On the 27th January 2010, The FEI decided that no further action would be taken against Patrick Kittle following the "Blue Tongue World Cup Warm Up Video" published on You Tube.  They released the following statement. 

"The FEI investigation into the training methods used by Patrick Kittel on his horse Watermill Scandic in Odense, Denmark on 18 October 2009 has been concluded.

Witness statements and video evidence have been thoroughly reviewed and the investigation findings are that there is no reliable evidence that the warm-up techniques used by Mr Kittel were excessive.

As a result, the FEI Legal department has ruled that no formal claim against Mr Kittel will be submitted to the FEI Tribunal.

However Mr Kittel has received a warning letter regarding the appropriate and inappropriate use of warm-up techniques and has been made aware that his actions will be watched very carefully going forward to ensure that there are no subsequent violations of FEI rules relating to horse welfare.

The FEI is conducting a major review and analysis of its current policy on pre-competition warm-up activities, with an emphasis on hyperflexion." 

On the same date they announced that a Round-Table meeting would take place on the 9th February 2010 at the FEI headquarters in Lausanna -

"The FEI has invited experts from various fields in equestrianism to participate in a round table conference about the rollkur training system at the FEI headquarters in Lausanna on 9 February 2010.

"The list of invitees has been set up by FEI to cover a wide range of interests. It is every aspect from riders, trainers, vets, communication, commercial, horse welfare, etc. The FEI President, HRH Princess Haya, will attend the conference as well," Trond Asmyr told Eurodressage.com.

Ulf Helgstrand, president of the Danish Equestrian Federation, commented that "to be certain that all related groups are heard in this debate about hyperflexion, the FEI has invited representatives of all groups. The FEI hopes to reach a shared conclusion about hyperflexion with all active participants in the equestrian sport by listening to the different views. Possible guidelines and conclusions should be taken into account and should be valid for all FEI disciplines. The current position of the FEI on hyperflexion is based on the results of the conference held in 2006."

The petitions to ban Rollkur were gathered together and passed to Gerd Heuschmann who took them to the meeting and presented them to the Princess Haya.  The total number of signatures was over 41,000.  Following the meeting the FEI released this statement on the 9th February.

"Following constructive debate at the FEI round-table conference at the IOC Headquarters in Lausanne today (9 February), the consensus of the group was that any head and neck position achieved through aggressive force is not acceptable. The group redefined hyperflexion/Rollkur as flexion of the horse’s neck achieved through aggressive force, which is therefore unacceptable. The technique known as Low, Deep and Round (LDR), which achieves flexion without undue force, is acceptable.
 
The group unanimously agreed that any form of aggressive riding must be sanctioned. The FEI will establish a working group, headed by Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman, to expand the current guidelines for stewards to facilitate the implementation of this policy. The group agreed that no changes are required to the current FEI Rules.
 
The FEI Management is currently studying a range of additional measures, including the use of closed circuit television for warm-up arenas at selected shows.
 
The group also emphasised that the main responsibility for the welfare of the horse rests with the rider.
 
The FEI President HRH Princess Haya accepted a petition of 41,000 signatories against Rollkur presented by Dr Gerd Heuschman.
 
The participants in the FEI round-table conference were:
 
HRH Princess Haya, FEI President
Alex McLin, FEI Secretary General
Margit Otto-Crépin, International Dressage Riders Club Representative
Linda Keenan, International Dressage Trainers Club Representative
Sjef Janssen, Dressage Representative
Frank Kemperman, Chairman, FEI Dressage Committee (by conference call)
François Mathy, International Jumping Riders Club Representative
David Broome, Jumping Representative
Jonathan Chapman, Eventing Representative
Roly Owers, World Horse Welfare Representative
Tony Tyler, World Horse Welfare Representative
Ulf Helgstrand, President, Danish Equestrian Federation
John McEwen, Chairman, FEI Veterinary Committee
Dr Sue Dyson, Veterinary Representative
Dr Gerd Heuschman, Veterinary Representative
Prof. René van Weeren, Veterinary Representative
Jacques van Daele, FEI Honorary Steward General Dressage
Graeme Cooke, FEI Veterinary Director
Trond Asmyr, FEI Director Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage
John Roche, FEI Director Jumping and Stewarding
Catrin Norinder, FEI Director Eventing
Carsten Couchouron, FEI Executive Director Commercial
Richard Johnson, FEI Communications Director "

On the 18th February, The FEI announced the compostition of a new working group.

"The composition of the FEI working group tasked with expanding current guidelines for Stewards to facilitate clear implementation of the policy on warm-up techniques following on from last week's round-table conference on Hyperflexion/Rollkur has been finalised today.

As announced after last week’s conference in Lausanne, the working group will be chaired by Dressage Committee Chair Frank Kemperman. Group members are Richard Davison (GBR), Rider/Trainer; John P. Roche (IRL), FEI Director Jumping/Stewarding; Jacques Van Daele (BEL), FEI Honorary Dressage Steward General/Judge; Wolfram Wittig (GER), Trainer; and Trond Asmyr (NOR), FEI Dressage Director/Judge. The working group will also draw on the expertise of a number of other specialists, including but not limited to the participants of the round-table conference*. The working group aims to have the guidelines completed by the end of March 2010.

The guidelines produced by the group will be communicated directly to Stewards and also to riders and trainers. The working group is expected to put forward further proposals for the education of Stewards to ensure that FEI rules are strictly adhered to and that the welfare of the horse is maintained at all times.

Guidelines for Stewards will incorporate the use of a range of sanctions, including verbal warnings and yellow cards for riders who transgress. Stewards will also be readvised to watch out for signs of distress in the horse, which may include but are not limited to obvious fatigue, profound or inappropriate sweating, persistent rough use of aids (i.e. bits, spurs or whip) and over-repetition of exercises.

The FEI Management is also currently studying a range of additional measures, including the use of closed circuit television for warm-up arenas at selected shows so that potential abuse accusations can be more readily identified and recorded.

The FEI will ensure that all findings produced by the working group are communicated on an ongoing basis."