[RC] FEI WELFARE SUB-COMMITTEE INAUGURAL MEETING IN BADMINTON (GBR) - Steph TeeterFEI WELFARE SUB-COMMITTEE INAUGURAL MEETING IN BADMINTON (GBR) Recognising that there is an increased worldwide focus on animal welfare the Bureau of the FEI recently decided to appoint a sub-Committee on equine welfare to focus on welfare issues affecting the competition horse. An inaugural meeting of interested parties closely involved with international equestrian sport took place at Badminton Horse Trials on 5 May. The following appointments to the sub-Committee have been made. Chairman: Dr. Andrew Higgins (GBF), member of the FEI Veterinary Committee and recently-appointed Chairman of the Medication Advisory Group. Members: Dr Michael Düe (GER), former member of the FEI Veterinary Committee and veterinarian to Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (German Equestrian Federation); Professor Catherine Kohn (USA) former Deputy Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee and Consulting Veterinarian to the United States Three-day Eventing Equestrian Team; Lord Carew, FEI Honorary Bureau Member and former Chairman FEI Eventing Committee; Mr Tony Tyler (GBR), Director of Operations at the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH). The Coordinator of the group will be the Head of the FEI?s Veterinary Department, Dr Frits Sluyter and the Secretary is Mr Alex Atock, former Head of the FEI Veterinary Department and ILPH consultant. The meeting was joined by Mr James Wolf, United States Equestrian Team Manager; Mr John McEwen, Director of Equine Sports Science and Medicine at the British Equestrian Federation and formerly team veterinarian to the British Jumping and Dressage teams; Mr Paul Farrington, current member FEI Veterinary Committee and former veterinarian to the British Event Team; Mr David Muir, Equine Consultant to the RSPCA; and Brigadier John Smales, Chief Executive ILPH. There was an open discussion as to how best to present welfare in a meaningful context to benefit the many FEI disciplines. The sub-Committee intends to provide a focal point for dialogue between National Federations, others with an interest in the welfare of the competition horse and the FEI. In principle the group will hold an annual meeting and schedule additional meetings when required. The Chairman commented: ?Welfare will always be a difficult subject requiring judgement. Our aim is not to whitewash real issues but rather to tackle them in a constructive and meaningful manner for the benefit of horses and equestrian sport as a whole?. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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