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![]() A still from the 'blue tongue video' that sparked the Rollkur debate: Swedish rider Patrick Kittel rides the stallion Watermill Scandic, at Odense in October. The FEI recently said it had found "no reliable evidence" that the warmup techniques used by Kittel were excessive. |
The group of 23, which included FEI veterinary representatives and officials from dressage, jumping and eventing, and two World Horse Welfare officials, unanimously agreed that any form of aggressive riding must be sanctioned, and emphasised that the main responsibility for the welfare of the horse rests with the rider.
During the meeting FEI President Princess Haya accepted a petition of 41,000 signatories against Rollkur presented by Dr Gerd Heuschman.
![]() FEI round-table conference participants. |
A working group is to be established by the FEI, headed by Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman, to expand the current guidelines for stewards to facilitate the implementation of the anti-hyperflexion policy.
However, the group also agreed that no changes were required to the current FEI Rules.
FEI Management is studying a range of additional measures, including the use of closed circuit television for warm-up arenas at selected shows.
The meeting was at IOC Headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The participants in the FEI round-table conference were:
HRH Princess Haya, FEI President
Alex McLin, FEI Secretary General
Margit Otto-Crépin, International Dressage Riders Club Representative
Linda Keenan, International Dressage Trainers Club Representative
Sjef Janssen, Dressage Representative
Frank Kemperman, Chairman, FEI Dressage Committee (by conference call)
François Mathy, International Jumping Riders Club Representative
David Broome, Jumping Representative
Jonathan Chapman, Eventing Representative
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Representative
Tony Tyler, World Horse Welfare Representative
Ulf Helgstrand, President, Danish Equestrian Federation
John McEwen, Chairman, FEI Veterinary Committee
Dr Sue Dyson, Veterinary Representative
Dr Gerd Heuschman, Veterinary Representative
Prof. René van Weeren, Veterinary Representative
Jacques van Daele, FEI Honorary Steward General Dressage
Graeme Cooke, FEI Veterinary Director
Trond Asmyr, FEI Director Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage
John Roche, FEI Director Jumping and Stewarding
Catrin Norinder, FEI Director Eventing
Carsten Couchouron, FEI Executive Director Commercial
Richard Johnson, FEI Communications Director