“Please Stop Noticing Things”: GEF President Alex Ferreira’s Annual ‘Do Not Perceive Us’ Address

Tilly Stirrup - TCP
1 hour ago
3 min read

By Tilly Stirrup, Senior Equestrian Chaos Correspondent

Gather ‘round, my darlings, for today we examine the speech. Yes — the one where our GEF president, Alex Ferreira, very gently suggested that we all stop talking about welfare concerns.

The room, we assume, nodded politely, sipped water bottles labelled “Not Tears,” and pretended not to hear the ghost of public accountability whimpering in the corner.

Let’s break it down.

At the latest Global Equestrian Federation Assembly, President Alejandro “Alex” Ferreira delivered a message that could be summarized as:

“Please stop talking about welfare problems. It’s making us look bad.”

The official wording, however, was:

“We should be careful not to discuss these topics again and again every year, because it provides ammunition for activists and our so-called critical friends to discredit our sport.”

Translation: The issue is not the welfare problems. The issue is you pointing at them.

Ah, yes. The real problem in equestrian sport is conversation. Not the welfare concerns

themselves. Not the photos, or videos, or horses with gums resembling rare exotic corals.

No no. Talking about it is the issue.

One might call this strategy: If we don’t look at the fire, the fire cannot see us.

“We all want the best for the horse.”

Which is exactly what every problematic boyfriend says before explaining why your feelings are unreasonable and why you should simply calm down.

“Be careful what message you want to send with this vote.”

Not a threat. Just… a tone. And this tone was to the Federations that openly said they would vote against the new blood rule, these are some of the biggest Federations in the world. Yet, the GEF wants to make sure they know that Papa Bear wouldn't be happy if they don't vote in the required way.....

“We will not explain to the world why you vote against it.”

Translation: If you disagree, we will simply not tell anyone why. Which, honestly, is quite a bold communications policy.

Imagine:

Journalists: “Why did several of the biggest National Federations oppose this welfare rule?”
GEF Spokesperson : “Oh, sweetie, don’t worry about it. Have a pretty leaflet instead.”

“We should have more faith in the experts.”

Three guesses who the GEF experts are. (Hint: Certainly not the independent welfare scientists who keep trying to inform the world about horse stress in competitions, pain theory and bitted vs bitless)

Meanwhile, in Horse World…

Dressage Diva Duchess von Passage, Grand Prix mare and deeply unimpressed philosopher, provided her own statement through her groom:

“Every time they say ‘trust the process,’ I get 3 cm less tongue mobility. I am considering unionising.”

Dr. Leila Al-Farsi of WEWO (World Equestrian Welfare Organisation), upon hearing the speech, reportedly inhaled so sharply three nearby ferns wilted:

“If discussion threatens the sport more than the welfare issues themselves, then the welfare issues are the problem. Not the discussion.”

Max van Dijk, International show jumper, asked for comment, simply blinked twice and said:

“I will not be quoted in The Carrot Post ever again,” and walked away in powerful Dutch silence.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Best case scenario:

We talk more, not less.
We reform before the Olympics, rather than after someone livestreams a catastrophe.

Worst case scenario:

The GEF relocates to a floating bunker labelled “No Questions Zone - or perhaps China where they can control the narrative.”
Horses write their own press statements.
WEWO chains itself to a flower display at Aachen again.