EquiFit, inc. Supports McLain Ward

Boston, MA – April 19, 2010 – Two-time Olympic gold medalist McLain Ward’s horse Sapphire was disqualified after the second round of the Rolex FEI World Cup Finals in Geneva, Switzerland, this past weekend after being deemed, ‘unfit to compete’. Sapphire had two fault-free performances, putting her in the lead going into Sunday’s Final round of competition.

EquiFit, inc. has had a long-standing relationship with McLain Ward and his team and will continue to support them in the face of this unjust and inexcusable action.

Whatever your stance on our sport might be it cannot be argued that this horse/rider combination is one of the greatest in our sport’s history. The combination has won two Olympic Gold medals, a silver WEG medal, the $1 Million CN International Grand Prix, two consecutive $500,000 FTI Finale Grand Prix, and placed second in the 2009 Rolex FEI World Cup Finals with no faults through five rounds of competition. In short, they have won nearly everything but a World Cup.

In Geneva this weekend, the FEI deemed the horse ‘unfit to compete’ without non-subjective substantiation of any kind.

The facts according to USEF and FEI Press Releases are as follows:?

• Sapphire was selected for Thermographic testing prior to competing in the second ro¬und of the final, where the FEI vets deemed her fit to complete (FEI Press Release).

• Sapphire and McLain Ward finished in second place, putting the horse/rider combination into the lead going into the final round.

• The FEI re-tested Sapphire after her second place finish, finding NO changes and yet despite that fact then went on to deem her ‘unfit to compete.’ The Thermographic tests both before and after the class indicated no abnormality.

• The FEI Press Release made it clear that there was NO evidence or indication of malpractice by McLain Ward and/or his team.

• The FEI was unable to produce any qualitative test to substantiate their claim.

• The FEI refused McLain Ward’s request to conduct any further tests.

EquiFit, inc. stands behind McLain Ward, his team, and the USEF as they try to rectify this situation.