New protocol for testing showjumping horses

With effect from 1 January 2009 thermographic and clinical examinations of horses during high-level showjumping competitions will come into force and has been approved for use by the FEI.

Directly after the first horse inspection or after the first competition, all four legs of all horses will be checked by thermography by an FEI appointed veterinarian. All collected data will be saved. After each thermographic examination, every horse will undergo a brief clinical examination of the legs, which will be carried out by two veterinarians appointed by the FEI specifically for this task. If as a result of this inspection there is a clear and obvious case of abnormal reaction during the clinical examination a recommendation will be made at this stage by the two FEI appointed veterinarians to the Ground Jury to have the horse in question removed from competition.

All horses with a temperature difference between collateral legs exceeding two degrees or with an extremely high or low temperature of both collateral legs and/or abnormal reactions during the clinical examination will be targeted for further checks during the event. At these bandage controls, which will take place when horses come out of the arena, other horses in addition to those targeted will be checked by thermography to establish a baseline average under the conditions that day. This would also provide the opportunity to eventually notice an increase of temperature in horses that had normal temperatures during the horse inspection.

Each thermographic examination will be followed by a clinical examination. However, if at any stage it is clear and obvious that a horse is unfit to continue a recommendation will be made by the two FEI appointed veterinarians to the Ground Jury to have the horse in question removed from competition.

If a clinical examination reveals an abnormal sensitivity confirmed by the two relevant FEI appointed veterinarians and/or visible changes on the skin of the leg(s), video evidence will be recorded for eventual use later in time. The two veterinarians performing the clinical examination are entitled to recommend to the Ground Jury through the FEI Veterinary Delegate that such a horse is denied further participation in the event in accordance with the FEI Veterinary Regulations.

Random spot checks (thermography and clinical examination) will be carried out in the stables.