Clean Sport Policy

HorseShow.com's Statement on Drugs and Doping

HorseShow.com provides an online community where horse enthusiasts from around the world can come together to enjoy the experience of competing in shows. Because there is no stewarding mechanism available to monitor the use of prohibited drugs in horses and riders at the venues where the performance videos are made, HorseShow.com competitions are conducted on the "honor system." Every competitor that submits a performance video for inclusion in an online horse show agrees at the time of entering a class that they and their horses were not using prohibited substances at the time the video was made.

HorseShow.com is fully aligned with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) in promoting the principles of Clean Sport that are outlined on the FEI's Clean Sport website and asks that every HorseShow.com member that submits videos for inclusion in its online competitions respects these principles of fair play and puts the welfare of their horses as their highest priority.

From the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) "Clean Sport" website: www.feicleansport.org

Fair Play and Equestrian Sport

The equestrian disciplines, in common with other sports, depend heavily for their credibility, public acceptance and ultimate survival upon their adherence to the sportsman's code of fair play. Behind this precept lies the premise that the best man, woman or team should win fairly and squarely, having competed under even and equitable conditions and under rules that are themselves fair, realistic, and applied with scrupulous competence and even-handedness. No result can be meaningful or valid if it has not been achieved "on a level playing field."

Translating the abstract ideals of fair play into practice requires the collaboration of all those who participate in any way in the competition, i.e., not only the competitors, officials, organizers and federations, but also even the owners, trainers, spectators and media. Each of these groups has an important role to play in enhancing both the image and the reality of equestrian sport, by respecting the spirit of fair play as embodied in the rules and by insisting that the best interests of the sport and the welfare of the horse are placed above all else.

Welcome to FEICleanSport.org

A website dedicated to FEI anti-doping efforts

Equestrian sport derives its credibility and public acceptance from the concept of fair play, the idea that the best athlete or team should win fairly and squarely, having competed under equitable conditions and under rules that are fair and applied evenly with true competence. To be valid and meaningful, competition results must be achieved on a level playing field.

Doping and the inappropriate use of normal medications present a serious threat to the integrity and reputation of our sport, because they give athletes an unfair advantage and threaten the welfare of horses. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the entire equine community: athletes, veterinarians, grooms, managers, coaches, owners, officials, and our National Federations to join together to help combat doping and the inappropriate use of medications through better education and increased vigilance.

Equestrian sport is a unique case of a sport that involves animal and human athletes working together as a team. The FEI's Clean Sport Campaign is a coordinated effort at many levels to provide all our stakeholders with the information and tools necessary to address the issue of doping and inappropriate medication usage head on. We hope the campaign will also serve as a call to action to all to reaffirm their commitment to fair play and horse welfare. The concept of Clean Sport is about much more than a new list of prohibited substances and a new rulebook. It's also about better judgment, professionalization of the officials that regulate our sport and consistency of decisions. It's a complete package and its success depends on everyone playing their part to maintain that level playing field.

Athletes

As an Athlete, you have a crucial role to play in promoting fair play and safeguarding horse welfare in your sport. It is your responsibility to ensure that your horse competes without prohibited substances in its system. Whatever the responsibilities or actions of others, in the end it is the athlete who can most directly influence whether or not fair play is upheld by understanding the rules that govern your discipline, and by faithfully observing them, even when nobody is watching.

Clean Sport is everyone's responsibility. It's about fair play. It's about horse welfare. It's about best practice. It is Clean Sport. Play your part.