by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 18, 2022
Pat Boyle and Phil De Vita Jr., two horse show managers who have experience with competitions across the country, will “put a fresh set of eyes” on the Devon Horse Show as they take the helm for the 2023 edition.
The two were just appointed following the resignation of the men who ran the Pennsylvania multi-breed fixture for decades. David Distler and Peter Doubleday had a total of 85 years between them at the U.S. Equestrian Federation Heritage Show when they stepped down on June 6.
Those in the legions of Devon devotees who might worry about big modifications to the icon should rest easy, according to Pat.
The action under Devon’s iconic sign won’t be changing as new management takes over. (Photo © 2022 by Nancy Jaffer)
“We are going to keep everything that is in position now. We’re going to look at some things and see if we can make some changes a little bit; little tweaks, nothing major. Because it’s kind of set in stone what it is, once we look at it, we’ll see what we do.”
He stressed the importance of “just preserving this great event. We are going to keep everything that is in position now,” he said.
Pat runs numerous competitions under the banner of Illinois-based Showplace Productions. The list of his best-known shows includes the fall indoor circuit’s Pennsylvania National Horse Show in Harrisburg, Pa., where he succeeded Peter Doubleday in 2021, and the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s marquee year-end championship in Las Vegas. He also is the technical coordinator for shows at the Desert International Horse Park in California, where Phil is the show manager.
Phil, who lives in Florida, is a course designer and judge, as is Pat. He manages the hunter/jumper portion of the Germantown, Tenn., charity show and the Menlo Charity show in California, among many others.
When discussions about taking over at Devon began, Pat said, “My first reaction was sort of similar to Harrisburg, when I got involved with that. It’s one of the most iconic shows, Harrisburg; so is Devon. They can’t not be successful, they cannot leave (their locations), in my opinion. We have to try to preserve whatever we can preserve going forward. It’s so important to me.”
His attachment is more than just professional. His daughter, Caitlin, won Devon’s 2014 R.W. Mutch Equitation Championship on “one of the best weekends of my life. It holds a near and dear special place for me on a personal level,” Pat explained.
He noted that “Peter and David have obviously done incredible things. I respect them both to the 10th degree. As far as what can we do different, it’s so new right now I haven’t even gotten that far. I’m honored to be thought of to keep that thing going.”
He added, “Phil and I are a good team.” They will look at schedules and plans and “what can we do new and different.”
“I always like to try to do a little something different—we did a big new facelift and a big new everything at Harrisburg. Devon’s a little more traditional with all the blue and everything like that.”
While that won’t be changing, he mentioned he’s known for ring décor “and how everything looks and just that aspect of it I’ll probably bring a little bit of my flavor to the event.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 17, 2022
Pat Boyle and Phil De Vita Jr., two respected horse show managers who have experience with competitions across the country, will be at the helm for the 2023 Devon Horse Show, following the resignations earlier this month of the men who ran the Pennsylvania multi-breed fixture for decades.
David Distler and Peter Doubleday had a total of 85 years at the show between them when they stepped down on June 6. The two will continue managing shows elsewhere, but as Peter noted, he felt he and David were kept out of the loop on important discussions and decisions at Devon, a U.S. Equestrian Federation Heritage Show.
Pat runs dozens of competitions under the banner of Illinois-based Showplace Productions. They include the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, where he succeeded Peter Doubleday in 2021, and the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s marquee year-end championship in Las Vegas. He is also a judge, course designer and trainer.
Phil, who lives in Florida, is a course designer and judge as well as managing the hunter/jumper portion of the Germantown, Tenn., charity show and the Menlo Charity show in California, among many other fixtures..
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 15, 2022
We get used to seeing U.S. show jumping teams on the podium, as they were in this 2020 competition. Nations Cup qualifier in Florida.
The U.S. team was victorious in a Nations Cup qualifier for Barcelona in 2020. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
But for the first time, the U.S. show jumping squad hasn’t qualified for this fall’s Nations Cup Final in Barcelona..
What happened? Read the story I wrote for Horse Sport by clicking on this link
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 14, 2022
An international dressage show scheduled for the Horse Park of New Jersey has been cancelled due to lack of entries and a complication involving withdrawal of one key official, but the Level 3 national Dressage at the Park show, scheduled in conjunction with the CDI, still will run July 7-10.
