Department updates in Main Dressage

We are pleased to inform you that the FEI Secretary General has approved the FEI Calendar for 2025 for all disciplines. It can be consulted online in the FEI Database.  

Should you have any questions related to the FEI Calendar, please do not hesitate to contact calendar@fei.org.

We would like to ask NFs to inform us of all eligible Level 3 FEI Dressage Stewards within their federation, who are interested in starting the process towards Level 4. The numbers we can facilitate may be restricted depending on applications received and this will allow us to plan their education pathway for 2025.

The following criteria need to be fulfilled by all applicants as per the Dressage Education System:

For Level 3 Stewards:

• Have achieved an English proficiency grade of B2 or higher
• Have been listed as a FEI Level 3 Steward for a minimum of four (4) years
• Be in good standing with the FEI

The following officiating experience has to be achieved within 10 years of the application:

• Have officiated as a Chief Steward at a minimum of six (6) CDI3*/CDIO3* or above
• Have officiated as a Member of the Stewarding Team at a minimum of two (2) Dressage Championships.

We kindly ask all NFs with any eligible and interested candidates to reach out by email to anna.milne@fei.org by 30 November 2024.

FEI Dressage Qualification Criteria valid for 2026 Championships have been published on the dedicated page here

Kronenberg (NED), the Organiser of the FEI European Championships for Ponies 2025 for Dressage and Eventing, has informed the FEI that they are no longer in a position to host the Championships.

Therefore, the bidding process for these two Championships has been re-opened. Bids for one or both disciplines will be considered.

Organising Committees and National Federations are invited to submit their bid online via the FEI Bidding Platform, no later than Wednesday, 23 October 2024.

Should you have any questions, please contact bidding@fei.org

As many of you know, a meeting with FEI Dressage Stakeholders was held in person at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 1 October. The main outcomes of the meeting are summarised in the press release below, which will be shared with the media shortly.

As stated in the press release, updates on this important topic will be provided during the session on the FEI’s Equine Welfare Strategy at the FEI General Assembly on 12 November. There will be further opportunities for discussion at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2025.

FEI PRESS RELEASE
Lausanne (SUI), 2 October 2024

FEI Stakeholder meeting sets unified vision for the future of Dressage

At the highly anticipated FEI Dressage Stakeholder meeting, which was held in person at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI) on 1 October, experts and representatives from across the sport have reaffirmed the core objectives of Dressage and discussed ways of realigning the discipline to reflect these objectives.

The aim is that through balanced and systematic education, horses are trained and ridden to be calm, supple, flexible, confident, and responsive, fostering a deep and positive connection with the rider. The group agreed that these core objectives should be integrated in the FEI Rule book and applied in practice, both while training and competing.

This approach emphasises key qualities such as the freedom and regularity of movement, the ease and lightness of transitions, and the horse’s balance.

A crucial aspect is that Dressage is practised without tension or resistance, ensuring harmony between the horse and rider.

Participants acknowledged the impact of breeding on the evolution of the sport and explored the relationship between judging, training, and riding. They also emphasised the importance of examining the sport holistically by introducing principles of behavioural science and the five domains of animal welfare, focusing on the horse's positive physical and mental well-being.

“The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games showcased the best our sport has to offer in competition, but also brought to light challenges that have prompted us to reflect and reassess in the post-Games period,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

“To many, this vision of what Dressage should embody may seem self-evident. But as highlighted during the meeting, over the years the discipline has moved away from its traditional purpose and this realisation requires a necessary realignment to the foundational principles of Dressage.”

FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy said, “Establishing a unified vision is the essential first step in fostering a shared purpose. With this foundation in place, we can now focus on restoring public trust and confidence in the sport.

“Our goal is to be aligned and move forward in the same direction. We have clearly defined what we want to see as a sport and the next step is for all parties to assess how we can adapt our practices and approaches to ensure these standards are met. This effort is not the responsibility of any one group; it is a collective mission for the entire Dressage community and we look forward to engaging with the wider community especially our National Federations.”

Key points that were addressed during the meeting:

• Action Points and Next Steps: One of the key proposals put forward is mandatory trainer registration, and potential certification aimed at ensuring accountability and standardisation within the discipline. The group also committed to defining ethical training methods, with an emphasis on increasing transparency and showcasing good practices. Additionally, participants identified the need for a more comprehensive communications plan to better inform and engage with the broader public and stakeholders.
• Rules Revision: Stakeholders expressed support for a thoughtful approach to revising the rules, favouring a comprehensive, strategic evaluation based on available research. This will ensure that all changes are sustainable and beneficial to the sport in the long term.
• Equine Welfare: Participants supported the FEI Equine Welfare Strategy and various actions identified as part of the overall FEI Action Plan.

