Monday News an Notes

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , ,
Happy day after Easter Eventing Nation!  It's a big news day throughout the equestrian world, so lets jump right into it:
--First and most importantly, because today is the day after Easter, marshmallow Peeps go on sale throughout the World.  Are Peeps candy, are they dessert, are they dinner, or are they post-armageddon survival food?  I have no idea, but they are just as tasty today as they were 24 hours ago, so take your truck and trailer to Wal Mart and stock up for the year.  Peep Research, Peeps diorama contest, 100 ways to kill a Peep
--Secondly, *drumroll* the FEI's new anti-doping regulations go into effect today.  The new lingo is that "Prohibited Substances" are substances that are not allowed at competitions, "Banned Substances" are substances that "have no place in equestrian sport," while substances commonly used in equine medication but that are prohibited in competition are "Controlled Medication Substances."  Easy squeezey lemon peasey, right?  FEI Press Release, Prohibited Substances Database, Prohibited Substances List, Rules

As an interesting test of your vet's sports medicine orientation, you could ask them what they think of the FEI's new anti-doping regulations.  If they enter into a long talk about the nuances of Bute's time levels in the bloodstream and the effects of mixing drugs, then that's great.  If they seem surprised that things have changed, you might want to get ahold of another vet to help you before three-days.  If they ask "what's the FEI?" then you might want to move out of North Dakota.

--If you missed this last Friday, Shelby French had an interesting article about the different intercollegiate riding programs for the COTH.
Barn politics are the number one reason people change barns.
Happy belated 150th anniversary to the Pony Express.
Best of the Blogs: Laine Ashker's Fork recap, Chelan Kozac.  Note: if you write great blog entries and want them to be featured as part of our Best of the Blogs, shoot me an email with a link to the blog and I'll have a look.
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USEF Convention Recap

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



The top story story lines at this year's USEF convention:
1) The domination of Steffen Peters and Ravel, winning both 2009 Rider of the Year and Horse of the Year.  USEF Ravel Press Release, DN Ravel, DN Peters, DD: Ravel, DD Peters, COTH Ravel, COTH Peters

COTH: "In a nutshell, the two new changes to GR 410 Equine Drugs and Medications will work in concert to allow an interim time to collect data and educate the membership. But effective Dec. 1, 2011, only one NSAID will be permitted.
Other details include:

    • From April 1, 2010, to Nov. 30, 2011, two NSAIDs will be permitted. If a horse receives two NSAIDs, a USEF NSAID disclosure form must be filled out and filed for data collection.
    • A first offence in not filling out the form will result in a warning. Thereafter, failures to fill out the form will result in an administrative penalty..."

Quick Take: This brings the USEF rules closer into compliance with both the current FEI zero-tolerance policy, and the proposed progressive list which allowed 3 NSAIDs but only one to be present in the horses system at a time, I believe.  Good decision.
3) Jessica Ransehousen received a lifetime achievement award.  DN coverage, DD

4) COTH: USEF Customer Service and WEG Update: 

"Jamie Link, the CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation Staff, provided an Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games update. As of today, 251 days until the WEG begins on Sept. 25, the figures include:

    • WEG has reached 57 percent of overall revenue goals.
    • 86 percent of sponsorship goals.
    • 46 percent of hospitality goals.
    • 52 percent of tradeshow goals.
    • 45 percent of ticket sales goals."

"There have been six rider fatalities at 2.3 million fences jumped in international Eventing competitions since 2004."  

"The Action Plan includes:
- Statistical database, to include medical and veterinary data on falls
- A standardised template to achieve consistency in the collection of international data (this will be produced twice a year)
- Compulsory appointment of a National Safety Officer (NSO) by all countries organising international Eventing fixtures to collate statistics and gather information for the FEI in the event of a serious accident
- FEI guidelines on cross-country course design aimed at minimizing risk
- Continuing work on frangible pins and deformable structures for cross-country fences
- Education of everyone involved in the sport of eventing - riders, officials and course designers; risk management will become an integral part of all national seminars
- Increased focus and education about the definition of dangerous riding."

