • News: Michelle Robson, a 25-year-old Australian, won the Best Groom award at the new FEI Awards ceremony which took place at the General Assembly in. Copenhagen last week. Michelle has worked for Olympic event rider Shane Rose for six years, caring for his competition horses and also working with young racehorses.
  • Please visit our sponsors as they make this show possible:
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Happy Turkey Day

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Ridiculous Commentary and
Happy Thanksgiving Eventing Nation!  Today we celebrate that incredible moment in US history when, as the story goes, the members of a fledgling nation celebrated their first harvest at Plymouth Plantation in 1621 with the help of their friends the Native Americans.  Thank you so much for joining us for Eventing Nation's first Thanksgiving.  
I am thankful first and foremost for my incredible friends and family; I am nothing without them.  I am so thankful for my horses, who I consider both my friends and family, because they have led me to so many great friendships and experiences in the eventing community.  We are all united by an incredible and innate love for the horse, and that is an extraordinary feeling.  Horses serve their riders unconditionally and selflessly, and we all are inspired by their partnership.
As always, a special thank you to our friends in the armed serves who are working to protect us in some very tough places around the World.
With respect to Eventing Nation, thank you to the thousands of you who have welcomed us into your eventing lives.  It may seem like a small thing for you to log onto Eventing Nation, but we put a great deal of time into developing the best eventing content to serve our readers, and every single visitor means a great deal to us.  Thank you all so very much and go eventing. -J
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BLM Halts Inhumane Relocation of Wild Mustangs

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , ,
We recently reported that Sheryl Crow had contacted the Obama administration about halting the relocation of wild mustangs but the Bureau of Land Management.  The plot thickens as more celebrities join the fray, and as advocated for the mustangs have sued the US Government: "In a complaint filed Nov. 23 in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C., international animal welfare agency In Defense of Animals and Nevada ecologist Craig Downer allege that the BLM's use of helicopters during roundups cause trauma, injury, or death to some wild horses. They seek a permanent halt to gathers from the Calico Complex range." More from TheHorse.com.  For more reading, Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society has written this interesting blog entry on the topic.

Today, it appears that these efforts to halt the relocation have had an impact.  The US Bureau of Land Management delayed the roundup of wild mustangs in Nevada because of the law suit filed Monday and to allow time for other appeals.  An attorney representing the plaintiffs said ''We are confident that the court will agree that America's wild horses are protected by law from BLM's plan to indiscriminately chase and stampede them into corrals for indeterminate warehousing away from their established habitat." But, the BLM still plans to round up about 2,700 animals from the Calico Complex Herd Management Area near the Black Rock Desert north of Reno, Worley said, adding that the agency will issue its formal decision Tuesday. Read more from the NYT.  Go eventing.
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Good Reading at the Chronicle of the Horse

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , ,

Now is a good time to point out that Eventing Nation will have complete eventing coverage throughout the holiday weekend.  In between the traveling, turkey, family, stuffing, and taking out my friends at football, we will have complete eventing coverage, as usual.   We would be privileged it if you find the time to check in with Eventing Nation once or twice.   

While these Chronicle articles were posted on Tuesday, I wanted to leave our FEI Letter to Princess Haya and ER Episode 51 posts at the top of our homepage for a while.  David Ramey has a good article about when to call your vet.  The article includes such gems such as:

"the horse's skin keeps the outsides out and the insides in. If you're seeing any of the insides, say, from an encounter with a sharp piece of metal, it's time to get to the phone."...and... "The phrase, "Eating like a horse," was coined for a reason. If your horse isn't eating, call your veterinarian."

Another way to think of it, for our Jeff Foxworthy fans out there is: you might be a redneck if... you dont follow David's advice.  Definitely worth a read.

Congrats to both Leslie Laws on their new son, Liam Lesley Law.

Finally, Jack Grogan has an excellent article on ulcers in horses.  If you have ever had a horse with ulcer problems, or worse yet, suspected ulcer problems, you have a feeling for the limitations in modern vetrinary medicine.  "Well, we might scope him which might give us answers, or we could treat him for a kagillion dollars, at which point we will still not know very much..."

