FEI Shock: Bute Will Be Allowed in International Competitions

by Fran Jurga | 19 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com


History was made today in Copenhagen, Denmark when delegates from the member nations that comprise the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the world governing body of horse sports for competitions such as the World Cups, World Equestrian Games and Olympics, voted to allow small amounts of non-steroidal medications to be given to competition horses.

The FEI has to date promoted a zero-tolerance policy on all medication.

US riders have always had to compete on a double standard, since most US show organizations allow low levels of medication, but when upper level horses qualified for international events, no medication could be given.

However, in all press reports from Copenhagen, there is denial that the proposal was pushed by the United States in order to bring the world closer to US rules. Many nations are adamant that no drugs at all is the only acceptable policy for the highest level of sport to be fair.

Disqualifications for medication have been an embarrassment for several medal winners in the past two Olympic equestrian competitions.

Allowing medications may be objectionable to some of the largest sponsors of horse sport events in some countries and on the global level. Event organizers will be holding their breath.

Below, in red type, is the official statement from the FEI on this vote and the bigger impact of its "Clean Sport" initiative.

The new rules take effect in January, unless some extraordinary action prevents it, and will mean that medication will be allowed at the AllTech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky next fall.

At Kentucky, the world's horses will be competing at the highest level for the first time on medication, making that a more historic event than any of us could ever have imagined.

In a landmark moment for equestrian sport, the FEI General Assembly today voted overwhelmingly in favour of new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations which will ensure the welfare of the horse and guarantee a fair playing field. A series of far reaching recommendations – part of the Clean Sport Campaign led by the Ljungqvist and Stevens Commissions – were also adopted by a massive majority amongst the 105 National Federations represented in Copenhagen.

Delegates also approved in a close vote a new Prohibited Substances List itemising more than 1000 substances not allowed in competition. The adoption of the so-called “Progressive List” now permits in-competition use of a limited number of medications under strictly prescribed limits.

FEI President HRH Princess Haya thanked the delegates on behalf of the sport for their support of the Clean Sport Campaign. “This is a true landmark moment in the history of our sport,” HRH Princess Haya commented. “The overwhelming support of the National Federations for the Clean Sport Campaign is proof that we are moving in the right direction thanks to the incredible work done by the Ljungqvist and Stevens Commissions. This vote has given us the power to roll out Clean Sport and allow us to restore the public image of our sport as a clean and uncorrupt product.”

The Clean Sport Campaign is the result of a year-long consultation process which has brought together the viewpoints and expertise of the entire FEI Family and the professional recommendations of the Commissions led by Prof. Arne Ljungqvist, chairman of the IOC Medical Commission and vice president of the World Anti Doping Agency, and Lord Stevens, formed Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Professor Ljungqvist said, “Ultimately it was down to the equestrian community to make the final decision and they have voted in support of the package as a whole. The two Commissions have put in an enormous amount of work to come up with these recommendations and it is particularly gratifying that we have received such overwhelming support for the Clean Sport Campaign from the National Federations.”

Lord Stevens stated afterwards, “We said yesterday that the FEI needed to adopt these recommendations before it could be given a clean bill of health. They have been approved by a massive majority and now the sport can move forward.”

Voting Facts and Figures:

Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations: 95 in favour, 5 against
105 NFs represented (101 participated, 100 valid, 1 abstention)

Commissions Recommendations: 90 in favour, 8 against
103 NFs represented (100 participated, 99 valid, 1 abstention)

Lists of Prohibited Substances: 53 in favour of Progressive List, 48 in favour of other List
105 NFs represented (102 participated, 101 valid, 1 abstention)

FEI Veterinary Regulations: 86 in favour, 9 against
105 NFs represented (102 participated, 95 valid, 7 abstentions)

FEI Assembly Response to "Blue Tongue Dressage" Uproar: Steward Control, Partners with World Horse Welfare for More Studies on Hyperflexion

The follow statement was received today from the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) General Assembly meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. The statement is in response to international furor over a clip of videotape from a warmup arena at an FEI World Cup dressage competition last month, as featured on this blog.

