PrintThere’s no FEI rule that says a horse must be disqualified during dressage competition for blood in his mouth, but there’s no protocol in place for a different outcome either.
She was ranked the No. 2 dressage rider in the world and had high hopes for an individual medal. But during the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Adelinde Cornelissen of the Netherlands was rung out after blood-colored foam appeared in Jerich Parzival’s mouth early on in her test.
A veterinary examination following the elimination revealed the horse had a small nick where he accidentally bit the tip of his tongue.
On March 11 it happened again. Germany’s Anja Plönzke and Le Mont d’Or were eliminated during their freestyle performance at the World Dressage Masters in West Palm Beach, Fla., when judges observed blood mixed in saliva around the gelding’s mouth.
Few things raise immediate concern about a horse’s welfare more than the sight of blood. And for horses and riders competing in the dressage arena, the presence of any trace of blood results in immediate elimination.
However, in recent weeks, the Fédération Equestre Internationale rules for dressage competition have come under international scrutiny for a lack of clear language detailing how to handle a situation where blood becomes present during a test. Articles in a recent issue of Horse International and Horse & Hound magazine have called into question the rule foundation upon which the decisions to eliminate these horses were made.
In The Interest Of Welfare
U.S. Equestrian Federation rules are very clear as to “how” to address the issue of blood and “who” must do it. DR124n states: “Evidence of blood on a horse in the competition arena shall be cause for elimination from the class by the judge at “C”.”
By comparison, the FEI Dressage Regulations take a more general approach. Article 430.7.6 states that a reason for elimination is if: “The performance is against the welfare of the Horse.”
However, this rule does not include specific reference to blood anywhere on the horse's body.
“It is correct that blood is not specifically mentioned in the FEI Rules for Dressage Events,” said Trond Asmyr, the FEI’s Director of Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage Department. “However, they provide the ground jury with the authority to eliminate horses for veterinary reasons, and clearly bleeding from the mouth is a veterinary issue. In the case of Parzival, the bleeding occurred during the test when the horse and rider were under the control of the judge at C. Elimination in these circumstances is immediate and is not appealable. It is accepted that blood in the mouth renders the horse unfit to compete, just as lameness does. Even if either is only temporary, the horse will still be eliminated. It is a general rule, and this is a specific application of it.
