The group 'Clean Endurance' that fights against doping and horse abuse, has won 3 cases against international endurance riders. The 3 riders mistreated their horses during competitions last winter, by kicking and hitting them while they were already showing signs of exhaustion.
The FEI investigated the complaints and decided last week that the riders are guilty of horse abuse during international competitions. They are now suspended for 12 to 30 months and they have to pay additional fines. Meanwhile, Clean Endurance has submitted an alternative competition format proposal to the FEI, based on the long-standing French and Swiss national systems which rank horses based on their speed in the competition and their final recovery (heart rate). In their opinion, this simple and well proven system is the only option to move the sport away from the still ever increasing and destructive speeds, and back to rewarding strategic riding skills, horsemanship and the respect of horse welfare.
Source: Clean Endurance / FEI
