Department updates in Main Eventing

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games – Eventing Format
The Online Eventing Seminar held on 20 January was, as mentioned in the invitation, the opportunity to introduce a proposal supported by the FEI Eventing Committee for the Eventing format for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
General information on the Seminar is available in this press release.
Below you will find details on the background for the proposal, a presentation of the format along with an outline of the next steps.

General background information
The proposal has been made further to information provided by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the LA2028 Event Programme and quota will be confirmed by the IOC Executive Board after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1 2025).

In December 2023, the IOC asked International Federations (IFs) to formulate proposals for changes to the Event Programme in line with the principles of IOC Agenda 2020+5, the strategic roadmap of the IOC and the Olympic Movement, and tailored to the LA2028 vision and context. This includes focus on athletes, cost, complexity, gender equality, and global appeal.

In order for the proposals for events to be included in the IOC consultation process and reviewed before the decision in Q1 2025, IFs were urged to make their submissions by 1 March 2024.

Background information on the proposed Eventing format
The proposed modifications to the Los Angeles 2028 Eventing Competition Format presented at the Eventing Seminar was the result of discussions between the FEI, IOC and the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), the host broadcast organisation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

OBS are strong supporters of Eventing Cross Country as it generates spectacular images of the environment and provides iconic views of the host city, such as the London historical landmarks, the Rio sugarloaf mountains or the Tokyo skyline. OBS formulated a proposal to make Eventing more attractive to fans and new audiences, and increase the media value by capitalising on the Cross Country phase which is a unique draw for the discipline.

We would like to clarify that discussions regarding proposed modifications to the Olympic format concern only Eventing and do not apply to either Jumping or Dressage as in these disciplines no changes are proposed.

Eventing Format Proposal
The OBS proposal supported by the FEI Eventing Committee as it is in line with Olympic principles, sees the team competition run on the short format (Dressage, Jumping, Cross Country) with Team medals awarded after the Cross Country while the Individual competition remains on the long format, as per previous Olympic Games, with the Jumping round held the day after the Cross Country to award the Individual medals. This would entail two medal days, with Team Medals awarded on Day Three after the Cross Country followed by Individual Medals on Day Four after the Final Individual Jumping Round.

The day-by-day breakdown would be as follows:
Day One & Day Two: Dressage and Jumping (all participants)*
Day Three: Cross Country (all participants) & Team Medals
Day Four:   Individual Jumping & Individual Medals
*Timetabling on Days One and Two will be held in accordance with the logistical possibilities.

The Team “short” format Cross Country will be run according to the current distance of 10 mins. This format is already in use at many events worldwide and would not bring drastic changes to the spirit of the discipline. It will focus even more attention on the unique attributes of the Cross Country adding greater excitement around the Team medals.

FEI consultation
Taking into account the very short time available for consultation, NFs involved in Eventing are kindly asked to provide thoughts or comments on the format described above by 20 February 2024 to Catrin.Norinder@fei.org, in order to allow the FEI HQ to finalise the submission and get FEI Board approval so that it can be provided to the IOC by 1 March.

Feedback on the following questions will be helpful:

• What advantages/challenges do you foresee in holding the Team competition as a short format whilst retaining the Individual competition on the long format?
• What further advantages/challenges do you see with this proposed format?  
•  Do you have any further suggestions, ideas or comments you would like to share?

At this stage only the order of tests will be submitted to the IOC, no other information is required.

Next steps
If the format is approved by the IOC, veterinary matters, including horse inspections after Cross Country, would be reviewed in order to ensure optimal horse welfare. All other topics such as draw of starting orders, number of participants for the Individual Jumping test, etc. will be included in the revision of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games, which will take place in 2025 and will undergo a full stakeholder consultation process before being submitted for approval at the FEI General Assembly in November 2025.

We thank you for your attention and kind cooperation in this important matter and look forward to hearing from you by 20 February.

The FEI Board held its first teleconference of 2024 on 18 January. The main resolutions taken on this occasion are listed below.
A short announcement regarding the online FEI Eventing seminars, which will be held on 20 and 21 January follows the resolutions.