The clip has become known around the world as "blue tongue dressage" and refers to a horse ridden harshly (in the opinion on many people) on the curb rein so that the horse's tongue turned blue, as seen when it flopped out of the horse's mouth for a moment and just happened to be caught on video. The tight frame exhibited in in the video is known as hyperflexion of the neck, formerly called "rollkur" or "bite the chest".

Here is the exact statement from the FEI, released today:

"The FEI condemns all training methods and practices that are contrary to horse welfare. The welfare of the horse has always been and will always be at the core of every aspect of the Federation’s work as the international governing body for equestrian sport.

"During its meeting in Copenhagen (DEN) on 15 November, the FEI Bureau had extensive discussion on the issue of hyperflexion. The FEI Bureau insists that, with immediate effect, stewards in all disciplines use the disciplinary measures available to them, such as verbal warnings and yellow warning cards *, to prevent any infringement of FEI rules.

"The FEI is now engaged with World Horse Welfare, a leading international equestrian organisation, in addition to continued consultation with riders, trainers, officials and veterinarians to thoroughly research the issues. The further education of stewards will also continue to ensure that welfare issues at FEI events are dealt with promptly and professionally.

"The FEI acknowledges and welcomes public opinion and will continue to ensure that the welfare of the horse, which has been central to this debate, will remain its absolute priority.

"* If a rider receives two yellow warning cards within one year, he / she is automatically suspended for a period of two months immediately following the event at which the second yellow warning card was received."

The Jurga Report will have more on this important news story as more information is released. Please check back.

Time to Get Out Your Clippers? Tips from Olympian Mary King and Her Groom Jodie Summers in a Video Masterclass

by Fran Jurga | 13 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

All across the USA, you can hear the clippers buzzing. You can also hear horse heads hitting stable rafters, hooves scrambling, and various unprintable expletives as horse owners and grooms undertake the task of making emerging winter coats disappear or at least be manageable for horses that have to stay in training, go out hunting, or be shown during winter weather.

I've been gathering resources on this subject and will be sharing them with you this month. But what better way to start than with the expertise of British event rider and Olympian Mary King and her expert groom, Jodie Summersin a three-part video series? Mary differentiates, in the final segment, between how she clips her own event horses compared to how she would do a horses for hacking and how she'd do a trace clip.

So here you go: three short videos that together are about 20 minutes long. Bookmark this page to come back later and watch, or share and email this blog post's address for your friends at the barn or students.

Thanks very much to my friends at Horse and Hound in England for producing these little videos. They were apparently done a year ago. The model horse you see, Kings Temptress, is a Mary King homebred and finished 18th at Burghley**** this year.

The menu for the three videos is 1) getting started; 2) clipping a nervous horse and other challenges; 3) advanced tips and specialized clips.

Watch for more posts on clipping on this blog, coming soon!

Horse Health Alert: Equine Piroplasmosis Found in Two New Jersey Horses

The following announcement is from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Equine Piroplasmosis is a contagious and very serious disease that can affect not only the horses that become infected but all horses in the state because of quarantines and interstate and international transport restrictions. If you live in the Northeast, please pay attention to this situation.


New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today asked veterinarians and horse owners to watch their horses, donkeys and mules for signs of Equine Piroplasmosis, a disease transmitted to the animals by ticks and from horse to horse by contaminated needles.

Once infected, an equine can take seven to 22 days to show signs of the illness. Symptoms include: fever, anemia, jaundiced mucous membranes, swollen abdomens, and labored breathing. Infected horses also may have roughened hair coats, constipation, and colic. In milder form, the disease can cause equine to appear weak and show lack of appetite.

Equine Piroplasmosis is a reportable disease; therefore, anyone with knowledge of the existence or suspected existence of the disease must report this information to the Department of Agriculture within 48 hours at (609) 292-3965.