Jennifer Bateman, the show organizer, said only three people had entered the 2-star/1-star CDI, which was a qualifier at Intermediate I and Grand Prix (along with Para, Junior, Pony, Children’s and Young Riders) for August’s U.S. Equestrian Federation Dressage Festival of Champions at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Illinois.
At the same time, the veterinary services manager required for the CDI by the FEI (international equestrian federation) had to bow out. Others with the proper qualifications—which are changing as of July 1—were not able to take the job due to a variety of conflicts in their practices or personal lives.
The entrance to the Horse Park.
“I asked for an exception from the FEI; they wouldn’t grant it. We tried everything,” show organizer Jennifer Bateman said.
“We cancelled earlier than optimum for some competitors, but we cancelled at the best time to make sure that all of our sponsors, should they choose to leave and do something else, and our vendors, and our officials all had enough time to get their money back on their air fare and those sorts of things.”
Under the Horse Park contract with officials, “If we cancel in less than a month (before the show) that travel is on the Park. We made the best decision for the financials of the Park, as well as giving all of our officials sponsors, vendors and competitors enough notice of what we were doing. Everything was done in our power within our budget within reason to make it happen. The rest of the competition is going on as planned.”
The grand prix arena at the Horse Park. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
She anticipates 150 horses being on the grounds of the Allentown venue each day.
So even though the closing date for entries was not until June 26, the writing was on the wall last week for the CDI, which costs more to run than a national show because of various FEI requirements.
“We decided to cut our losses instead of waiting until the very last minute and not having that (veterinary) official available,” said Jennifer, who was pleased sponsors decided to stick with the show anyway.
Competitors in most divisions hoping to qualify for the Festival can use scores from the national show, but in the I-1 and Grand Prix, they also need a score from a CDI. The only other CDI in North America before the entry closing date for the Festival is Caledon in Ontario, Canada, beginning July 22.
The cancellation was bad news for riders who had been planning to enter the New Jersey CDI and try to qualify for the Festival if they hadn’t done so in 2021 at Dressage at Devon or in Florida during the winter of 2022.
“You set your schedule around certain shows, so it’s obviously disappointing,” said trainer Lauren Chumley of Pittstown, N.J, who learned of the cancellation over the weekend.
A mare she had been trying to qualify for the Small Tour at the Virginia CDI last month was under the weather there, so the Dressage at the Park CDI seemed like her last chance.
She hadn’t entered because of a cash flow situation common to trainers, but was expecting a check in time to pay her entry fee before the original deadline.
“If they wanted everyone to enter early, they should have had changed the closing date and made it sooner,” Lauren contended.
“It’s very frustrating for me, because I don’t get to play in these (CDI) arenas very often.”
Lisa Gorretta, the show’s technical delegate and the former president of the U.S. Dressage Federation, said, “The closing date was a week before the competition. Why? Because competitors insist on not entering until the last minute.
“If you make your closing date too early, they don’t want to commit that early because something could happen to the horse and they won’t get their money back. If you ask any horse show organizer at any level in dressage…if you make it (the deadline) too early, then you have to extend it, which you can’t do for a CDI.”
Now Lauren is debating whether she can afford to pay $6.50 a gallon for diesel to get herself and her horse to the Canadian CDI. Naturally, she would have preferred the 75-minute trip from her barn to the Horse Park.
She wishes that as organizers were worrying about light entries, they would have told potential competitors, “If you’re coming, you need to enter, so we don’t cancel the show.”
Heather Mason, a trainer from Tewksbury, N.J., said she has a client who is hoping to compete at the Festival and now is wondering whether she should chase a potential score to Canada “but I’m not recommending that,” said Heather.
“The USEF can do wild cards,” she noted, wondering if they could be granted to riders for the Festival under these circumstances.
“It’s unfortunate more people didn’t enter early, because I know a good number of people were planning to do the CDI,” she said.
At the same time, Heather added, “The show’s not going to bank everything on three entries. It sounds like the show did not have a choice.”
Lisa Gorretta addressed the situation on Facebook, stating, “the dressage equestrian `village’ and `community’ concept simply must work and go both ways, or you will have but one general location and time of year in which to compete East of the Mississippi.”
In an interview, she explained, “I’m a huge advocate of getting these starter CDIs, not because there’s anything wrong with Florida, but because there are competitors and horses that aren’t ready to go there. I think it is an advantage for the future of the sport to be able to offer competitions throughout the year. The 2-star is an awesome place to do it. I’m a huge advocate of having it happen and therefore it pains me when it doesn’t happen.”
