Department updates in Main Dressage

The international dressage community is deeply saddened by the passing of Jonny Hilberath, a respected German rider, trainer, and assistant team trainer, who passed away on 5 March 2025 at the age of 69. Born in Schleswig-Holstein, Hilberath’s lifelong journey with horses began on his family’s farm, where he developed a deep understanding of horsemanship. He started as a groom and rode across all three Olympic disciplines before focusing on Dressage under the guidance of German equestrian legend Rosemarie Springer. His talent and dedication soon led him to the highest levels of the sport. As a competitor, Hilberath reached Grand Prix with multiple horses, including the Russian-bred Delicatesse, with whom he won the 1992 German Professional Dressage Riders Championships, and Fariano, the Hanoverian gelding he competed internationally for several years, earning a bronze medal at the 2007 German Dressage Championships.

However, it was as a coach and mentor that Hilberath made his most enduring impact. He guided many riders to success, including Bernadette Pujals, whose remarkable performance at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games made history for Mexico. Over the years, he worked with a broad range of international athletes, helping shape the careers of countless dressage riders worldwide.

Hilberath played a pivotal role in German dressage, serving as assistant team trainer from 2009 and working alongside Monica Theodorescu from 2012. Together, they led Germany to numerous championship victories, including Olympic, World, and European titles. His keen eye, wealth of knowledge, and calm presence made him a valued coach and a trusted figure within the sport.

"Jonny was not only an exceptional trainer but also a wonderful person—warm, kind, and always generous with his time and expertise," said FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy. "His contributions to dressage were immense, and his loss will be felt across the entire equestrian community."

Known for his humility, humour, and unwavering dedication, Jonny Hilberath leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire riders for generations to come. He will be greatly missed.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new online FEI Calendar Modification Requests platform, allowing you to request changes to the approved 2025 FEI Calendar.

This online platform replaces the previous workflow which relied on submitting a PDF form by email and will now allow a more efficient and user-friendly experience for all National Federations.

The platform is available as of today, Monday 3 March 2025 and you can access it by using the following direct link.

It is also possible to access the FEI Calendar Modification Requests platform from the FEI Database under the Calendar/Results tab.

You require NF Calendar Admin to be able to access this platform, please contact your NF User Admin to grant access if required.

Guidelines on how to use the FEI Calendar Modification Requests platform can be found here.

 

Please note that as of Monday 31 March 2025 all calendar modification requests must be submitted through this platform. Calendar Modification forms in PDF format that are sent to calendar@fei.org will no longer be accepted after this date.

 

We therefore encourage you to start using the platform as of now for any upcoming modifications you need to make, to familiarise yourself with the various functionalities prior to it becoming mandatory.

For all FEI Events taking place in 2026 or later, for which the FEI Calendar has not yet been approved, you can carry on using the FEI Database as per the usual procedure.

Information for National Federations regarding the FEI Calendar can be found here.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact calendar@fei.org.

Kind regards,

As you know, starting from 1 May 2025, the tightness of nosebands at FEI Events across all FEI Disciplines will be controlled using the FEI Measuring Device.

With the implementation day fast approaching, please be informed that as a priority, all active FEI Stewards will receive one FEI Measuring Device free of charge.  

We kindly request your assistance in distributing the devices to your active FEI Stewards. The FEI will start sending packages to the National Federations in the upcoming week with a list of your FEI Stewards who are active and fulfil the requirements to officiate at FEI Events.

We will provide further information to the broader equestrian community on how to purchase the FEI Measuring Device.

We thank you for your vital support on this important project.

The FEI has created a dedicated Working Group to develop a comprehensive strategic Action Plan for Dressage.
The Working Group which will be Chaired by George Williams (USA), former President of the United States Dressage Federation, US Equestrian Dressage Youth Coach and High Performance & Pathway Development Advisor, will also include the following key figures from across the Dressage community:

• Monica Theodorescu (GER)
• Raphael Saleh (FRA)
• Gareth Hughes (GBR)
•  Kyra Kyrklund (FIN)
• Klaus Roeser (GER)
• Lise Berg (DEN)

A full press release on these appointments can be found here.

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.