Dateline: Lucerne, Switzerland - FEI Headquarters

The following arrived from FEI headquarters regarding Jessica Kurten's - pictured below - positive swab from La Baule Grand Prix.

"The FEI has received confirmation that the B sample of Jessica Kürten's horse Castle Forbes Maike yielded a positive test result to the prohibited substance etoricoxib, after being sampled at the CSIO 5* La Baule (FRA) held on 10-13 May 2007, an event in which she had placed first. This substance is classified as a "Medication Class A" substance under the FEI's Equine Prohibited List, meaning that Ms. Kürten may accept an administrative penalty including disqualification from the event, and a fine."

Editors note: Etoricoxib is a new generation of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that selectively block the action of COX-2, which means that it effectively stops the production of inflammatory prostaglandins, without stopping the production of prostaglandins that protect the stomach and intestines. It therefore reduces pain and inflammation, but is less likely than traditional NSAIDs to cause side effects on the stomach and intestines.

In further investigations into this drug we found the following warning which makes it a strange drug to use on a horse jumping at Grand Prix level - "This medicine may cause fatigue and dizziness. If affected, caution is required when driving or operating machinery due to the possible reduction in physical and/or mental ability." This would make it a strange choice of drug surely!

Dateline: International Showjumping - Samsung Super League Series

The Super League series for showjumping has been a hugely successful series which brings the very elite of the sport to the forefront. Eight countries are represented in this A league and each year the team on the bottom of the ladder is relegated to the B League (FEI Nations Cup series), with the winner of the B League upgrading to the Samsung Super League.

Germany has been dominant since the first Super League series held in 2003 and have never placed lower than third. They have just completed back to back wins with their success in 2007 following on from 2006.

The USA joined the Super League in 2004 where they finished 4th and in 2005 they won the league, finishing 2nd in 2006 and 4th again this year.

The Irish had mixed fortunes - coming off a sensational Nations Cup year into the Super League where they finished 3rd in the opening season of 2003 but from there things got tough for the Irish when they fought off relegation in 2004, 2005 and finally in 2006 finished on the bottom of the league to be relegated.to the Nations Cup series for the 2007 season.

But 2007 has been kinder to the Irish as they look set to regain their place in the Super League - with just two rounds to go in the FEI Nations Cup league they are sitting in first place. Currently it seems to be impossible to get "official" results from Zagreb but after that round the Irish are sitting with 4 wins, 4 seconds and other placings which sees them in the lead - there are two rounds to go with the series finishing in Argentina on 7th November.

The Super League series is complete now - the leaderboard table is:

Germany - 67.75 points
Netherlands - 37.50 points
Switzerland - 34.75 points
USA - 33.50 points
Belgium - 31.7 5points
Great Britain - 31.50 points
Sweden - 28.50 points
France - 27.25 points - relegated to Nations Cup league for 2008.

Dateline: Victoria, Australia

With the "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup, going ahead on the first Tuesday in November, the Victorian Branch of the EFA is also up and running with events again for a nation starved of non-racing competition.

Some suggest this is foolishness in the extreme while others are delighted with the decision. The continuing debate in Australia surrounds whether the country should still be in total lockdown for all horse movement, while the government insists that their vaccination program makes it all ok to run racing.

Non-racing horses have not been approved for vaccination and this includes Australian Elite Squad horses who wish to leave Australia to prepare for Beijing. It is a requirement of export from Australia that horses must be vaccinated for EI but currently it appears that this is not possible as all available vaccines are being used for the racing industry. (Ed note: we are currently waiting on answers as to whether this information is correct or not.)

As the virus creeps closer to the New South Wales/Victorian border there is concern as to how long it will take to arrive across the "natural" border created by the Murray River and despite the constant talk from the government that all is well, because the race horses have been vaccinated the non-roacing population feel they are continuing to get the raw end of the stick!

The Victorian Branch of the Equestrian Federation of Australia has sent the following email:

"To help get the sport moving again - The EFA Jumping Sub-committee are to run three shows at Werribee Park.

The dates for these are

EFA Jumping Series No 1 November 11th
EFA Jumping Series No 2 Nov ember 18th
EFA Jumping Series No 3 December 2nd

The shows will run for one day and consist of Two Rings with classes ranging from 75cm through to 1.30m.

And will operate under the EI guidelines set out by the EFA & DPI.

Entry Forms for the first show must be received by 31st October -. No payment is required until day of event. Your entry form must be accompanied by the Horse Identification Form & the Waiver Form. The officials have donated their time so all entrants are expected to help out on the day to run the show as a condition of entry. We thank our sponsors Ken Weir and Assocs and Insyte Consulting for their assistance.

Please familiarise yourself with the DPI requirements so that as a sport we act responsibly to keep EI out of Victoria

Tonimbuk Jumping Shows Oct/Nov/Dec

Tonimbuk Equestrian Park is holding a series of Jumping training days and shows.

Please check their website

TRAINING DAY - 20th & 21st October EVENT 1. - NOVEMBER - 3rd 4th, 5th & 6th

EVENT 2. - NOVEMBER - 23rd, 24th & 25th EVENT 3. - DECEMBER - 8th, 9th & 10th

Further Jumping Dates

EFA Senior Squad 8th/9th December

EFA Jumping Interschool 14th December at Werribee- School comp Grades E-A

Young Rider Squad Training weekend 15th/16th December

Treehaven Xmas Show 22/23rd December

Junior/YR SJ Champs 29/30th December incorporating State Titles for Juniors, YR & also International Team Challenge with NZ.

Don’t forget Toorak College are holding an Interschool on October 26th 2007

** Please NOTE: Shepparton World Cup is not cancelled at this stage

If any further shows are planned, could organisers please let me know and I can add them to the above list.

Thank you,
Annie White
Jumping Coordinator
EFA VIC - email

So it appears from the above correspondence that Victoria is up and running with plenty of events - hopefully the Murray River will do its job and stop the virus entering Victoria!