PrintThe Fédération Equestre Internationale legal department has announced that no formal claim against Patrik Kittel will be submitted to the FEI tribunal.
The FEI launched an investigation into Kittel’s training methods after a video of his warm-up on Watermill Scandic at a World Cup qualifier in Odense, Denmark, was made and distributed on the Internet. Witness statements and video evidence were thoroughly reviewed, and the investigation found no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Kittel were excessive.
Kittel did receive a warning letter regarding the appropriate and inappropriate use of warm-up techniques and has been made aware that his actions will be watched very carefully going forward to ensure there are no subsequent violations of FEI rules relating to horse welfare.
The FEI is conducting a major review and analysis of its current policy on pre-competition warm-up activities, with an emphasis on hyperflexion. A working group has been set up with a specific brief to define the term “prolonged and excessive” in order to provide more precise guidelines for stewards.
This issue relates to the welfare of the horse in general and not just to dressage and will be discussed in detail at a round table on Feb. 9, where all stakeholders will be represented.