At this time, two of four New Jersey horses purchased from an infected herd in Texas in 2008 have tested positive for the disease. Additional testing on the imported horses and contact horses is underway. Quarantines have been placed on the affected premises and precautions implemented to prevent the spread of this disease to other horses.

BLM Seeks Comments on December Wild Horse Roundup in Nevada

by Fran Jurga | 9 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

The following press release has been made available from the Bureau of Land Management and is posted here for the information of anyone concerned with or about the next major action in this important and sensitive area of horse world politics.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office is proposing to gather and remove about 2,500 wild horses in several areas north of Gerlach, Nev., in Washoe and Humboldt counties. The proposal and associated impacts are described and analyzed in the Calico Complex Capture Plan Preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA). The BLM would appreciate receiving substantive comments on the EA by November 12, 2009.

The proposed gather is needed to achieve and maintain the established appropriate management level (AML) and prevent further range deterioration resulting from the current overpopulation of wild horses within the areas.

The proposal is to capture and remove excess wild horses from the Calico Mountain Complex: Black Rock Range East, Black Rock Range West, Calico Mountains, Granite Range, and Warm Springs Canyon herd management areas. The gather is expected to begin about December 1, 2009 and continue through the end of February 2010.

The document may be reviewed online at www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo/blm_information/nepa0.html.

Questions and written comments should be directed to: Dave Hays, Field Manager, Black Rock Field Office, BLM Winnemucca District Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to wfoweb@nv.blm.gov. E-mail messages should include “Calico Complex Capture Plan (Fox)” in the subject line.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Comments received during the public review period will be analyzed and considered as part of the decision-making process.

(End of document from the BLM)

Zenyatta! Need We Say More?

by Fran Jurga | 9 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Horse racing may be in a slump but you would never have known it on Saturday when the world gave a rousing unanimous roar for supermare Zenyatta as she barreled home ahead of the colts in the world's most prestigious stakes race, the 2009 Breeders Cup Classic.

It was her first time against colts. Her first time going the classic distance of a mile-and-a-quarter. But her undefeated race record stands now at fourteen. The grand girl has never been beaten.

Will she be horse of the year? Did Saturday's performance obscure the memory of Rachel Alexandra's stellar races on the east coast this year? Rachel's owners opted to skip the Breeders Cup. Did that leave the door open for Zenyatta to capture the title? She beat the same horses Rachel beat...plus some of the best in Europe and the top male turf horse in the US, Gio Ponti, in one fell swoop.

Many people are late to the Zenyatta party and may not know about some of this horse's quirky behaviors. One delightful one is her habit of pricking her ears forward as she crosses the finish line, as if to make sure she looks great in all the win photos (she does).

But another is that this girl likes to dance. In the paddock and during the post parade, she is famous for doing a little toe-flicking trot that makes me think she might be auditioning for the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, or maybe a second career in the dressage arena (not a chance, big girl, but you can piaffe out in the field in Kentucky with your foals).

California track journalist Mary Forney posted this video of Zenyatta showing off in the paddock before the race on Saturday. Thanks to Mary for making this available!



In case you missed the race, here's the replay. Zenyatta was late out of gate, started on her left lead instead of her right, switched leads, and came from dead last.

Actress Glenn Close Speaks Out on the War on Laminitis

by Fran Jurga | 9 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Her name was Rosie. She was a Morgan mare. She couldn't beat laminitis.

At that point, the horse owner's voice cracked. She caught her breath. Would she go on?

If you have ever owned a horse who suffered from serious laminitis--especially one who didn't make it--you know the pain. Your voice probably cracks too, when you talk about it. You probably catch your breath, too, when you remember the pain that your horse went through, and the pain that you still go through when you recall weeks, months, and maybe years of fighting a disease that has no rules, no heart, no charity.

But when Rosie's owner came forward this weekend, the world took notice. She is not just another horse owner, she is award-winning actress and animal lover Glenn Close.

Ms. Close agreed to work with the organizers of the Fifth International Equine Conference on Laminitis and Diseases of the Foot to add her voice to that of leading sponsors and horse owners John K. and Marianne Castle, whose beloved Appaloosa "Spot" suffered from laminitis as well.

