If you read the FEI rules you will see that a recorded warning is not to be issued if abuse, by use of the whip, is involved. In that case a yellow card is used.
526 Abuse of Horse
526.1 Definition
Abuse of Horse means an action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or
unnecessary discomfort to a Horse included but not limited to:
a) Rapping.
b) Riding an exhausted Horse.
c) Excessive pressing of a tired Horse.
d) Riding an obviously lame Horse.
e) Excessive use of whip, bit and/or spurs.
f) Horses bleeding indicating excessive use of the whip and/or spurs.
g) Overriding: abuse of horse that does not necessarily induce visible marks
h) Serious case of dangerous riding.
If not directly witnessed by the Ground Jury, the incident must be reported as soon as possible
to the Ground Jury through the Secretary of the Organising Committee or Cross Country Control
Centre as appropriate. Where possible the report should be supported by a statement from one
or more witnesses.
The Ground Jury must decide if there is a case to be answered.
526.2 Warnings and Penalties
Any act or series of actions that in the opinion of the Ground Jury can be considered as abuse of
Horse will incur a Yellow Warning Card. In addition, depending on the circumstances of the case,
one or more of the following measures may also be imposed:
a) 25 penalties
b) Elimination
c) Fine
d) Disqualification.
All cases of riding an exhausted horse will incur a Yellow Warning Card and Disqualification and
the case will be referred to the FEI for further disciplinary action.
526.3 Use of the Whip
Excessive and/or misuse of the whip maybe considered abuse of Horse and will be reviewed case
by case by the Ground Jury according to but not limited to the following principles:
a) The whip is not to be used to vent an Athlete temper.
b) The whip is not to be used after elimination.
c) The whip is not to be used after a Horse has jumped the last fence on a course.
d) The whip is not to be used overhand, (i.e. a whip in the right hand being used on the left
flank).
e) The whip is not to be used on a Horse head.
f) The whip is not to be used more than two times for any one incident.
g) Multiple excessive uses of a whip between fences.
h) If a Horse’s skin is broken or has visible marks the use of whip will always be deemed to
be excessive.
527 Eventing Recorded Warning, Yellow Warning Cards
& Suspension
The following actions will automatically result in the following sanction for the Athlete:
-
An Eventing Recorded Warning will be systematically awarded for the following offence:
a) Athlete continues after clear 3 refusals, a fall, or any form of elimination.
b) Any other case of Dangerous Riding
c) Athlete not seeing a Vet or a doctor after a fall
d) Athlete leaving the venue after having retired, been eliminated or stopped during
the Cross Country Test without having their Horse checked by the Veterinary
Delegate
e) All cases of minor Blood on Horse caused by the Athlete either in the mouth or on
flanks from spurs as a minimum or by stronger sanction(s) (as provided for under
Art. 526.2).
f) for pressing a tired horse together with 25 penalties
-
Yellow Card Warning Card will be systematically awarded for the following offence:
a) All cases of excessive use of whip, as defined above, or by stronger sanction(s)
(as provided for under Art. 526.2).
b) Any other cases of Abuse of Horse
c) Excessive pressing of a tired horse
d) Riding an Exhausted horse coupled in addition to Disqualification
It all seems a bit odd.
