Fei focus 12

January 2013

Heroes

Making Olympic History A photographic journey Page 10

Helmet Safety

Would You Take the Risk? Page 26

Equestrian World Celebrates FEI Awards 2012 Page 46

Editorial

Note from the FEIPresident HRH Princess Haya

As the chapter closes on 2012, we look back in this edition on some of the heroes that have made the year so special. There are of course many more, and I wish we had an endless array of pages to celebrate the countless wonderful people both centre stage and behind the scenes that have given their time, knowledge and craft to making our sport so unique and vibrant.

Some key decisions, presentations and announcements were made at the recent FEI General Assembly hosted by the warm and welcoming Turkish Federation and over the coming 12 months we will see many of these come into fruition and effect.

We as a sport and an organisation are constantly striving to move forward whilst respecting our traditions and partnerships such as the new Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ announced on the occasion of the GA is symbolic of the open-minded and forwardlooking stance we are taking. The new Veterinary Regulations which come into force on 1 January are also indicative of the consultation and stakeholder feedback process in place resulting in a much more user friendly and concise regulatory document. More on the decisions can be found in this edition of FOCUS and on our website.

The GA couldn’t have finished on a higher note with the FEI Awards evening where we had the pleasure of presenting the winners. They are all talented, committed and generous individuals and it was an honour to celebrate their achievements with the National Federations and guests in Turkey. It was also an emotional ceremony when we presented Courtney KingDye, a former Olympian, with the Against All Odds 02

Award for the efforts and courage she has shown since suffering a traumatic brain injury. Her story is heart-breaking but what she has done since then to promote helmet safety is admirable and aweinspiring. With the new Helmet rule coming into play on 1 January 2013, her story is all the more relevant and I hope will help change habits and save lives.

A fantastic year awaits us with thousands of international events including FEI Championships and global series, as well as the new FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage pilot series and the test event for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (see dates on page 9). And last but not least, we will be hosting the second edition of the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne from 8 to 9 April and I look forward to seeing many of you there to discuss, debate and share information on a number of topics and issues (more information on page 36).

Twenty twelve was without a doubt a tremendous year for equestrian sport and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our stakeholders for their commitment and drive. Delivering diverse and top end competition and providing opportunities for new countries and athletes to emerge centre stage is a team sport in itself and we all need each other for our sport to thrive as it has in recent months.

Thank you and may the year ahead be just as fruitful and inspiring.

Happy reading and I look forward to bringing you more news throughout 2013.

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Table of Contents

06 Globetrotter

26 FEI Helmet Rule

10 Making Olympic History

28 The other side of...

18 Paralympic Power

30 Pictograms

Reed Kyle

Art in motion

10

04

Impressum - Focus N° 11 - January 2013 Circulation 2,500 Frequency Quarterly Editor in Chief Olivia Robinson Design / Art Equestrio SA - S.Rochat Printing Grafiche SIZ - Italy Cover Liz Gregg©

Contact / Advertising FEI - Fédération Equestre Internationale richard.johnson@fei.org HM King Hussein I Building

Chemin de la Joliette 8

1006 Lausanne

T. +41 21 310 47 47

F. +41 21 310 47 60 www.fei.org

34 Jumping Owners Club

40 FEI Solidarity

36 Postcard from

42 FEI Insight

38 FEI Sports Forum

46 FEI Awards

Christian Baillet

Turkey

News from the FEI Solidarity Commitee

FEI General Assembly 2012

Equestrian world celebrates heroes in Istanbul

50 FEI TV

30

Live Broadcast Schedule 2012-2013

42

FOCUS 05

A year to remember…

gangnam style Some of the members of the silver medal winning team at the Olympic Games - Nicola Wilson, Tina Cook and Zara Phillips - dancing for the Children in Need charity early November. A fitting theme song for the equestrian superstars as the N° 1 single which has been viewed on You Tube over 940 million times at time of the writing includes signature dance moves such as the horse trot, alternately holding reins and spinning a lasso, and moving into a legs-shuffling side gallop.

Save the date m FEI Sports Foru 8-9 April 2012 Lausanne, and Switzerl n on page 36 More informatio

06

He won Olympic team gold and was awarded an OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to equestrian sport on 4 December, what more could Nick Skelton wish for? “I’m getting on a bit, but I want to go to Rio - the body’s a bit of a problem, but we’ll soldier on.”

FEI in Supp of FIA Act ort for Road S ion afety In November, the

FEI sighed a pl edge to work the Fédération with Internationa le de l’Autom (FIA) through obile its global FIA A ction for Road initiative to su Safety ppor t approp riate and targ efforts to reac eted h the FEI’s un ique audience messages to s w ith encourage sa fe road beha Find about m viours. ore about the FIA’s Golden Ru les for Safer Motorin g here w w w.actionfor roadsafety.org

s e i r o m e M f o s r a e Y 0 0 1

mmunity uestrian co eq d an ecial be grateful A very sp has a lot to to ay thd if it weren’t h appy Bir for. Indeed, al n io at N h rted ef forts the Swedis for the conce k an ish th d an oup of Swed Federation e of a gr n do nt e ou av C h u led by you for all yo s- officers , ue en eq os of R e n rence vo in the nam la C in d ld ou Founde rian sport w trian sport. the equest h proit e w th e n io ad ct conjun not have m es am G pic years ago.

1912 Olym gramme 100 e th , m ol in Sto ck h

Golden Celebrations for the Austrian Federation Fifty Years in the making…

Celebrating the year in style, Pepo Puch (AUT) and Fine Feeling danced to Freestyle gold at the Para-Equestrian Dressage events of the London 2012 Paralympic Games; Lukas Wacha and team mate Jasmin Lindner (featured left) won Austria’s first World vaulting title at the FEI World Vaulting Championships in France; whilst at the FEI European Vaulting Championships for Juniors, Ramin Simon Rahimi and Anais Kristofics-Binder showed just what rising stars they are, both earning individual gold medals.

