Concern and confusion as FEI bans bit utilized by prime riders

Stewards’ completely different and contradictory selections a couple of sure bit at worldwide competitors have highlighted the gray areas and inconsistencies that may exist in FEI guidelines.

On the Kentucky Three-Day Occasion in April, Canadian rider Katie Malensek was eradicated from the four-star in relation to her horse Landjaeger’s Myler mixture bit. A month later, in Belgium, British showjumper Charlotte Penny was pulled up over the identical bit, worn by Landown Cruise On Air.

Katie advised H&H she was eradicated as a result of one steward judged the bit to have been modified – Charlotte advised H&H she was solely allowed to leap as soon as the bit had been modified. Each stated FEI stewards had beforehand authorized the bit because it was.

Katie appealed her elimination at Kentucky, however the FEI Tribunal dominated that her attraction was inadmissible.

“It’s not settled in my thoughts,” Katie advised H&H. “There have been some questionable selections made.”

Katie stated she had requested an FEI steward the earlier weekend to verify Landjaeger’s bit at an occasion and it was authorized, and no points had been raised on the cross-country tack verify at Kentucky. However after their showjumping, Katie was pulled up by a steward, who stated she thought the bit was unlawful.

“She was holding a ebook of images from the FEI tack app,” Katie stated. “The sub-category was modifications or additions to the bit, and there have been photos of bits with rope or vet wrap, loopy get-ups. There have been two photos exhibiting Myler combos with numerous issues modified and she or he was evaluating one to mine saying, ‘That’s why it’s unlawful.’”

Katie stated her bit was because it was manufactured, with no variations. She stated though different stewards disagreed the bit had been modified, the one objecting was adamant and known as the president of the bottom jury away from the top-20 showjumping to point out him the photographs, after which he agreed to the elimination. An on-site attraction was rejected.

“It felt like nobody knew what they had been doing,” Katie stated, including that different riders that day had been utilizing the identical bit however not pulled up. “I defined why it was authorized, it was off the shelf and had been cleared by an FEI official – however the identical individuals take a look at the attraction, the president and vice-president of the bottom jury.

“I’m fearful about different occasions and folks attempting to get Paris qualification, as different stewards are approving this bit. I need everybody to know – if it might probably occur to me, it might probably occur to anybody. It’s luck of the draw and that’s not the way it ought to be.”

Charlotte was allowed to leap as soon as her bit had been modified

Charlotte advised H&H she had heard what occurred to Katie, so checked with an FEI steward in Belgium and was advised her bit was authorized.

“However once I was within the chute on the best way into the grand prix, the steward stated, ‘I can’t allow you to in as somebody’s come over to say the bit’s unlawful’. She stated the rope was the difficulty,” she stated.

“We needed to reduce the bit to items to adapt it to how they wished it. The foundations stated the bit was high-quality and it hadn’t been tailored, however the steward stated if I wished to make use of it, I needed to adapt it.”

Charlotte stated she reduce off the rope a part of the mix bit and acquired two flash straps to connect, and this was allowed.

“That fully modified the best way the bit labored,” she stated. “The horse didn’t know what was occurring. I used to be so confused. Nobody is aware of the rule and it’s ridiculous that the opinion appears to vary between stewards. Stewards in England have stated it’s high-quality, however I’m going to Bolesworth quickly and I don’t know what to do.”

An FEI spokesperson advised H&H: “The mix bit in query just isn’t permitted at FEI competitions, as per the FEI guidelines/FEI tack app. It belongs to the group of bits included within the app beneath objects or adjustments added to bits. This listing covers bits which were modified from their major idea by the producer and or athlete, which have an effect on its perform (i.e. leverage motion, extreme stress on delicate areas by means of diminished space of contact over the nasal bone).

“We want to reiterate that the photographs within the app function examples of a few of the tack and the listing just isn’t exhaustive. The precise bit in query might consequently not be represented among the many pictures, but it surely nonetheless belongs to the identical group of bits.

“The elimination of the athlete was a subject of play determination, taken by the president of the bottom jury taken in step with the FEI guidelines/tack app. We depend on the FEI officers current to use the FEI guidelines/tack app.”

Monty Stuart-Monteith, managing director of UK Myler distributor Shaws Equestrian, advised H&H the scenario could be very irritating.

“We’ve been promoting this bit since 2001 and it’s extraordinarily profitable because it divides the rein stress over a number of areas to alleviate the horse’s tongue,” he stated. “Nobody from the FEI seems prepared to have interaction with Myler about the way it works; in the event that they understood, they’d realise it’s in all probability the kindest bit they’ve seen. The way in which it was used at Kentucky is strictly the way it was designed; there appears to be poor communication, a lack of awareness, and an unwillingness to amass it.”

Olympic hopefuls Kitty King and Vendredi Biats have been affected; Kitty had ridden the 15-year-old within the bit and stated at Bramham it had been a problem to interchange it.

“We had been made conscious when the rider at Kentucky bought eradicated however they let two others compete; clearly, they don’t even know what they’re doing,” she stated. “Badminton trot-up day, on the the briefing, that’s when the riders had been advised in the event that they had been to run in that bridle, they’d be eradicated… it’s a little bit of a shambles.”

Kitty and Vendredi Biats received the CCI4*-S at Bramham in a special bit.

You may also be involved in:

Horse & Hound journal, out each Thursday, is full of all the most recent information and experiences, in addition to interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and coaching recommendation. Discover how one can take pleasure in the journal delivered to your door each week, plus choices to improve your subscription to entry our on-line service that brings you breaking information and experiences in addition to different advantages.

H&H information editor

Eleanor is an skilled journalist who spent over eight years working for native and nationwide newspapers earlier than becoming a member of H&H as information editor in March 2016. Obsessed with equine welfare and exposing the reality, Eleanor has reported on all facets of the trade, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage guidelines to mules. Her sport of alternative is showjumping, through which she competes her personal horses, and she or he additionally enjoys reporting at native leaping reveals by means of to worldwide championships.