Geneva (SUI), 15 April 2010 – The FEI Bureau today gave its unanimous approval to new Stewards’ guidelines on warm-up techniques produced by the Working Group formed after the round-table conference held in Lausanne on 9 February 2010.
One of the key stipulations in the Working Group’s report was that all unacceptable training methods and techniques must be stopped immediately. The Working Group was also insistent that abuse of the horse should be avoided and, in particular, stressing the horse, aggressive riding and inflicting pain and/or discomfort on the horse must be prevented.
The current guidelines for FEI Stewards already include instructions covering aggressive riding, but the Working Group has created a new Annex (XIII) that includes clear instructions on action to be taken if necessary relating to flexion of the horse’s neck during pre and post-competition training.
Geneva (SUI), 17 April 2010 – Sapphire, the horse ridden by McLain Ward (USA), has been eliminated from the second round of the FEI World Cup Final last night (16 April) and disqualified from the rest of the event following a positive hypersensitivity test. The horse was selected for thermography testing on its legs yesterday and US Team Vet Dr Tim Ober was notified in the late afternoon that the horse would be tested at 7.30pm (CEST).
The test involved the use of a thermography camera and a clinical examination of the legs, which was carried out by FEI appointed veterinarian Dr Paul Farrington and Dr Emile Welling, the Foreign Veterinary Delegate. Following the examination, Dr Farrington informed Dr Ober and the two grooms that were present at the test that the horse was showing sensitivity in its left foreleg but that it was fit to compete at that time.
McLain Ward and Sapphire went on to finish second in the class to take over the lead in the overall standings, but the FEI made a decision to re-examine the horse post-competition, using both thermography and clinical examination. The second test was carried out at 12.30am on Saturday, 17 April in the presence of the President of the Ground Jury, Rene Billardon (FRA), Dr Ober, the two grooms and Lizzie Chesson from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF). Dr Paul Farrington, Foreign Veterinary Delegate Dr Emile Welling (BEL) and Dr Markus Mueller (SUI) each re-examined the horse and declared that, due to the level of hypersensitivity, it was unfit to take any further part in the competition.
Boyd Exell (Aus) winner of the warm up competition of the Rolex FEI World Cup Driving Final in Geneva (SUI). (c) Rinaldo de Craen.
EXELL IN GOOD SHAPE IN GENEVA
Geneva (SUI), 17 April 2010 – Title defender Boyd Exell has won the warm up competition of the Rolex FEI World Cup Driving Final in Geneva on Friday evening, leaving his fellow competitors far behind. Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson came second, ahead of Koos de Ronde from the Netherlands.
Despite the late night hour, the four-in-hand drivers were cheered by a large number of enthusiastic spectators who enjoyed the ever-exciting performances of the four-in-hand drivers. German World Cup course designer Falk Böhnisch had designed a technical course in the very large Palexpo Arena, including the unique water splash, which resulted in spectacular images while the drivers passed it.
Reverse order
The drivers started in the reverse order of the standings after the last competition in Bordeaux, with IJsbrand Chardon going first and Boyd Exell going last in the warm up competition.
Because of the air traffic disruption in Europe, Boyd Exell was forced to swap the comfort of an airplane for a long trip by car from Great Britain to Switzerland, but this did not affect the performances of the title defender at all. While most of the leader horses came back before the bridge, Exell’s horses went as always without hesitation, keeping their speed up all the time. Exell beat the time of Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson, who was in the lead so far, by nine seconds, only knocking a ball off the last obstacle.
Switzerland's Steve Guerdat and Tresor delighted the home crown when winning the second leg of the 2010 Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Geneva tonight. Photo: Kit Houghton.
GUERDAT WINS THE SECOND LEG
Geneva (SUI), 16 April 2010 – Steve Guerdat sent Swiss hearts soaring with a superb victory in the second leg of the 2010 Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Geneva tonight riding the feisty stallion Tresor. The cream really came to the top in this class, and the 27 year old rider from Zurich set the early target in the jump-off and could not be caught, pipping America’s McLain Ward and Sapphire by just over a second.
Third place went to fellow-American Mario Deslauriers whose dream of taking the coveted title he last won 26 years ago at the tender age of 19 is coming ever-closer to a reality. But tonight’s clash of the giants saw the Germans flex their not-inconsiderable muscle to greater effect, with Marcus Ehning slotting into fourth with Plot Blue and Ludger Beerbaum finishing seventh with Gotha, while Rolex World No. 1 Pius Schwizer was fifth for Switzerland with Carlina and Olympic silver medallist Rolf-Goran Bengtsson took sixth with Quintero la Silla in a truly sparkling line-up. For first-day winner America’s Rich Fellers however it was deep disappointment when eight first-round faults saw him plummet down the leaderboard with Flexible.
International dressage rider and trainer George Williams (left), the current USDF President, spoke at a recent “Shop Talk” at Sho Clothes dressage boutique in Wellington.
Wellington, FL (April 16, 2010) – Dressage fans from across the country had the chance to spend an evening with international dressage star George Williams, the current President of the United States Dressage Federation, when he spoke recently at Sho Clothes dressage boutique’s monthly “Shop Talk”. Sho Clothes sponsors the monthly get together for equestrians in association with the Gold Coast Dressage Association.
Williams has been a successful dressage rider and trainer for many years, but earned international attention with Rocher, the wonderful black Westfalen mare with the floppy ears, owned by Chuck and Joann Smith of Gypsy Woods Farm. Together, the duo set records at Dressage at Devon and internationally, and dressage websites and magazines around the world reported that US and European crowds rose to their feet with tears in their eyes when Williams and Rocher competed. This pair represented the US at the 2003 World Cup in Sweden, placing 5th, and at the Hickstead European Championships, where he placed 10th.
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