Eventing Committee Meeting

The Eventing Committee met for the second meeting of the year at the occasion of the 2nd FEI Eventing World Cup Final in Pau (FRA).

1. Rules for Eventing: Taking into account the late date of the Eventing Committee meeting, the Committee decided to recommend to the FEI Bureau changes to the Rules for Eventing for 2005 regarded as critically important as a result of experience during and since the Olympic Games.

These changes included:

- introduction of a yellow flag for warning competitor if excessive speed, reckless approach to fences, uncontrolled riding has been registered and that they may be disqualified.

- a clarification on judging intention of presenting the horse at a bounce fence.

- appointment of a compulsory Jumping Judge as assistance of the Ground Jury for the Jumping test at 3 & 4 star level events.

- List of new Dressage tests to be enforced in 2005.

- A consultation with riders system to improve communication between riders and Officials (see Statement of Eventing Committee).

2. New format CCI w/out Steeple Chase: The Committee concluded that the introduction of the new CCI format without Steeplechase was a viable for the future, providing new opportunities for the Organizers, riders and horses. In addition it enabled the sport to broaden and this was in general terms good for the development of the sport.

3. Championship format: it was confirmed that all championships would be maintained in future according to CCI format without Steeplechase

4. CCI4* need and desire worldwide: a study on the numbers of riders entered in the existing 4 star events in addition to the number of riders actually qualified for the level needed would be undertaken by 1 February 2005 before any additional CCI 4* could be added to the calendar.

5. Strategic Plan  Eventing: The Committee would produce a plan in the next months with the help of outside consultants to be presented to the FEI Bureau in 2005.

6. Doping Control / Judicial Procedures: The Committee made a statement that a radical review of the whole FEI Medication system for horses was needed.

7. Olympic Games: The Committee concluded that the standard of the Athens Cross Country after Jerez had been the correct one for the conditions and that the whole circumstances needed to be kept in context. Athens was not the benchmark for other Olympic Games the level could be reviewed for future championships/Games with the target to combine the universal requirement with the best in the world.

Strong concern was expressed on the cost incurred for the construction and Cross Country infrastructure for the Athens Olympic Games.

The Greek organising Committee had managed to create an event over all expectations, and needed to be congratulated.

8. Eventing Safety Program Annual report: would be produced by end of 2004  it was important that all statistics be compare from the 2 previous years, to obtain confirmation of trends in the sport.

9. FEI World Event Riders Rankings: The World Event Riders rankings 2005 rules would be updated to include CICs with the same value of points at a level lower than the CCIs. The World Cup final would count as a CCI3*.

10. FEI Eventing World Cup: Success of the 2nd Final was acknowledged, the project would continue with same rules for 2005 with the distance of the Cross Country shortened to 4000m. The interest worldwide was registered as well as the very appreciated support of the Organizers.