HSI defends decision to back EGM on FEI presidency

Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has defended its support for an EGM to vote on extending to three the number of terms the president of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) can serve.

The EGM will take place in April 29, following successful lobbying at the recent FEI general assembly that saw a petition signed by 100 of the FEI’s 132 national federations.

It was, in effect, a bid to ensure Princess Haya remained in office, though she has stressed she has no interest in doing so, and it came as a surprise, as it had been speculated in the run-up to the assembly the Jordanian royal would, in fact, be asked to resign over welfare concerns in endurance riding in the Middle East, along with doping controversies surrounding her husband Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.