In what is turning out to be yet another FEI fiasco, the Progressive List of permitted drugs for horses in competition, which was voted on and approved at the General Assembly less than a month ago, has been put on hold till April 2010.

The Progressive List is what has caused great anxiety amongst vets throughout the world and in line with the vets the National Federations are asking for this issue to be looked at again.

The FEI have issued a statement that the implementation of the Progressive List will be held over until April 2010 when the issue will be discussed again at length.

Horse Sport Ireland's CHairman, Joe Walsh, has welcomed this decision in a short statement to this effect.

The American Federation (USEF) has made a complete and involved statement saying "The addition of certain NASIDs to the permitted medication list will be new to many NFs and an education and communication plan needs to be implemented before the rule takes effect. FEI laboratories need to adopt standard identical protocols for testing so as to assure a level playing field for all athletes throughout the world.

The USEF is also concerned that the premature implementation of this new rule may impact team participation at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010. Without a carefully prepared education and communication program, a premature implementation of this rule is risky and has high potential of causing a series of unintended consequences."

The USEF have also stated that they believe the Progressive List is a "step forward in a commitment to horse welfare" which would differ perhaps to much of the information coming from the Veterinarians around the world, who do not see permitting drugs in competition to be in the best interests of the horse.

The USEF then went on to say "The General Assembly of the FEI has made its decision but, we strongly encourage the FEI to delay implementation until such time that the laboratory procedures are in place and a communication and education plan has been launched."

The Australian Federation (EA) have said in their statement that they have "always supported the introduction of an improved Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication regime and voted for new regulations and the adoption of the Commissions’ recommendations at the recent FEI General Assembly in Copenhagen. On the other hand, I (Paul Cargill, President EA)spoke up strongly against the proposal to permit the medication of horses during competition.”

Cargill then stated "The FEI had not allowed adequate time for debate and dialogue on the issues arising from the ‘Progressive List’, which was communicated to National Federations only days before the Assembly. We are now seeking the science to come to a solution that ensures that the welfare of the horse is respected and the safety of athletes is not compromised. We will then make submissions and are confident that the ‘Progressive List’ as it stands is not introduced. In any case, we will continue to rigorously enforce current rules in Australia.”

If the Progressive List was brought about to hopefully change the world view that equestrian sport is "dirty" I fail to see how allowing substances such as NSAID's will change this view when looking at the 2009 list of Tribunal Hearings where 23 cases were heard and only 3 related to the use of "bute", while the rest were substances which are on the "banned for use in horses" list in the main.

Dr Leo Jeffcott, former FEI Veterinary Surgeon headed a list of 15 top veterinarians around the world, who wrote to the FEI asking for this decision to be reconsidered as they do not believe it is in the best interest of the horse.

They have stated that the "adoption of the progressive list would have a serious and negative effect on welfare and profound repercussions for equestrian sport".

"National legislation in many European countries prohibits any medication in competition animals. This does not apply in parts of the US where 'permitted levels' are more common.

"A 'controlled restricted' list will surely be unenforceable where it is in conflict with the national laws of a country," the vets pointed out.

There will no doubt be continued debate on the use of selected NSAID's amongst other drugs in competition and one can only hope that the implied threat from many Federations of a breakaway from the FEI if the Progressive List is adopted is nothing more than rumblings.

Equestrian sport is already under threat of removal from Olympic Games schedules and with the continued positive testing at Olympic levels, it becomes a stronger and stronger reality which would be disasterous for the sport.

Many use the arguement that there is doping in many other sports and this doesn't see them removed from Olympic competition but this arguement is flawed because equestrian sport sees the horse at risk with no right to say "no thanks, I don't want to take those drugs".

Animal Rights people around the world have been trying to stop horse sports for many years - let us not give them the ammunition they need!