by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 11, 2025
Controversial Olympic show jumping individual gold medalist and former Canadian chef d’equipe Eric Lamaze has been suspended until September 2031, following a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in his human anti-doping case.
In March 2022, Lamaze received a formal notice of an FEI disciplinary charge for “evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection by an athlete” in June 2021 in Valkensward, Netherlands, in connection with the FEI human athlete anti-doping rules.
While CAS proceedings continued, Lamaze submitted forged medical documents stating he suffered from brain cancer, which led to a four-year ineligibility period imposed by the FEI, starting in September 2023.
The CAS panel in turn found Lamaze guilty of the anti-doping rule violation and imposed an ineligibility period of four years, beginning in 2027 and consecutive from the end of the FEI suspension. Lamaze was fined 15,000 Swiss francs ($16,424), and ordered to pay the costs of the arbitration proceedings as well as 12,000 Swiss francs ($13,139) to the FEI as a contribution towards the legal fees. Lamaze was disqualified from all of his results at FEI competitions from June 5, 2021 to March 30, 2022.
It was far from his first dramatic brush with the rules. Lamaze was banned from the sport for life after missing both the 1996 and 2000 Olympics when he tested positive for cocaine metabolites. But the ban was reversed in September 2000 by an adjudicator who said cited “exceptional circumstances.”
Eric Lamaze on his gold medal victory gallop at the 2008 Olympics. (Photo © 2008 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lamaze’s fortunes soared at the 2008 Olympics, where his performance on Hickstead earned him individual gold and team silver, the high point of his roller coaster career. But another low came in 2011, after he finished his round on Hickstead at the Verona, Italy, show, when the horse walked out of the ring and dropped dead with a ruptured aorta. Weeks later, Hickstead was mourned at the Royal Winter Fair horse show in Toronto, where people wore armbands in the horse’s memory.
Lamaze, 56, who announced his retirement from competition in 2022, has been the defendant in several lawsuits involving horse sales.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 18, 2025
The Rutgers University Equine Science Center series of free online seminars continues at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25, with the final installment focusing on equine health and welfare.
Featured topics are “Health & Management of U.S. Senior Horses,” presented by Dr. Alisa Herbst of Rutgers, and “Evaluating Pain in your Horse while Riding,” from Dr. Kris Hiney, Oklahoma State University.
To register or get an overview of the program’s offerings, click here
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 8, 2025
What a difference a year makes.
Adrienne Lyle, the top-ranked U.S. dressage rider at number 23 on the world standings, earned a personal best with Helix of 80.325 percent to win the Grand Prix Freestyle Friday at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Fla.
She only started riding the horse for Zen Elite Equestrian in January 2024, but was able to be the best U.S. dressage rider at the Paris Olympics. There was still a lot that needed to be done, however, with Helix (Apache X Jazz) and Adrienne has been busy doing it, spending time training and polishing the 13-year-old gelding.
Adrienne and Helix performing their freestyle. (Susan J. Stickle Photo)
“That is, hands down, the best feeling he’s ever given me,” said Adrienne of her ride to music arranged by Terry Gallo.
“He was able to replicate the work that I’ve been getting at home—the lightness, harmony, and self-carriage. Tonight, he was able to take that into an electric environment and stay relaxed and in his own balance. It felt effortless and I didn’t have to push for anything. To feel that kind of confidence from him is really exciting.
“When I saw the score, I was so excited. It’s not many times in your life you’re going to see an 80 percent; it’s a huge thrill,” she observed.
Adrienne has clinched one of three North American spots for April’s FEI Dressage World Cup Finals in Switzerland. Other riders are still qualifying for the remaining places, but her score cannot be surpassed.
Click here to see all results
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 7, 2025
What do you know about the behavioral medications your horse receives for issues including anxiety, aggression, sleep deprivation and other conditions?
You should tune in to a Feb. 18 Cornell University webinar being given by Dr. Katherine Anderson from 6-7 p.m. Eastern Time. An assistant clinical professor with the Cornell Duffield Institute for Animal Behavior, she will discuss when medications might be appropriate for your horse, which drugs to consider (and which ones to avoid), and how they work. Register using this link.
If only Tine Magnes of the Belgian Olympic eventing team had that kind of information before last year’s Paris Games. Her horse, Dia Van Het Lichterveld Z, tested positive for trazodone, an antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety in humans, which is a prohibited substance under the rules of the FEI (international equestrian federation).
The matter was resolved with a settlement and Tine was disqualified from the Games. The decision meant her score did not count and that Belgium had to forfeit its fourth-place finish in the Games. It also meant the U.S. moved up from seventh place to sixth with the Belgian team off the board.
The Belgian team vet recommended Tine use Relax Pro, deemed to be the source of the substance, twice on her mount.
While the decision of the FEI Tribunal that handled the case stated Tine normally uses a very limited number of supplements,“being on the Olympic Team, she relied on the expertise and guidance provided by the Team’s infrastructure, hence she relied on the advice of the Team Veterinarian…”.
The FEI cited the “failure” of the team vet and the Belgian Federation in the matter, noting Tine “showed no reckless behavior,”
Tine said on social media that she can “Confirm with lifted head and declare that I have never deliberately used doping.” She noted that the package of Relax Pro said “doping free.”
The rider was penalized with a fine of 4,000 Swiss francs ($4,256 U.S.) and suspended from Sept.3-Nov. 3 2024. Tine also agreed to be part of an education campaign on the risk of using supplements. Those who register for the Cornell webinar can get similarly useful information on the subject.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 31, 2025
With several high-profile issues in the last year or so, dressage has been targeted in discussions about horse welfare.
