News

17. Dezember 2014 | SPORT

Stellungnahme FEIF von Doug Smith

Dear National Sport Leaders, Sport Committee Members, and Board of FEIF,

I have had two requests this morning to address the rumors on the Internet (horse tabloid pages and social media) that FEIF has changed the rules regarding allowed equipment.[nbsp] In particular, the combination of certain nosebands and bits.[nbsp] Instead of answering individual emails on this topic let me be clear about the situation.

What you are seeing on the Internet (other than the FEIF website) is not factual.[nbsp][nbsp] These are simply rumors that have no basis in fact.

The facts are as follows:

  • The combination of certain bits and nosebands as described on the Prohibited Equipment page remains unchanged.
  • There was a discussion of this topic in a joint Sport [&] Breeding Committee meeting in Malmö, Sweden at the end of October.[nbsp] The focus of the conversation was an attempt to find a way to come to an agreement on equipment rules between the two departments.[nbsp][nbsp]
  • The decision regarding the bit / noseband combinations rests in the Sport Department (the annual assembly of all national Sport Leaders) which has discussed this topic several times.
  • The Sport Committee does not have the authority to change the status of these equipment combinations since the Sport Department has taken "ownership" of the issue.
  • FEIF has received reports that Iceland has announced a unilateral change to their rules regarding bit [&] noseband combinations.[nbsp] FEIF does not support the idea of unilateral rule changes but cannot stop them outside WorldRanking tournaments.[nbsp]
  • All WorldRanking tournaments must follow all published international rules or the results will not be accepted.

I would encourage everyone to not give too much credit to the horse tabloid websites and social media.[nbsp] Nothing official is ever announced in the tabloids.[nbsp]

I will add this topic to the final agenda for the Sport Department meeting in Copenhagen next February.[nbsp] Absolutely nothing can change with regard to the published bit / noseband rules until after this meeting.

Best regards,

--Doug Smith


 Director of Sport

FEIF - International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations
FEIF is bringing people together in their passion for the Icelandic Horse.