Horse and rider welfare top of FEI agenda
The subject was key at the 2018 general assembly
THE welfare of horses and riders took centre stage at the FEI general assembly.
New recommendations over helmets, dealing with suspected head injuries, anti-doping and cataloguing horse and rider injuries were among the key talking points at the meeting in Bahrain (16-20 November).
Peter Whitehead, chairman of the FEI medical committee, said new tools have been created.
“Concussion isn’t always easy to recognise,” he said.
“In line with some other sports, I’m working on an assessment form and, hopefully, an app that can be used by anyone to see if concussion may have occurred.”
Dr Whitehead said it is important to listen to, for example, fence judges who have seen a fall, and a new online flowchart will help establish if concussion has occurred.
The committee has also been working on a definitive list of headgear for each discipline.
“I was asked by the committee to make this statement regarding helmets, that from our point of view: helmets should be worn whenever mounted,” he said, adding that goes for “every discipline” and the committee has sent recommendations on prizegiving protocols to each discipline.
FEI dressage committee
chairman Frank Kemperman asked why the medical committee had not gone further to enforce helmets being worn for handling horses, for example at trot-ups.
Dr Whitehead added this was a “very good point”.
“We’ve looked at it and there’s a lot of opposition to wearing helmets and making it a rule,” he said. “It may be difficult to enforce in many circumstances.”
He added the committee has included the recommendation that handlers should know horses’ natures and “if you feel you are at risk, please wear a helmet”.
“We’ll go further on the recommendations if we have more support, or if people want us to look at other incidents, we will.”
This summer, the FEI rolled out an online injury reporting form for horses and riders, which will be filled out by officials, to improve knowledge of injuries and help protect competitors.
This is for all disciplines, except eventing which has a procedure to be integrated into this new system in 2020, and the injured party’s national federation is notified within 24 hours.
“It’s important that this information gets to the national federations to try and prevent further incidents and further injuries,” said Dr Whitehead.
Outgoing FEI veterinary committee chairman John McEwen said the global injuries surveillance programme for horses has been extended.
“It is critical we have an evidence base on horse injuries,” said Dr McEwen. “It helps support our regulatory structures and protect horses and is very important from a welfare view.”
Other issues raised at the assembly included the World Equestrian Games (p8 and 22 November) and rule changes were approved (news, 1 November).