07

FEI Co-Sponsors Conference on Concussion in Sport

Top international sports experts representing the IOC, FIFA, FEI and several other international sports federations met at the home of FIFA in Zurich (SUI) on 1 and 2 November 2012 for the Fourth International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport. Dr Peter Whitehead and Dr Allen Sills, Chair and Member of the FEI Medical Committee respectively, were amongst those representing the FEI. A minute’s silence was held in memory of Craig Ferrell, the former Chair of the FEI Medical Committee who died tragically earlier this year. Dr Ferrell was instrumental in introducing changes to the FEI rules on mandatory protective headgear which will come into force on 1 January 2013. “Dr Ferrell was a true visionary in recognising how important the issue of concussion is on equestrian athletes,” Dr Sills said, “and also in making sure that we apply the same techniques and standards to the management of concussion in equestrian sport as we do to athletes in other sports.”

Uniting passion, adrenaline, excellence, perseverance and determination The FEI World Cup™ series in Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Vaulting are now underway, with hundreds of qualifiers in prestigious and iconic venues welcoming world-class athletes looking to secure a place in the Finals in 2013.

The FEI World Cup™ Jumping series is now into its fourth decade and includes 16 leagues and no less than 134 qualifiers around the world whilst the FEI World Cup™ Dressage celebrates 28 years of existence and more than 30 qualifiers in four leagues. Both series will be leading to a grand finale in Gothenburg, Sweden next April.

For the FEI World Cup™ Driving, eight stages of intense and exhilarating competition amongst the world’s best drivers, navigators and back-steppers will lead to the Final in Bordeaux, France in February.

As for the latest FEI World Cup™ recruit, the world’s 12 best male and female Vaulters will be tested like never before as they seek to earn a place at the final next March in Braunschweig, Germany.

08

fo r t e s rld a D n t E I Wo Eve F ™ 014 T e s t lltech ames 2 A the strian G e u q E

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Test events in four disciplines will take place in 2013 and a further two in 2014 in preparation for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.

Endurance Eventing Driving Reining Jumping & Dressage

16 August 2013 at Sartilly 16-18 August 2013 at Haras du Pin and Caen 22-25 August 2013 in Caen 20 October 2013 in Caen (Parc des expositions) June 2014 (exact date to be confirmed)

Key facts and figures…

15 days of competition 8 World Championships 1000 horses 1000 competitors 60 nations 500,000 spectators 500 million viewers 1,200 journalists 2,500 volunteers 300 trade stands

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FEI official n g o in m t a rd h g n ga ri o re the top es updated .fei.org on w w FEI disciplin w m o ssible fr base is acce hand side.

FOCUS 09

Making Olympic History

Join us on a photographic journey capturing the faces of the individual gold medallists from London 2012 and how it feels to achieve the ultimate goal…

But they’re not the only winners. Sport, and in particular equestrian sport, shone brighter than ever, in the iconic Greenwich Park and around the world thanks to unprecedented coverage (TV, print and online) and the powers of social media.

Inspire a generation Clean Sport, fantastic role models, Olympic records, historic medals and wonderful crowds were part of the recipe to success – to inspire a generation of new and existing fans. Describing equestrian sport as “One 10

of the great Olympic sports”, in a special address to the FEI General Assembly in Istanbul in November, LOCOG Chairman Lord Sebastian Coe went on to say “We wanted to inspire a generation, particularly a generation who may never have experienced a particular sport before and I think we met that ambition”.

Fair Play “We knew that fair play and clean sport was the only way to produce top sport in the Olympic equestrian events and we are very proud that we have achieved that

© FEI/www.arnd.nl

goal. The London 2012 equestrian events were really incredible and Greenwich was a wonderful venue. We could not have wished for better sport and we now have a whole new fan base, which has to be the best legacy we could ask for. Now we have a duty to turn that fan base into new athletes so that our sport can continue to thrive and grow”. HRH Princess Haya, FEI President Socialympics Branded the first Socialympics, every aspect of London 2012 was “liked”, “shared”, “hashtagged”,

“tweeted”, “twitpic’d”, “flickr’d”, “instagram’d”, “foursquared”, “tumblr’d”, and the list goes on… Equestrian sport was amongst the conversation and for the FEI Facebook page, this led to an all-time high weekly total reach during the Olympic Games of 1.6 million people.

On 7 August, equestrian sport recorded its most impressive social media achievement when #Dressage trended globally with 2.6 million #Dressage tweets sent in one hour! “to trot or not to trot, that is equestrian”, was one of the tweets on that day.

FOCUS 11

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro (one of the youngest horses competing at the Games) scored 13 perfect 10s during the Freestyle to claim the first individual Dressage gold medal for Great Britain and set a new Olympic record.

“Above all I wanted to indulge myself, to give everything and regret nothing… He (Valegro) is 10 years old and he performed three magnificent tests, he is willing and he will always be a special horse for me… I loved every minute of it in there! When you finish your final halt it is wonderful. The applause is just amazing, and I want to thank everyone who supported us.”

© FEI/www.arnd.nl

DRESSAGE

“Above all I wanted to indulge myself, to give everything and regret nothing…”

© FEI/Liz Gregg

“...I would be just as happy to take part in regional and national events and compete with young horses.” © FEI/Raphael Macek

JUMPING

© FEI/www.arnd.nl

Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat claimed individual Jumping gold when he was the only rider in the final competition to maintain a completely clean sheet in the two rounds. Guerdat’s individual gold is the first for Switzerland in 88 years, the last claimed by Lt. Alphonse Gemeseus and Lucette at the Olympic Games in Paris (FRA) in 1924. It was quite a moment for the 30-yearold rider. “ The reason I ride horses has nothing to do with all this limelight. I ride because I love this sport and if I didn’t have a horse like Nino which allows me to perform at this level, I would be just as happy to take part in regional and national events and compete with young horses.”

