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California Riding Magazine • August, 2010 The Gallop: |
On July 2 the International Equestrian Federation announced that the disqualification of McLain Ward’s horse Sapphire from the second round of the World Cup Show Jumping Final in April was incorrect. It was nice vindication for Ward, but too late, of course, to do anything about the opportunity he’d lost in Geneva, Switzerland. As we reported in our May issue, Ward had been atop the leaderboard going into the last day of competition. Hypersensitivity in Sapphire’s left foreleg was given as the cause for the disqualification. Ward and various USEF team members tried to convince the Ground Jury to reconsider its decision in time for Ward to continue the competition, but it was not to be. Sapphire’s disqualification remains in place because there is no way to re-stage the event, but Ward was immediately awarded the ranking points and prize money due from his second place finish in the Final’s second of three days of competition. “We’ve had full faith in the outcome of this unfortunate situation since the beginning,” says David O’Connor, president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation. “There could not have been a different result. The McLain/Sapphire combination has had and will continue to have the full support of the USEF. McLain has been the consummate gentleman, and our hats are off to him for the way he has handled this regrettable situation.” As a result of this investigation, the FEI has also decided to issue mandatory guidelines to be applied by the Veterinary Commissions appointed for FEI Events in order to strengthen the hypersensitivity protocol that was applied in Geneva. These guidelines were communicated to all national federations prior to the CHIO in Aachen, Germany. The U.S. Equestrian Federation, Ward and U.S. Team Veterinarian Tim Ober have stated that they do not agree with the FEI on the question of whether Sapphire displayed a level of sensitivity that justified her disqualification from the third round of the World Cup and also disagree with the process that followed. “In that McLain and Sapphire did not participate in the final round, it is impossible to know the outcome,” says a USEF press release. “In the spirit of competition everywhere and our sport specifically, Sapphire’s disqualification from the Final will not be challenged even though the USEF does not agree with the FEI that the mare displayed a level of sensitivity, nor do they agree with the process that resulted in The North American Riders Group offers the following statement: “The NARG believes that to advance the sport of show jumping, all decisions related to its future must put the sport itself above all else. This is an example of that. “McLain, the USEF and the FEI could have continued a prolonged legal battle, but the additional gains on either side would have been for personal gain or pride. “Instead, a positive resolution has been forged that publicly recognizes the decision was incorrect and, importantly, has resulted in a revised protocol for hypersensitivity. “Details of the revised protocol will be issued before the Aachen CHIO, but from what we understand already they will require more checks and balances which should eliminate any misuse of the protocol either by mistake or abuse of power. “Everyone in show jumping should benefit from this resolution.
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