Para Dressage Resolutions & Decisions

In view of the FEI Para Dressage World Championship 2022 in Herning (DEN) from 6 to 14 August and given the impact of Covid-19 in a number of countries (particularly travel restrictions and lockdowns) the Board approves the possibility for the Para Equestrian Committee to grant exemptions on a case by case basis to review the requirements related to the appointment of Officials for competitions qualifying for the Para Dressage World Championships 2022 and allow on-line supervision of competitions when and as appropriate.

Exceptions would be granted in truly exceptional cases only and upon specific requests from NFs/OCs on the composition and level of the Ground Jury and allow for on-line supervision of the competition by the Para Dressage Judge General. OC’s would have to ensure the technology and connection to be excellent to facilitate this.

Para Dressage Classifiers: Waiver to Article 8439.1 (Extension to Emergency Board Resolution of 10 and 18 November 2020)

The Board mandates, until further notice, FEI Headquarters to decide on a case-by-case basis and only as long as an Organiser is affected by the Covid-19 situation, to waive the obligation of Article 8439.1 of the FEI Para Dressage Rules which requires all CPEDI3* and FEI Championships to have two FEI Para Equestrian Classifiers present, and one classifier must be from a foreign National Federation.

Should this waiver be granted, the Organiser could accept only Para Dressage Athletes with a confirmed status and Para Dressage Athletes with a review date due which expires after the event.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 16 January 2022. This FEI Board Resolution is therefore final. 

Para Equestrian Classification opportunities (Extension to Board Resolution of 5 May and 18 November 2020)

Based on the recommendation of the FEI Head Classifier, and until further notice, the Board agreed to reduce the time of application for classification from six to four weeks prior to the Event.

Classification Panel: One Classifier Present

As per its Resolution of 18 November 2020, In cases where an Organiser is unable to find two Classifiers for a Classification Panel, the FEI Board agrees, on the recommendation of the FEI Classification Working Group and the Para Equestrian Committee, to allow, until further notice, a temporary derogation of Article 11.3 of the FEI Para Equestrian Classification Rules whereby one Level 2 Classifier could carry out Classification Evaluations alone. It is recommended that a second Classifier join by video call wherever possible.

Classification Status Allocation

As per its Resolution of 18 November 2020, The FEI Board approves a Classification Working Group recommendation that, until further notice, where the Rules only allow a “Review” status to be allocated (see Articles 10.5.3, 15.6 and 15.15 of the FEI Para Equestrian Classification Rules), that a “Review with Fixed Review Date” status can also be allocated, or “Confirmed” only in cases where it is absolutely clear. The allocation of a status in any case must always be confirmed by the FEI Classification Working Group. This would also be in place if only one Classifier is physically present (with or without another joining by video call).

FEI Policy for Enhanced Competition Safety during the Covid-19 pandemic (suspended until further notice by Board Resolution on 4 October 2022)

Following text to be included in all Draft Schedules: “Given the current covid-19 situation, please note that the FEI’s approval of a Schedule should not be taken as an absolute guarantee that the Event will definitely go ahead. The decision whether the Event can take place in consideration of the Covid-19 situation must be made by the OC and NF in close consultation with the applicable domestic government and public health authorities. It is the responsibility of each Participant to check the status of the Event and Covid-19 related measures, if any, prior to planning their travel to the Event. It is the responsibility of the OC/NF to elaborate, communicate and enforce a Covid-19 mitigation plan if requested by the locally applicable laws and policies.”

At its videoconference on 15 April 2020, the FEI Board had mandated the FEI Medical Committee to work on a protocol for National Federations and Organising Committees to provide measures for the safe resumption of international equestrian events when approved by the World Health Organization and national governments.

