Tag Archives: Endurance Strategic Planning Group

Endurance Riding, FEI

FEI Endorses ESPG Recommendations and Pushes Ahead with Implementation

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Lausanne (SUI), 8 April 2014 – The FEI Bureau is taking the conclusions and recommendations of the Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) extremely seriously and has assumed full responsibility for the delivery of clear measures that will bring about a long term solution to issues within the FEI’s fastest growing discipline.

Following receipt of the ESPG’s final report and recommendations at FEI Headquarters, FEI President HRH Princess Haya has expressed her thanks to the ESPG members and particularly the Group’s chairman Andrew Finding for his outstanding work and leadership throughout the process.

The ESPG conclusions and the outcome of discussions during the General Assembly in Montreux and the Endurance Conference in Lausanne clearly demonstrate the need for further improvement of the rules but also that enforcement of the rules at events is critical. Officials play a crucial role in rules enforcement and the FEI is aware of the need to support officials in fulfilling their duties but also to guarantee their integrity to ensure a level playing field.

The Endurance Committee is currently working on the rules revision that will be presented at the FEI Sports Forum at the end of April.

However, the FEI Executive Board is keen to explore other possible initiatives to ensure that the ESPG recommendations offer a workable solution for all terrains and all climatic conditions. In light of this, the two FEI Vice Presidents, John McEwen and Pablo Mayorga, and FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos met with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed on 30 March to discuss the issues.

HH Sheikh Mohammed, the current world Endurance champion, expressed his appreciation of the work done by the ESPG and offered his full support for all further initiatives that will guarantee a level playing field for the sport. During the meeting it was agreed that the use of modern technology and an overhaul of operations at Endurance events are key to solving the issues that have affected the sport.

Following the meeting, the FEI Executive Board, with the full support of HH Sheikh Mohammed, has agreed to create a Task Force that will work on developing practical solutions to ensure a level playing field at Endurance events globally.

The Task Force will be composed of representatives from the FEI Endurance Committee, the FEI Executive Board and from FEI Headquarters, as well as external experts such as IMG, global leader in sports management with extensive experience in reviewing and modernising competition structures in other sports. The Task Force will start work almost immediately and its remit will include examining the use of modern technology and enhancing operational solutions.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
grania.willis@fei.org
+41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33

Endurance Riding, FEI

Endurance Strategic Planning Group Seeks National Federations Agreement for Proposals

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Lausanne (SUI), 25 November 2013 – The Endurance Strategic Planning Group (ESPG) has today sent its detailed proposed recommendations to the National Federations requesting rapid feedback. The proposals are designed to address the issues within Endurance and are specifically geared towards reducing the incidence of doping and injuries, as well as putting in place a strategic plan to support the long term sustainability of the sport.

The seven-page consultation document, which details a total of 37 recommendations, is a follow-up the ESPG presentation of its proposals during the FEI General Assembly in Montreux (SUI) earlier this month. The introduction delivered by ESPG Chair Andrew Finding at the General Assembly, plus the presentations given on the day and the Group’s “plan on a page” have also been sent to the National Federations as part of the ongoing consultation process.

The ESPG asks for comments from the National Federations on each of the recommendations, grouped together into four categories: Foundation for Growth; Culture and Behaviour; Structure and Governance; and Communications and Marketing.

Both immediate and longer-term actions are detailed, and the ESPG, while agreeing that consultation is a necessary part of the process, is also keen that much of the proposed plan should be put into action without delay. The Group urges immediate actions be implemented as soon as possible.

The ESPG notes that important projects such as the Injuries Surveillance System (ISS) and increased levels of testing are already in place. These are both included in the Culture and Behaviour section, which also calls on the National Federations to provide leadership and drive culture change in anti-doping and horse welfare.

The Structure and Governance section has the highest number of proposed actions – 12 in the immediate action category and a further three in the longer-term. Key amongst these are the proposal to enforce out of competition testing, a review of disciplinary procedures for athletes, trainers and officials and severe penalties for transgressors, a register and ranking list for trainers, the requirement for a medication and treatment logbook for all horses, and a proposal for trainers to becomes Persons Responsible with their riders.

