Department updates in Main Para Dressage

As 2022 draws to a close, we are pleased to bring to your attention the latest information on preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The attached document contains detailed updates on:

GENERAL INFORMATION
- Paris 2024 Equestrian Delivery Entity: Appointment of GL Events Equestrian Sport
- Jumping Co-Course Designers for Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- Eventing Course Designer Pierre Le Goupil Paris 2024
- Competition schedule for Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- Eventing Horse Inspection

FEI RULES AND REGULATIONS
- Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

QUALIFICATION OF NATIONS
- Qualification systems for Paris 2024 Olympic Games
- FEI Olympic Group Qualification Events (Jumping, Dressage, Eventing)
- Paris 2024 Paralympic Games - Para Dressage Qualification System

PARIS 2024 VENUE TESTING ACTIVITIES

Accreditation FOR HORSE OWNERS

TICKETING

We hope you find this information useful and take the opportunity to wish a very Happy and Merry Holiday Season!

The FEI Para Equestrian Committee, together with FEI Solidarity and the relevant Sport Department, are pleased to inform you of the introduction of the FEI Para Dressage Challenge, effective as of January 2023. This first edition will be proposed as a “pilot” phase throughout 2023.

The format is designed to offer three different levels of Competition, ranging from Beginner to Advanced. For the Beginner and Foundation levels, the Para Dressage tests will be below the first level required at international Para Dressage events, and for the Advanced level the lower Para Dressage test from CPEDI1* events will be used. All Para Dressage test are available on the dedicated page of Inside.FEI.org.

The FEI Para Equestrian Committee hopes that this new programme will help new NFs develop Para Equestrian activities in their region.

The FEI Board held its monthly teleconference on 6 December. The main resolution related to Para Dressage taken on this occasion is listed below.

Para Dressage
Para Dressage World Ranking List Rules 2023
The Board approved the Para Dressage World Ranking List Rules for 2023 with the modification to the maternity leave provisions as outlined above.

The updated rules are available here.

The FEI, in cooperation with the Organiser of the CPEDI 3* Waregem (BEL) and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), is pleased to inform you that Para Equestrian Athletes with vision impairments will have the opportunity to be internationally classified in Waregem on 19 April 2023.
No fee will be charged to athletes attending this particular Classification Evaluation.
 
National Federations are kindly requested to submit their VI Classification requests to the Para Dressage Department by Wednesday, 8 March 2023 at the latest with the following documents:

• The FEI Classification Request Form
• The FEI Consent for Classification Form
• The IBSA Medical Diagnostics Form completed by a registered ophthalmologist.

All of the above forms can be found on the FEI Para Equestrian Classification webpage and must be completed in full, legibly and in English or with a signed translation in copy. All Athletes, including Athletes with a Review status, must supply all of the above documents, which must be current, i.e. completed in the last 12 months.

Please also note if the Athlete will be competing at the CPEDI 3* Waregem (BEL) and will require transportation to the Classification Evaluation.

We are pleased to inform you that the FEI Secretary General has approved the FEI Calendar for 2023 for all disciplines. It can be consulted online in the FEI Database.

In accordance with the FEI General Regulations, Article 112 Official Calendar, National Federations (NFs) had until 1 October 2022 at the latest to send in applications and modifications to CIs taking place in 2023 to the Secretary General. The Secretary General approves the official Calendar for the following year.

Approval of the 5* Jumping Calendar for 2024 is scheduled for late November/early December 2022 but could be postponed should the FEI General Assembly in Cape Town (RSA) approve FEI’s proposal to change the deadline for receipt of applications for 5* to 1 May (the year before the Event takes place).

In addition, the Secretary General has extended the measure taken on 28 February 2022 to remove all international equestrian events in Russia and Belarus from the FEI Calendar. As a consequence, no FEI events will be accepted/entered in either country in the FEI Calendar for 2023.

The other measures approved by the FEI Executive Board in February remain in place, as follows:

• Cancellation or relocation of Officials’ course scheduled to be held in Russia and Belarus (if any);
• Freezing all FEI Solidarity projects planned for/ongoing in Russia and Belarus; and
• Cancellation of any other FEI activities scheduled to take place in Russia and Belarus.

Detailed information on the decision taken by the FEI Executive Board on 28 February is available here.

The Secretary General has also confirmed that the FEI Board’s Emergency Board Resolution of 2 March 2022 prohibiting all Russian and Belarusian Athletes, Horses and Officials from participating in FEI Events remains in place until further notice.

Should you have any questions, please send an email to calendar@fei.org.

FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2022 - Agenda & Annexes
We are pleased to inform you that the Agenda & Annexes for the FEI Hybrid General Assembly taking place in Cape Town (RSA) from 10 to 13 November 2022, have been published in the GA hub on Inside.FEI.org.

You will also find the supporting documents for the FEI Sessions (Equine Ethics & Wellbeing Commission; General Regulations & Calendar related proposals; Rules Session; and, Paris 2024 Rules) to be held on 12 November also available in the Meeting Documents section of the GA hub.