EVENTING

© FEI/www.arnd.nl

Germany’s Michael Jung couldn’t have dreamed of a better 30th birthday present as he jumped to individual and team victory at the London 2012 Olympic Games. And by doing so became the first person ever to hold European, World and Olympic titles simultaneously. He was also the only person in the competition, which started with 74 riders, to finish on his dressage score. A man of few words, when asked what it was like, being the person who holds three major titles, he had only a one word answer: “Awesome.”

© FEI/Holger Schupp

Germany’s Michael Jung couldn’t have dreamed of a better 30th birthday present as he jumped to individual and team victory at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Paralympic Power

“It was a dream come true” Jonathan Wentz (USA) passed away just weeks after competing at the Paralympic Games at the age of 21. Wentz was a great competitor and outstanding role model for all in equestrian sport and loved every minute in London, where he came fourth in the Individual Test and fifth in the Freestyle Test in Grade 1b riding Kai Handt’s Richter Scale. For all those that had the pleasure of knowing him, we send our deepest condolences, he will be greatly missed.

“It was a dream come true,” he told friends after his final day of competition.

MAKING PARALYMPIC HISTORY The athletes, their stories and their sporting ability and ambition as well as the many individuals and volunteers working behind the scenes made it an incredible Games and without a doubt the best Para-Equestrian Dressage has ever seen. The quality of the horses and the strong partnerships they formed with their riders was impressive across all the Grades, produced lots of Paralympic records and saw new nations come to the fore in a sport that has been dominated for years by a select few.

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© Lindsay McCall

Incredible, amazing, inspirational…

If you asked any athlete as they were leaving the arena what memory they will take home with them, it was invariably the atmosphere. Their biggest memory will always be that indescribable feeling of entering a packed arena and performing to a generous audience having had all the right conditions in place to help them give their best.

Gr ad eI a The most successful partnership at the equestrian events of the Paralympics Games, Sophie Christiansen and Janeiro 6 scooped three gold medals and the hearts of a nation.

“I went in trying to think this was just a normal training session, but there happened to be 10,000 people watching.” On the Paralympic Games and how it changes people’s perceptions of disabilities, Christiansen said: “It’s weird. We just do what we do. I don’t see myself as inspirational, but to have people say to me ’cerebral palsy rocks’ it gives me confidence and I hope it gives them the confidence to go on and achieve.”

© Tal

Co h e n

@ FEI/Liz Gregg

All pictures from © FEI/Liz Gregg

b I e d a r G

“Put me on a horse and I am different person. I am free”.

Paralympic first-timer Joann Formosa, one of the oldest athletes in the Dressage competition, was the first to make waves in Grade Ib when she dethroned the most decorated Para-Equestrian of all time, Lee Pearson, with an elegant and harmonious performance on her stallion Worldwide PB, to win the Individual Championships test. “It’s been the goal of my life, when I’m out there I feel great. I may not have great legs, I may be a bit sluggish on some days, but put me on a horse and I am different person. I am free”.

20

“Things like this prove that even after an accident like mine, there is hope”.

Former Event rider Pepo Puch secured Austria’s first equestrian gold medal at the Paralympic Games with Freestyle gold following a swinging test on his mare Fine Feeling. “Things like this prove that even after an accident like mine, there is hope. To be back is amazing. My wife is my trainer and I train her, so this success is for the family.”

FOCUS 21

© FEI/Liz Gregg

I I e d a r G

“The atmosphere and experience was totally surreal. I wish I could have bottled it up to never let it go”.

The new golden girl of Para-Equestrian Dressage, Natasha Baker (GBR) riding Cabral took Individual Championship and Freestyle gold on record personal best scores. “I never imagined I’d win two gold medals at my first Paralympic Games. The atmosphere and experience was totally surreal. I wish I could have bottled it up to never let it go.” ©F EI / L iz G reg g

22

Germany’s Hannelore Brenner holds on to her Paralympic titles in Grade III, with two gold medals and a team silver. “This is the most amazing medal I have ever won, Women of the World just gets better and better every day and is she is just wonderful. I will never forget the experience of being in a country where people love horses and animals and are so fond of children.”

“This is the most amazing medal I have ever won, Women of the World just gets better...”

© dpa/Julian Stratenschulte

Gr ad eI II

© Tal Cohen

V I e d a r G

Austria’s Michele George had a lot to celebrate when the Games came to a close, with two gold medals riding Rainman and as the only Belgian athlete to win gold at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. These were also the first gold medals for Belgium at the equestrian events of the Paralympic Games since 1996. “Achieving this in London was really important to me. I will never have enough words to express my gratitude to the crowd for how respectful they were. These gold medals are for all the disabled people at home.”

“I will never have enough words to express my gratitude to the crowd for how respectful they were”.

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FEI Helmet Rule Following the implementation of FEI General Regulations Article 140 on 1 January 2013, the FEI has launched a global campaign to promote the use of protective headgear.

“The helmet rule, which was unanimously adopted by the FEI General Assembly in 2011, is a significant step forward towards the better protection of our athletes,” said FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos. “Beginning 1 January 2013, protective headgear will be compulsory at all FEI events and we strongly encourage everyone involved in international equestrian sport to familiarise themselves with the new general and sport-specific rules. The welfare of all our athletes, human and equine, must be protected.”

