FEI releases statement that says rider's explanation for accident at the Horse of the Year Show that provoked a heated debate has been accepted.
Olympic team gold medal show jumper Ben Maher has received an apology from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) over the disciplinary handling of a incident at the Horse of the Year Show which has caused an outcry on social media.
The You-Tube clip (below) has provoked a heated debate as to why the world No3's horse flipped over backwards during a class last Friday at the LG Arena, Birmingham. One discussion thread on Horse & Hound has had over 75,000 views.
http://youtu.be/Rh1OnpAM4f4
YouTube/ Jen Howard
The FEI announced on Wednesday that Maher met FEI officials after the incident, but that due to a procedural error "from a legal perspective it cannot therefore be considered as an official warning or reprimand". The FEI said Maher had not been informed this was an official warning.
But on Thursday the FEI said: "The FEI Secretary General has now investigated the incident concerning Ben Maher at the CSI3* Birmingham, which was addressed by officials at the time. He has clearly established that no reprimand, no warning nor any other sanction has been imposed on Ben Maher. On behalf of the FEI he apologises for the inconvenience an earlier statement from FEI Headquarters might have caused for the athlete and his entourage.
"We have been informed that the Foreign Judge and the President of the Ground Jury met with Ben Maher and asked him for an explanation of the incident, which they accepted and no further action was taken."
The spectator video shows Maher's horse, Wings Sublieme, refusing a fence and ducking out to the right, just feet from where an arena steward was standing in front of a separate jump. Maher applied a reversing manoeuvre but the horse ran backwards quickly, lost its balance and flipped over.
Critics allege that Maher had applied excessive force, and there is concern he waited nearly a week before making a statement via Facebook on Thursday afternoon. “The incident with my horse at HOYS last week was most unfortunate," Maher said.
"However the allegations that my actions were reprehensible and indeed reprimanded are quite without foundation and by the FEI’s inquiry, they have been vindicated. The welfare of my horses is always paramount and I wish to make it clear that I have the fullest respect for my horses and their owners, the governing bodies of the sport and the Ground Jury members at HOYS. The FEI has issued a statement clarifying its position for which I am grateful."
FEI releases statement that says rider's explanation for accident at the Horse of the Year Show that provoked a heated debate has been accepted.
Olympic team gold medal show jumper Ben Maher has received an apology from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) over the disciplinary handling of a incident at the Horse of the Year Show which has caused an outcry on social media.
The You-Tube clip (below) has provoked a heated debate as to why the world No3's horse flipped over backwards during a class last Friday at the LG Arena, Birmingham. One discussion thread on Horse & Hound has had over 75,000 views.
http://youtu.be/Rh1OnpAM4f4
YouTube/ Jen Howard
The FEI announced on Wednesday that Maher met FEI officials after the incident, but that due to a procedural error "from a legal perspective it cannot therefore be considered as an official warning or reprimand". The FEI said Maher had not been informed this was an official warning.
But on Thursday the FEI said: "The FEI Secretary General has now investigated the incident concerning Ben Maher at the CSI3* Birmingham, which was addressed by officials at the time. He has clearly established that no reprimand, no warning nor any other sanction has been imposed on Ben Maher. On behalf of the FEI he apologises for the inconvenience an earlier statement from FEI Headquarters might have caused for the athlete and his entourage.
"We have been informed that the Foreign Judge and the President of the Ground Jury met with Ben Maher and asked him for an explanation of the incident, which they accepted and no further action was taken."
The spectator video shows Maher's horse, Wings Sublieme, refusing a fence and ducking out to the right, just feet from where an arena steward was standing in front of a separate jump. Maher applied a reversing manoeuvre but the horse ran backwards quickly, lost its balance and flipped over.
Critics allege that Maher had applied excessive force, and there is concern he waited nearly a week before making a statement via Facebook on Thursday afternoon. “The incident with my horse at HOYS last week was most unfortunate," Maher said.
"However the allegations that my actions were reprehensible and indeed reprimanded are quite without foundation and by the FEI’s inquiry, they have been vindicated. The welfare of my horses is always paramount and I wish to make it clear that I have the fullest respect for my horses and their owners, the governing bodies of the sport and the Ground Jury members at HOYS. The FEI has issued a statement clarifying its position for which I am grateful."