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Weekend News and Notes

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , ,
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"The primary controversy here in Louisville, Ky., is the proposed rule to limit therapeutic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use from the current allowable two NSAIDs to one; the USEF Equine Drugs and Medications Committee proposed the rule change, which drew heated debate at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Annual Meeting in December but hardly a blip at the earlier U.S. Dressage Federation and U.S. Eventing Association meetings...

Here at the USEF Meeting it appears a compromise is in the works, which as of today, has been approved by the Drugs And Medications Committee, Veterinary Committee and the Executive Committee, among others, and has strong support from the breeds and disciplines. The rule change proposal will ultimately face a vote during the USEF Board of Directors meeting on Sunday. 

Details include: Beginning Dec. 1, 2011, only one NSAID will be permitted. From April 1, 2010 to Nov. 30, 2011, two NSAIDs will be permitted. If a horse receives two NSAIDs, a USEF NSAID disclosure form must be filled out and filed for data collection. Failure to fill out the form will result in a warning through 2010 (estimated time frame). Failure to fill out the form will result in an administrative penalty in 2011 (estimated time frame)."



The closest thing to an event this weekend we have heard about is the Willow Run Combined Test at Brook Farm.   Here is an article about the event, and thanks to KL for sending us the tip.
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FEI’s Progressive List Delayed Until Revote in November 2010, Zero-Tolerance on PL NSAIDs Stands

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

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From FEI Press Release:

...In line with the Bureau's earlier decision, the present Equine Prohibited List and its accompanying Rules and Veterinary Regulations will remain in effect until 4 April 2010. As of 5 April 2010, the FEI will implement the 20 October Prohibited Substances List, a more detailed version of the present Equine Prohibited List which received no specific objections during the four-week pre-General Assembly consultation period....


At the 2010 General Assembly [in November], National Federations will have the opportunity to vote on the policy issue of whether the FEI should allow the restricted use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), provided the levels are limited and are deemed by the List Group not to threaten horse welfare and not to be performance enhancing.  Full Press Release


So what does this all mean?  I wanted to make sure that the implementation of the '20 October List' indeed meant that the progressive list was indeed delayed, and that zero-tolerance stood, so I sent the FEI an email.  Here is an excerpt of my email, and the FEI's response.

1) Eventing Nation's Question: Am I correct in understanding that the implementation of the 20 October list means that the zero tolerance policy will stand until the 2010 assembly, and that the progressive list has been postponed? 

FEI's Response: "Correct"

2) Eventing Nation's Question: In Princess Haya's 8 December letter to NF's, she wrote "The General Assembly considered two options: the "20 October List" and the "Progressive List." The Progressive List classified specified NSAIDs up to certain levels as permitted medications and removed them from the Prohibited Substances category of the 20 October List."  The [18 December] press release states that the '20 October List' will go into effect on 5 April 2010, so I just want to make sure that this means that the 'specified NSAID's' will remain on the prohibited substances category and will not be allowed at competitions in any level.

FEI's Response: "Correct"

My take: As many of you know, we were critical of the FEI's handling of this process in the early stages.  However, the FEI's Communication Manager, Malina Gueorguiev has answered every single one of Eventing Nation's questions clearly and promptly throughout the process.
If you read Eventing Nation's coverage of the USEA convention, you would have heard about the progressive list delay being leaked at the convention.
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News and Notes

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

A very nice Cooper tribute by Stephanie Diaz on EventingUSA . Question: how am I linking on Wednesday night to a story that was published on Thursday?  Answer: magic

A good overview of the FEI convention last month, including the progressive list situation.  No word yet on when the FEI will release results from the email vote on delaying and revoting on the progressive list, but stay tuned.
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H&H: Progressive List Delay and Revote Almost Certain

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , , ,
bute-feed.jpg

The Horse and Hound is reporting that the FEI delay and revote on the progressive list is nearly a certainty:

"Although a firm decision has not yet been announced, every equestrian nation H&H has contacted -- including those in favour of allowing NSAIDs in sport -- agreed to the delay...  Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Isreal, the Netherlands and Germany also said they agreed fully with the proposal. And although Belgium, Russia and the US are in favour of NSAIDs in horse sport, these federations have agreed to the delay." Read more


TheHorse.com explains why making fair and uniform drug rules is challenging.


