Federation Equestre Internationale News 22 - 27 April 2002

The FEI held its annual General Assembly on 26 and 27 April 2002 in Rabat (MOR) at the invitation of the Royal Moroccan Equestrian Federation and its President HRH Princess Lalla Amina. It was the first time that an FEI General Assembly is held on the African continent. In connection with the General Assembly, both the Bureau and the Executive Board met twice. The five days of meetings were extremely well organised by the host federation and were held in a cooperative and friendly atmosphere.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The FEI General Assembly opened with a welcome message by HM King Mohammed VI. In her welcome address, the FEI President emphasised the efforts in the field of development and the enhancement of sport in Africa. Furthermore, she expressed her satisfaction at the improved dialogue between the NFs delegates, the Bureau and the FEI secretariat.

101 delegates representing 89 NFs (79 present, 10 by proxy) attended the General Assembly.

AFFILIATIONS

Three new NFs were warmly welcomed to the FEI: Yugoslavia, Malawi and Lesotho, increasing the FEI membership to 130 affiliated NFs.

The following National Federations will change their status from Associate Members to Full Members:

American Samoa (ASA)

Haiti (HAI)

Malta (MLT)

Nicaragua (NCA)

Swaziland (SWZ)

FINANCE

The Treasurer reported on the 2001 results. Despite the problems which occurred in the first semester due to the outbreak of the Foot and Mouth Disease and the events of 11 September and their influence on the financial market, 2001 was a good year for the FEI.

The operating budget for 2002, which shows a moderate surplus, was approved.

ELECTIONS

The FEI President HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón (ESP) was re-elected for a four years term.

Mr Freddy Serpieri (GRE) was re-elected as 1st Vice President.

Mr Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) was elected as 2nd Vice President.

Prof. Leo Broof Jeffcott (GBR) was re-elected as Chairman of the Veterinary Committee.

The mandate of Mrs Jane Forbes Clark (USA) was extended for one year Chairman of the Ad Hoc Reining Committee. In addition the Bureau appointed Mrs Jane Forbes Clark to the Executive Board for two more years.

Mr Frank Schreve (NED) was re-elected as Chairman of Group II

Mr Pablo Mayorga (ARG) was elected as Chairman of Group VI in replacement of outgoing Bureau Member Gen. Manuel Rodriguez Velis.

Mr Douk-Kee Ahn (KOR) was elected as Chairman of Group VIII in replacement of Mr Tsunekazu Takeda (JPN) who was made Honorary Vice President.

Mr Jean-Michel Pinel (FRA) replaced Mrs Helma Schwarzmann (GER) as chairman of the Vaulting Committee

Mr Ferdi-Jörgen Wassermeyer (GER) replaced Mrs Kirsten Barnow (DEN) as Chairman of the Pony Riders Committee.

Mr Howard Simpson (USA) was re-elected as member of the Finance Committee.

Mr Francis Michielsen (BEL) was re-elected as member of the Judicial Committee.

APPOINTMENTS

Mr Stephen Clarke (GBR) replaced Mrs Margit Otto-Crépin (FRA) as member of the Dressage Committee

Mr Tom Gordin (FIN) replaced Mr Jan-Willem Koerner (NED) as member of the Jumping Committee

Mr Michael Etherington-Smith (GBR) replaced Capt José Ortelli (ARG) as member of the Eventing Committee. Capt Ortelli was confirmed as a co-opted Member until 2003.

Mr Thomas Eriksson (SWE) succeeded to Mr Werner Ulrich (SUI) to represent the drivers in the Driving Committee.

Dr Dane Frazier (USA) and Mr Ramón Lopez (ESP) joined the Endurance Committee in replacement of outgoing members Prof Jerry Gillespie (USA)
and Mrs Mary Carol Bunting (GBR) respectively.

Mr Erich Breiter (AUT) and Mr Thomas Tarpataki (HUN) replaced ougoing Mr Axel Welin (SWE) and Mrs Elzbieta Dolinska (POL) in the Vaulting Committee.

Mrs Margareta Wetterber (SWE) replaced Mr Wassermeyer (GER) as member of the Pony riders Committee.

Mr Ulrich Meyer zu Bexten (GER) and Mrs Lena Levidis (GRE) replaced HRH Prince Faisal Ibn Abdullah Mohammed Al Saud (KSA) and Dr Yolanda
Matallana (COL) as members of the Children's Committee.

Mr Frank Costantini (USA), Mr Antonio Mastrangelo (ITA), mr Johannes Orgeldinger (GER) and Mr Dominique Reynaud (FRA) were confirmed as members of the Ad Hoc Reining Committee.

ALLOCATION OF CHAMPIONSHIPS

2002

The South America championships Young Riders and Juniors & Children's Americas was allocated to Sao Paulo (BRA) from 5-8 September in replacement of Buenos Aires (ARG)

2003

The World Driving Championship for Singles, Pairs and Four-in-Hand was allocated to Karlstetten (AUT) from 14 to 17 August.

The European Endurance Championship was allocated to Punchestown (IRL) at a date to be confirmed.

