Offiial report is here.
Bids have been reopened.
Well done, those of you that spoke up for the horses,
I haven´t followed this. What was UAE doing?
Well, take your pick. Phantom races, races run at incredible speeds, chase vehicles, horse doping, videos of horses being beaten across the finish line, poor finish numbers, poor vetting, and numerous catastrophic injuries.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/10561596/Pippa-Cuckson-wins-award-for-coverage-of-doping-at-Sheikh-Mohammeds-Dubai-stables.html http://www.chronofhorse.com/category/tags/endurance
There are plenty of links in these articles. Be warned there is the photo somewhere in there of Splitters Creek Bundy with his two fractured cannon bones. It was that photo that made the FEI finally do something. The departure of the Sheikh’s wife from the presidency of the FEI was helpful as well.
it is about time!
Wasn’t there blatant switching of horses in the middle of races as well, or was that another country? (“Ringers” that were not especially alike so it was blatant that there was more than one horse.)
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8615369]
Well, take your pick. Phantom races, races run at incredible speeds, chase vehicles, horse doping, videos of horses being beaten across the finish line, poor finish numbers, poor vetting, and numerous catastrophic injuries.[/QUOTE]
Don’t forget my favorite: substituting a chestnut with a wide blaze for an all chestnut horse. A detail that seemed to escape the notice of all officials present. 
[QUOTE=Rallycairn;8617109]
Wasn’t there blatant switching of horses in the middle of races as well, or was that another country? (“Ringers” that were not especially alike so it was blatant that there was more than one horse.)[/QUOTE]
Here it is;http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/investigation-re-opens-sheikh-hamdan-horse-switching
[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8618206]
Don’t forget my favorite: substituting a chestnut with a wide blaze for an all chestnut horse. A detail that seemed to escape the notice of all officials present. :D[/QUOTE]
Yes, and when it was brought it to the attention of the FEI they did nothing about his placing in the event. Sheikh Mohammad’s (husband of FEI president at the time Haya) son was on that one.
Anyway…the chickens have finally come home to roost.
A petition (link on here somewhere!) asking the FEI to remove WEC from Dubai got over 6,000 signatures including some very high profile equestrians. Its impossible to imagine that this didnt help in the decision! UAE were given several “last chances” to adhere to the rules and improve horse welfare before this step was taken. The list of their abominations is pretty long … Of course the bad things will continue to happen but this is a big step forward,
I marshaled endurance races in the UAE as a teen to make money. I saw lots of national and international competition.
They were well run, there were rarely breakdowns (I can think of one in the years I did it - it was a heart attack). It continues to amaze me just how far they have fallen. It’s so sad.
So happy to hear the FEI did the right thing.
Appalling. Why would someone or some country go to such lengths to “win” when the entire horse world is aware of the cheating? Whom are they hoping to impress?
[QUOTE=Hermein;8647636]
Appalling. Why would someone or some country go to such lengths to “win” when the entire horse world is aware of the cheating? Whom are they hoping to impress?[/QUOTE]
Boggles the mind, doesn’t it?