Dr Mark Hart, Chair of the Medical Committee, presented a draft of the FEI Policy for Enhanced Competition Safety during the Covid-19 pandemic to the Board during its virtual meeting on 5 May 2020. The Medical Committee and FEI Headquarters have now been further mandated to finalise the Policy, which will include an obligation for Organisers to carry out a Risk Assessment to host safe competitions as well as a set of recommended discipline-specific guidelines. Once completed, the Board will give final sign-off for the Policy, including a Risk Assessment tool, in advance of distribution to National Federations and Organisers.

The Policy & Risk Assessment tools are available in the Return To Play section.

The Board agrees to uphold this Resolution until further notice.

Extension of FEI Competency-Based Evaluation System (CES) timelines for Officials

As per its Resolution of 24 June 2020, the Board approves an extension of timelines for Officials to fulfil their officiating requirements through the CES. The deadline, which was previously until 15 December 2020, is now extended to 15 December 2024.

Organisers Covid-19 Fees

As per its Resolution of 20 October 2020, the Board agrees until further notice not to allow any additional Covid-19 Fees to be included by the Organisers in the Draft Schedules.

Calendar Task Forces

Based on the Resolution of the Board of 24 March 2020, the Board confirms that the Calendar Task Forces would remain in place in 2021 until further decision from the Board.

Deadlines and date clash rules for Calendar Applications/Draft Schedules

The Board agrees to go back to the “ORIGINAL” COVID-19 EVENT DEADLINES (not the EHV-1 deadlines which were for some disciplines much shorter) until further notice.

Please refer to Annex 1. 

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 05 June 2021. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final. 

The Board approved the exception to the FEI Para Equestrian Classification Rules to allow “Observation Assessment” following Classification to take place when approved Non-Competition Venue Classifications occur at national competitions and not only at FEI Events as stipulated in the Rules, so that Athletes can complete their Classification as necessary to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 05 June 2021. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final. 

(DEROGATED BY BOARD RESOLUTION OF 14 DECEMBER 2021)

The Board approved the proposed exemption to the Para Equestrian Classification Rules in relation to Articles 15.10 and 15.13 and thereby allowing Athletes with a Review status or Review with Fixed Review date status to apply to have a classification evaluation at an Event at which they are not competing. All requests will be evaluated by the Classification Working Group on a case by case basis.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 21 February 2021. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final. 

Based on the Resolution of the Board of 24 March 2020, the Board confirmed that the Calendar Task Forces would remain in place in 2021 until further decision from the Board.

The Board approved additional updates to the Resolution on deadlines for late date applications and Date Clash Rules initially approved on 10 September, including increased “leniency” on some deadlines until further notice. The relevant table can be found here. This table includes the deadlines by which the Calendar late date application/modification forms, draft schedules and Covid-19 risk assessment and mitigation plans must be received for Events to be considered for inclusion in the Calendar.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 17 January 2021. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final. 

The Board mandated, until further notice, FEI Headquarters to decide on a case-by-case basis and only as long as an Organiser is affected by the Covid-19 situation, to waive the obligation of Article 8439.1 of the FEI Para Dressage Rules which requires all CPEDI3* and FEI Championships to have two FEI Para Equestrian Classifiers present, and one classifier must be from a foreign National Federation.

Should this waiver be granted, the Organiser could accept only Para Dressage Athletes with a confirmed status and Para Dressage Athletes with a review date due which expires after the event.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 19 December 2020. This FEI Board Resolution is therefore final.

Based on the recommendation of the FEI Head Classifier, and until further notice, the Board agreed to reduce the time of application for classification from six to four weeks prior to the Event.

In cases where an Organiser is unable to find two Classifiers for a Classification Panel, the FEI Board agreed, on the recommendation of the FEI Classification Working Group and the Para Equestrian Committee, to allow, until further notice, a temporary derogation of Article 11.3 of the FEI Para Equestrian Classification Rules whereby one Level 2 Classifier could carry out Classification Evaluations alone. It is recommended that a second Classifier join by video call wherever possible.