The South America championships Young Riders and Juniors & Children's Americas was allocated to Sao Paulo (BRA) - September

OLYMPIC GAMES

Assimakis Assimakopoulos, Sports director of ATHOC and Nikolas Karidis, Manager of the Equestrian event presented a progress report on the preparations of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The principles for the 2004 Olympic Games procedure were approved and will be confirmed by the IOC in the coming months.

WORLD EQUESTRIAN GAMES

The deadline for the applications to host the 2006 World Equestrian Games is the end of June. It is hoped that a decision can be taken early September, after consultation and negotiations between the FEI and the bidding Organising Committees.

DEVELOPMENT

The 1st Vice President Freddy Serpieri presented the Development Activity report. The Olympic Solidarity administration was moved to the
Development department and a Development Project Manager appointed. This streamlined the development work of the FEI and ensured a better
coordination of FEI's various projects.

The FEI/PSI World Challenge in Jumping and Dressage continues to grow and the first Final organised raised the profile of the series in the developing NFs.

Three Development officers were appointed for Endurance for South America, Australia and South Africa.

In 2001 the expenditure of the Development funds amounted to CHF 205,987 compared to CHF 132,054 in 2000 (these figures do not include Olympic Solidarity projects).

JUMPING

The Rules revision was approved coming into effect 1 Jan 2003.

Following concerns raised by NFs with regard to establishing a fixed date for national championships during which all international events in Western Europe could not be organised was referred to the Jumping Committee for further consideration.

DRIVING

The Chairman of the Driving Committee reported on the first World Cup Indoor Series in Driving which had been a great success. All organisers were interested in continuing.

ENDURANCE

The General Assembly agreed to maintain the Endurance Rules approved at 2001 General Assembly.

EVENTING

The final report of the Eventing C on the future of the sport was endorsed by the General Assembly. This report contains the new format
for the discipline and especially the format of the Olympic Games competitions.

The revision of the Eventing Rules to be enforced on 1 Jan 2003 were approved.

For the 2002 Rules, a rider will be eliminated after the second fall in the Jumping test for all international Eventing events.

The qualification procedures for Eventing are still be monitored and may be adjusted by the end of year.

DRESSAGE

The new Rules were approved to come into effect on 1 January 2003. In her report, the Chairperson of the Dressage Committee emphasised the healthy development of the discipline especially at the Young Rider and Junior levels, as well as outside of Europe and North America.

CHILDREN

The Final of the FEI International Competitions due to take place in Bogota (COL) in December 2002 was transferred to Brazil from 3-8 December (venue to be confirmed).

PONY

The Secretary General made a report on behalf of the Chairperson of the Committee expressing the satisfactory increase of the number of pony events in Dressage and Eventing.

VETERINARY

The revised List of Prohibited Substances was approved. Prof. Jeffcott (GBR), Chairman of the Committee, emphasised the importance of education
for veterinarians. He highlighted the improvement of the Medication Control Programme and the current research programmes. During 2001, the MCP test activities (Group I and II) took place at 174 events, testing a total of 1115 horses.

The Chairman also expressed his satisfaction at the fact that drug abuse remained rare in equestrian sport.

A Testing Manual, describing testing procedures, was developed.

TENT PEGGING

Further to a request from several countries, the General Assembly endorsed the decision of the Executive Board confirming Tent Pegging as a regional discipline.

OTHER MEETINGS

During the week from 22 through 27 April 25 different meetings took place.

The 9 FEI Geographical Groups met on 24 April morning. Groups I and II held a joint session in the afternoon, as well as the Member NFs of the Pan American Equestrian Confederation.

The day before the Assembly, a very successful Forum was organised with two main themes:

FEI Business Plan: Simon Brooks-Ward, member of the Strategic Planning Committee, presented a Business Plan aimed at enhancing the commercial development of the FEI.

The Future of the World Equestrian Games (WEG): the advantages and disadvantages of the various WEG formats as opposed to separate World Championships were presented. Two candidates for the organisation of the 2006 edition of the World Equestrian Games made a presentation (Aachen (GER) and Kentucky (USA).

Two Workshops were also organised:

Development Workshop: Mrs Betty Wates of Jamaica (Group IV), Mr Manoj Jalan of India (Group VIII) and Gen. Manuel Rodriguez Velis of Chile (Group VI) made presentations on their development experiences.

Reining Workshop: Mr Dan Wall, National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Executive Director, made a general description of the new FEI discipline, and explained in detail how judging marks were given for each technical movements.

GUESTS

A number of organisations the FEI closely cooperates sent their representatives to Rabat. The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) as well as the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) set stands to present their organisation and provide participants with their latest documentation.

International Alliance of Equestrian Organisers, send several representatives to Rabat, including its President Mr Jan-Willem Koerner. The President of the International Jumping Riders Club, Mr Cayetano Martinez de Ijuro and the President of the International Dressage Riders Club Mrs Margit Otto Crépin, also attended the General Assembly.

Samsung, sponsor of the Nations Cup Series hosted the dinner of the Asian Equestrian Federation.

Cesare Garcia de Quevedo and Lucia Montanarella from the 2002 World Equestrian Games Organising Committee were available for meetings with
the National Federations from 25 through 27 April.

2003 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The FEI 2003 General Assembly will be held in Bahrain at a date to be confirmed

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