An equestrian terror cell, or just power to the people?
About a month ago legendary Swedish event, Falsterbo Horse Show, changed their name into Al Shira'aa Falsterbo Horse Show. The other day they posted a pressrelease they are no longer working together with Al Shira'aa.
This agreement was worked out with the greatest hopes and enthusiasm. We believed becoming part of Al Shira’aa’s venture with Hamburg and Hickstead, among others, would lift these classic and historic competitions together. However, the hatred and various threats that have occurred against Al Shira’aa, against H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Hazza bint Zayed Al Nahyan, against me personally and my employees have been beyond all reasonableness.
Those were the words of Falsterbo Horse Show event director Jana Wannius that were cabled out last week.
After one month of heavy criticism the voices and the power of the people turned out to be hard to handle, and the organisation posted a press release that they cut ties with Al Shira'aa's Stable.
About one month earlier Jana Wannius, or Mr. Falsterbo Horse Show if you'd like, was praising this new deal that would send off his show and the equestrian sport of Sweden to another level.
I am of course very happy about the new, long-term collaboration with Al Shira'aa and also honored to welcome H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Honorary Chair of the Organizing Committee. This partnership strengthens the continued development of Falsterbo Horse Show, where we always put the horses, the sport, the riders and our fantastic Falsterbo audience first. The future for Falsterbo Horse Show – and Swedish equestrian sport – looks bright, says Jana Wannius, Chair of Falsterbo Horse Show.
Editor
The Swedish fans went bananas! Some of the topics that rightfully came up on the table were sportswashing, and violations against human rights.
All this while a smaller group of others, like a former Chef d'Equipe in jumping, as well as the wife of one of the top riders, and other parties as well as the event itself defended the new deal. While doing so they also managed to take the concept of what-about-ism to complete new levels.
When the whole deal was cancelled, most people celebrated. The ones that initially defended the new sponsor now turned quiet.
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Now when the deal is over and done with, the good people of Falsterbo Horse Show have chosen play their very own underdog card. For one they talk about the alleged threats being made towards them, and also against the royal family of Abu Dhabi, one of the 7 emirates of the UAE.
I can see that a couple of random morons and idiots have said or mailed something they probably shouldn't have done to the organisation of Falsterbo Horse Show.
Do I endorse it? No!
Do I believe a horse person have made such serious threats the organisation needed to call it quits with the sponsor? No, that would surprise me. Mostly cause the majority of the people involved and or visiting are women.
However..
Do I believe the ticket sales went bad? DUH, sure they did! Most likely trending downwards like never before.
Do I believe more than one company pulled out from buying a trade stand for this year's event? Sure they did. These days most companies run part of their business via social media, which means they are well aware of both positive and negative trends going around. No ticket sales, no people, no income.
Do I believe threats were made to the royal family of Abu Dhabi, and they got scared and called it quits? As if! As a matter of fact, reading about these alleged threats being thrown in the direction of the royal family of Abu Dhabi, and any eventual threats would have scared them off, feels almost laughable.
Human trafficking
and so much more..
Cause this is the same family who had 7 princesses, and their mother, convicted in a court of law in Belgium in 2017.
This particular case emerged when one servant managed to escape from the luxury Conrad Hotel in Brussels, where the princesses had rented an entire floor for an eight month period.
Investigations later revealed that more than 20 of their servants were subjected to inhumane conditions.
The servants had to be on call 24 hours a day.
They slept on the floor.
They were denied days off.
They were prevented from leaving the hotel.
They were forced to eat the princesses' leftovers!
Emily Chan
Crimes against human rights
In June 2021, Amnesty International tells us the Abu Dhabi authorities conducted nighttime raids targeting Black African workers, leading to arbitrary detentions and deportations without due process.
The detainees reported inhumane treatment, overcrowded facilities, and lack of access to legal counsel.
2009 Torture Allegation Involving Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
In 2009, a disturbing video surfaced showing Sheikh Issa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of the UAE president. In the video he was allegedly torturing a man.
A man identified as Mohammad Shah Poor.
The footage showed severe abuse, including beating the man with a nailed board, setting the victim's pubic hair on fire, and driving over him with a vehicle.