Helmet use has been at the forefront of several campaigns in recent years. US Dressage rider Courtney King-Dye, recent winner of the FEI Against All Odds Award, advocates educating equestrians on the benefits of wearing helmets through the Riders4Helmets campaign (www.riders4helmets.com). In 2010, KingDye, who had represented the United States at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and at the FEI World Cup™ Dressage Finals 2007 and 2008, suffered a traumatic brain injury. A horse she was schooling tripped and fell and, with no helmet to protect her, she fractured her skull in the fall. After four weeks in a coma, she spent three months in hospital re-learning how to walk and talk. The after-effects of the accident still severely affect her coordination and speech. She is now aiming to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (BRA).

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Courtney King-Dye

“I think my accident was necessary in the fight for safety because an Olympian who sustains a brain injury while riding proves that injury has nothing to do with level of skill,” Courtney KingDye commented. “For 15 years, I was a person who

only rode the young or ‘dangerous’ horses with a helmet, but my horse did nothing naughty, he just tripped over his own feet. And while you can’t control what people do at home, the new rules can control what people do at shows and this will go a long way to create good habits” she added.

The new rules at a glance The rules and everything you need to know can be found on www.fei.org/rules/general/faqs-rules Promote helmet safety Help us promote Helmet safety and download free widgets for your website on www.fei.org/rules/general/widgets

WOULD YOU TAKE THE RISK? On 1 January 2013 the new FEI Helmet Rule comes into effect. The welfare of athletes is paramount to the FEI and we urge all involved in equestrian sport to promote helmet safety and familiarise themselves with the general and sport specific rules.

Find out more and download free widgets at

www.fei.org/rules/general

Š The American Quarter Horse Journal

The other side of...

Reed Kyle Born and bred in a Reining family, Reed Kyle recently won individual and team gold at the North American Young Rider Championships in Kentucky and is currently studying at Oklahoma State University with a major in Agribusiness and a Marketing option.

Home is…

Whitesboro, Texas.

The first time I rode a horse…

was before I can remember. I have grown up around horses my entire life with my parents training and competing in shows.

Horses have taught me…

dedication because in order to become a better rider you have to be persistent in bettering yourself as well as your horse. They have also taught me patience because you have to understand that sometimes you have to work hard and wait for good things to happen. Horses have provided me with invaluable experiences and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.

My happiest moment was…

in 2009 at the AQHYA World Show. I was in a threeway tie for first and when my mom and dad came down to congratulate me they were crying because they were proud of me. That memory will always stay with me.

My biggest source of pride is…

my family. I have a lot of respect for my family and pride for my family name.

I chose Reining as my discipline because…

I have grown up with it my whole life watching my parents and, I really enjoy the discipline.

If I had not chosen to compete in Reining…

I would have been involved in Eventing. It looks like a great discipline to be a part of and the cross country seems like such an adrenaline rush.

My dad …

always knows exactly what to do to make me laugh.

He has such a great personality and attitude toward life.

I get angry when…

I don’t do well at a competition when I expect to. I can be very competitive at times.

My most embarrassing moment was when…

I was thirteen. I had forgotten my boots for a competition and had to borrow my dad’s. Halfway through the pattern, my boots fell off and I had to finish showing in my socks.

The equestrian athlete I admire the most is…

my mom. She is one of the most incredible people I know. She is dedicated, persistent, and patient. She is hardworking and is usually the first one up and the last to bed. She is so full of knowledge and is always there for me when I need her.

My lifelong goal…

is to represent Team USA at the FEI World Equestrian Games™.

FOCUS 29

Pictograms The new FEI Pictograms unveiled

Art in Motion IN RE G IN

G N TI UL VA

DR ES SA GE

G IN IV DR

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In March of this year, the FEI invited equestrian enthusiasts and designers of all ages around the world to enter its global online competition to create new “pictograms� for its disciplines. A clear set of guidelines and criteria were laid out with just six weeks for the budding designers to submit their proposals.

JU M

PI N G

eventing

And here is the final result!

EN R DU CE AN FOCUS 31

Eighty-five (85) entries from 17 nations were received from a very diverse field of people with ages ranging from 15 to 74. The designs were then reviewed by a panel of five judges including the FEI President HRH Princess Haya; Kevin Staut, Athlete representative on the FEI Executive Board and former European Champion and member of the silver medal winning team at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2010; Lambis V. Nikolaou, Chairman of the IOC Culture and Education Commission; international graphic design specialists; and a final combined vote from the Commercial and Communications departments of the FEI.

“As a rider, I know how it should appear, the correct proportions, the connection and the movement. I’m really happy to have done this and am proud that my designs were chosen.”

© Dirk Caremans

Applicants were required to submit a minimum of two designs depicting two of the FEI’s disciplines with the understanding that the winning design concept would then serve as the inspiration and basis of the new pictograms being developed by the FEI.

Capturing the form, the proportions, the movement and the unique relationship between athletes and their horses was one of the biggest challenges that the designers were faced with. But achieving that balance is exactly what Peder Fredricson, the winner, set out to do. He was perhaps at an advantage given his extensive and comprehensive equestrian background having competed for Sweden at the age of 20 at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona in Eventing, and then years later, winning team silver at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens in Jumping.

Peder Fredricson (SWE) at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens

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Peder lives and breathes equestrian sport and has done so for all of his life. His wife and brother were both on the Swedish team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, he competes very regularly in FEI Nations Cup™, FEI World Cup™ and renowned international shows, has thirty horses at home, chickens, cats and dogs and is a father of two. He is also a man of art, and in particular horse watercolour paintings, and graphic design.

Thanks to the formidable input from Peder Fredricson, the panel of judges and design team, the new pictograms are now in use by the FEI, its 132 National Federations and organisers of FEI events around the world.

