>From FEIF: One of the missions of FEIF is to focus on horse welfare - and one of our goals is to put the welfare of the horse first in everything we do. This is clearly described in FIRO, FIPO and FIZO with reference to the FEI Code of Conduct. With this letter the Board of FEIF would like to express the importance of this part of our mission.
There is a growing focus on injuries on horses in sport - specifically oral wounds and other wounds. The responsibility for the welfare of the horse lies, without any doubt, with the rider of the horse. Many riders are not aware that their horse is injured (for example oral wounds), and it is in general up to the rider to be educated and get the relevant experience and knowledge to be able to avoid injuries - and if an injury happens - to treat it and not mistreat the horse because of personal or other ambitions of the rider. It is for all riders a lifelong activity to be educated and to learn about all relevant aspects of horse riding and handling in order to manage the horse in the best possible way. The responsibility of the trainers and instructors is to help and educate the rider so that injuries do not appear and that the correct equipment is used properly and that wrong equipment is not used. The responsibility of the organisers of sport, breeding and gædingakeppni events according to the FIRO, FIZO and FIPO, as well as organisers of Icetölt events and other shows and competitions that are not organised directly under the rules in FIRO, FIPO and FIZO are to secure, that all relevant precautions are taken to avoid injury of the horse, and that the necessary consequences are implemented if an injury is discovered. The responsibility of the judges is - with references to the rules - FIRO, FIPO and FIZO, to look upon that riders take this matter serious and to implement the relevant consequences (e.g. warning, disqualification with or without publishing on the FEIF-webpage ) when an injury on a horse is found. Sometimes it can be a tough job for judges to decide whether a warning should be given or not and what the consequences should be - but this is a part of the duty of a judge and we all expect that the judges take their responsibility very seriously - and, therefore, we are also obliged to support the judges in their job. Finally the handling of our individual responsibility is connected to the current rules but also to a general standard of "common sense". The Board of FEIF has asked the FEIF Welfare and Veterinary Committee - FWVC - about this important matter to support our ongoing focus on the welfare of our horses and very soon there will be a document from the FWVC about the responsibility and procedures for checks of wounds etc. The Board of FEIF hopes that this letter will remind all of us to focus on the welfare of the horse - our horses deserve it! This letter has been published on www.feif.org and has been sent to all FEIF-licensed judges and trainers and instructors registered in the FEIF-matrix, chairmen of the FEIF-member countries and editors of all national and international magazines -because we would like to emphasize, that the Board of FEIF takes this topic very seriously - it is a central part of our mission. On behalf of the Board of FEIF, Jens Iversen President
