Next year’s Pan American Games will offer a two-star eventing competition rather than a three-star. The decision was made at the Fédération Equestre Internationale’s 2008 General Assembly in Buenos Aires.

The move should “ensure that there were enough riders and nations to perpetuate the sport of eventing and ensure its continued growth,” according to Catrin Norinder, FEI Director of Eventing and Olympic Departments.

The Pan American Games will continue to be an Olympic qualifier, but only for nations trying to field a team. Riders won’t be able to use the Pan Ams as an individual qualifier. In the event that the Pan American Games ever transition into a non-qualifying event, the FEI will ensure that North and South American nations have opportunities to qualify.

“It is worth noting that [in 2003] when the Pan American Games were held in the Dominican Republic, there was no eventing competition as there was not enough space to prepare a full eventing course,” said Norinder. “Another Olympic qualifying event was held at Fair Hill [Md.] to ensure that nations had another opportunity to qualify.”

U.S. eventing Chef d’Equipe Capt. Mark Phillips, while acknowledging that the two-star event will afford team experience to younger horses and riders, doesn’t agree with the change. “These are major regional games at the intermediate level; surely they should be at the advanced level,” he said. “It’s not saying much for the region, dumbing down the championships to a standard they think the region can cater to.”

The Pan American Games began in 1951 and have featured equestrian sport from the very beginning. They are held every four years in the year preceding the Olympic Games. The 2011 Pan American Games will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico.