The US Equestrian Federation has lodged a formal protest against the disqualification of McLain Ward’s horse, Sapphire at the 2010 Rolex/FEI World Cup Final.

Sapphire and Ward were in the lead after the second leg of the Final when Sapphire was disqualified five hours after the second class on the recommendation of the Veterinary Committee that she was unfit to compete, despite being examined before her round by FEI veterinarians and allowed to continue.

The protest was heard at 1pm on Sunday by the FEI Tribunal in Geneva. The protest was not allowed as FEI Tribunal Chair Ken Lalo (ISR) denied the request for emergency relief on the grounds that the FEI Tribunal did not have jurisdiction to overturn the Ground Jury’s decision.

This was a hearing only for emergency provisional relief relating to Sapphire's participation in the final round, and the USEF's full complaint regarding the retroactive disqualification of Sapphire from the second round will be considered by the FEI Tribunal shortly.

“I think that there is a serious concern with the direction the FEI has been going for a long time and this time they have gone over the line,” said Ward. “It was an unjust ruling and I feel liked they acknowledged that in the hearing this morning because they didn’t finish ruling on it.

“We have huge support, we have the support of world press; they can see obviously that this is incorrect,” Ward continued. “But I will never get this back, what was lost here today personally, I will never get it back and that must be considered.

“We must change these procedures; we must have a governing body that is democratic. This wouldn’t be tolerated in the United States and I am not sure how much more the sport can tolerate, ” concluded Ward.