A colourful and eye catching video was produced to announce the winner and shine the spotlight on the new designs – available on the FEI You Tube page

FOCUS 33

JUMPING OWNERS CLUB with

Interview with the Chairman, Christian Baillet Given the organisation’s relative infancy at just seven years of age, how do you spread the word and set the pace of your activities?

Since the creation of the JOC in collaboration with the FEI, news of the Club’s existence spread for the most part by word of mouth. In the past 18 months we have tried to more pro-actively create a presence and reach out to potential new members. Concrete examples would include the creation of a website and the hiring of a part-time Executive Assistant. Also, over the past few months, we have been concentrating on ensuring coverage in the specialised press in order to inform our target publics of our existence and incite their interest in participating in our activities.

What have been your biggest achievements as a stakeholder voice?

I am very proud of our partnership with Rolex. Their ongoing support has been tremendously beneficial to the Club. Their hospitality provided to our members at a number of events throughout the year creates wonderful opportunities for exchange and ideal conditions from which to enjoy top shows. Our annual Owner of the Year Award (calculated based on the Rolex Rankings) is awarded to the Owner of the best horse-rider combination in a calendar year in collaboration with both the FEI and Rolex. It is a very important activity in that it provides tangible recognition of the role and input of the owner at top level sport.

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Is there frequent dialogue between the JOC and other stakeholder groups and do you think there is room for improvement?

We are on very good terms with both the FEI and the International Jumping Riders Club: the lines of communication are very much open, in both directions. We have an excellent working relationship with John Roche, FEI Director for Jumping. He attended our most recent General Assembly (GA) and this provided an excellent opportunity to the members present to hear first-hand a detailed description of the topics being brought to the FEI GA following the FEI Sports Forum and Jumping Committee annual meeting. The Club has been in frequent contact with Eleanora Ottaviani, Director of the IJRC. In a recent interview, available on our website (www.jumpingownersclub.com) she once again expressed their sincere interest in creating stronger links with the Owners Club and we look forward to a closer collaboration over the coming months and years.

How does one go about becoming a member of the JOC and what are the benefits?

We are constantly seeking to increase our membership numbers and invite any interested owners to contact the Club via our Executive Assistant at nicikennedy@hotmail.com. We provide an opportunity for owners to get together at international events to exchange on the issues relevant to their participation in the sport. Our meetings are convivial and throughout the year we keep owners posted on the Clubs activities and developments in the sport via email and through our website.

And, during our annual General Assembly we agree on the issues we wish to discuss directly with the FEI.

© AFP

BRINGING EQUESTRIAN SPORTS TO SCREENS EVERYWHERE

+41 22 717 20 20 www.eurovision.net

Interview with Mr Armagan Ozgorkey Former President of the Turkish Federation (up until 19 November 2012) and currently Chair of Regional Group I

The Turkish Equestrian Federation is one of the oldest member federations, joining 80 years ago in 1932. How has the sport developed over that time?

We believe that equestrian sport has been re-energised in Turkey following the change of management in 2006. A major emphasis was on corporate identity and increased recognition of the sport in the nation.

We have also spent considerable effort in trying to promote the sectoral/industrial aspects of equestrian. This in line produced a sectoral collaboration from ground workers to farriers, athletes to medical staff. Also with a new approach and concentration in children and junior categories, significant results have been obtained in European and other championships.

In terms of developing the sport, what are the most successful projects you have undertaken in recent years?

I think that the most successful project we undertook was the training camps for children and junior categories conducted in Europe. With well known trainers and stables, we have organised this educational system during summer months ending with the FEI European Championships in Jumping and Dressage. Another major break-through was the production of a horse-pool which is affordable for various income levels. TUR NF has a contract with the national jockey club for obtaining Thoroughbred and 36

Arabian horses, which are later trained for basic riding lessons and endurance races respectively. This in turn has reduced the head start costs for many young pupils in equestrian.

As one of the nine members on the inaugural FEI Solidarity Committee, what do you hope FEI Solidarity will bring to developing equestrian nations?

It is crucial that developing nations receive technical and administrative assistance from FEI and I think the Solidarity Programme is just right for this purpose.

Equestrian sport requires a lot of knowledge stemming from years of experience in the field. And the system whereby project requests are presented to Solidarity, gives the FEI that opportunity to provide tailor-made solutions according to country-specific needs. I was of course honoured to be a member of the Committee and hope to work more in future for the benefit of developing the sport.

How popular is equestrian sport with young people in Turkey and how do you compete with some of the bigger sports for their attention?

In developing nations, it is not easy to reach the same level of media coverage and/or attention as football or other mass marketing sports. However, we have made considerable efforts to introduce and dispense equestrian sport into the Turkish media. Our most remarkable result would be the series called “Manege� which was on air weekly for 3 years presenting the aspects of our sports together with competition footage. This project was launched in 2008 and today conducted surveys show a significant increase in public awareness for our sports. This makes us more than happy of

Facts & figures President: Mr. Tunc Capa (since 19.11.2012) There are 12 permanent members of staff are employed at the Turkish Equestrian Federation Around 80 clubs work with Turkish NF. 3,700 athletes 96 national Events held in 2011

course. The end result automatically brings increased attention from youth, increasing the membership numbers in our clubs (especially for the age group of 10-16). On a separate note, I should also mention that through these efforts, we have seen that the accessibility of the sport increase dramatically and the perception of equestrian sport has changed for the better in the eyes of our public.

Can you tell us about the programmes/initiatives in place for disabled athletes?

TUR NF initiated 5 years ago the “My horse, My Wings� project which is solely devoted to riding for the disabled. We have created a special portfolio of trainers and they have received intensive courses from international instructors. Today our federation offers a certified list of trainers and accredited venues for disabled riding, which will eventually provide the basis for competitive Paralympic sport in the future.

