The Fédération Equestre Internationale released three diagrams illustrating the acceptable positions of the horse’s head and neck during pre- and post-competition dressage schooling. The Working Group that produced a revised FEI Stewards Manual on warm-up techniques for dressage created the new Annex (XIII).
One of the key stipulations in the Working Group’s report was that all unacceptable training methods and techniques must be stopped immediately. The Working Group was also insistent that abuse of the horse must be avoided and, in particular, stressing the horse, aggressive riding and inflicting pain and/or discomfort on the horse must be prevented.
The current FEI Stewards Manual already includes instructions covering aggressive riding, but the new Annex (XIII) has clear instructions on action to be taken if necessary relating to flexion of the horse’s neck during pre and post-competition training.
Any head and neck position obtained through the use of aggressive force is not acceptable. Movements that involve having the horse’s head and neck carriage in a sustained or fixed position should only be performed for periods not exceeding approximately 10 minutes without change.
Deliberate extreme flexions of the neck involving high, low or lateral head carriages, should only be performed for very short periods. If these deliberate extreme flexions are performed for longer periods the Steward will intervene.
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It is the Steward’s responsibility to ensure that riders respect these procedures.
“Used in conjunction with the new Stewards Manual, these illustrations now provide the Stewards with the final piece in the jigsaw that will allow them to do their job more effectively, ensuring that horse welfare is maintained at all times,” said Working Group Chair Frank Kemperman.
The illustrated FEI Stewards Manual Dressage has been sent to all National Federations today, with a request to forward it to all their Stewards immediately for implementation on May 15.
