In the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s April list of administrative penalties, Silvio Mazzoni, grand prix show jumping rider and the newly appointed U.S. Eventing Team show jumping coach, was included.
Mazzoni, Reddick, Fla., was found to be in violation of Chapter 4, GR410, when he exhibited wife Jessie Mazzoni’s Little Zegg, a Dutch Warmblood mare, after she’d received flunixin (Banamine) in excess of the permitted level at the Ocala Premiere USEF Local Day Horse Show in Ocala, Fla., on Jan. 31. (The horse’s name is incorrectly spelled in the USEF document as Little Zeg.)
Silvio was fined $1,000, and Jessie, as the owner, had to return all ribbons and prizes and pay a $300 fee to the show.
Silvio, who’s been riding Little Zegg since Jessie gave birth to their second child, Mila, in January, said the mare wasn’t feeling well during the show, so they called the veterinarian. After a period of rest, she was able to compete.
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“She was colicking that morning, and the vets came and gave her Banamine,” he said. “We were at the horse show in Ocala, and [we filled out] the paperwork and everything.”
According to Kathy Meyer, senior vice president of marketing and communications for USEF, the case is now closed.
“This is a strict liability offense,” she said. “There was no finding of intent, and sanctions have been satisfied.”
