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NEWS

On this site you will find news and information about latest discussions concerning the training and welfare of horses ISES is engaged in globally.

 

March 2010

ISES calls for nominations for 2 important and exciting Council positions. Applications close by 31st March, 2010.

This person will be responsible for developing working links with the international equine veterinary community to enable the Society to influence decision making regarding matters related to equitation science and for working closely with the Research Officer to disseminate research relevant to the equine veterinary community and find potential sources of funding for research.

For further details, please click here ...

This person will be working with the Communications Officer to promote the work of the Society and its Local Organising Committees, to develop a public relations strategy including increased media presence and to create strong relationships with key people in appropriate media.

For further details, please click here ...

Following a round table conference of the FEI held the 9th of February 2010 at the Headquarters in Lausanne, the group came to the consensus that Hyperflexion/Rollkur is achieved through ‘aggressive force’ and is therefore not acceptable. In contrast, the group announced that the technique known as Low, Deep and Round (LDR) is acceptable as it is achieved without undue force. The FEI is now studying a range of measures, including the use of video footage to assist stewards in sanctioning any form of aggressive riding during the warm-up.  

ISES is in full support of the FEI’s decision but emphasises more than ever the need to collect scientific data, including rein tension data to find an objective definition of ‘aggressive force’  which will help to confirm or disprove observations made by stewards.

Read the letter posted to the FEI here…

December 2009

ISES has previously sent a letter to the United States Equestrian Federation (see below) in support of the proposal to allow bitless bridles in dressage competitions. Jan Ladewig, honorary fellow of ISES and equine researcher with a keen interest in horse training and welfare has provided his full support of such a proposal. However, he has raised concerns that riding bitless may not per se solve problems connected to the use of bits and may even compromise the rider's safety if training is done incorrectly.

Read the full letter posted to ISES here…

November 2009

The release of a video footage from the World Cup Dressage Competition in Odense, Denmark, has sparked the hyperflexion debate worldwide. In the light of this debate, ISES approached the FEI to promote how equitation science can give an objective insight into the hyperflexion issue. ISES proposed the shift in attention from the horse’s neck to the rider’s hands: that the primary welfare issue was relentless rein tension in any head and neck posture on the horse’s mouth. Rein tension can be measured objectively via telemetric rein tension meters. This could permit an assessment of lightness or relentless pressures applied in warm-up prior to dressage competitions as well as during the competition itself.     

Read the letter to the FEI here...

ISES received a positive response from the FEI regarding the hyperflexion issue. ISES had proposed, in a previous letter, the use of rein tension meters during warm-up to allow an objective insight into the hyperflexion debate. In response to that proposal, the FEI has stated its interest to thoroughly investigate the potential use of this technology and has, therefore, invited ISES to provide further information on the conduct of such trials.

Read the response from the FEI here...

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) proposes a rule change to permit the use of the crossunder bitless bridle for dressage competitions in the USA. ISES is in full support of this proposal as there is adequate scientific evidence that bitless bridles have a positive effect on horse welfare.

Read the letter posted to the USEF here...

The ISES has received the response from FEI President Princess Haya regarding the disbandment of the FEI Welfare Sub-Committee with disappointment as it does not become clear HOW the welfare debate will be handled in the near future and HOW equine welfare experts will be approached.

Read the response from the FEI here...

September 2009

The FEI has disbanded the Welfare Sub-Committee of its Veterinary Committee. ISES has been concerned about how the Federation will assure the welfare of horses if there is no such specific welfare body. Therefore ISES posted a letter to the FEI’s president, Princess Haya, addressing the need for such as body to emerge from the FEI’s current structure in Lausanne.

Read the correspondence between ISES and FEI here...