For further information on the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2022, visit the GA hub and don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

Recruitment begins for new FEI Director Dressage, Para Dressage & Vaulting
The FEI is looking to recruit a new Director for the Dressage, Para Dressage & Vaulting Department to replace outgoing Director Bettina De Rham, who will be leaving at the end of the year to explore new horizons and to whom we wish all the very best and thank for her many years of service.

The detailed job description can be found here and the FEI encourages NFs and Associate Members to share this news with relevant professionals that meet the requirements of this important role.   

The deadline to apply is 25 November 2022.

The new and updated Draft Schedules 2023, 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 schedules for each discipline as well as the relevant contact email should you require further information and/or assistance:
 
Click here for Jumping // Person in charge : jenni.saynajarvi@fei.org and/or kevin.Guttmann@fei.org
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 Eventing // Contact email: eventingschedules@fei.org
Click here for Vaulting // Person in charge: laetitia.gillieron@fei.org
Click here for Driving // Contact email:  driving@fei.org
Click here for Endurance // Contact email: endurance@fei.org

In view of frequent questions concerning FEI Dressage and FEI Para Dressage Tack, Equipment and Dress, these Guidelines have been created to help stakeholders better understand the Rules. The Guidelines are published on the FEI Dressage Rules page and FEI Para Dressage Rules page. It is a document to be used by Athletes, Officials as well as other stakeholders, and will be updated as necessary with any clarifications needed. The Guidelines are based on a non-exhaustive list of questions asked about the use of Equipment and Dress at FEI Dressage and FEI Para Dressage competitions.

The Guidelines are to be read in conjunction with the FEI Dressage Rules and FEI Para Dressage Rules, current versions. In case of any discrepancies, the FEI Dressage/Para Dressage Rules will prevail.

Please share these Guidelines amongst the Dressage and Para Dressage Officials and Athletes. The most current version of the Guidelines will always be published on the relevant Rules pages linked above and the FEI Rules App.

For any questions please contact the FEI Dressage and Para Dressage department.

Para Dressage Qualification System for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
The Para Dressage Qualification System for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which was approved at FEI Hybrid General Assembly in Antwerp (BEL) on 17 November 2021, was published by the IPC on 10 June 2022. You will find the approved document in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Hub on Inside.FEI.org.
As explained at the FEI Hybrid General Assembly 2021 and the FEI Sports Forum 2022, the FEI Regulations for Equestrian Events at Paralympic Games will be fully reviewed in 2022, and put forward for approval at the FEI General Assembly 2022 in Cape Town (RSA) on 13 November 2022. The draft proposals will be circulated on 6 July 2022 (as part of the rules revision process).
For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Para Dressage Department.

You will find below two NF News for your attention:

Classification for Athletes with Vision Impairment
The FEI, in cooperation with the OC of CPEDI Hartpury and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), is pleased to inform that Para Equestrian Athletes with Vision Impairments will have the opportunity to be internationally classified in Birmingham (GBR), on 4 July 2022 in connection with the CPEDI3* Hartpury (GBR).
No fee will be charged to athletes attending this particular Classification Evaluation. 
National Federations are kindly requested to submit the VI Classification requests to the Para Dressage Department by Wednesday 15 June at the latest with the following documents:

• The FEI Classification Request Form,
• The FEI Consent for Classification Form,
• The IBSA Medical Diagnostics Form, completed by a registered ophthalmologist.

All of the above forms can be found on the FEI Para Equestrian Classification webpage and must be completed in full, legibly and in English or with a signed translation in copy. All Athletes, including Athletes with a Review status, must supply all of the above documents, which must be current, i.e. completed in the last 12 months. Please also note if the Athlete will be competing at CPEDI Hartpury and be requiring transport to the Classification.
As the deadline is very tight, we please ask that you send any classification requests as soon as possible.

Para Equestrian Classification Research Project
The FEI are funding a three-year study, which aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the effect of different impairment types on performance in Dressage. This information will inform recommendations for an evidence-based, sport-specific Classification system for Para Equestrian Dressage.
We invite all National Federations to forward this email to all Para Dressage and able-bodied Dressage Athletes who might be interested in participating in the final phase of testing for this research which will take place alongside CPEDI Hartpury (GBR) with testing taking place on 5 and 6 July 2022. Please forward this email to FEI registered Para Dressage Athletes who may be interested to take part.
Attached you will find a Participant Information Sheet, which includes further details about the study. If athletes are interested in participating in this study, they should please take the time to read this Participant Information Sheet to decide whether they would like to take part. If they do, the Information Sheet provides details about how to contact the researchers to arrange their inclusion in the study. More information can also be found on the FEI Classification Research Page.

The project involves a biomechanics study to quantify performance measures from riders during ridden tests on a riding simulator. The study also involves the quantification of impairment, using tests from the current FEI Classification system, as well as additional clinical measures of impairment. This information will be used to investigate and define measures of impairment, measures of performance and the strength of association between impairment and activity limitation, which will be used to inform the development of the current Para Dressage Classification system.

Please do not hesitate to contact the FEI Para Dressage department or the Principal Investigator of the study, Dr Sarah Jane Hobbs (SJHobbs1@uclan.ac.uk) if you have any questions.