Major changes could be in store for blood rules
It appears officials may be allowed to use their discretion in minor cases, rather than disqualification being automatic
A SPECK of blood on a horse’s flank will no longer mean automatic elimination in international showjumping classes from 2018, if proposed FEI rule changes go ahead.
Under the current rules, bleeding on the flanks results in “mandatory disqualification”.
The rule has caused much debate and leading riders and organisations, including the International Jumping Riders Club, have been lobbying for a more “common sense” approach to the rule in recent years.
Draft rules released this month would appear to give FEI officials more discretion.
The 2018 proposals state that “minor cases of blood on the flank will not incur elimination”.
The wording has been changed to clarify that disqualification is mandatory in the case of “marks and/or blood on the flank(s) as a result of excessive use of spurs”. Previously this simply read: “horses bleeding on the flank(s)”.
The FEI has also amended the following rule to make it clear that disqualifications for marks and/ or blood would be “as a result of ” instead of “indicating” excessive use of the whip.
Irish showjumper Bertram Allen was eliminated from the 2015 Olympia grand prix when a nick was spotted on his ride Quiet Easy’s side. The incident prompted calls from numerous riders including Peter Charles and Cian O’Connor for a revision of the rule.
“I think it [the proposed change] is right,” Bertram told H&H. “Something needs to be done about it, that’s true.”
Olympic gold medallist Scott Brash was disqualified after jumping a “spectacular round” for his team Miami Glory in the Global Champions League at Cascais, Portugal, on 9 July after a “barely visible” trace of blood was found on Hello Forever’s side (news, 13 July).
The horse was unharmed and Scott told H&H that the “health and happiness” of his horses “always comes first” for both him and his grooms.
Britain’s Geoff Billington
said there needs to be a common sense approach where blood is concerned.
He told H&H that “everyone knows” how well Scott looks after his horses and that welfare is his main priority.
“It has to be common sense — if somebody has gouged their horse, they want eliminating,” he said. “But a little speck of blood? A fly-bite can cause that and what happens if that is in the [horse’s flank] area?”
He added that education and understanding are needed for officials at shows when it comes to dealing with such situations.
“Stewards need to look at the bigger picture and what caused the situation,” he said.