Session 2: Dressage Strategic Action Plan

Monday, 31 March, 11.30 - 13.00

The second session of the FEI Sports Forum 2025 opened with FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez introducing the FEI Dressage StrategicAction Planning Working Group. The Group was formed earlier this year to review, coordinate, and develop a Strategic Action Plan in line with the principles established at recent meetings focusing on the discipline.

The Group is chaired by George Williams (USA), and the members are Monica Theodorescu (GER), Raphael Saleh (FRA), Kyra Kyrklund (FIN), Klaus Roeser (GER), and Lise Berg (DEN), who bring diverse expertise in Dressage, coaching, judging, veterinary science, and performance development. British athlete Gareth Hughes, who is also a member of the Group, was unable to attend the Sports Forum. The Group’s initial term runs through to 1 January 2027.

FEI Director for Dressage, Para Dressage and Vaulting, Ronan Murphy, who moderated the session, detailed the background to the formation of the Working Group and the Key Terms of Reference for the Group.

The new Working Group was formed following last October’s Dressage stakeholders meeting at FEI Headquarters. Input from this meeting, plus discussions from the IDRC/IDTC/IDOC meeting in Ermelo (NED) in early November, and the outcomes of the FEI General Assembly 2024 in Abu Dhabi (UAE) have been used to shape the work of the FEI Dressage Strategic Action Planning Working Group.

Discussions on Dressage continue to highlight the need for transparency and ongoing improvement in the wellbeing of horses within the discipline. Criticisms focus on training methods, judging and scoring, and specific incidents involving individual athlete.

Proposals submitted ahead of the 1 October meeting, which informed the definition of the initial strategic focus areas, were summarised during the session. A third of the proposals concerned judging and assessment. Also covered were warm-up area and stewarding protocols, legal and governance structures, competition formats and protocols, horse health and veterinary matters, tack and equipment, communication and engagement.

FEI Sports Forum delegates were reminded of the key focus areas of the FEI Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan, and were presented with a situational analysis, which highlighted key metrics and statistics to assist the Working Group in its decision-making process.

The Working Group has prioritised its initial review of these strategic focus areas and the Dressage Director summarised the proposals that the Working Group is currently exploring. These include introduction of a rideability score, public access to judges’ remarks, a system for judges to flag concerns during a test about a combination’s competency at that level, reviewing judges' positions around the competition arena, further development of AI-assisted judging, refining the Degree of Difficulty (DoD) to prioritise harmony, addressing contact and tongue issues, revision of tests to better reflect the Object of Dressage, monitoring combinations before they enter the arena at A, and increasing judges' involvement in post-competition press conferences. There are also proposals being considered to reintroduce a Judge General or Panel to monitor judging, and review the roles of the Judges Supervisory Panel and the Judges Advisory Group.

Initial proposals being discussed under Tack & Equipment include a trial period allowing athletes to choose between a double bridle or snaffle up to 3* Grand Prix level, and the standardisation of nosebands across all GP classes. From an educational perspective, there will be collaboration with the Ethical Training Methods Working Group to make judging guidelines widely accessible and ensure consistent standards across all levels.

Following the presentations, the Chair and members of the Dressage Strategic Action Planning Working Group formed the panel for the discussions, with questions from the floor focusing on a number of areas.

• Judging Quality & Technology: Improving judging standards would require judges to holistically assess riders, the quality of their training, and the horse through structured tests. The potential of new technology to simplify and assist the judging process should be explored.

• Evidence-Based Decision-Making: High-quality, broad-based research is essential for informed decision-making. Panellists emphasised the need to avoid selective use of data and ensure decisions are grounded in solid evidence.
• Training, Equipment & Rule Changes: Proper training and development are crucial for both horse and rider. Any rule changes must be introduced gradually and thoroughly tested to prevent unintended consequences. National Federation experience with rule trials at the national level offer valuable insights.
• Separating Welfare & Technical Issues: Welfare and technical aspects should be addressed separately. While the discipline has been under scrutiny, this presents an opportunity for constructive reflection and progress.
• Judges & Stewards: Communication between judges and stewards has improved and should continue to be strengthened. Stewards play a vital role in maintaining standards, requiring a high level of expertise and consistent training across all levels.
• Public Perception & Education: Some leading riders have faced criticism, often based on isolated incidents. Without scientific consensus, informing the public remains challenging. Transparency about existing knowledge gaps and ongoing research is essential.
• Dressage Judging Criteria: Reinstating and reviewing the collective marks in Dressage tests could be used to highlight harmony in riding. A stronger emphasis on recognising positive behavioural indicators in judging is needed.
• Collaboration with National Federations: Challenges in equestrian sport go beyond the FEI. Closer collaboration with National Federations and key stakeholders is essential to align efforts and create a unified approach.
• Stewarding Standards: Stewards have a complex role to fulfil. Clearer guidelines are needed, particularly regarding warm-up techniques to ensure consistency in enforcement.
• Communication Strategy: A more cohesive communication strategy is required, developed in collaboration with National Federations. Reframing equestrian sport in terms of what constitutes good horsemanship is a priority, right down to grassroots level.
• Ethical Training: Trainers play a crucial role in shaping rider behaviour and there is an ongoing need for the community to prioritise ethical training. While Dressage faces challenges, the issues are not considered systemic. Horses should be treated as partners, and riders should be schooled in how to gain a horse’s trust and respect from a young age.