The FEI has asked EPONA.tv to testify in the investigation of the blue tongue incident in Odense.
"As you may know, the FEI has launched an investigation into Mr. Kittel’s warm-up of his horse in Odense and specifically his use of hyperflexion/roll kur. I understand that you are responsible for taking the videotape that has been posted by Epona TV on Youtube. In connection with the investigation, I would very much appreciate if you would send to me a copy of the video itself so that it can be watched directly on my computer or other hardware without going through Youtube.
In addition, since you obviously directly observed the warm-up, can you provide me with a statement of what you observed, for how long you observed it and what conclusions, if any, you drew from those observations?" reads an email from the FEI to Epona's editorial staff.
EPONA.tv has sent the following reply to the FEI:
As journalists, we are disinterested parties, regarding the FEI's investigation of this issue. Our observations and documentation have been put forward in our journalistic coverage, to which the FEI is welcome to refer.
A short while ago, we requested an interview with FEI Director of Sports, David Holmes, who will be visiting Copenhagen on the 4th of November in connection with the General Assembly of the WFBSH. We have received no reply from the FEI, so we would like to repeat our request at this time. We ask the FEI to take a stand on the correct and incorrect application of bits and other equipment in the preparation of sport horses for competition. Hyperflexion of the neck is part but not all of this issue.
One pertinent question in this regard is what happened to the 2008 statement by the FEI Veterinary Commission which stated that "The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse"? Why was this statement subsequently stricken from the minutes without further explanation? Why has the FEI chosen to ignore the recommendation from its own veterinary commission that the FEI should not support the practice? And why has the FEI chosen to shut down the welfare sub-committee, without replacing it with another body to safeguard the welfare of horses? Several times, EPONA.tv has tried to get the answers to these questions from the FEI.
This issue reaches far beyond Patrik Kittel's training of KWPN stallion, Watermill Scandic, which is only a single example of a widespread problem. It will be interesting to see if the FEI chooses to address the real issue, which is that the current state of equine welfare in equestrian sport is unsustainable, or if the federation opts to focus only on the single incident which happened to be caught on camera.