Spot and Rosie had something in common besides laminitis and generous, caring owners. Both were in the care of Conference chair Dr. James Orsini of the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. Dr. Orsini brought Ms. Close and the Castles together, and a very special video about the horse owner's role in laminitis research and progress in treating the disease premiered at the convention. The beautiful video was narrated by Close.

Later in the Conference, Ms. Close received the Spot Castle Awareness Award for her work on behalf of the war on laminitis being waged by the Conference and the University of Pennsylvania's Laminitis Institute. In response to the award, Close provided her own video response, a tribute to Rosie's memory and a call to action to anyone and everyone who can help put an end to the pain and suffering that laminitis cause horses.

The Conference was held in West Palm Beach, Florida and consisted of three days of major presentations by leading researchers and practitioners. Attendees from Asia, Australia, Europe and South America, as well as from all over the United States and Canada, traveled to Florida to learn and share their expertise.

Photo from Glenn Close's Fetchdog.com blog called "Lively Licks", in which she interviews other celebrities about their dogs.

Champion California Mare Zenyatta Will Race Against Top Colts in 2009 Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday

Zenyatta, originally uploaded by Rock and Racehorses.

She's not just out to win the Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday. She's not just out to prove she's faster than the fastest colts in the world. She's making a grandstand play to capture the title of Horse of the Year. And she's going to do it by racing against the ghost of her biggest competition...who's not even in the race.

The stars are lined up for a great moment in Thoroughbred racing at California's Santa Anita racetrack. It's time for the 2009 Breeders Cup, the World Series, Superbowl, and Indy500 of American horse racing, spread across two days, two racing surfaces, two television networks and the fates of some super horses.

Undefeated Zenyatta declared today that she will bypass a chance for a repeat win of the Fillies and Mares Classic and go after the colts in the high-stakes mile-and-a-quarter Breeders Cup Classic. That means facing Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who will come from behind with her, no doubt, and Belmont/Travers/Jockey Gold Cup winner Summer Bird, along with Rip Van Winkle, one of the best in Europe, and long-striding speedster Quality Road...among others.

This will mean two firsts for the big black supermare: first time against colts and first time going a mile and one quarter. And yet, she's the favorite with oddsmakers.

Most of those American colts have already been beaten by the red-hot three-year-old filly on the east coast, Rachel Alexandra. But her owners are bypassing the Breeders Cup, partly to give her a rest and partly out of distaste for the artificial surface--which is about all Zenyatta has ever run on. And never lost.

If Zenyatta loses, surely Horse of the Year remains Rachel Alexandra's. But if Zenyatta wins?

Some people like Coke. Some like Pepsi. Some people work on a PC. Some love their Macs. The Internet is clogged with fans of each horse declaring supremacy.

I'm just savoring them both, and the moment. This is as good as it gets. And she may be as good as they come. We'll soon find out.

Note: The Breeders Cup will be on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC at different times on Friday and Saturday. Approximate post time for the Classic on Saturday is 6:45 p.m. EST. Check your local listings to be sure. I believe that you can sign up at ESPN360.com and watch it streaming on the web, as well. At least that's what I'm hoping!

Thanks to Sarah K. Andrew of Rock and Racehorses--who is at the Breeders Cup!--for this photo of Zenyatta as she prepped for the Breeders Cup last year.

Blue Tongue Dressage: British Horse Society Protests to FEI President, HRH Princess Haya

by Fran Jurga | 3 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

It's not always easy being a blogger. On Friday, October 23, I took a deep breath and posted on this blog a video I had been sent by a colleague in Europe. I posted the video and simply asked people what they saw, and explained the furor that the video was causing in Europe. Click here to read that post.

American dressage fans had a similar reaction. I didn't know if the story would escalate or just go away, as so many things do. "Blue tongue dressage" became one of those viral news stories that took on a life of its own. It was the horse world's equivalent of "balloon boy". Everyone knew immediately what you were talking about when you said "blue tongue" at the barn.

