February 18 - A new European Equestrian Federation (EEF) has been formed by 27 countries, including Britain, Germany and France, to try to give the horse community a greater voice.



The new EEF hopes to have a greater voice in the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and also work closely with the European Union.

It has the backing of the FEI President Princess Haya. 

She said: "The FEI welcomes this development.

"Like the regional associations already established in Asia and the Americas, this reflects the natural evolution of representation of the sport's interests at the regional level.

"We expect it to help address the numerous specific needs of European National Federations."

The EEF was officially established today at a meeting in Warendorf in Germany, the continuation of a process that started in Deuville, France, last March and continued at Antwerp in September. 

The President of the EEF is former secretary-general of the German Equestrian Federation Dr Hanfried Haring, who was provisionally suspended from the FEI Bureau last May amid doping allegations surrounding the German team.

The suspension was later rejected by the FEI Tribunal.

In January Haring was named the FEI's Executive Board chairman of Geographical Group II.

Haring said: "The EEF will help to ensure that European countries have a clear voice within the FEI.

"Our goal is to contribute positively to the FEI by improving communication, cooperation and understanding.

"EEF will try to ensure that the needs of all Federations and stakeholders in the European equestrian community are properly taken into account."

Other elected members of the interim Board are Christian Paillot from France and Ulf Helgstrand from Denmark as vice-presidents as well as Manuel Bandeira de Mello of Portugal , Andrew Finding of Britain, Michal Wroblewski of Poland and Armagan Özgörkey of Turkey.