Dr Chris Elliott Appointed FEI Limb Sensitivity Examining Veterinarian For Paris

Horse welfare is a top priority during each and every major Equestrian championships, with Paris 2024 being no exception. These Games in particular promise to highlight the unique, and very special bond between horse and athlete. This bond develops over many years and often relies on the hard work and dedication of not only the athlete, but a multitude of others who work tirelessly behind the scenes. 

Veterinarians are one group that dedicate themselves to the health, wellbeing and success of the horse and athlete. Veterinarians play vital roles at all levels of Equestrian competition, from the local Pony Club, to Equestrian Australia (EA) National classes all the way up to FEI events at home and abroad. Equestrian Australia has a long and proud tradition of veterinarians working at the Olympic Games in a variety of roles. 

Dr Chris Elliott is one such veterinarian who often works at FEI events internationally, and has recently been appointed to work at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Chris has been appointed as an International Technical Official (ITO) at Paris Olympics. His official job title is ‘Limb Sensitivity Examining Veterinarian’. This appointment is chosen directly by the FEI Veterinary Department. Two Limb Sensitivity Examining Veterinarians have been appointed to the Games. The job involves examining the legs of all the Jumping horses prior to competition to ensure they do not have altered sensitisation. This veterinary examination not only ensures fair, equal, and clean sport, it also ensures equine welfare by checking each and every horse remains fit to compete.

At the Paris Olympics, Chris will also be working daily to implement the FEI heat management protocol. Within this protocol, veterinarians will be closely monitoring horses during training, warm up and competition for the early signs of heat stress. Christopher will use a Thermal Imaging Camera as a remote monitoring tool to identify horses potentially at risk of heat stress. When identified remotely, a horse can be examined by a veterinarian, have its rectal temperature taken, and undergo active cooling if required. The Paris 2024 Olympics have the potential to be very hot. 

The Paris Games will be Chris’s third Olympics. His first Games was in Rio 2016 where he was a Volunteer Treating Veterinarian for the Olympics, and Treating Veterinarian Team Leader for the Paralympics. 

Chris's second Olympics was the COVID affected Tokyo Games in 2021. Appointed by the FEI as the Veterinary Services Supervisor, Christopher lived and worked in Japan for a total of 5 months in the preparation, establishment, and implementation of every aspect of veterinary management for both the Olympics and Paralympics. 

Inspired as a young veterinarian by the likes of Dr Leo Jeffcott, Dr Nigel Nichols and Dr Dennis Goulding, Chris has been involved in FEI competitions ever since he graduated, and has held FEI veterinary official status since 2011. Now a Level 4 FEI Official Veterinarian, Chris has worked in over 20 different countries on behalf of the FEI in a variety of different roles. Currently residing in Wellington Florida, in addition to his daily work at Palm Beach Equine Clinic as a board certified specialist in equine veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, Chris is the Veterinary Services Manager at the Wellington International show grounds; home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and host to 15 FEI Jumping, and 8 FEI Dressage shows per year. 

Thank you Dr Christopher Elliott for your years of service to Equestrian sport both in Australia and on the international stage. We wish you the best of luck for a safe and successful Paris 2024 Olympic Games.