Elisabeth Williams, the retired dressage super steward, who is volunteering at the Horse Park show, suggested a concept that might help competitors and shows alike under similar circumstances. She’s seen it in Sweden at jumper shows run by her sister, where there is a non-refundable commitment fee of $25 or $50 that can be paid early in the entry process, and then a starting fee that could be refunded if necessary.
Elisabeth Williams (second from left) is saluted on her retirement during Dressage at Devon by her friends, including Lisa Gorretta on the right. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
She suggested riders need to be more proactive, “you’ve got to let everybody know you’re coming.”
What happened with the Horse Park CDI might prompt a new approach on both sides, she commented.
“Maybe now everybody learned a lesson from this one, and let’s hope that next year they can try it again.”
“We are considering doing it again,” said Horse Park Vice President Ellen Clark.
“I’m asking them to consider different dates,” she added, noting there also has been a thought of putting together a series with Centerline at Saugerties and Dressage at Devon.
“In order to make this a success, we need to do it either when people are on their way down to Florida or on their way back. And then they come.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 13, 2022
Hope Hand’s devotion to U.S. Para Dressage efforts over the decades paid off in three ground-breaking medals at last summer’s Tokyo Paralympics, part of the long process in which she played a key role as America’s status in the discipline was elevated to global distinction.
Three months after the Paralympics, the president of the U.S. Para Equestrian Association was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and on Sunday, June 12, she passed away.
Yet as was typical for Hope, she remained active in her devotion to the discipline until three weeks before her death, according to Laureen Johnson director of Para Equestrian for the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
“The Para Dressage community world-wide has lost a legend and a true friend,” said Laureen.
“Hope not only knew every U.S. Para Dressage athlete, from emerging to elite, but also recruited many of them into the program.”
From a wheelchair on the ground, Hope rose to independence in the saddle. Starting as an active competitor, Hope was the first alternate for the U.S. squad at the 1996 Paralympics, when equestrian competition made its debut in those games.
She competed at the British Invitational in 1997, earning gold, silver, and bronze medals. In 1998, she was one of four disabled riders riding on teams with their able-bodied peers at the USEF Festival of Champions. Her freestyle score broke a tie, earning her team the Bradshaw Challenge Cup.
The following year, as a member of Team USA at the 1999 World Dressage Championships, she won a bronze medal. Hope also competed at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, Australia, finishing fifth in the overall standings.
Rebecca Hart, a member of the bronze medal team in Tokyo, called Hope “the consummate horsewoman and advocate for Para Equestrian. I did this my entire career the past quarter of a century with Hope, either as a competitor or as advocate or as liaison among USEF, USPA and the FEI. She helped nurture the grassroots program in the U.S.”
The USA’s first paralympics medal team; Roxie Trunnell, Kate Shoemaker and Becca Hart earned bronze, realizing a dream of Hope Hand’s.
She recalled that when the U.S. wasn’t qualified for the 2012 Paralympics and needed one more score as the deadline loomed, Hope got four riders on a plane to Australia, scene of the last qualifier, put them on borrowed horses and watched as they were able to make the cut for London.
“We got it done; it was with Hope’s push and drive and dedication, we were able to do that.”
“I think almost every para rider competing on the circuit had some interaction with Hope Hand,” observed Becca.
“To lose someone with that much driving force is very difficult. The best thing we can do is keep the momentum that we have in our sport from all the success that we’ve gotten to experience in the last several years and carry that forward, and keep her drive and her passion moving.”
Laureen noted, “Hope was available 24/7 to everyone to advise, encourage and educate them on their journey to be the very best version of themselves, professionally and personally.
“I have lost a great mentor and friend. She is truly irreplaceable, with her extraordinary energy and warm, caring heart. Her beautiful smile, witty personality and laugh will always remain in my heart and mind.”
Hope Hand (seated) with Jessica Ransehousen and Krysti Wysocki. (Photo © by Nancy Jaffer)
Hope was the recipient of numerous honors for her leadership in promoting sport for athletes with disabilities. She was chosen by her community to receive the “Home Town Hero” award for her work in developing programs and opportunities for young equestrians in her home state of Pennsylvania. She was president of the Reins of Life therapeutic riding program in southern Chester County, Pa., and president of the recognized national affiliate of the USEF, the U.S. Para-Equestrian Association. She served on the USEF board and had chaired the USEF High Performance Committee.