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New Zealand Hints at Possible WEG Boycott if PL Stands

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , , ,
From Horsetalk.co.nz:
"[Equestrian Sport of New Zealand] chief executive and secretary general Jim Ellis laid out New Zealand's position in an open letter to FEI head Alex McLin... 


"Our international federation should be working to the highest standards of governance and the late notice of this list, which did not allow for adequate consultation time with our veterinarians and members, has done the FEI a significant disservice," he said...


"ESNZ will continue to maintain a zero tolerance for these NSAIDs within our national medication control programme," Ellis said...
"The proposed postponement would ensure a 'clean' World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.


"In the event that a majority of national federations do not support the postponement, the board of ESNZ reserves its right to consider the participation of the New Zealand Team at WEG 2010." Full Article.  


My take: the implications of the national federations rejecting Princess Haya's request for a delay and revote on the Progressive List would be profound.  Combined with the rejection to consolidate FEI power into a smaller governing council in Copenhagen, and the mismanagement of the Progressive List early on, it is hard to imagine FEI leadership having any credibility if they are refuted on this matter.  However, it does seem like the possibility of national federations voting down the delay and revote of the progressive list is very real, certainly much higher than anyone seemed to think at the USEA Convention, where the delay was spoken of like it was a done deal.  Getting a final answer is important to helping the FEI move on, and to helping the NFs develop a sufficient drug management policy for WEG team selections.

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Another FEI Letter About the Progressive List and Revote

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , ,
The International Jumping Riders Club has joined the debate:

"Dear President, 

We the International Jumping Riders Club are the athletes who form the sport that your International Federation is the governing body of. We represent the athletes of the well know discipline in your family, and we are a group that has a membership across the globe, which has been in existence since the year 1977...

We do not feel that the General Assembly should be permitted to reverse a decision after it is taken, or to delay it beyond reasonable timeframe. We agree to the fact that the FEI Bureau has requested delay of implementation until April, and we will do everything to work alongside you in order to help you achieve the necessary examination of the substance levels that are included in the list. We the International Riders feel that we are willing to accept and aid the List Group of the FEI to amend the list to include lower levels in the case of some substances specified, in order to protect horses who compete in countries with less of a depth of veterinary knowledge and care, and in order for your delegates to feel comfortable that they have made a conservative judgment. According to the Statutes that the FEI passed in regards to Clean Sport, we recognize that an annual amendment to the list is possible, and therefore we agree to this policy direction and understand that annually it can be refined. 

Madam President, we request respectfully, that you maintain this progressive list, and that you protect us, your riders from the damage that is being done to us publicly in the International Media from a situation that we did not contribute to create...

Postpone any decision for a further year would not be useful to our sport and would still leave riders, owner, organizers in a situation of uncertainty, and giving a negative image of our sport to athletes, fans and media. 

On behalf of the IJRC  

Respectfully Yours, Rodrigo Pessoa, IJRC President Ludger Beerbaum, Vice President Dr. Eleonora Ottaviani Moroni, Secretary General Francois Mathy jr, Advisor"  Full Letter.  Thanks to the FEI for originally sending us this letter.

Oh yeah, and the FEI reads Eventing Nation.

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FEI’s Letter Regarding Progressive List Delay and Revote

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

Excerpts from the FEI's letter sent out to all member federations last week about postponing the 'progressive list' until a revote in November 2010, a move that we originally reported on Friday after hearing about it at the USEA convention.

"Dear Member National Federations of the FEI,

In the context of the dispute that has erupted within our family over the best way to achieve our shared goals of eradicating doping and protecting the welfare of horses, I write to ask for your support.

Specifically, I am asking you to give your written consent to allow the implementation of the "20 October List" with the new rules in April 2010 and place the issue of NSAID policy on the agenda for the 2010 General Assembly. I give you my word that this issue will be tabled in the form of a policy choice for the GA in 2010 and that, in the meantime, HQ will make it a priority to provide you with the necessary scientific thought and research for you to make an informed decision. I ask that you please indicate your support, or lack thereof, by replying to this email.