And they chimed in with their take on a few minutes of video taped half a world away.

It's hard to think of the sport of dressage as having a grass roots level--it's more like a carefully-laid strip of seeded sod--but it has been activated, with opinions running from "leave the professionals alone" to "boycott Rolex and other FEI sponsors". A white-hat protest has been proposed for the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games in Kentucky; after all these years of preparation, will the Games be shrouded in controversy?

And last week at the Global Dressage Forum in Holland, the FEI representative announced that the world body of horse sport would be looking into the matter. On Monday, this statement was released to the media:

"The FEI is aware of the video filmed at the FEI World CupTM Dressage qualifier at Odense (DEN) and posted on YouTube. FEI’s main concern has always been and will always be the welfare of the horse. We are taking the issues raised in the video and in the comments made by members of the public on social media and by email very seriously and have opened a full investigation. The conclusions of this investigation will be made public in due course."

The problem, if there is one, is that the FEI has already looked into rollkur, or hyperflexion, and decided that there is no concrete evidence that it harms the horse. They do advise that it not be maintained continuously over a long period of training, as has been claimed that the rider in Denmark did in the presence of stewards at an FEI World Cup qualifier. There are no hard and fast rules about rollkur, only a vague advisory.

Click here to read the FEI's advisory on hyperflexion/rollkur.

But the forthright British took things a step further this week with a formal letter to HRH Princess Haya, president of the FEI. It is laced with classic British understatement and yet expresses determination to uphold their reputation as defenders of the welfare of the horse.

Your Royal Highness,
You cannot be unaware of the disquiet – not to say anger – which has arisen following the depiction on Epona TV of Patrik Kittel’s horse in apparent distress as it competed in Odense on 18th October.

As you are doubtless aware, in terms both of membership and breadth of interest, The British Horse Society (BHS) is the largest single equestrian organisation in the UK. Our examinations system, and the training and education which underpin it, have earned for the Society international recognition.

No less important is our work to promote the highest standards of equine welfare, which suffuses every facet of our work. I am pleased to report that our commitment to equine welfare is shared by all our colleagues within the British Equestrian Federation, although on this occasion I am writing solely on behalf of the BHS.

Let me acknowledge straight away that no representative of the BHS was present in Denmark to witness the horse’s apparent distress, nor do we have the benefit of a contemporaneous veterinary report. Moreover, we do not for one minute suggest that Patrik Kittel at any time sought to treat his horse other than with proper care and respect.

Nevertheless, in matters of equine welfare, the precautionary principle must always apply: if, despite the absence of conclusive proof, the wellbeing of a horse is called into question, there will exist a strong moral obligation on the FEI to respond immediately.

In our view, the concerns so widely expressed are reasonable and therefore deserving of an urgent two-part investigation: first, an inquiry into the treatment of this particular horse on this particular occasion; and, second, a broader inquiry into the ethics and consequences of hyperflexion.

In this second aspect The British Horse Society stands ready to assist the FEI in any way it can.

Please note that we pass no comment on the aesthetics of seeing a competition horse contorted in a way it never appears to choose for itself when in its natural state. Our concern is only to speak out when we believe that the welfare of horses demands it.


Yours sincerely,
Patrick Print FBHS
Chairman, The British Horse Society

This carefully crafted letter was delivered to Princess Haya just two weeks before the opening of the 2009 FEI General Assembly. Will other countries take similar polite but firm first steps? Will the USA speak up on this issue?

By pure coincidence, the FEI's meeting will take place in Denmark, where the Blue Tongue videotaping took place.

Something tells me we haven't heard the last of blue tongue dressage.

Third-Eyelid Tumors in Horses: Schedule a Yearly Eye Exam with Your Veterinarian

by Fran Jurga | 2 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Early intervention is the best way to beat cancerous conditions of the third eyelid in horses. Look periodically for any lumps or broken skin in or around your horse's eyes, and call a veterinarian if you find anything. If treated early, they may be fully removed; if left too long, recurrence is common. The condition is especially common in horses with light coat colors.

