For the 2009-10 FEI World Cup season, the Fédération Equestre Internationale has made some changes to qualifying procedures for North American riders for the FEI Show Jumping World Cup Finals.

In the past, riders in the United States were split between the U.S East Coast and U.S. West Coast Leagues, while there were separate leagues for Canada and Mexico. This year, the FEI has combined the two U.S. Leagues with the Canadian and Mexican Leagues.

According to Article 653.4 of the World Cup Jumping Rules, “North America is divided into two leagues as follows: East Coast League [USEF Zones 1-7 and Eastern Canada (Ontario and east)]; West Coast League [USEF Zones 8-12, Western Canada (Manitoba and west) and Mexico].”

So, on the East Coast schedule of World Cup-qualifiers, or CSI-Ws, there are multiple Canadian events. Out of 15 East Coast CSI-Ws, five are in Quebec and Ontario. The East Coast League concludes with the Grand Prix of Tampa CSI-W (Fla.) at the end of March.

On the West Coast, there are 13 CSI-Ws—11 in California, one in Canada and one in Mexico. That league concludes in early April in San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Some traditional CSI-W dates have dropped off the calendar on both coasts. The East Coast lost the American Gold Cup (Ohio) and the New Albany Classic (Ohio), while the West Coast will no longer have the Las Vegas National (Nev.).

The top seven U.S. riders from the East Coast League will qualify for the FEI World Cup Final, as will the top three U.S. riders from the West Coast League. The two Canadian riders from either the East Coast or West Coast Leagues with the most points will qualify for the Final; the two Mexican riders from either the East Coast or West Coast Leagues will also qualify.

So 10 U.S. riders, two Canadians, and two Mexican riders will be granted berths to the Final, all decided by the North American East Coast and West Coast Leagues.

This change simplifies the qualifying process for Canadian or Mexican riders residing in the United States.