"THE BAND IS OUT ON THE FIELD!" Go eventing.

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Letter from FEI Vets to Princess Haya Against Bute

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , , ,
Eventing Nation has obtained a copy of a letter sent from a group of high-ranking FEI vets, including past and current members for the FEI veterinary commission.  The letter was sent on Tuesday to FEI President Princess Haya.

"Your Royal Highness, 

 As a group of senior veterinarians with experience of equestrian competition at international level, we write to express our grave concern at the recent decision of the FEI General Assembly to adopt the so-called 'Progressive List' that allows the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in competition horses. This resolution has seriously over-shadowed the commendable clean sport campaign recommended by the Stevens/Ljungqvist reports, which offered a major step forward in equestrian sport. We would like to emphasise that we are fully behind the concept of 'clean sport'. 

The 'Progressive List', which we understand was seen for the first time by the delegates when they arrived for the assembly, has not been debated sufficiently and we believe a decision has been made that was premature, illconsidered and seriously retrograde. Permitting the use of NSAIDs will lead to abuse and the participation of horses in competition that are unfit to compete. It also removes the 'level playing field' that has been a crucial and fundamental ethos of the FEI since its foundation. We believe the decision must be reconsidered and would draw your attention to the following historical facts. 

Firstly, following extensive consultation, the General Assembly meeting in Rio de Janeiro in 1993, finally removed the 'maximum permitted level' for phenylbutazone (PBZ). Over a number of years this had been reduced from 5 μg per millilitre of blood to 2 μg/ml. Under the 'Progressive List', PBZ will be permitted up to a level of 8 μg/ml, a four-fold increase on the level rejected by the Rio meeting. This decision will have a serious and negative effect on welfare and profound repercussions for equestrian sport. The 'Progressive List' also permits flunixin, another NSAID, to be used up to a level of 0.5 μg/ml in serum or plasma. 

Secondly, the 'Progressive List' raises the salicylate threshold. We would point out that this threshold was lowered in 1999 on the advice of the Veterinary Committee and again following extensive consultation. Salicylic acid had been found in CORAL COVE at the 1998 World Equestrian Games, and it was apparent at the time that intravenous 'topping up' to the threshold was not a rare occurrence. 

After analysis of 650 equine urine samples collected worldwide and considerable discussion it was decided to reduce the FEI threshold to below that used by racing (where there was no evidence of similar abuse). The work was reported to the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians in 2004 and was subsequently published. There was therefore a clear rationale for the threshold of 625 μg/ml in urine or 5.4 μg/ml in plasma. 

Thirdly, national legislation in many European countries prohibits any medication in competition animals. This does not apply in parts of the US where 'permitted levels' are more common. A 'controlled restricted' list will surely be unenforceable where it is in conflict with the national laws of a country. 

In conclusion, we would urge you to reopen this debate, encourage extensive international consultation and invite National Federations to reconsider their decision in Copenhagen in the interests of the health and welfare of the competition horse. 

Sincerely yours, Leo B. Jeffcott, and Andrew Higgins, Roberto Busetto, Jean-François Bruyas, Michael Dűe, Paul Farrington, Wilfried Hanbuecken, Liisa Harmo, Miklos Jarmy, Peter Kallings, Gerit Mattheson, Nigel Nichols, Jack Snyder, Warwick Vale, and Alex Atock."

The turmoil around the decision continues to grow as the head of the AAchen World Equestrian Festival has spoken out against the FEI's recent decision on allowed substances. More importantly, major Aachen sponsor Deutsche Bank said "We do not want to have unsound or injured horses in our sport. The CHIO Aachen 2010 will not be carried out on the basis of the current FEI regulations, but according to the ethics of clean sport." When sponsors start speaking out, it means the problem is not going away.  Read more.

Related Eventing Nation articles: European Boycott of WEGs?, Letter to Princess Haya, Petition to FEI, Horse Racing Won't Follow FEI, Chronicle Covers Doping Debate, My Take, *FEI Approves Bute,  FEI Considers Bute 

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