Turkey was host to the 2012 FEI General Assembly, what are your fondest memories and what do you hope all the visiting delegates will remember from their visit?

Well FEI General Assembly 2012, still remains as one of the major highlights in our Federation. Thanks to

6 international Events held in 2012, Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Endurance are practiced in Turkey There are 2 breeding organisations: military academy for equestrian and national jockey club breeding association for flat racing 2,000 registered horses and ponies (active in competitions) and approximately 2,700 leisure riding horses

FEI and TUR NF Staff, the organisation and event was really successful. Today, we still continue to receive very nice feedback from participants. I think and I hope that they will remember the rich historical and cultural aspects of Istanbul as well as the smooth running of the General Assembly. My fondest memory would be the speech of HRH Princess Haya during the welcome dinner, mentioning the milestones of the Turkish Equestrian Federation. It was a true privilege to listen to her sincere remarks and appreciation of our achievements.

What are the main objectives/goals for the Turkish Equestrian Federation in the next three years?

I believe that we have laid the building blocks for a developing nation in equestrian sport. With a strong base it is now easier to specialise in each discipline. I hope that Turkish Equestrian Federation will keep this same momentum forward for the next 3 years and pave the road to Rio 2016 in this respect. However, while our Olympic targets are well set, we still continue to strive for success in infrastructure matters.

Expansion of the horse pool for riding is still crucial for us as well as making the sport affordable to all in Turkey.

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8-9 April 2013 At IMD Switzerland

Join the debate Be a part of the discussion

Round Tables devoted to rule changes in Jumping - Dressage - Driving

Forums on the subject of • Olympic Games & Paralympics qualification

Registration For more information on dates and deadlines, go to www.fei.org

• International Movement of Horses • Dual Career - Educating Athletes for Jobs

About IMD The FEI Sports Forum will take place at IMD in Lausanne, a top-ranked business school that develops global leaders through high-impact executive education. A prestigious and highly-ranked educational establishment, recent speakers at the school include Bill Clinton and Usain Bolt.

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NEWS

this year The FEI Solidarity Committee services allocated funds or technical 2013, a to 18 projects worldwide. In t. fit from FEI Solidarity suppor further 15 projects will bene

• Development of National Development Plan in Ecuador • Preparation of Bolivian Jumping and Dressage teams for Regional and Continental Games • Footing consultancy services in Jamaica • Development of national coach education system in Colombia • Development of sport structure in Palestine • Coaches’ courses in Moldova...

Wit h the skil ls and exp erie nce Dre ssage ride r Ma ria Ine s Garcia acq uire d ove r six mo nth s und er the supervision of German trainer Thomas von Samson, she will be able to coach riders in her own cou ntry.

FEI SOLIDARITY FUNDS TRAINI NG OF A COLOMBIAN COACH IN GERMANY

An FEI Solidarity initiated and funded project in partnership with World Horse Welfare in Cambodia is training a core group of farriers and harness-makers, so they can work with sports horses and train other service-providers in their communities.

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R FEI SOLIDARITY FUNDS FARRIE IA BOD CAM TRAINING IN

Twelve membe r s of P a ing clubs lestin took par t in a fou ian rid 1 F EI co r-day Le aching c vel ourse o FEI Solid rganised arit y in b y Jericho Solidarit in May. y is cur re F E I ntly wo nationa rking on l develo a p m ent plan spor t . for the

FEI Solidarity this year supported two workshops on the facilitation of international competition horse movement in Brazil and Panama, organised by the FEI and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

LEVEL 1 COACHE S TRAINED IN PALESTINE

SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO TRANSPORT & QUARANTINE

and are ntres across the isl Five equestrian ce spor tse or m erapy, then offering riding th aged rs re ffe su ses to MS orientated clas two , rs ne ai tr e re d 35. Th between 20 an the prot are involved in judges and one ve ress and a end with a cong ject, which will competition.

ERS IN ROSIS SUFFER MULTIPLE SCLE RN TO RIDE SARDINIA LEA “Youth at Risk” is one of the horseassisted programmes run by nonprofit organisation Sh umbashaba – Horses Helping Pe ople in the to wn sh ip of Di ep slo ot ne ar Johan ne sb urg. Sh um ba shab a’s work gives seriously dis advantaged teenagers a sen se of selfworth and purpose.

SUPPORTING HORSE-AS SISTED THERAPY IN SOUTH AFRICA

FEI GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2012 A productive and fruitful General Assembly took place in the bustling city of Istanbul from 5 – 8 November with more than 250 participants. Delegates and guests took part in meetings and sessions, and had various information stations such as FEI Solidarity and the IT Entry System help desk at their disposal to make the most of this annual gathering. Here’s a quick review of some of the highlights, decisions and announcements.

IMPORTANT UPDATES TO RULES & REGULATIONS FOR 2013… were approved at the FEI General Assembly, and will come into force on 1 January 2013. The major changes are summarised below.

The FEI Rules for Endurance Events were completely reviewed in 2012 and the new 8th edition which will come into effect on 1 January 2013 for the next four years includes 14 major changes that reflect the ongoing development of the discipline. The main changes concern: the minimum number of vet gates introduced at lower distance events and confirmation of a minimum distance for the final phase; introduction of an FEI appointed course designer for Championships; minimum rest periods for horses extended to include national events and also the number of rest days amended to allow for weekend events on either a Saturday or Sunday; invitations to CEIOs and Championships now reduced to a maximum of five athletes and seven horses; at CEIOs and Championships, results from all combinations from the same nation are available to that nation to 42

establish the team score (best three to count - only three medals to be awarded); new ‘Best Condition’ rules introduced to better reflect the degree and extent of assessment of each horse; changes to the number and star level of FEI officials at lower level event to assist organisers with the costs of hosting an event; and, FEI involvement when necessary regarding appointment of officials at CEIs to ensure adequate rotation and address potential conflicts of interest.

