FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3 2026
SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND — Jan 3, 2026 — When the 2026 World Endurance Championship kicks off in AlUla, the most critical team on the ground will not be wearing the colors of Bahrain, France, or the UAE. They will be wearing the official FEI bibs.
Veterinary staffing for a desert World Championship is a massive logistical operation. Unlike European rides where the climate is forgiving, AlUla requires a "field hospital" approach to handle metabolic stress in real-time.
Based on FEI Championship protocols and the specific demands of the Saudi climate, Endurance.net projects the following estimated deployment for the "White Coat Army."
1. The Veterinary Commission (The Referees)
- Estimated Strength: 12 – 15 Officials
- The Role: These are the judges of the horse's metabolic status. They man the "Vet Gate," checking heart rates, dehydration (skin tent/mucous membranes), and gait (trot-up).
- The "AlUla" Factor:
- Panel Rotation: Because of the heat and the sheer volume of horses (approx. 120+ starters), the commission operates on a rotation. You cannot have the same vet staring at trot-ups for 12 hours straight without fatigue setting in.
- The "CRI" Squad: With the new strict 10-minute recovery rule (requiring re-inspection for slow recoveries), a dedicated sub-team of 2-3 vets will likely be assigned solely to handle these Compulsory Re-Inspections to prevent bottlenecks in the lanes.
2. The Treating Veterinary Commission (The ER Doctors)
- Estimated Strength: 15 – 20 Professionals
- The Role: Led by the Veterinary Services Manager (VSM), this team operates the "Field Hospital." They are strictly separated from the Voting Commission. Their job is not to judge, but to save lives.
- The "Desert" Factor:
- IV Fluid Teams: In AlUla, metabolic crashes happen fast. The treating clinic will be staffed to handle multiple "code reds" simultaneously. Expect at least 10 lanes of IV fluid hangers fully manned.
- Mobile Units: Unlike in Europe, the course in AlUla has remote points in the canyons where a horse trailer cannot easily reach. Expect 4-5 Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs)—custom 4x4s with fluids and splints—stationed at the furthest points of the loops (e.g., the 30km mark of Loop 2) to stabilize horses before transport.
3. The Testing Veterinarians (The Police)
- Estimated Strength: 3 – 4 Officials
- The Role: Responsible for the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Program (EADCMP).
- The Strategy: They will sample the Medalists, the Best Condition winner, and a random selection of "spot checks."
- The "Limb Sensitivity" Team: A specialized sub-unit will rove the stables and the holding box, using thermography and palpation to check for "nerve blocking" or hypersensitivity (hyposensitivity/hypersensitivity checks).
4. The "Private" Army (Team Vets)
- Estimated Strength: 50+ Private Veterinarians
- The Role: Every National Federation brings their own Team Vet (Permitted Treating Veterinarian).
- The Logistics: These vets are the first line of defense. They monitor their team's horses in the cooling area before they present to the FEI officials. If a Team Vet sees a heart rate that won't drop, they are the ones who make the call to retire the horse to save it, avoiding a "Metabolic Elimination" on the record.
Total Estimated Veterinary Footprint
Unit | Staff Count | Primary Focus |
Veterinary Commission | 12 - 15 | Judging Fitness to Continue |
Treating Commission | 15 - 20 | Emergency Care & Metabolics |
Testing/Limb Sensitivity | 3 - 4 | Anti-Doping & Fairness |
Team Vets (Private) | 50+ | Rider Support & Strategy |
TOTAL VETS ON SITE | ~80 - 90 |
The Bottom Line: The ratio of veterinarians to horses in AlUla will likely approach 1:1.5. It is arguably the most medically supervised sporting event on the planet.
Analysis by the Endurance.net Team