ALLOCATION OF FEI CHAMPIONSHIPS AND FINALS
French leg of FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2024
The Board approved the allocation of the French leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2024 to Lignières (FRA) on 26-29 September 2024 to replace the initial application of Haras de Jardy (FRA). 

FEI EVENTING SEMINARS, 20-21 JANUARY 2024
We take this opportunity to highlight the Online Eventing Seminar taking place on Saturday, 20 January from 13:00-16:15 CET, where Eventing Stakeholders (NFs involved in Eventing, Officials, Athletes, 4*/5* OCs) have been invited to attend as have the media, to discuss the big topics in the sport and review all the latest findings from a Risk Management perspective, with a focus on how to have a positive impact and futureproof Eventing.

Organised by the FEI Eventing Department and moderated by Eventing Chair/Board Member David O’Connor (USA) and Chair of the FEI Risk Management Steering Group Geoff Sinclair (AUS), an important point on the agenda concerns the proposed Eventing Competition formats for Los Angeles 2028, which, we would like to emphasise, is an initiative/discussion solely concerning Eventing. Nevertheless, should any members (including members not directly involved with Eventing) wish to attend, please do not hesitate to contact Nathalie.Charlton@fei.org at the FEI Eventing Department in order to receive an invitation and link to join.

As is customary with the annual Eventing Seminar/Forum, the meeting will be available to watch in Replay, all relevant annexes will be published and there will be dedicated communications (an NF News and Press Release after the meeting) summarising the key points prior to the full wrap-up report being published online. The Seminar will be followed-up on Sunday, 21 January with the National Safety Officers Seminar which is restricted to the specific stakeholders, however, will also be well documented with relevant annexes, videos to watch in replay and a full wrap-up report.

To view the 2024 agenda and also the 2023 seminar documents, click here.

This important deadline of Monday, 15 January 2024, which applies to all (potential) Paris 2024 Olympic Games Horses is approaching.

Kindly note that further to Article 139 of the FEI General Regulations and Article 606 of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games Paris 2024:

• The nationality of the Owner of a Horse competing at Paris 2024 must be the same as the nationality of the Athlete riding the Horse.
• Only Horses owned by Owner(s) having the same nationality of the Athlete (i.e. not leased horses) can participate at Paris 2024.
• The Owner of the orse and its nationality must be entered in the FEI Database by 15 January 2024.
• Where a Horse has multiple Owners of different nationalities, the nationality of the Horse ownership must be declared with the FEI by 15 January 2024 (via the FEI Database) and must match the nation for which the Horse will compete during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; one of the multiple Owners must have the nationality of the nation for whom the Horse will compete. For example, if there are 3 owners of a Horse and one owner has nationality X, one owner has nationality Y and one owner has nationality Z, the Horse must be registered with one of these nationalities (X or Y or Z) by 15 January 2024 and can only compete for that registered nation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

 Please refer to the image below of how this is represented on the FEI Database:

The nationality highlighted in orange is the declared nationality of the ownership and, as of 15 January 2024, the only nation for which the Horse can compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

• If the nationality of the Horse is changed between 15 January 2024 and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Horse will not be eligible to compete at Paris 2024 (the Owners can change provided the nationality of the ownership is maintained).
• As per the FEI General Regulations, “Owner” means a person or entity having a property interest in whole or in part of one or more horses.
• The horse may be owned by individual(s) and/or company(ies) and/or by a partnership of individual(s) and/or company(ies).

• If the Horse is owned by a company, the nationality of the Horse is that of the country where the company is registered. The name of the company and its nationality must be entered in the FEI Database as the Owner of the Horse by 15 January 2024 as mentioned above.
• When a Horse is owned by a company it is not mandatory to enter the name of an individual (with legal ownership in the company) in the FEI Database prior to 15 January 2024.

Please kindly note that the 15 January 2024 deadline is applied strictly and the FEI cannot grant exceptions, regardless of the reason for missing the deadline (e.g., technical issues etc). Therefore, we strongly encourage all NFs with a team or individual quota place for Paris 2024 (or who might obtain a quota place via the reallocation process) to update and check the ownerships of all potential Olympic Games Horses via the FEI Database prior to the 15 January 2024 deadline. Please double check this even if you believe that all is in order.
 
