The Fédération Equestre Internationale Bureau met June 9 for its spring meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The main decisions are outlined below, and they include a few new endurance rules, allocation of championships, approval of the United States’ first eventing FEI Nations Cup competition, and a salary for the FEI President Ingmar de Vos.
But first, the FEI Bureau members announced they’ll send out a questionnaire to all national federations.
“The questionnaire, which is part of the consultation process that started with the [FEI] Sports Forum [held in April], is divided into three sections,” stated the FEI document from the meeting. “The first section contains questions about the principles of change to be applied to all FEI disciplines such as increased universality and the clear separation of team and individual competitions. The second part is dedicated to discipline specific changes, and the third part deals with para-dressage.”
The bureau members voted that newly-elected de Vos receive renumeration for his job. A committee was announced to decide the details of the renumeration package, and that committee will negotiate with de Vos.
The FEI Bureau also voted to control the number of competitors in each discipline at upcoming FEI World Equestrian Games, in an effort to draw more potential organizers and television partnerships.
Other Notable Decisions:
—The bureau looked at proposals for modifications to the FEI General Regulations. These proposals will be voted on at the FEI General Assembly (Puerto Rico) in November. One would allow the FEI itself to protest, an action not previously available to the organization.
There was also a provision that, if approved, would enact statutes of limitations on prosecution—1 year for incidents “committed on the field of play or in its immediate vicinity”; 8 years for doping; 5 years for all other incidents. Match-fixing, bribery and corruption have no statute of limitations.
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“A new provision allowing legal proceedings to be opened in the event that a conduct brings equestrian sport, and the FEI in particular, into disrepute and/or in case of match fixing, betting, bribery and/or corruption will also be added,” stated the FEI release.
In addition: “The Bureau approved the expansion of the definition of ‘unsanctioned events’ so that in the event that a national federation is suspended by the FEI, the national events of such an NF will be considered as ‘unsanctioned events.’ For the avoidance of any doubt, the national athletes would be allowed to compete in the national events and only international athletes would be subject to the unsanctioned events provision should such a situation arise.”
—The group approved a Nations Cup competition in eventing for the United States in 2016.
— Charles Barnett is currently conducting an external audit of eventing.
“The report, which will be finalized at the end of the year, will contain an analysis of horse falls related to jumping efforts during the cross-country test at FEI competitions; a risk factor associated with falls; and a review of the qualification systems.”
—The FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses will include a 7-year-old division in 2016, at the small tour level.
—Also in 2016, an annual FEI European Dressage Championships for under-25 riders will debut.
—The bureau approved a modification to endurance rules, which states if a horse participates in a CEI or national competition during the mandatory “rest period” following a competition, the rider will receive 100 penalty points and a two-month suspension. The new rules will also include “greater penalties for athletes whose horses suffer catastrophic injuries.”
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The group allocated the following championships:
2016
Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Show Jumping Final, Barcelona (Spain), Sept. 22-25
FEI World Cup Driving Final, Bordeaux (France), Feb. 6-7
2017
The allocation of the 2017 FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final, 2018 Longines FEI World Cup Show Jumping Final, 2018 FEI World Cup Dressage Final and 2018 FEI Nations Cup Final was postponed.
The Bureau also decided that only world and continental championships will be considered FEI championships. The regional events will remain FEI events, just not FEI championships.