Despite the graphic evidence, initial reports suggested that the matter was "settled privately," raising concerns about accountability within the UAE's justice system.
Paul Harris
The backside of equestrian sport
Equestrian sport used to be all about prestige, tradition, and athleticism. But over recent years some [more than others] of the FEI disciplines seem to sail through murky waters in an ocean of sportswashing money.
In between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, our sport have become a playground for some of the world's most controversial regimes. Ever so often they all seem to be endorsed by the FEI, to gain and maintain their "status".
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has been pretty aggressive when investing in equestrian sports as a part of its broader push to redefine its international reputation. For example the Global Champions Tour run a leg in Riyadh in October/November 2025.
The investments Saudi Arabia make is part of their strategy in using high-profile sporting events to shift attention away from human rights issues. Like women's rights, gay rights, freedom of speech, and the treatment of migrant workers.
Athletes on the other hand justify their participation by saying they are there for the sport, and not politics. Instead of being brave and bold and boycott, they are instead part of the problem, and also help legitimising a regime that relies on sportswashing to clean up its global reputation.
For 2025 there are currently 17 FEI events listed in Saudi Arabia calendar. This includes two CSI5* and one CSI4. Saudi Arabia have 25 riders on the Longines World Ranking.
Put that in relation with a showjumping nation like Belgium. A small country with great success. They have 191 riders on the ranking, and will host a total av 75 FEI events divided across the disciplines during 2025. Of those 75 events they run a total of six showjumping events on CSI4* (4) and CSI5* (2) level.
UAE
In endurance, the UAE leave a mountain of doping scandals, horse welfare violations, and rule-breaking behind them where ever they go.
Their horses are being pushed to the brink leading to multiple fatalities as well as drug-related disqualifications tarnishing what used to be an amazing and impressive sport. Even so, the UAE remains a dominant force in endurance racing.
The royal stables, have repeatedly been caught for violating anti-doping, and other regulations. Still they continue to host FEI events, with serious prize money.
For the 2025 calendar there are 14 FEI competitions hosted in the UAE. Which includes three CSI5* and three CSI4* events.
UAE have 25 riders on the Longines World Ranking in showjumping, none of them [when writing this article] is to be found in the Top 100!
Qatar
Qatar’s sportswashing strategy is in no way limited to football and the infamous FIFA World Cup in 2022. Equestrian sport plays a huge part of their grand plan.
Looking back at the FIFA World Cup the first reports about abuse of immigrant workers came to live already back in 2016.
It's been calculated as many as 36.000 migrant workers lost their lives leading up to the FIFA World Cup. Still, Qatar is a major sponsor of various FEI events. Which technically means they are pumping substantial financial resources straight into the governing body of our sport = the FEI.
For the 2025 season Qatar have been entrusted to run 22 FEI events, four of those are CSI5*, the one CDI5* [hello dressage] and an additional two CSI4*.
Germany, the eastern neighbour of Belgium, host 10 [11*] events on CSI5* (5) and CSI4* (6) level during 2025,
Germany have 301 riders on the Longines World Ranking, Qatar have 8..
Power to the people!
The problem with sportswashing is there are few riders that seem willing to actually boycott and or challenge the interests that is now shaping equestrian sports.
Which makes the events around Falsterbo so interesting. For sure it was not the work of some kind of equestrian terrorist cell who made the questioned sponsor and Falsterbo Horse Show split ways.
This is more a joint venture by people [equestrians and others] in a country founded on freedom of speech and expression of opinion. Amateur riders, some lower level pro riders, kids, parents, business owners, non horsey people, people just like you and me.
During the weeks this whole story was alive equestrian sport in Sweden probably got more focus and attention in mainstream media than they normally gain over a whole year.
When ordinary people and business owners join forces and work side by side and also are willing to go all in on an eventual boycott things can actually happen.
Who knows, one day this whole debacle might be known in history as a turning point for the sport.
Cause when your fans and the smallest of sponsors such as the ticket holders, the trade stand holders etc are turning their back on you it is freakin' time to wake up and take action.
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