FEI Clearing Tokyo Heat Obstacle

(ATR) The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) is not taking any risk when it comes to insuring the health of horses at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Scorching temperatures and high humidity in late July and early August remain a concern across numerous Olympic sports.

At the Tokyo test event in August, the FEI conducted an extensive heat and performance research study monitoring the combined effects of lengthy travel times, time zone disruptions and heat and humidity on competing horses. The study was led by FEI climate expert Dr. David Martin.

Heat countermeasures along with the results of the study – aimed at identifying best practices and management of horses training and competing in hot and humid environments – were recently made available to riders looking toward Tokyo 2020.

The world’s best show jumpers are competing this weekend at the Prague Playoffs, the season finale of the Longines Global Champions Tour.

Scott Brash, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist with Team Great Britain, says the type of horse a rider brings to Tokyo 2020 is "extremely important".

"You wouldn’t want to take a colder, more stuffier sort of horse because I think they will struggle a bit more in that sort of heat," Brash tells Around the Rings after his opening run with his horse Hello Senator in Prague.

"I think you want to go with an experienced horse that has traveled around the globe. If you have a horse that has traveled to Mexico and Miami for example, and has coped well, then I’d be going off that experience and not taking a green horse to Tokyo."

Heat countermeasures that are already in place for horses ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games include air-conditioned stables at both the Baji Koen and Sea Forest equestrian venues, early morning and evening training and competition sessions under floodlights, constant and close monitoring by a world class veterinary team, and multiple cooling facilities including the provision of shade tents, cooling fans, ice and water, and mobile cooling units.

"The key factor is to have your horse as fit as possible and fortunately we will be in the summer season, so the build up is a good time for the horses to get acclimatized," said Australian Edwina Tops-Alexander, a three-time Olympian and the defending champion in Prague.

"I was in Rio, which was hot, and Hong Kong in 2008 was also quite hot," she said, referring to the 2008 Olympic equestrian competition, which was moved from Beijing to Hong Kong. "They make the best conditions possible, that’s why they have the test events."

Horses were monitored as to how they adapted to the challenging climate in Tokyo before and during the August test event. Essential to the report was data collected on-course and post-competition, which provided detailed analysis of the cross-country test event.

The study findings show that horses generally coped extremely well with the thermally challenging conditions and remained in good health for the duration of the test event, held at the same time of year as the 2020 Games. The Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT) Index – used to measure heat, humidity, solar radiation and wind factor – provided readings frequently in the range of 32-33° Celsius (89.6-91.4° Fahrenheit).

The report also confirms that on cross-country day (August 13), the high WBGT Index, steep initial climb and sharp turns on the course produced a significant challenge for horses. Heart rates during cross country, and blood lactate, heart rate and rectal temperature after cross country, indicated that horses were working at close to maximal capacity.

"It’s a concern, it’s a worry, but at the end of the day it’s all about making sure they are hydrated," says veteran Irish rider Shane Breen. "You work a system at home and try and acclimatize them, get them out a bit earlier and try and keep them in warm climates."

Following discussions between the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee (TOCOG), the IOC and the FEI, consensus has been reached on moving up the cross-country start time at the Sea Forest venue to either 7:30 or 8:00 am on August 2, 2020. A final decision on the proposed schedule change will be taken by the IOC Executive Board.

Swedish show jumper Evelina Tovek informed that the Swedish NOC recently conducted a three-day Tokyo 2020 seminar for athletes and coping with the sweltering summer heat was among primary topics discussed.

"There were a lot of questions about the heat and they want everyone to be well-prepared," Tovek said.

"We’ve been to Dubai, Doha, Mexico and Miami, so we know a little bit how it is, but I think it is nothing compared to Tokyo," the 26-year-old Swedish rider added. "It will be hard for everyone."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Prague

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