Olympic gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin’s suspension after a video of a whipping incident is the most publicized scandal, but concern over blue tongues and suspensions involving prominent trainer Andreas Helgstrand are others that hurt the discipline’s image.
A strategic action plan for dressage will be developed by a new FEI Working Group chaired by former U.S. Dressage Federation President George Williams. The panel is “aimed at establishing a clear vision, realigning objectives, and creating actionable plans to enhance Dressage at all levels.”
One of the group’s first tasks will be a comprehensive review of the current state of dressage. The working group will also evaluate feedback from stakeholders and categorize suggestions into well-defined focus areas for targeted action. A focus will be prioritizing equine ethics and wellbeing, with the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Action Plan serving as a guiding framework for key initiatives.
The group will work on creating a repository of relevant scientific research, consulting with veterinary experts to create an accessible information resource for stakeholders. Rule revisions will be proposed with immediate attention on partial updates for 2025 and the 2026 full rules revision for dressage.
The working group will report regularly to the Dressage Technical Committee, the FEI Board, and relevant stakeholder groups to ensure transparency and collaboration throughout the process. The first presentation will be made to the FEI Sports Forum on March 31.
“Dressage should be built on balanced, ethical training resulting in freedom of movement, ease in transitions, and harmony between horse and rider, with no place for tension or resistance,” FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy said.
“Our focus now is to embed these principles in the FEI Rule Book and ensure they are applied consistently in training and competition, always putting horse welfare first.
“The Working Group’s task is to turn these ideals into everyday practices, prioritizing the well-being of horses as we move forward with future proposals and format changes.
“The Working Group was carefully selected not only for their expertise, but also for their profound understanding of dressage. This diverse group represents a cross-section of the community, ensuring a broad range of perspectives. Their collective knowledge and vision will be instrumental in shaping a strategic plan that not only addresses the current challenges in the sport but also ensures the well-being of our horses, incorporates stakeholder feedback, and positions dressage for long-term success.”
In addition to Williams, who is the U.S. Equestrian Dressage Youth Coach and High Performance and Pathway Development Advisor, the working group will include Monica Theodorescu, Germany’s first female dressage coach and a medalist at the Olympics and world and European championships, as well as a two-time FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion.
Other members are Raphael Saleh of France, president of the dressage ground jury for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; Britain’s Gareth Hughes, with more than 60 national and international titles; six-time Olympian and former FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion Kyra Kyrklund of Finland, vice-president of the International Dressage Riders Club.
Also named to the panel are Klaus Roeser, chairman of the German National Federation Dressage Committee, and veterinarian Lise Berg, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 31, 2025
Fleet of Angels, an organization that is supporting equestrians in the wake of the California wildfires, has received $60,000 from the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Equine Disaster Relief Fund and $25,000 from the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation for its efforts. Although the fires have been contained, many horses have not been able to return home because their stables have burned to the ground or suffered tremendous damage.
“Our goal is to keep horses safe and in good care so they can stay with their loving families and equine friends, giving their owners more time to regroup, repair and start to recover from devastating situations. By providing a combination of grants and services, Fleet of Angels provides qualified applicants’ horses with what they need to stay safe and healthy during temporary challenges,” said a statement from the group.
The USEF grant will assist providing feed, critical supplies and vet care funding assistance for between 800 and 1,000 displaced horses at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and other locations that have been impacted. USEF funding also is still helping horses in areas affected by last year’s hurricanes in the East.
For its part, the team at the USET Foundation “believes in the importance of community support during times of crisis, and these wildfires have posed significant challenges for Southern California horses and their owners,” said foundation executive director Bonnie Jenkins.
USEF also awarded a $40,000 grant to the Foundation for Pierce College Wildfire Response. The funds will be used for feeding and watering horses currently stabled at their facility in Woodland Hills, Calif. At the peak of the wildfires, 245 horses were living on their grounds. As an evacuation site that is maintained and ready year-round to provide shelter for horses in times of need, the Pierce College Equestrian Center has been of service to the surrounding equestrian community for several decades.
“It is with generous donations, like the ones the members and community at U.S. Equestrian are providing, that we will be able to continue to provide top quality housing and care to horses in need,” said Marcie Sakadijan, the college’s farm manager.
With the grant, several large tanks will be purchased to provide water to animals housed in areas with limited water access, while water and feed tubs, mucking tools and equipment, and water hoses can be replaced.
Developed in 2005 during the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund helps ensure horses’ safety and well-being. Since its inception, the fund has now distributed more than $800,000 to help with disaster recovery and preparedness for horses including but not limited to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, blizzards, and fires.
“The devastation left behind by the wildfires in Los Angeles is unfathomable. But whenever there are tragedies like these, there are also countless people who are doing great work to help their communities. Fleet of Angels and the Pierce College Equine Center are doing incredible work in helping horses displaced by these fires,” stated USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
With the wildfires still ablaze in certain parts of Los Angeles, USEF will continue to evaluate opportunities to invest in organizations that are working directly to help horses and horse owners affected by the disaster.
Those who wish to donate may visit https://www.usef.org/donate and choose the USEF Equine Disaster Relief Fund in the drop-down menu. For more information about wildfire relief for the Southern California equestrian community, please visit: www.FleetOfAngels.org. For more information about the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org .
