FEI Describes TV Documentary on Helgstrand Dressage as Displaying “Distressing Images” But Did Not Announce Any Action
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Nov. 24, 2023
The FEI, the International Equestrian Federation that governs horse sports world wide, issued a statement Friday on what it described as “distressing images” displayed in Denmark’s TV2 documentary on Helgstrand Dressage training and sales operation but did not announce any action.
The FEI said it would “collaborate closely” with the Danish national federation that announced immediately after the documentary, “Operation X: Secrets of the Horse Billionaire” about the Andreas Helgstrand operation was televised Wednesday that it was barring Andreas from events under its control.
The FEI made no mention of the Danish federation’s statement that it would ask the FEI to “reassess” approval of a show jumping Nations Cup event scheduled for Uggerhalne, Denmark next May and organized by Helgstrand. As of Friday, the Uggerhalne event remained on the official FEI calendar.
“The FEI takes all allegations of horse abuse very seriously and at all times the welfare of the horse must be paramount,” the FEI said in its statement.
“The welfare of horses is at the core of our values and regulations, and any action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a horse constitutes a violation of our rules.
“Equestrian sport is built on a foundation of respect and welfare for our equine partners. Any deviation from these principles is unacceptable, and the FEI remains resolute in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of equine welfare, maintaining the integrity and wellbeing of our athletes–both equine and human.
“As this is an ongoing situation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.
“The FEI will however collaborate closely with the Danish National Federation, and there is a mutual recognition of decisions and any sanctions imposed. We will continue to communicate as the situation develops, and want to assure the equestrian community, our stakeholders and the public, that we are rigorously addressing this issue.
“It is for the governing bodies to assure that there are rules in place to sanction any welfare breaches and uphold horse welfare, and there is an onus on everyone within the equestrian community to adhere to such rules and best practices in equine care and welfare, in order to maintain equestrian sport in a strong, healthy and ethically sound way for the future.”
It referred to the decision by the FEI to create last year an Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission, an independent body tasked with addressing societal concerns related to the use of horses in sport, and to provide an independent evidence-based “framework” to guide FEI regulations policies and practices in relation to equine welfare and wellbeing.
The commission’s final report presented to the FEI General Assembly in Mexico City Nov. 22, the same day the TV2 documentary was first televised, will, the FEI said, “now form the basis of an action plan and roadmap for implementation to be discussed at the upcoming FEI Sports Forum in April 2024.”
“We are committed to ensuring that horses involved in sport experience positive welfare throughout their lives, and that the FEI’s regulations, policies and practices, as well as the wider community’s actions reflect these principles, and we will continue to address actions and behaviors that are in contradiction with our values,” the statement said.