Hope is survived by her husband, Stanley and their daughter, Amy (Eric Capozzoli. A memorial service will be held later in the year, probably in the autumn.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 13, 2022
Jumper trainer/rider Kim Prince is headed for rehab today at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, according to her daughter, Lydia Frey. If the facility’s name sounds familiar, it’s because that’s where show jumper Cassandra Kahle started her rehab after her horse fell in a jump-off at the end of January.
Kim is expected to spend six weeks at Shepherd. She underwent a major spinal operation following a fall at the Upperville Colt & Horse and Colt in Virginia on June 9. Kim, who has ridden on 20 Nations Cup teams and in the World Cup finals, was hurt when her horse stumbled after a jump and fell with her.
After the accident, Kim was immediately evacuated by air from the horse show to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va. Surgery was performed, putting rods, screws, and plates into her neck for support and stability. Within 24 hours Kim showed some very modest progress.
The Kevin Babington Foundation, named after the Irish show jumper who suffered a severe spinal injury in a 2019 jumper class, is gathering resources Kim will need over the course of her recovery. Donations may be made by clicking on this link .
It has been a tough year for injuries in the jumper ring. Among those who have been badly hurt and are still recovering in addition to Cassandra are David Beisel and Washington International Horse Show President Vicki Lowell.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 9, 2022
The United States Polo Association has purchased the core assets of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Fla., including 161 acres comprised of Fields 1 through 5, the grandstand, the pavilion, the Mallet Grille, the Seventh Chukker, the USPA Clubhouse shop, the Outback Field, the Outback facility, and the IPC social club and its facilities, including a swimming pool, gym, and tennis courts.
The IPC property will be called The USPA National Polo Center-Wellington, realizing the vision of a USPA-owned “Sunday Field” that will serve as the permanent center of polo in America and set the standard for excellence in polo. That vision was first articulated by USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong in an essay called The Sunday Field that appeared in the Spring 2020 issue of Hurlingham Polo Magazine.
The polo field at IPC. (Photo ©White Fence Photography Company)
Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners, the former owner of the facility, and Wellington’s largest private landowner, said, “The sale of IPC to the USPA is part of our ‘Wellington 3.0’ strategy which is focused on strengthening both the equestrian venues and the core lifestyle elements that are critical for Wellington’s long-term success.
“We chose the USPA over competing offers and real estate development strategies to ensure that this fundamental pillar of the Wellington equestrian domain will be here for the next 100 years. I was inspired by Stewart Armstrong’s vision and believe the USPA has the commitment and resources to take this venue and the sport of polo to the next level which is a win for all involved.”
Originally, there was talk that WEP intended that IPC would host a new dressage facility, but that never came to fruition. Previously, WEP sold the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to a group headed by dressage competitor and horse dealer Andreas Helgstrand of Denmark. This spring, the home of the Winter Equestrian Festival was renamed Wellington International. Andreas is also looking to buy the Global Equestrian Center, a dressage venue and show jumping site down the street from the facility where WEF is held.
The USPA will continue to host the Gauntlet of Polo® at its property, but it will also use the facility to support polo played at the medium- and low-goal levels. The USPA intends to keep substantially all the current IPC staff in place. Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Steakhouse and three-time winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, will serve as Chairman of the Board of a newly-formed USPA subsidiary created to revitalize the social club and hospitality facilities.
With its ownership of the National Polo Center, the USPA has secured a perpetual home for polo in America. The facility will enable the USPA to showcase its tournaments, develop American players, and sustain an environment that will retain and attract new players and sponsors at every level. It will also secure the future of winter and spring polo in South Florida, which many of the sport’s key participants from throughout the country rely on as a major source of the annual income that allows them to participate in polo at their summer and fall club locations.
The USPA plans to open the annual Wellington polo season beginning with the Federation of International Polo World Championship, from October 26 through November 6.
“The investment in a high-profile Sunday Field will enable the sport and brand to control our destiny for future generations,” said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global Licensing, which manages the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Association brand.
“With a global footprint across 190 countries, we view the Sunday Field as a unique opportunity to highlight U.S. Polo Assn.’s authentic connection to the sport and build additional global brand awareness. Additionally, this opportunity will create an epicenter of polo to promote not only high-goal events such as the Gauntlet of Polo®, but also other best-in-class opportunities at all levels supporting key polo competitions and demographics, such as international, low-goal, medium-goal, women’s, intercollegiate, interscholastic, youth and many others.”
Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes said the village welcomes the USPA’s purchase of the former IPC facility and the establishment of the National Polo Center, which will ensure polo’s permanent and important presence in the village for the mutual benefit of the polo community and village residents.”
Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Steakhouse and three-time winner of the U.S. Open Polo Championship, will serve as chairman of the board of a newly formed USPA subsidiary created to revitalize the social club and hospitality facilities.
Until recentlhy, Wellington Equestrian Partners owned more than 1,000 acres in Wellington and has been the key driver of Wellington’s emergence as the premiere equestrian lifestyle destination in the world. WEP owned both the venues and the operating companies of the three primary pillars of the Wellington Equestrian scene: show jumping, dressage, and polo, which represented over 90 percent of the Wellington equestrian economy.
Wellington’s equestrian festivals host more than 10,000 participants and 250,000 spectators from 50 states and 43 countries. Its events contribute close to $200 million of annual economic impact for Palm Beach County.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 9, 2022
It didn’t take long for HITS to snap up the Del Mar Horse Park as its newest venue, after West Palms Events announced it could not reach an agreement with the 22nd District Agriculture Association to operate the 63-acre park in Southern California.
“With only a five-year guaranteed contract, we were not able to come to an agreement that worked for us,” said Dale Harvey, president and CEO of West Palms Events.
At the end of the 2020 season, the 22nd DAA temporarily closed the park due to the impact of Covid and the need to complete costly stormwater mitigation on the property. In late 2021, a Request for Proposal was released and it received two bids —one of which was West Palms Events; the other was HITS.
“We have collaborated with the 22nd DAA for over 20 years and we wish them all the best in their efforts to reopen the Horse Park,” said Harvey. “We also intend to share all the work we’ve done on the stormwater project with them.”
HITS hopes to stage shows at Del Mar beginning in 2023, with seven dates that are part of the newly restructured California show schedule. In addition to seven hunter/jumper competitions, HITS will help support events of other disciplines at the facility.
“I founded HITS over 40 years ago and have been responsible for a number of different facilities around the country, including two right in the desert of California,” said HITS CEO Tom Struzzieri, who sold his West Coast property in 2019.
“The benefit of being a lifelong horseman, rather than just an investor, gives me a unique perspective in not only developing and designing facilities, but also in acting as a horseman in the coordination of events. These skills will be instrumental after witnessing the challenges the sport has experienced this past year. I look forward to starting the project of renovating one of the most iconic horse facilities in the country, and then producing some of California’s most outstanding events,” he said.
The Del Mar Horsepark has 400 permanent stalls, two grass jumping stadiums, four show rings and a covered lighted arena. During 2022, HITS will address the environmental concerns that caused the original closure of the Del Mar Horsepark. HITS also will improve the footing in the rings, adjust the layout of the facility to be more exhibitor-friendly and upgrade the stabling.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 8, 2022
The Brandywine Horse Shows scheduled for June 29 through July 10 at the Devon, Pa., showgrounds have been cancelled due to low entries.
“While the Executive Committee considered many options, our best course forward is to take a year off, regroup, and return even bigger and better in 2023,” the show stated in a posting.
Refunds will be issued as quickly as possible. Deposit checks sent were not cashed and will instead be destroyed. Those who want their checks mailed back to them should contact Cindy Bozan at brandywinehorseshows@gmail.com.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 6, 2022
Pay attention to this story, because what you do with your horse could be misinterpreted by people unfamiliar with (or even hostile to) equestrian sports. Remember that everyone has a video camera in their phone and can share their videos on line. Take time to think how others will view your interaction with your horse.
A little more than a month after a study group from the French National Assembly offered 46 recommendations toward making Paris 2024 “the Olympic Games of Equine Welfare,” the FEI has formed an independent commission that will allow it “to address current and future concerns related to the use of horses in sport.”
Several organizations noted the suggestions from the lower house of the French Parliament for the most part already are covered by FEI rules. However, some ideas of the National Assembly are worth consideration, including four-member teams for the Paris Olympics (sadly, not happening) and having the team show jumping run before the individual competition at the Games, the opposite way of how it was done in Tokyo last year.
But other suggestions include forming a committee that can roam the Olympic venue at will to check on welfare; regulation of tack (including draw reins and nosebands) and calling for all obstacles on cross-country to be designed to collapse in connection with a fall or impact.
In response to my query about how the French National Assembly’s proposal is regarded, the European Equestrian Federation said it “supports the FEI in this matter, whereby the FEI confirms that many of the recommendations proposed are already in the FEI Rules. We believe that the FEI Rules and Olympic and Paralympic Regulations and the operations are guaranteeing horse welfare at the highest level.”