...The General Assembly considered two options: the "20 October List" and the "Progressive List." The Progressive List classified specified NSAIDs up to certain levels as permitted medications and removed them from the Prohibited Substances category of the 20 October List. 

[Note: the 20 October list is known colloquially as the 'zero-tolerance list.'  The FEI has been accused of selecting confusing names for the lists and changing those names, and this letter is still seems a little unclear about the exact nature of each list, whether intentionally or unintentionally.]

...We all agree on the important things. Everyone involved in this debate wants to eradicate doping. Everyone involved in this debate wants to protect the welfare of horses. We all favour "zero tolerance." The General Assembly approved an outright and unequivocal ban on substances that are intended solely to enhance performance. There will be no retreat from that. But the term "zero tolerance" is easy to use - and easy to abuse. In human sport, "zero tolerance" is actually the same policy as the Progressive List. Acceptance of the Progressive List for equestrian sport does not mean acceptance of doping.

This is not a debate driven by geography or cultural differences. It is not a split between developed and under-developed; and rich from poor; or East and West. Many of the most developed nations among our NF body have voted for the Progressive List, and feel passionately that this is the way that the sport must go. I would equally highlight that many of the smallest and most under-developed nations in our sport have vocalized clearly to me their overwhelming concern that this policy change will not allow them as National Federations to fulfill their duty to protect their equine communities. Some have also expressed fear that passage of the Progressive List presented them with the problem that they would be unable to institute the necessary educational tools fast enough to protect their equine communities from those with a lack of knowledge who would unwittingly abuse the rules...

There are good arguments on both sides of the issue, and we should listen to each other with consideration and respect. Our equine partners in sport will be the losers should we not agree to debate this in a calm and rational fashion...

Let us put this "time out" to good use so that we can engage in a calm, rational debate over the best way forward and then vote on this policy issue at the 2010 GA. In the meantime (as of 1 January 2010), the FEI will apply the clean sport recommendations not related to the new regulations, which have you have already approved and which will allow for considerable progress on the FEI's clean sport initiative.

We will probably never have unanimity, but working together, we can agree on an approach that serves the interests of equestrian sport and the athletes -- both human and equine -- who practice it. That, after all, is what we all desire. 

Once again, I ask for your support in approving the implementation of the "20 October List" with the new rules in April 2010 and place the issue of NSAID policy on the agenda for the 2010 General Assembly. I ask that you please indicate your support, or lack thereof, by replying to this email.

Yours respectfully,
Haya Al Hussein"

Read the full letter at Eurodressage.  Thanks to the Chronicle for the original link.

My ridiculous take: We have questioned Princess Haya over the past few weeks, but this letter is the perfect step to resolve the issues within the FEI.  Delaying the implementation of the progressive list until next November resolves concerns about the WEGs, and allowing the revote will lend legitimacy to the final decision.  All of this is assuming that the member nations actually vote to approve the delay, but I cannot possibly imagine that the FEI would offer this as an option without being sure of the final vote.  If the member federations voted against Princess Haya on this matter, the legitimacy of the FEI leadership would be crippled. Everyone at the USEA convention seemed absolutely convinced that the delay and revote would go through, including Mark Phillips, and the Chronicle reported "rumors confirmed."

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Monday News and Notes

By John on , Filed Under Eventing Nation, Eventing News and Notes and , , ,
1) If you are wondering why your vet is not in town this week, it's probably because they are partying it up studying in Las Vegas at the AAEP Convention.  Ridiculous factoid: casinos never have clocks on the gambling floor because they don't want you to think about how long you have been gambling.
2) The Horse and Hound has joined the story that we reported on Friday that the FEI has sent a letter to national federations about delaying the progressive list until a revote in November 2010.  Check out Eventing Nation's exciting first report of the story being leaked, and our confirmation of the story Friday night.  The H&H folks always do a great job, and have been leading the coverage of this story since they first reported on the Copenhagen FEI convention.  H&H quotes the FEI letter as saying "Unfortunately, the division of opinion is so deep and so passionate, that it threatens to divide our federation...This is not an outcome we can accept."  Read more from H&H


Please check back later this evening for my top 5 ridiculous thoughts from the USEA convention.  Go eventing.
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