Ban for falsifying horse passports
A senior endurance figure who used an old vet’s stamp has been suspended
A SENIOR figure in endurance who falsified horse passports has been suspended for 20 months.
The FEI Tribunal found Pierre Arnould, former Belgian endurance national team leader and member of the FEI endurance committee, used FEI vet Peter Wijnendaele’s stamp and a forged signature on four passports.
In April 2020, Dr Wijnendaele discovered a Belgian horse’s passport contained his name and stamp, although he had left Belgium in 2005. He found further instances of his stamp being used, and informed the FEI.
The FEI said the horses were trained by Mr Arnould and in his care at the time of the vaccinations, which were validated by the same stamp and signature.
One of the horses, Sonschein, competed in four international events, including the 2018 World Equestrian Games. Mr Arnould said, as with many horses in his stable, this horse would “in general” be vaccinated by vet Stefan Midgen.
Mr Arnould said Dr Wijnendaele gave him the stamp in front of witnesses. He said this could not be considered fraud as he had Dr Wijnendaele’s permission, adding that as the horses were vaccinated, there was no mistreatment of them. He said he used the stamp “five or six times”, told Dr Wijnendaele by phone beforehand, and the stamp was used for “convenience or emergency”. Dr Wijnendaele said he had never given a stamp to Mr Arnould, nor given anyone permission to use his stamps.
Dr Midgen said he performs vaccinations at Mr Arnould’s stable, but does not keep records of horses he has vaccinated.
The Tribunal said Mr Arnould is not a vet, so had no legitimate use for the stamp and there was no other credible explanation than the passport entries were made by him to fraudulently claim the horses had been vaccinated by an FEI vet. The panel considered Mr Arnould’s involvement as a leader and official, and that he is held in high regard by the Belgian federation. He was fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,917) and must pay 7,000 francs towards FEI costs.