• Collaboration and Collective Responsibility: The discussions emphasised the importance of collective responsibility and collaboration within the Dressage community. Participants welcomed the opportunity for ongoing and regular dialogue, and expressed their willingness to take part in working groups on key topics.

Updates will be provided during the session on the FEI’s Equine Welfare Strategy at the FEI General Assembly on 12 November. There will be further opportunities for discussion at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2025.

Note to editors
The meeting was attended by a diverse group of key stakeholders, including representatives from the International Dressage Rider's Club (IDRC), the International Dressage Officials Club (IDOC), the International Dressage Trainer's Club (IDTC) and the Dressage Organisers. Also present were the Presidents of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) and the Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC), the FEI Vice President and the Chair of the FEI Para Equestrian Technical Committee. Additionally, the FEI Dressage Steward General, FEI Dressage Committee representatives, and members from the FEI Athletes, Para Dressage, and Veterinary committees contributed to the discussions.

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 24 September. The main Dressage resolutions taken on this occasion are listed below.

Dressage
WBFSH Dressage Young Horse Championships Rules
The Board approved the proposed modifications to the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses Rules.
A key amendment is that the FEI and WBFSH will have the opportunity to review each National Selection Procedure prior to the applicable qualification period.
The updated rules will be published here.

We wish to remind you that in accordance with Art. 112 of the FEI General Regulations, the dates for all 2025 International Events must be entered into the FEI online Calendar through FEI Database before Tuesday 01 October 2024 midnight CEST, with the exception of CSI5* and CSIO5* Events for 2025 which had to be entered before 1 May 2024 and have already been approved as previously indicated in our newsletter dated 22 August 2024.

At 23:59 CEST on 01 October 2024, the 2025 online Calendar will be blocked. Any modification requested after the deadline will need to be addressed to the FEI by email (calendar@fei.org) using the Calendar Form available on FEI Documents.

The full Memo can be accessed via the FEI Calendar page (click here).

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 27 August. 

Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals

FEI Dressage European Championship 2025 Update
The Board took the decision to withdraw the organisation of the FEI Dressage European Championship 2025 from Šamorín (SVK) at the request of the Organiser. The Board further directed FEI Headquarters to reopen the bidding process for the FEI Dressage European Championship 2025. Further information on the bidding process will be provided shortly.

The FEI will launch the "Be a Guardian" initiative today, calling on community members to embrace their roles as guardians of FEI horses. A full press release will be issued shortly and can be found here.

The ‘Be a Guardian’ initiative represents a significant shift in the FEI's approach to equine care, emphasising the importance of horse welfare.

Based on the concept of guardianship, the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission created a comprehensive document highlighting six priority areas and 30 recommendations to improve the welfare of sport horses.

The FEI has since developed an Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan to address the priorities identified by the Commission.

Supported by a CHF 1 million allocation approved by the FEI Board in June 2024, this plan aims to enhance the wellbeing of FEI horses through robust rules, guidelines, educational programmes, and various initiatives.

The goal is to respect the natural needs of horses in international equestrian sports, fostering a global commitment to equine welfare and ensuring that horses receive the care and respect they deserve.

We urge our National Federations to embrace this call to action, actively promote this shift in perspective, and recognise the responsibility we all share in being the guardians of our beloved horses. 

The Rules Revision Process 2024 is well underway with the first draft of the proposed changes now available to National Federations and Stakeholders for review and feedback by 21 August 2024 prior to being submitted to the FEI General Assembly for approval in November as per the timeline below: 
1 March 2024
National Federations and Stakeholders with whom the FEI has signed an MOU have the opportunity to propose Rules changes as per the FEI Periodical Rules Revision Policy.
26 June 2024
The FEI provides National Federations and Stakeholders with the first Draft of proposed Rules changes.

IMPORTANT
The 1st Draft of proposed Rules changes Memos as well as the Templates to provide feedback by 21 August 2024 can be found here. ONLY proposals submitted online on the Rules Revision Platform using the respective Templates will be accepted.
21 August 2024
National Federations and Stakeholders are given eight weeks to review the first Draft and the proposed amendments in this first Draft and make comments and/or propose any changes in relation to the first Draft.
16 October 2024
Final Draft of the proposed Rules changes is provided to National Federations and Stakeholders.                                                                                  
12 November 2024
Rules Session at FEI General Assembly.
13 November 2024
Voting of Rules at the FEI General Assembly.

For more information on the FEI Rules Revision processes and timelines, click here.

If you have any questions please contact the FEI Director Governance & Institutional Affairs at Francisco.lima@fei.org.