For any questions on updating Horse ownerships on the FEI Database, please contact passport@fei.org
 
Please kindly note that the same provisions do not apply to the Paralympics, and Horse Owners as well as Nationality changes do not have to follow the same Rules as in the Olympic Games. Please contact the Para Dressage Department if you have any questions.

We wish you a very Happy New Olympic and Paralympic Year!

Please click here to read the press release announcing the publication of the Olympic and Paralympic Rankings for Paris 2024.

Thank you for your attention.

The updated Draft Schedules 2024, to be used for all International Events taking place next year, are now available on Inside.FEI.org.
Below you will find the direct links to the Draft Schedules for each Discipline as well as the relevant contact email should you require further information and/or assistance: 
Click here for Dressage
Person in charge: philippe.maynier@fei.org

Click here for Para Dressage
Person in charge: laetitia.gillieron@fei.org

Click here for Vaulting
Person in charge: laetitia.gillieron@fei.org

Click here for Driving and here for Para Driving
Contact email: driving@fei.org

Click here for Endurance
Contact email: endurance@fei.org

The online schedules for Jumping and Eventing have also been updated.
Contact email for Jumping: jumping@fei.org

Contact email for Eventing: eventingschedules@fei.org

We are pleased to inform you that the FEI will be launching a new campaign tomorrow called “Think Outside The Box” to raise awareness and provide solutions to minimise the risk of potential contamination and Equine Anti-Doping and Medication Controlled Regulations (EADMCR) violations, as well as potential health risks for horses, arising from certain behaviours and actions or lack-of in and around the stables.

Initially created to attract the attention of the key stakeholders concerned by the EADMCRs ie riders, grooms and support personnel, and in a bid to inform and educate around contamination – often an unfortunate situation that could be avoided if the right precautions had been taken - the campaign was expanded to include general best-practice recommendations to make it relevant to the wider equestrian community and promote safety and wellbeing for horses, regardless of their competition status.

A joint collaboration between the Education and Legal departments at the FEI, with very engaging and “shareable” content (you will be surprised by the video), we encourage all our stakeholders to join us in the promotion of this campaign so we can reach as many people as possible, and hopefully reduce contamination cases emanating from ill-informed behaviour, as well as providing the best practice recommendations to avoid contamination for horses out of competition and any potential health threats this might entail. 

Dedicated Hub & Digital Assets To Download – English, French & Spanish
We have created a dedicated portal - www.fei.org/think - available in three languages (English, French and Spanish) and have an array of digital assets which you can download and use on all your channels to proactively promote the campaign to you members, fans and followers. Download assets directly on www.fei.org/think #FEIThinkOutsideTheBox 

They Support Us
You will see on the portal, we have a section – They Support Us – where we have included the logos of all our Official Stakeholders, so please do let us know if you would like to be removed from this section, simply by contacting Sebastien.Goyon@fei.org and alternatively if you are not included in this section, and would like to be featured, please also contact Sebastien.Goyon@fei.org and let him know you would like to be added to that section with your logo.   

Campaign Merchandising
And finally, we have produced some bright and impactful merchandising for this campaign, which is available to all our “supporters” so please don’t to hesitate contact Sebastien.Goyon@fei.org with the relevant delivery address and we will send you a pack of stickers, caps and tote bags with campaign branding. 

Ambassadors
We are also on the lookout for ambassadors – so if you would like to nominate/introduce us to potential ambassadors for the campaign, we are open to suggestions! 

EMBARGOED
Please note all of the above is EMBARGOED until Friday 17 November 20:00 CET when the campaign is officially launched. We kindly ask that you refrain from posting any information, assets, visual, etc until 16:00 on Friday unless reposting from FEI channels.  

#FEIThinkOutsideTheBox

FRANGIBLE DEVICES

We would like to share with you the updates applicable as from 1^st January 2024.

We are aware of the need for a period in which Course Designers and Course Builders work towards building new frangible fences to enable them to incorporate designs into more traditional type jumps that fit MIM the instruction weights and dimensions. However, it is also understood that it is time consuming and costly to update existing frangible fences, therefore:

• As from 1 January 2024 all newly built fences must comply with the instructions. To help with inherent inaccuracy of building fences in the field, a margin of up to 25% over the maximum weight has been included in the MIM Instructions. 