The FEI Board approved a Classification Working Group recommendation that, until further notice, where the Rules only allow a “Review” status to be allocated (see Articles 10.5.3, 15.6 and 15.15 of the FEI Para Equestrian Classification Rules), that a “Review with Fixed Review Date” status can also be allocated, or “Confirmed” only in cases where it is absolutely clear. The allocation of a status in any case must always be confirmed by the FEI Classification Working Group. This would also be in place if only one Classifier is physically present (with or without another joining by video call).

The FEI Board approved a Classification Working Group recommendation to allow Athletes with a Fixed Review Date to apply for their review to take place prior to the Review date. The FEI Classification Working Group would decide on a case-by-case basis, with detailed justification for or against allowing an Athlete a Review before their date. Applications must be sent in at least four weeks in advance, as for standard Classification requests. The Board agreed not to fix a time limit on this, as each Athlete’s situation is different.

The Board agreed not to allow any additional Covid-19 Fees to be included by the Organisers in the Draft Schedules.

The Board agreed to:

• Postpone the decision on the organisation of the FEI European Championships 2021 to its Teleconference on 20 October 2020 due to the ongoing discussions.
• Allow the FEI Jumping and Eventing Calendar Task Forces to discuss the possibility of organising the Jumping or Eventing European Championships 2021 during the dates of the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, if no better date could be found.

Para Dressage Classifiers - Waiver to Article 8439.1

The Board agreed, until 31 December 2020, to allow the FEI Headquarters to decide on a case by case basis and only as long as an Organiser is affected by the Covid-19 situation, to waive the obligation of Article 8439.1 of the Para Dressage Rules according to which for all CPEDI3* and FEI Championships, two (2) FEI Para Equestrian Classifiers must be present, and one (1) classifier must be from a foreign National Federation.

Should this waiver be granted, the Organiser could accept only Para Dressage Athletes with a confirmed status and Para Dressage Athletes with a review date due which expires after the event.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 11 October 2020. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final. 

The FEI Board decided to provide the Bids/Expressions of Interest received through the EEF for these Championships to the relevant Technical Committees and Calendar Task Forces to understand if they want the FEI Board to reconsider its previous decision to cancel these Championships.

• Recapitulative table for each discipline (pdf) - (updated 15 December 2020)

The Board approved the following Resolution under Art. 20.3 of the FEI Statutes (Emergency Situation).

Until 31 December 2020:

• Applications and/or modifications dates must reach the FEI Secretary General at least four weeks prior to the Event.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 6 June 2020. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final.

The Board approved the following Resolution under Art. 20.3 of the FEI Statutes (Emergency Situation).

Until 31 December 2020:

• CPEDI3* will be exempt from Date Clash Rules.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 6 June 2020. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final.

The Board approved the following Resolution.

• Switching dates from one Event to another Event by the same Organiser. Should this occur, to review and allow, on a case-by-case basis, for a change of venues by the same Organiser.

Based on the recommendation of the FEI Head Classifier, and until 31 December 2020, the Board agreed to reduce the time of application for classification from six to four weeks prior to the Event.

The Board approved the following Resolution under Art. 20.3 of the FEI Statutes (Emergency Situation).

• In line with other FEI Disciplines, the requirement for Foreign Officials could be relaxed, upon request, to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

No NFs signified disapproval by the deadline of 6 June 2020. The FEI Board Resolution is therefore final.

The Board agreed that:

• The decision to maintain a Championship or not should be taken at the latest 10 weeks before the Championship.
• If the Championships is postponed at a later date in 2020, it should not take place outside the school holidays.

The Covid-19 outbreak has led to the cancellation or postponement of numerous international events in various regions of the world as of March 2020 and it is still uncertain when the sport will resume at a normal pace. To mitigate the impact this will have on the Longines Rankings and FEI Rankings, until the situation is stabilised the Board has approved two Mitigation Policies: the Longines Rankings and the FEI Rankings.