Changes to the FEI Statutes and General Regulations including among others the implementation of Article 140 – Protection of Athletes and the use of properly fastened headgear. Specific requirements and rules in this regard are governed by the applicable Sport Rules, so updates have also been made in each of these. A summary document outlining all the requirements can be found on www.fei.org.

The 13th edition of the FEI Veterinary Regulations effective 1 January 2013 approved by the General Assembly is a comprehensive rewrite, conducted on the basis of experience and wide feedback received on the use of the current format of the Regulations. The result is a more user-friendly and concise regulatory document. It clearly explains the roles and responsibilities of all those involved in FEI events in a veterinary context. The veterinary concepts, principles and terminology in these Regulations will be incorporated in the FEI Discipline Rules. The harmonisation with the Discipline Rules will continue throughout

2013 and will be completed by the end of the year.

By 2014 the Veterinary Regulations will become the document that contains all veterinary matters related to the FEI disciplines. The main concepts and changes include: the roles of the two new categories of FEI veterinarians - official and treating; the term Veterinary Services Manager (VSM) has been introduced for the existing lead event treating veterinarian as appointed by the Organising Committee of an FEI event; The education requirements, qualification experiences and the new Codex for both Permitted Treating Veterinarians and FEI Official Veterinarians are described in detail; a section dedicated to biosecurity has been added to the Veterinary Regulations underpinning the high degree of veterinary supervision at FEI events; vaccination requirements; and, the Limb Sensitivity protocol been revised to include recording of all initial examinations as well as a clear re-examination procedure.

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ELECTIONS & APPOINTMENTS… following a number of new Committee chairs, the FEI Bureau is now composed of the following individuals: H.R.H. Princess Haya (JOR), President Mr John C. MCEWEN (GBR), 1st Vice-President, Chair Veterinary Committee Mr Pablo Tomas MAYORGA (ARG), 2nd Vice-President Shk Khalid BIN ABDULLA AL KHALIFA (BRN), Chair Group VII Mrs Carmen BARRERA (ESA), Chair Group V Mrs Mary K. BINKS (KEN), Chair Group IX Mr Sergey BUIKEVICH (KAZ), Chair Group III Mr Giuseppe DELLA CHIESA (ITA), Chair Eventing Committee Mr Karoly FUGLI (HUN), Chair Driving Committee Mr Luiz Robert GIUGNI (BRA), Chair Group VI Dr Hanfried HARING (GER), Chair Group II Mr Nai Yue HO (SIN), Chair Group VIII Mr Frank KEMPERMAN (NED), Chair Dressage Committee Mr John MADDEN (USA), Chair Jumping Committee Mr Brian MANGAN (IRL), Chair of Audit & Compliance Mr Armagan ÖZGÖRKEY (TUR), Chair Group I 44

Mr Mark SAMUEL (CAN), Chair Group IV Mr Brian SHEAHAN (AUS), Chair Endurance Committee Mr Kevin STAUT (FRA), Chair Athletes Committee The FEI Solidarity Committee, made up of one representative per region is as follows for 2013: Group I Elisabeth Max-Theurer, President AUT NF Group II Jukka-Pekka Leskinen, President FIN NF Group III Sergey Maslov, President RUS NF Group IV John Ralston, President JAM NF Group V Cesar Camargo, President COL NF Group VI Gloria de Cuesta, President ECU NF Group VII HRH Princess Haya, FEI President (Chair) Group VIII Dr Pan Zhichen, President CHN NF Group IX Ibrahima Wade, President SEN NF

Complete details on Committee members and deputy chairs are available on www.fei.org

FURUSIYYA FEI NATIONS CUP™… is the name for the new and transformed FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Series to be launched in 2013 following finalisation of a 16 million Euro four-year sponsorship package from the Saudi Equestrian Fund.

The sponsorship deal, worth four million Euro per annum and running through to the end of 2016, was announced at the FEI Bureau’s first meeting during the General Assembly. The Bureau has given its unanimous approval for new rules for the series, completing the remodelling process initiated in April 2012.

“We have transformed a historic series and modernised it, without losing the fabulous tradition that dates back over 100 years. Now we have a series that will really catch the imagination of sports fans and the attention of the world’s media. We’re ready to take on the top sports. The Arabic word Furusiyya encompasses horsemanship, equestrian skills and knowledge, as well as chivalry. It perfectly captures the key elements of our wonderful sport and our unique relationship with the horse. I am confident that we now have the right format to put the FEI Nations Cup series right back where it belongs, at the heart of the international calendar.”

FEI President HRH Princess Haya.

Under the new rules for the FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping, which were presented to the Bureau by FEI Jumping Committee Chair John Madden (USA), the world has been divided into six regions for the purpose of qualifying teams for a world Final. The six regions are Europe (Division 1 & 2), North & Central America, South America, Middle East, Asia/Australia and Africa.

The full rules for the series are available on www.fei.org

AN FEI NATIONS CUP™ DRESSAGE… sees the day following the approval from the Bureau for an FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage series on a trial basis beginning in 2013. The provisional calendar is as follows: CDIO 3* Vidauban (FRA), 17-20 May 2013 CDIO 3* Rotterdam (NED), 20-24 June 2013

Any other CDIO outdoor competitions, with the exception of CDIO Wellington, FL (USA) which is of Small Tour level, will be included in the FEI Nations Cup™ Dressage series. FEI Rules for Dressage relating to Team competitions (CDIO3*, 4*, 5*) will apply.

