FebruaryDecember 2010 2009 Lookingforward February 2010 Looking forward... Soweto Equestrian Foundation Inspiring the Future – Page 40 The Other Side of... Edward Gal – Page 36 FEI Awards 2009 Celebrating Heroes – Page 22 rolex rolex fei fei world world cup cup™™ jumping jumping octoberoctober 2009 2009 to to april april 2010 2010 allall roads roads lead lead to to geneva geneva MinutesMinutes before before the the start start of of each each competition,competition, riders riders walk walk the the course, course, methodicallymethodically pacing pacing off off the the exact exact distance distance between between oneone jump jump and and the the next. next. The The ritual ritual is is something something to to beholdbehold as as precision precision defi defi nes nes the the Rolex Rolex FEI FEI World World Cup™ Cup™ Jumping.Jumping. Season-long Season-long trials trials put put riders riders and and horses horses throughthrough an an artful artful but but challenging challenging test. test. These These intense, intense, indoorindoor events events are are qualifying qualifying rounds rounds that that bring bring the the bestbest of of the the best best to to Geneva Geneva to to compete compete in in the the Rolex Rolex FEIFEI World World Cup™ Cup™ Final. Final. A A conclusion conclusion that that is is easier easier saidsaid than than done. done. OYSTEROYSTER PERPETUAL PERPETUAL DATEJUST DATEJUST FEIFocus_FEI_09_09.inddFEIFocus_FEI_09_09.indd 1 1 24.09.0924.09.09 16:22 16:22 Editorial Welcome by the FEI Secretary General Note from the FEI President The FEI Extraordinary General Assembly voted The year 2009 was a busy, productive yet challenging against the adoption of the new Statutes for year for the FEI. the restructuring of the FEI Bureau. The main It was a year of unforgettable sporting performances. objective of the proposed reform had been to Germany’s Meredith Michaels Beerbaum and Shutterfly won one of the world’s most coveted trophies – the Rolex achieve a smaller, regionally balanced Board, FEI World Cup™ Final – for the second consecutive time based on competency. Given that the adoption and Meredith was crowned the first ever FEI Athlete of the Year. Michael Jung (GER) and Oliver Townend (GBR), of the new statutes did not receive the required two inspiring young champions became the brilliant two thirds majority, the FEI will continue to be winners of the HSBC FEI World Cup™ Eventing Final and the HSBC FEI Classics™ respectively. Awe inspiring governed by a 19-member Bureau rather than performances by the new Dressage star Moorlands the proposed seven-member Board. Totilas ridden by Edward Gal (NED) at the Alltech FEI European Dressage Championship changed the face of the sport by taking it to an unprecedented level of excel- An entire day was devoted to sessions with lence and excitement, while France proved that they still a number of pertinent themes and guest had the determination and team spirit to reclaim the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™ in its 100th year anniversary. speakers on the topics of Youth, Development, London Olympic Games 2012, Alltech FEI It was also the year when five heroes of the equestrian world became the first recipients of the new FEI Awards Welcome to the first edition of FEI FOCUS for 2010. World Equestrian Games™ & Peden Blood- celebrated at the General Assembly in Copenhagen, The last few months leading up to this momentous stock, and Clean Sport. These sessions were endorsed and led by the public with over 1,300 nominations worldwide. year have been very busy at Headquarters with the comprehensively attended and allowed for preparations for the General Assembly and the year debate and discussion on the many themes It became the year to celebrate our future, with the to come. I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight we must face as a community and I hope launch of the FEI’s first ever Year of Youth in August 2009. A celebration which will continue well into the some of the important debates, decisions and ses- they provided the National Federations with new year with the first ever Youth Olympic Games in sions that took place in Copenhagen and what these information, ideas and tools. I would like to August 2010 in Singapore. We are fortunate to have a generation of hard-working and ambitious young entail for the future. thank all the guest speakers for their time and people and we fully intend to listen to them and contribution to the General Assembly and find innovative ways to celebrate their talent throughout and beyond the FEI Year of Youth. The FEI General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in sport as a whole. favour of the new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled In 2009, the General Assembly approved the