All new MIM fences should must be fitted with a MIM weight plate as from 1^st January 2024 latest (available from MIM https://mimclip.mimsafe.com/shop/ at no charge and now supplied with all new kits) at time of building.

• All existing MIM frangible fences built up to 1^st January 2024 may stay in use without changes for the duration of their lifetime use.

As a reminder:

• Table fences: When weighing these fences any dressing such as heavy pots or similar need to be taken into account when calculating compliance with the maximum weight.
• Course Designers and Course Builders need to be aware that the lighter the rail, the less force is required to trigger the device. The use of light timber should be avoided where horses naturally ‘rub’ rails (e.g.: into coffins, high speed fences) and conversely, the heavier the rail / table the more force is required to activate the device. Heavy rails should be avoided where the jumping speed is slower. 
• There comes a point at which a heavy rail / table, even if suspended on air, could cause a rotation. 
• It is the responsibility of the event Officials (CD, TD and PGJ) to ensure frangible devices used at events are fitted in accordance with the instructions. 
• UPDATED MIM ONE PAGERS

We know building Cross Country fences includes many different variations and parameters, Course Designers and Technical Delegates should ensure that fences built with MIM devices follow the instructions.

The enclosed updated MIM ONE PAGE CORRECT FITTING CHECKS have been updated; they are available to print out from the FEI website (Eventing / Risk Management / Deformable & Frangible Devices). These check lists have also been updated in the Cross Country Guide for Officials (Updated 23.10.2023) available on the website (Eventing / Rules) and in the FEI Rule App (to display the latest version (Last update on 23 October 2023), you might have to delete the existing XC Guide document from the FEI Rule App library and swipe at the top of the App to refresh the documents), as well as on the Officials Facebook page.

They are available for the following kits:

• Table kit 80320
• Corner kit 80326
• Gate and Wall kit 80324
• Old Gate and Wall kit 00324
• Post and Rail – Oxer kit 80321 NEW

TD’s, CD’s and GJ should use these check lists during course inspections and check that the Course Builders have fitted the Frangible devices to the correct measurements.

Please ensure newly built fences as from 1^st January 2024, comply with the “MIM One page correct fitting checks”.

• MIM QUESTIONS / ASSISTANCE

Any question about correct fitting of frangible devices are to be addressed to:

RMSG members:

• Stuart Buntine: stuart@bedeltd.co.uk, (GBR mobile n° +44 7717 412 167)
• Dave Vos: davidwvos@gmail.com, (USA mobile n° +1 540 532 7079)

MIM founder:

• Mats Björnetun: mats@mimsafe.com, (mobile n° +46 70 853 21 80)

Note: please be mindful of time zones if using their mobile numbers

A list of Frangible Device Advisors is also available in the MIM FAQs document.

If a frangible device is incorrectly fitted, it would be very helpful if you could take a photo and send it (to the above-mentioned) as it will help to identify what errors are being made and improve the instruction manuals accordingly.

All information relating to Frangible Devices is available on the FEI website under Eventing / Risk Management / Frangible Devices

CROSS COUNTRY GUIDE FOR OFFICIALS UPDATE

The following sections of the Cross Country Guide for Officials have been updated:

Page 6 – Counting the Efforts

• The following has been removed: “A single step up or down need not count towards the effort tally”.

Page 21 - Frangible Deformable Devices (art. 547.2.4)

• All newly built fences with MIM frangible devices must meet the manufacturer’s instructions as from 1 January 2024. A weight plate is to be attached to all new built fences from that date. (Note: weights can exceed the relevant maximum weight (as specified in the MIM Instructions) by up to 25% of the relevant maximum weight. 
• All existing MIM frangible fences built up to 1st January 2024 may stay in use without changes for the duration of their lifetime use.

