THE spotlight is back on equine welfare in the United Arab Emirates after six horses have now been killed while competing in endurance events in the past month alone.

FEI officials have described the trend as “very worrying” and have pledged a thorough review of the endurance rules.

An FEI spokesperson confirmed to The Irish Field yesterday that five horses have died in national events (CEN) and one in an international event (CEI) in Dubai.

The latest fatality was reported at the CEN 100kms ride in Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) this week when the 10-year-old gelding El Nize Shareef, who underwent a change of owner just days beforehand, died while competing at the event.

Two horses sustained catastrophic injuries that required euthanasia in a 40kms novice qualifier on January 23rd.

That comes on top of the death of two horses at DIEC on January 4th and another one on January 7th.

Manuel Bandeira de Mello, FEI Director of Endurance, said: “The two latest equine fatalities during a national event the Dubai Equestrian Club national event (CEN) held at the Dubai International Endurance City (DIEC) on January 23rd are very worrying, and there is an urgent need to understand from a veterinary and scientific perspective what is causing these catastrophic injuries.

“As I’ve said before, it’s clear that over-training is probably the major cause and respect of rest periods is also crucial, but the new senior management at the UAE National Federation is very much more hands-on than the previous regime and we will continue to work closely with them to address these serious issues.

“Additionally, the Endurance Committee will be conducting a thorough review of the Endurance rules, which will include looking at ages of athletes, both human and equine, rest periods, potentially additional sanctions for trainers, and a review of the elite athletes system.”

The sport’s world governing body had excluded DIEC from FEI competition from April to November 2016 amid growing concern over equine welfare in UAE endurance.

The FEI also took the decision to move the 2016 world championships event, originally scheduled for DIEC, to Samorin in Slovakia.

However it’s believed that the real fatality statistics could be higher amid concerns that injured horses are shipped off-site and euthanised later to avoid inclusion in official statistics.

Of concern too is that field sizes appear to be rising substantially again.

Last year, the FEI capped field sizes in the UAE to 150, but reports are circulating on social media that there has been as many as 300 horses in some of this season’s ride events.

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In welcome contrast, it is reported that there has been only one death so far this winter season at Al Wathba, the major endurance venue in Abu Dhabi and no recorded fatalities at Boudhieb in Abu Dhabi.