Squamous cell carcinoma, also abbreviated as SCC, is one of the most common cancers in horses. Appearing as small, wart-like bumps commonly found on the eyelid or surface of the eye, they require early treatment. While a conscientious owner may quickly notice a new lump on the shoulder of his or her equine friend, even the most watchful horseperson will miss a concealed third eyelid tumor.

The nictitating membrane, or third eyelid, is a very interesting anatomical component of most mammals' and birds' eyes. It is a white to pinkish membrane that usually remains in hiding in the corner of the eye until debris or trauma is detected, in which case it swiftly slides across the eyeball in a horizontal motion. Interestingly, humans do not have a third eyelid, but we do have a remnant called the plica semilunaris. It is visible in the corner of your eye as a small white membrane where "sleep" or eye discharge can accumulate.

But in contrast to humans, horses have a substantial nictitating membrane. The trouble is most horse owners don't know to look at it because they never see it. "Squamous cell carcinoma of the third eyelid can be a very easy lesion to miss," says Dr. Amber Labelle, an ophthalmology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. It's one of the many reasons why horses should have a thorough eye exam once a year, often when they receive their annual vaccines.

Just like certain skin tumors in humans, SCC is linked to UV radiation from the sun. Dr. Labelle mentions that, "It is especially common in horses with less pigment in their eyes, like Paints, Appaloosas, and some draft breeds." SCC is also commonly found in the genital region of older male horses with light skin. In short, the less pigment a horse has in a certain area, the more cancer-causing UV radiation it can absorb.

Although there are some tumors that spread quickly, SCC is a more slow-growing kind that doesn't seem to metastasize until a much later stage. Nevertheless, "early detection is the key to early cure," notes Dr. Labelle. The sooner veterinarians can surgically remove the tumor with wide margins, and potentially use local radiation treatments, the better the prognosis.

The problem that is unfortunately much too common is that horse owners either miss or put off having a vet check out that lump on their horse's eye. And by the time the tumor is diagnosed, it has grown so large that adequate margins cannot be taken. In short, an enucleation (total removal of the eye) may need to be performed to stop the tumor from spreading.

What's even more of a heartbreaking situation is that horses that have had a SCC removed need to have a recheck appointment every 6 months. It is common that these tumors grow back. Just because it's been removed once, doesn't mean it can't come back with a vengeance and potentially spread to other parts of the body, which can be fatal.

If you are concerned about any new growth on your horse, Dr. Labelle advises owners that, "any pink lump or bump or ulcerated lesion in or around the eye needs a veterinarian's attention."

Thanks to UMass Extension for bringing this article to our attention through the xtension.org web site and to Dr Labelle and writer Ashley Mitek of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine for providing this information.

Bid Rachel Alexandra a Good Afternoon (and benefit cancer research at the same time)

by Fran Jurga | 1 November 2009 | The Jurga Report at Equisearch.com

Maybe not all eyes are on the Breeders Cup preparations at Santa Anita racetrack in California this week. Plenty of people are keeping an eye on a fund-raising auction being conducted by Kendall-Jackson Wines.

Bidding is currently close to $6000 for a private visit with Herself, champion three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra, in January. The package includes a trip for two to New Orleans, and two nights in the Windsor Court hotel, as well.

If you've been dying to get close to the superstar, here's your chance, but you'd better hurry--bidding closes on Wednesday. This will be the final item in the auction of her collectibles to benefit the V Foundation. Bottles of her Pinot Noir are still available, though the limited edition collectible bottles signed by Calvin Borel are sold out.

Click here to place your bid.

Trick or treat!!!

Trick or treat!!!, originally uploaded by Rock and Racehorses.

Horses all over the United States are breathing a sigh of relief after surviving another Halloween. Did you dress your horse up? It seems like more and more people are having fun decorating their horses for Halloween. Here's one of our favorite models, the late great Alibar sulking under his sheet one Halloween a few years ago. Photo by Sarah K. Andrew of Rock and Racehorses Photography--thanks!