The International Olympic Committee told me, “Animal welfare is of the utmost importance for the IOC. We understand the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) has had discussions with the French National Assembly and has confirmed that many of the recommendations proposed are already in the FEI Rules. The FEI is working closely with the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee to guarantee horse welfare at the highest level, operationally and in line with the FEI’s Rules and the Olympic and Paralympic Regulations.”
Even so, the FEI obviously feels the need for greater measures, saying its new commission will “develop a practical framework that will allow the International Federation to address current and future concerns related to the use of horses in sport.”
As FEI President Ingmar De Vos explained, “In our industry, Social License to Operate (SLO) is the term given to society’s acceptance of the practice of equestrian sport and all its related activities.”
There is a need to “future-proof” sports that are more than ever under public scrutiny. In making their recommendations, the French National Assembly cited incidents that marred the equestrian disciplines of the Tokyo Olympics, gaining unwanted attention from the public and media. At least one animal rights organization called for a ban of equestrian events at the Olympic Games.
The incidents mentioned were the death of a Swiss horse on cross-country, an Irish show jumper’s nosebleed and the German women’s pentathlon coach punching a horse that had refused a jump. The FEI has no influence over pentathlon; that’s not one of its sports. After 2024, show jumping will no longer be part of the pentathlon, anyway. But the situation could be improved by allowing only one rider per horse and lowering the fences, as called for in the French National Assembly suggestions..
“Equestrian sport and the FEI’s activities are more than ever under public scrutiny and through the commission, we want to embrace that scrutiny to drive change and shine the spotlight on our number one stakeholder – the horse,” said the FEI president.
“There are comprehensive systems and mechanisms in place to protect the welfare of the horse, but there is more that can be done, and more that must be done. And in an ever-changing society, where perceptions shift and norms evolve at an increasingly fast pace, the FEI must address these concerns and criticisms from society and within equestrian circles in a clear and transparent manner.”
A lot of this is public relations. You’ll remember how two-time Olympic eventing gold medalist Sir Mark Todd wound up with a suspension from British racing (he’s a racehorse trainer now) for using a branch to urge an event horse in a clinic to go into a water obstacle. He didn’t bash the horse with it, but even a gentle push looks awry to people who don’t have a knowledge of horse sports.
The FEI president sees the commission as a way “to move forward with a course of action that will strengthen equestrian’s place in society.”
The 10-person commission will be chaired by Natalie Waran, an internationally respected equine welfare expert, a professor at the Eastern Institute of Technology in New Zealand.
She is among the five members of the Commission considered as external to the FEI, with their selection based on consultation with equine welfare and veterinary groups, while the remaining five members represent the FEI and have been selected for their experience, specific area of FEI responsibility and to provide the athletes’ and officials’ viewpoint.
“By being willing to look to the horizon, and address current and future challenges in relation to equestrian sports’ Social License to Operate, as well as to view change as a force for good, the FEI and its member organizations will provide the leadership required to help future-proof equestrian sports,” she said.
The first meetings of the commission, which has yet to be formally named, will take place this month. The commission is expected to work over an initial period of 18 months, with an interim report to be presented at the FEI General Assembly in November 2022 in Cape Town (RSA), followed by a second report at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2023 and a final report/framework to be submitted for approval at the FEI General Assembly 2023 in Mexico.
Members include external experts Kathalijne Visser-Riedstra, Professor (UAS) Human-Animal Interactions at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands; Camie Heleski, senior lecturer, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky; Madeleine Campbell, External Expert, Senior Lecturer in Human-Animal Interactions & Ethics at the Royal Veterinary College University of London and Jessica Stark, World Horse Welfare Communications & Public Affairs Director.
Others on the commission who are connected to the FEI are Theo Ploegmakers, European Equestrian Federation President and FEI Board Member; Cayetano Martínez de Irujo, Spanish jumping rider, International Jumping Riders Club; Ken Lalo, CAS Arbiter, former Chair of the FEI Tribunal, president of the Israeli Equestrian Federation; Sabrina Ibanez, FEI Secretary General, APSO President and Cesar Hirsch, FEI Judge and Steward Level 3 and President of the Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC).
Ex Officio: Administrative and Logistic Support: Francisco Lima, FEI director governance & institutional affairs, Barbara Rodel, manager FEI President’s Office, top partner Longines
