Blah, Blah, Blah: The FEI made up some new rules
In summary: The FEI has banned some more drugs you’ve never heard of, and FEI competitors must now wear helmets all the time except for the times when they don’t have to wear helmets.
I tried to read the new FEI Equine Prohibited Substance List for 2013, released yesterday, but there were too many big words. Abbie, on the other hand, did a good job condensing it all into a single paragraph for EN, so I’ll just let her take it from here:
The FEI has released its updated prohibited substances list that will take effect on January 1, 2013. According to the USEA, the five following substances were added to the list this year: Cyclosporin, a systemic immunosuppressant; Tropicamide, which affects the central nervous system and has a potential for abuse; Pitcher Plant preparation (Sarapin), which is reputed to have analgesic properties, a potential to affect performance and its use is considered to be a welfare concern; Delmadinone acetate and Chlormadinone acetate, synthetic steroidal progestins that decrease testosterone concentration and have the potential to affect performance. Two previously banned substances, Fentanyl and Morphine, have been moved to the controlled medication list, and Deslorelin, which was on the Controlled Medication list, has been removed completely. Click the link for a full summary, courtesy of the USEA. [USEA]
Like I said, blah, blah, blah.
ALSO!
There’s a new mandatory helmet rule, which will also take effect on January 1. Basically, you have to wear a helmet all the time when mounted on showgrounds excepting when you’re competing, or warming-up to compete, or on your way to warm-up, or riding back to the stable, or if you’re in an awards ceremony, or if you’re a reiner or a vaulter, etc. etc. Here, why don’t you sort through it yourself:
From 1 January 2013 at FEI Events, all riders will be required to wear Protective Headgear while mounted on a horse on the showgrounds,
EXCEPT:
1. The discipline rules will apply in the competition arena/field of play. So, for example, while Eventing riders are always required to wear a helmet during the Cross Country, Dressage riders can still wear a top hat/bowler while competing and vaulters do not have to wear a helmet while they are in the arena actually vaulting the horse. This also means that the exception in the Jumping Rules for ceremonial protocol still applies to the Jumping riders, but this will be discussed further during the rules revision for the discipline next year.
2. The exception above extends to riding from the stables to the warm-up area or competition arena just prior to competing (and from the warm-up directly to the competition arena). This is primarily for the Dressage riders and Reiners so they do not have to stop to change their headgear after warming up just prior to entering the arena. However, if they are riding to a training area when they are not about to compete or on a non-competition day, a helmet will be required.”
GENERAL RULE: General Regulations Art. 140
The rule: starting 1 January 2013, wearing properly fastened Protective Headgear will be mandatory for all disciplines while riding on the show grounds. (“Protective Headgear” is defined in the GRs as “appropriate helmet or Headgear that is in compliance with the applicable international testing standards”.)
In the Competition arena and adjacent warm-up areas,
– a Yellow card for athletes refusing to comply with a request made by an Official that they wear protective headgear
– some disciplines apply additional sanctions.”
Discipline specific rules:
DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS FOR RIDING IN THE COMPETITION ARENA AND ADJACENT WARM-UP AREAS, FROM COMPETITION ARENA TO ADJACENT WARM-UP AREA, AND FROM THE STABLES FOR THE PURPOSES OF COMPETING
DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC SANCTIONS
DRESSAGE
Athletes 18 years and older, riding Horses seven (7) years and older may wear a top hat/bowler instead of protective headgear at the actual Competition and the warming-up directly prior to the Competition (with no break before the Competition), which includes riding between the stable and the warm-up area, riding of the competing Horse in the warm-up area, and riding back to the stable.
Prohibition from further riding until the protective headgear is properly in place.
JUMPING
Senior Athletes may be allowed to remove their headgear for ceremonial protocol.
Fine; Ground Jury may deny permission to take part in the competition.
PARA DRESSAGE
Protective headgear is mandatory at all times.
Prohibition from further riding until headgear is properly in place.
EVENTING
- a hard hat is compulsory for anyone riding a Horse at the Event.
- Wearing properly fastened protective headgear complying with the European (EN), British (PAS), North American (ASTM), Australian/New Zealand tested standards is compulsory for anyone jumping an obstacle. Protective headgear is compulsory at the Jumping and Cross Country tests
- At the Dressage test, hard hat or top hat are compulsory
Elimination, at the discretion of the Ground Jury
ENDURANCE
Protective headgear is mandatory at all times.
Elimination
DRIVING
- For Adults, protective headgear is mandatory for Competitors and Grooms in Section E competitions.
- For Children, protective headgear is mandatory at all times
Elimination
REINING
- Athletes may wear either a western hat or a safety helmet whilst competing.
VAULTING
No requirement.
Clear as mud?
Top photo by Eric Swinebroad
- Send an email to wylie, the author of this post at wylie@horsenation.com
Lame, as usual. Way to go FEI. I wonder if other sport’s international governing bodies are as useless as ours.
As the survivor of a severe head injury–which did not occur on horseback–I am pleased by the FEI moving in the right direction on helmet wear, but they’re still missing the point. It’s not the rider’s skill and experience that indicate the risk of a head injury at all, hence what happened to Courtney King-Dye. Granted, you are more likely to be doing things that could cause an accident away from the competition arena, but it can still happen in the middle of a test, especially with crowds full of screaming fans. Let’s get real here: helmets should be worn ALL the time, on every horse, by every rider. I’m not one who approves of telling people what to do if it doesn’t hurt anyone else, but I don’t like the idea of my chosen discipline being vilified bc of idiots who take risks.
Take a look at downhill skiers and bobsledders. THEY’VE figured it out. If everyone knew the mental and physical pain involved in a head injury, they’d put a helmet on without question. Come on, riders, don’t let your ego interfere with your common sense.
And FEI, get with the program! Reiners and vaulters are just as likely to sustain a head injury as anyone else. After all, anyone who rides a horse is taking a risk. Riding a horse is considered more dangerous than riding a motorcycle, and that is a fact, not my opinion.
And then there is the saddle seat community: the FEI would have a field day with them. Hey, let’s mount up on spazzed-out horses (we won’t ask WHY they are spazzed-out, either) and ride around (or drive) at warp speed in an arena, because nobody ever gets hurt on horseback unless they’re jumping! I was just told that at a Saddlebred show, by the way, so it must be true…
The FEI, like any other organization made up of committees, has a hard time getting out of its own way. I respect that they are trying, but I haven’t been impressed with them at all since the response to the Rolkur issue.
I love how for Para Dressage, they require helmets. What are they trying to say? “Let’s not make these people MORE paralyzed”?! ANYONE can get a head injury from a fall!
In the eventing dressage and regular dressage, helmets are not required; only hardhats or top hats (?!). Why is para dressage any different?
Anyway, I also agree with the second by 48north. Any horse can act up. It doesn’t matter what age or skill level.
Sheesh FEI… smh
When will the so called “powers that be” grow some balls and make helmets compulsory for ALL riders at ALL times during a competitive event?! A helmet is a lot more attractive than a head injury and those so called professionals who see themselves as immune to injury already show signs of diminished capacity for rational thought. Just saying.
I wish Darwin’s theory concerning survival of the fittest applied to helmets and riding. Unfortunately, those stupid enough to ride without a helmet have already passed on the “moron” gene to their progeny, so Darwin’s theory doesn’t apply.