The 13th FEI Sports Forum at the IMD Business School in Lausanne (SUI) opened today, with more than 230 delegates in attendance and more joining online.
In his opening remarks, FEI President Ingmar De Vos recognised key sporting accomplishments of the year, notably the launch of the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ (LLN) and the hosting of the FEI World Cup™ Finals. He commended the Organisers for their efforts in delivering exceptional events, specifically highlighting the success of the LLN legs in Abu Dhabi and Ocala, as well as the historic significance of holding the FEI World Cup™ Finals in the Middle East – in Riyadh (KSA) - for the first time.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, De Vos focused mainly on the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic and urged National Federations to actively participate in a digital campaign aimed at promoting equestrian sport in the Games in Paris, emphasising the significance of showcasing the sport and advocating for the well-being of horses on the world’s greatest sporting stage.
As is customary at the FEI Sports Forum, an IMD representative addressed the audience and this year Cyril Bouquet, Professor of Strategy and Innovation at IMD, delivered a captivating and interactive keynote address, demonstrating how alternative approaches to problem-solving could benefit the equestrian industry. He urged delegates to embrace innovative thinking and experimentation, advocating for the exploration of new and unconventional solutions. Bouquet also highlighted the importance of testing ideas, learning from them and moving on in a rapid cycle of continuous improvement.
Grooms charter
The first day of the FEI Sports Forum also saw a group of equestrian athletes, organisers, owners, trainers and officials’ stakeholder organisations sign the FEI Grooms Charter. This document, which is built around the principles of horse welfare, integrity, education and safety, was created to ensure that grooms have the tools they need to provide the highest level of care for the horses in their charge, and that they are respected and supported in their role.
Horse Welfare on forefront
The first Session of the FEI Sports Forum 2024 was dedicated to the final report produced by the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission and the proposed action plan developed by the FEI Headquarters on the basis of the recommendations outlined in the report.
The Report outlined 30 recommendations – six of those presented at an early stage in the Commission’s work – which had been divided into six priority areas of focus - training and riding, tack and equipment; recognising physical and emotional stress; accountability, enforcement and knowledge; the other 23 hours (the life of horses outside of competition); competitive drive; not fit to compete (masking health problems). Once combined, the early recommendations, the Final Report recommendations and priority areas of focus generated 62 action points.
The Commission had further outlined a suggested approach urging the FEI to be a Leader; be Trusted; be Transparent; be ProActive; and be Accountable, and had proposed tools for action.
This approach had informed the FEI Welfare Strategy, the initial stage of which was presented at the session, based on a Welfare Vision for a good life for horses, and a Welfare Mission, with the FEI serving as the guardians of FEI horses by formulating and implementing rules, guidelines, educational programmes and other initiatives. Where required, the FEI applies sanctions to ensure good horse welfare with the overall mission to lead, drive and develop equestrian sport globally.
Swedish ethology and animal science expert Malin Axel-Nilsson was due to be a panellist in the session but was unable to attend. However, she had already assisted FEI Headquarters with entering the 62 action points into a matrix listing the actions already put in place by FEI, possible future actions, ways for the FEI to support and collaborate with the National Federations and other official stakeholder groups, and had linked it to the relevant domain of animal welfare.
FEI Secretary General thanked Malin Axel-Nilsson for her hard work and her very significant contribution to the development of the action plan.
The FEI Veterinary and Legal Directors presented the main elements of this matrix and provided details for some of the key proposed actions, including a broader approach to reviewing tack and equipment; resuming scientific research on hyperflexion and rollkur; and developing guidelines, principles, rules and registration of trainers across the disciplines to ensure ethical training methods. Other key projects discussed in detail were the development of harmonised post mortem reporting protocols in national events with the support of the NFs; updating the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse in collaboration with World Horse Welfare; strengthening the awareness and use of the FEI Equestrian Charter, and the implementation of an Out of Competition Testing Programme.
An in-depth Communications strategy is to be developed and will be presented at a special session at the FEI General Assembly 2024 in Oman in November.
Ph. © FEI/Richard Juillard
