The International Jumping Riders’ Club (IJRC) has released a statement to make clear that it believes officials should be able to use their discretion in dealing with cases of blood on horses.
The IJRC is proposing amended blood rules, which would mean that FEI sanctions given to riders would be “appropriate to the violation”.
The official would take into account whether the violation was voluntary or involuntary, as well as any aggravating or extenuating factors, and whether or not it was a first offense.
“If these aspects are not considered, we cannot describe it as ‘sporting justice’. ‘Sporting injustice’ would be a more appropriate term,” said an IJRC spokesman.
The FEI’s current blood rules state automatic elimination if a horse’s flank is bleeding. A new protocol for dealing with such cases was introduced by the FEI in July 2016, following the controversial blood rule elimination of Bertram Allen from the December, 2015 Olympia Horse Show Grand Prix.
But the IJRC says that the “application of a norm should be preceded by a thorough and accurate consideration of the implied consequences and on the appropriate preparation of judges and stewards”.
“In addition, a norm that dictates the immediate disqualification of a rider/horse should be accompanied by specific procedures during the implementation of the rule,” the spokesman added. “In the case of the blood rule, these procedures arrived a little late.”
The IJRC pointed out that in a constitutional state, such as Switzerland where the FEI is based, laws or norms are decreed, but then judges examine each case on its individual merits.
“Punishing those who fail to respect the welfare of a horse is certainly right,” said the IJRC spokesman. “However, a norm cannot deal out summary justice. General principles of legal rights must be respected in every case.
“Our proposal would have the effect of presuming the rider’s innocence in the FEI court.
“In some countries (Switzerland, Italy and France) disqualification for abusing a horse, as stated under the current norm, leads to the automatic opening of a penal prosecution by the state court.
-Source: IJRC