WILL equestrian sport be part of the Olympic Games after 2016?

The question has again been raised in warnings from International Equestrian Federation's president Princess Haya of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, who also serves on the International Olympic Committee.

She warned after the last Olympics that equestrian sports might not survive in the Olympic line-up after this year, although it debuted at the modern Olympics in Paris 1900, and is the only Olympic sport involving animals.

The IEF has organised for a debate on the future of equestrian sports at Lausanne (Switzerland) from April 30 to May 2.

Equestrian will be included in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio.

The IOC is taking nominations for the 2020 Olympics in the next fortnight and the five countries competing include some where it would be difficult to run equestrian events.

They are Istanbul (Turkey), Tokyo (Japan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Doha (Qatar) and Madrid (Spain). Princess Haya said the IOC had written to the federation about the set-up and presentation of dressage.

"The popularity of dressage is abnormally low and there are complaints about judging and the make-up of judging panels and committees," Princess Haya said in 2008.

"The IOC has very reasonable and legitimate concerns about eventing safety and the way the dressage committee is working. It could also be the end of showjumping as an Olympic sport, too, as they are unlikely to leave it on its own. But walking away and saying 'thank God nobody died' isn't good enough."

Another aspect of equestrian sport is the huge expense involved in running the section.

Where athletes can share one arena for field events, and another for swimming, the logistics of quarantine, stabling and course design for 120 horses is enormous.

And the horses quarantine issues often derail bids by countries the IOC "politically" would love to host the Olympics.

China only got away with it because of Hong Kong being able to run that section.

There has been discussion that eventing could go and be replaced by endurance, which is heavily supported by the Middle East, but it is as difficult to organise as eventing and requires an even bigger area.

The federation has announced that a debate will be held on the future of equestrian sports.

The 2012 Sports Forum in Lausanne will hear presentations on proposed rule changes for jumping, eventing, endurance and veterinary matters.