Page 24 – 28 MIM CORRECT FITTING CHECKS (ONE PAGERS)

The following have been updated:

• The Table kit 80320
• Corner kit 80326
• Gate and Wall kit 80324
• Old Gate and Wall kit 00324

An additional one pager has been included:

• Post and Rail – Oxer kit 80321 NEW

Page 30 - Definitions

• Square oxer: a ‘parallel’ spread fence where the front rail is 25 cms or less lower than the back rail
• Ascending spread: a spread fence where the front is more than 25 cms lower than the back rail

The Cross Country Guide for Officials is available on the FEI website (Eventing / Rules) and in the FEI Rule App (to display the latest version (Last update on 23 October 2023), you might have to delete the existing XC Guide document from the FEI Rule App library and swipe at the top of the App to refresh the documents),

 2024 EVENTING HORSE FALL RECOMMENDATION

The Eventing Committee and Risk Management Steering Group have agreed to include the following recommendation for 2024 for implementation by Ground Jury:

Following any Horse Fall on Cross Country, a systematic interview/discussion will need to be place between the Athlete and the Ground Jury (President or Member) and/or the Technical Delegate. The aim is educational to understand the circumstances to learn for the future – Horse falls are a serious risk factor for athlete, horse and our sport and need to be minimised. The discussion is to be recorded in the Judge and/or TD report (a section will be added in the reports).

2024 ONLINE FEI EVENTING SEMINAR AND NSO SEMINAR

The Online Eventing Seminar and NSO Seminar will be held on Saturday 20 January 2024, for all Eventing Officials, Eventing FEI Athletes, National Federations, NSOs, Course Builders, etc.

The Online NSO Seminar will be held on Sunday 21 January 2024 for NSOs and NFs.

More information will be communicated shortly.

RISK MANAGEMENT STEERING GROUP (RMSG)

We hereby inform you that Rob Stevenson has decided to step down as Medical Member of the RMSG. We are very appreciative of all the work and time Rob has dedicated to the Group over the last 7 years.

If you have any questions, comments or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact us (Nathalie.charlton@fei.org).

New FEI Eventing Dressage Tests are now available online, including new and updated tests for CCIP1*, CCI1*-Intro, CCI2*, CCI3*, CCI4* and CCI5* competitions. Dressage Tests 'D' were created for competitions wishing to use shorter tests.
You will find all tests to be used as of 1 January 2024 on the following webpage.

Below please find an important update and clarification regarding the participation restrictions in Eventing applicable for obtaining the Minimum Eligibility Requirements for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as set out in Article 626 of the FEI Olympic Regulations for Paris 2024:

“No Athlete/Horse combination may participate at an event to obtain an Olympic MER within the period of 4 weeks after having started the Cross country test of a Long format (CCI-L) event and/or 2 weeks (10 days) after a short format (CCI-S) event.”

Having received numerous queries and requests for clarification, the FEI hereby informs everyone of the following clarifications in order to maintain consistency with the FEI Eventing Rules (article 518.2 Minimum Eligibility Requirement Validity period - CIs & CIOs) and to be aligned with past practices such as for Tokyo 2020:

1. Eventing Olympic Games MER restriction period will be calculated from the date of the cross-country test of the first event to the date of the cross-country test of the following event.
2. The restriction period of “4 weeks” following a long-format event will be interpreted as 24 days (and not the 28 days initially communicated).

Please disregard all information previously sent, including the NF News’ of 3 and 12 May 2023 on this matter. The FEI Eventing & Olympic Department will provide each National Federation with the list of combinations not complying with the above and updated timelines.

Should you have any question, please contact the Eventing and Olympic Department.

Visit the FEI Paris 2024 Olympic hub for all information relating to the Olympic Ranking and MER events, qualification systems, rules & regulations, customs & freight guide, and more.  

Visit the FEI Paris 2024 Paralympic hub for all information relating to qualification events & systems, rules & regulations, customs & freight guide, and more.

We wish to remind you that in accordance with Art. 112 of the FEI General Regulations, the dates for all 2024 International Events must be entered into the FEI online Calendar through FEI Database before 01 October. Exceptionally this year, the deadline is postponed to Monday, 02 October 2023 midnight CEST.

 

At 23:59 CEST on 02 October 2023, the 2024 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.

 

You will find the full Memo which can also be accessed via the FEI Calendar here.