new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations and Medication Regulations which will ensure the welfare We will continue to do our utmost to provide the recommendations of Commissioners Professor Arne of the horse and guarantee a fair playing field. you, the equestrian community, the National Ljungqvist and Lord Stevens by a resounding 95-5 vote. A series of far reaching recommendations – part of Federations and all our stakeholders a valuable With that vote, our entire community indicated its clear and unwavering commitment to Clean Sport. the Clean Sport Campaign led by the Ljungqvist and tailored service in 2010 and I look and Stevens Commissions – were also adopted by a forward to sharing more news and some of The path ahead remains to be forged, and a lot to be achieved in order to ensure the future and unity of our massive majority. You will find a thorough review of the great achievements around the world in sport. This very same path will also be one of extra- the Clean Sport campaign in this edition of FEI FOCUS. future editions of FEI FOCUS. ordinary sporting achievements as the world prepares for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™, just eight months away. Alex McLin HRH Princess Haya FEI Secretary General FEI President 04 05 Table of Contents Impressum – February 2010 Circulation 3,000 Contact / Advertising FEI – Fédération Equestre Internationale Frequency Quarterly Olivia Robinson Gordon Editor in Chief Olivia Robinson Gordon Avenue de Rumine 37, CH-1005 Lausanne Design / Art Tasmanie.ch T +41 21 310 47 47, F +41 21 310 47 60 Printing SRO Kundig, Geneva www.fei.org Cover© Liz Gregg [email protected] 08 Through the Looking Glass 20 Why the Long Face? 36 The other Side of... 53 A Life in a Day Photos by Arnd Bronkhorst Exclusive interview with Anthony Head Edward Gal Lucinda Arsenio, NF Liaison Officer 14 One Day... 22 FEI Awards 2009 40 Soweto Equestrian 54 Postcard from Russia Portraits of the next generation Celebrating Passion & Dedication Foundation Interview with Dmitry Titov Inspiring the future generations 16 Be Seen Be Heard 26 Clean Sport 56 Alltech Tips Report by A Comprehensive Review 46 Eventing Highlights The hidden wealth in yeast FEI Youth Correspondent, Swaziland 2009 Season wrap up 34 Globetrotter 58 The Road to 2010 18 World Horse Welfare 50 Memory Lane Ready to host the World FEI talks to Roly Owers by Vittorio de Sanctis 40 36 46 06 07 Through the Looking Glass Arnd Bronkhorst © Arnd Bronkhorst Arnd Bronkhorst (NED) is a ren- owned equestrian photographer, having circumnavigated the globe on many occasions to photograph horses in competition, training and in their natural habitat. He has a keen interest in the story behind the news and captures the aesthetics of the emotion in his subjects, whether it be horses or people. As you will see over the coming pages (and in the “Other Side of” section) Arnd’s trademark is synonymous with breathtaking and unconventional angles. Arnd grew up among the 60 horses at his parents' riding school and for many years also competed in Eventing, although he never showed the same determination and passion as his mother and sisters. Following his photography studies at the Royal Arts Academy in the Hague, Arnd took the rather natural lead to specialise in equine photography. Knowing horses and the way in which they communicate as well as knowing how to approach and work with “horse people”, as he calls them, was an invaluable tool when he set out on his chosen path. Since 1986 he has worked for leading Dutch Horse magazines and has received international recognition for his equine photography business. He runs a huge online image database www.arnd.nl where you will find over 115,000 equestrian images from around the world, combining sport and artistic images. The database is updated on a daily basis and is supplied by a number of photographers worldwide ensuring a continuous diversity of coverage. 08 09 Through the Looking Glass Arnd Bronkhorst 10 11 Through the Looking Glass Arnd Bronkhorst 12 13 One Day… Portraits of the next generation Indonesia’s 16 year old Reshwara Radinal is a committed young rider who recently Currently a Junior at Texas A&M University, 20 year old Karen Shull (USA) has spent most of travelled to Chile last November as winner of zone 9 for the FEI World Jumping Challenge Final. her life around horses, and the sport of Eventing, and when she’s not doing that, you will probably The two top riders from each of the ten zones received invitations to Chile where they competed find her sailing her Hobie Catamaran around the lake or coastline with friends on the weekend. on borrowed horses in an international competition atmosphere. Who is your role model ? Mark Todd was al- ways my riding idol. The first instructor I had told me to pick out a professional similar to myself.