PYRAMID SOCIETY NEWS RELEASE
AUGUST 18, 2004

In October 2003 The Pyramid Society announced that it had undertaken an effort to develop an objective, scientific test for detecting ginger and other irritants. At that time, we promised to provide updates as developments warranted. While progress has been slow, it has been steady.

Our first hurdle was to prove the science involved to the satisfaction of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the sanctioning body for the Egyptian Event. Through a series of laboratory verifications and field trials, we cleared that hurdle earlier this year. The test has proven to be accurate, sensitive, and reliable.

The Pyramid Society fully intended to implement this test at the 2004 Egyptian Event. However, attorneys for The Pyramid Society and USEF determined that the rule prohibiting ginger, as currently written, would not withstand a legal challenge in a court of law. USEF officials agreed to rewrite the rule to meet USEF legal requirements. Subsequently, the USEF Arabian Committee agreed to serve as the proponent for a resolution incorporating this new rule and present it for a vote at the Arabian Horse Association’s (AHA) annual convention in November, 2004. Assuming the resolution is approved by AHA’s delegates, USEF will then vote on the resolution at its annual meeting in January, 2005. At that point, the rule will apply to all Arabian activities sanctioned by USEF, including the Egyptian Event.

The complete text of the resolution that will be presented to AHA is posted below. This resolution has some real teeth in it, in particular, (1) owners are held equally responsible with trainers/handlers and, (2) how the irritant got there is not open to debate.

This effort has been an arduous and expensive journey but we are gratified with the results thus far. I greatly appreciate The Pyramid Society’s Board of Directors for providing the initial and ongoing support for this project. However, all of us who revere the Arabian horse owe a debt of gratitude to two individuals: Tommy Ticktin, Tyger Pines Arabians, for insisting there must be some way to stop this insult to our horses, and therefore provided the countless hours of legwork and coordination that has brought us to this point; and secondly, to Karen Henwood, Sandybrook Farm, who willingly and unselfishly provided the funding necessary to accomplish the scientific research.

The Pyramid Society has a long-standing commitment to eliminating horse abuse and prides itself on this giant step forward in that direction. We encourage you to contact your AHA Regional Directors and make your feelings known in order to assure the passage of this resolution.

Sincerely,

THE PYRAMID SOCIETY

Martha Lucas
President
 

à  Ginger Testing Resolution  ß

THE EGYPTIAN EVENT 2006
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The Pyramid Society 

P.O. Box 11941, Lexington, Kentucky   USA
Ph: (859)-231-0771,  Fax: (859)-255-4810
Office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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E-Mail:  info@pyramidsociety.org