The rules regarding the point system and participation are available on the FEI website.

LORD COE NAMES EQUESTRIAN “ONE OF THE GREAT OLYMPIC SPORTS”… in a video address to the FEI General Assembly.

Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) congratulated the FEI and President, HRH Princess Haya, on an “exceptional Olympic equestrian event” at London 2012.

“It would be remiss of me not to immediately congratulate the FEI President and all her team for helping us to deliver just an exceptional Olympic equestrian event,” he said. “Our opportunity to bring the sport into the city centre was one that we wanted to grasp with both hands and I want to thank Princess Haya and her Board for helping to do that in such an extraordinarily successful way”.

“We wanted to inspire a generation, particularly a generation who may never have experienced a particular sport before and I think we met that ambition.”

CDIO 5* Aachen (GER), 3-8 July 2013 CDIO 5* Hickstead (GBR), 1-4 August 2013 FOCUS 45

Equestrian world

celebrates heroes in Istanbul Š Photos FEI / Murathan Ozbek

Courtney King-Dye (USA), Thomas McDermott (AUS), Sharon Boyce (RSA) and Celia Rijntjes (NED) were the stars of a glittering gala evening in Istanbul (TUR), where they received their FEI Awards in front of an audience of 300. Reem Acra Best Athlete Michael Jung (GER) was unable to attend but spoke of his projects and pleasure at winning the award in a video filmed for the awards ceremony.

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HRH Princess Haya reminded the audience that the FEI Awards were launched in 2009 to show the world what extraordinary people there are in the equestrian community and to reward them with public recognition of their work.

FOCUS 47

“This year’s winners have demonstrated talent, commitment, generosity and courage and we are extremely proud of them.” HRH Princess Haya Reem Acra Best Athlete Michael Jung (GER) was unable to be present due to other commitments, but a video message was screened during the ceremony. Michael Jung turned 30 on 31 July 2012, the day he became the first rider to simultaneously hold Olympic, European and World titles and contributed to Team Germany’s Olympic gold medal.

Cour tney King-Dye with FEI President HRH Princess Haya.

There were very few dry eyes in the room when the courageous former Olympian, who suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury after falling from a horse she was schooling, told the audience what the Against All Odds Award meant to her and reminded everyone about the importance of wearing helmets.

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Masters of Ceremonies FEI Director of NonOlympic Sports Ian Williams and multi-award winning TV presenter Defne Sarisoy relax with the winners.

HRH Princess Haya and Tom McDermott (USA) winner of the HSBC Rising Star Awards.

HRH Princess Haya with Celia Rijntjes (Best Groom)

The FEI Development Award went to Shumbashaba – Horses Helping People, the organisation founded by Sharon Boyce 20 years ago. Its services range from non-riding “Youth at Risk”, “Trauma recovery and victim support” and “Substance abuse and eating disorder” programmes to psychoeducational riding and therapeutic riding and disability sport for people with disabilities.

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Live Broadcast Schedule

December 2012 – April 2013 23

December 2012

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping

from London (GBR)

30

December 2012

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping

from Mechelen (BEL)

19

January 2013

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage

from Amsterdam (NED)

20

January 2013

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping

from Leipzig (GER)

27

January 2013

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping

from Zurich (SUI)

9

February 2013

FEI World Cup Driving - FINAL

from Bordeaux (FRA)

10

February 2013

Rolex FEI World Cup™ Jumping

from Bordeaux (FRA)

17

February 2013

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage

from Neuemunster (GER)

16

March 2013

Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage

from s’Hertogenbosch (NED)

17

March 2013

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping

from s’Hertogenbosch (NED)

17

March 2013

FEI World Cup™ Vaulting - FINAL - tbc

from Braunschweig (GER)

27

April 2013

Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage - FINAL

from Gothenburg (SWE)

28

April 2013

Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping - FINAL

from Gothenburg (SWE)

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on the Go The new “FEI TV on the Go” mobile application for iPads is now available for subscribers free of charge. Versions for iPhones and android operating systems will be available in 2013.

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WATCH LIVE !

WATCH ONLINE !

www.feitv.org The official video website of the Fédération Equestre Internationale

FEI TV is the FEI’s new official video website and your ticket to the world’s most prestigious competitions. Sign-up to FEI TV (www.feitv.org) and get instant access to all the live broadcasts, the extensive video-on-demand library, all the highlights, the behind the scenes reports, the interviews and so much more.

Be at the heart of horsesport. Join us !

2823_1FEI_TV_Focus_165x226.indd 1

TV 17.05.10 11:24

The HSBC FEI Classics™ is the pinnacle of international Eventing, it is an on-going international series that includes six 4–star Three Day Events that take place in Europe, USA and Australia.

After a very close final of the 2012 Classics™ Series, the overall Winner was HSBC Ambassador William Fox–Pitt, with Andrew Nicholson finishing in second place and Allison Springer in third.

HSBC would like to congratulate all three riders on their achievements!

HSBC has been a proud sponsor of the HSBC FEI Classics™ since its conception in 2008, as well as the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championships, taking place in Malmö (SWE) in 2013.

We wish all the riders the best of luck as competition gets underway.

The 2013 Classics™ calendar is as follows: Les Etoiles de Pau (FRA):

24 – 28 October 2012

Australia’s International 3 Day Event (AUS):

22 – 25 November 2012

Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event (USA):

25 – 28 April 2013

Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials (UK):

3 – 6 May 2013

Luhmühlen CCI**** (GER):

13 – 16 June 2013

The Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials (UK):

5 – 8 September 2013

For more information on the HSBC FEI Classics™ visit: www.fei.org/hsbc/hsbc-fei-classics