Feedback from the National Federations will be incorporated into a final set of proposals which will be further debated at the Endurance Conference in Lausanne (SUI) on 9 February 2014. At that session, it is proposed that the National Federations set Key Performance Indicators as part of the discussion.

A special session on Endurance will be included in the FEI Sports Forum (28-29 April 2014) at which National Federations will be asked to support the strategy in its final form before it is approved by the FEI Bureau in May 2014.

“It is our hope that all National Federations will accept our final proposals, take ownership of the plan and, together with the FEI, provide the leadership we believe is necessary for it to succeed,” ESPG Chair Andrew Finding writes in the final pages of the document. “It will not be easy for all to accept, there will be costs to bear for us all but we believe our proposals must be implemented to secure the long term sustainability of the sport. Success in implementing these proposals depends on the willingness of everyone involved in the sport to be self-disciplined and to take personal responsibility.”

He reiterates one of his most powerful messages from the Endurance session at the FEI General Assembly. “Apply these values of clean sport, welfare, integrity and partnership and we live and work together. If you do not subscribe to them, our message is, simply, leave us,” and finishes with the line: “Failure is not an option”.

“We believe there is a bright future for the sport. Together we must grasp it and move on with a determination that we should never again have to face these challenges.”

Media Contact:

Grania Willis
Director Media Relations
Grania.willis@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 42

Endurance Riding, FEI

Endurance Strategic Planning Group Composition Announced

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Lausanne (SUI), 2 September 2013 – The FEI has announced the composition of an Endurance Strategic Planning Group further to the unanimous recommendations of the Round Table held on 24 July.

The Group will be chaired by Andrew Finding, European Equestrian Federation Board Member and CEO of the British Equestrian Federation. The members of the Group are veterinarian Brian Sheahan (AUS), chair of the FEI Endurance Committee; Joe Mattingley (USA), international Endurance rider; Saeed H Al Tayer (UAE), Vice President of the Dubai Equestrian Club and organiser of FEI World Endurance Championships; and veterinarian Jean-Louis Leclerc (FRA), an internationally respected and very successful chef d’équipe and team manager within the discipline.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Endurance Strategic Planning Group for accepting to review and build a promising future for the FEI’s fastest growing discipline,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said.

“Andrew Finding is one of the most knowledgeable people in equestrian sport worldwide and all the members bring a wealth of expertise as veterinarians, successful riders, trainers, event organisers and team managers. The Group will be fully supported in its work by FEI Director of Endurance Ian Williams and FEI Veterinary Director Graeme Cooke.

“I have no doubt that the Group will analyse the discipline thoroughly and professionally and will provide the FEI with sound recommendations for the sport’s further successful development.”

“I will undertake the role of Endurance Strategic Planning Group chairman with diligence, and I shall approach this task from a totally independent standpoint,” Andrew Finding said. “The Group will work with complete integrity, taking advice from those who are familiar with the problems and challenges of Endurance sport.

“If I need to be tough in commenting on behalf of the Group then that is what I shall do. It is my intention to have our work followed and verified by the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit.

“Our most important objective is to find solutions and help ensure the sport and everyone connected with it follows, at all times, the FEI’s Clean Sport policy and the Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse. We must look forward and work together positively.”

The Endurance Strategic Planning Group’s mission statement, which has been approved by the FEI Bureau, is to develop a strategic plan for Endurance over the decade 2013-2023 which will define a global rate of growth for the sport that is manageable and effectively supervised by the FEI and National Federations.

Increased levels of participation, a greater number of events and improved standards are to be encouraged. The National Federations, athletes, trainers, officials and organisers must adhere to and promote the highest Clean Sport standards and meet the FEI’s Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse at all events.

The plan is specifically designed to meet the needs of Endurance as a growing sport with the potential to attract more athletes while continuing to promote the FEI’s objectives on the global stage. It should encourage an environment in which riders and horses compete in a spirit of partnership and fair play according to the requirements of the FEI’s Clean Sport policies and where the welfare of the equine athlete is paramount.

The Strategic Planning Group will provide recommendations for consideration by the FEI General Assembly.

The Group’s first conference call will take place this week and the first in-person meeting will be held in Dubai at the beginning of October.

Media contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133