The Dressage Committee held its annual meeting in Milan (ITA) from 21 – 23 May 2001. The meeting was chaired for the first time by the new Dressage Committee Chairman
, Mrs Mariette Withages (BEL). Mr Gotthilf Riexinger (GER) attended the meeting as the new Event Organisers’ Representative and as per usual procedure, Drs Joep Bartels (NED) was in attendance in his capacity as Director of World Cup Dressage.
Mr Sjef Janssen (NED), Vice President of the International Dressage Trainers Club, was given an opportunity to address the Committee Members on these matters of concern to Dressage trainers. The meeting was an extremely fruitful one with much discussion and lively debate concerning in particular, the future development of Dressage. An outcome of this discussion was a commitment by the three main groups within Dressage i.e. judges, riders and trainers, to work together in the interests of the development of the sport.
It was agreed that two members from each group would form part of a working panel, which will function independently of the formal Committee Meeting structure. The panel will consider items such as rule changes, promotion and appointment of judges, new Dressage tests, contents of seminars and courses and qualification requirements and will make recommendations and proposals to the Dressage Committee for its further consideration.
The Committee agreed to amend the Qualification Requirements for both the European Championships 2001 and the World Equestrian Games 2002. The new requirements are as follows:
European Championships:
In order to qualify for participation at the 2001 European Dressage Championships, riders and horses must have attained (as a combination) a result of at least 300 points (or 60%)*, attributed by any of the FEI Official International Dressage Judges of a nationality other than that of the rider, in a Grand Prix at two CDI***/CDI-Ws and upwards from 1 January 2000 until deadline for receipt of Certificates of Capability (13 July 2001). In addition, all rider and horse combinations that obtained the necessary scores to qualify for the Olympic Games 2000 will receive automatic qualification for the European Championship 2001.
World Equestrian Games:
In order to qualify for participation at the 2002 World Championship, riders and horses must have attained (as a combination) a result of at least 315 points (or 63%)*, attributed by any of the FEI Official International Dressage Judges of a nationality other than that of the rider, in a Grand Prix at two CDIs***/CDI-Ws and upwards from 1 January 2001 until the deadline for receipt of Certificates of Capability (date to be confirmed). For riders of non-European and non-North American countries this number of points must be achieved at one CDI***/CDI-W only. However, if any of these riders wish to qualify in Europe or North America, where two CDIs***/CDI-Ws are required, these riders must attain the minimum score of 315 points in a Grand Prix competition at two CDIs***/CDI-Ws.
Assessing Delegate
Nations participating in the FEI World Dressage Challenge wishing to send competitors to the World Equestrian Games, have the possibility to make a request to the FEI that an FEI Assessing Delegate (FEI Official International Judge) judge the rider concerned in a Grand Prix under competition conditions on the occasion of 2001 FEI World Dressage Challenge. The same minimum requirement of 315 points (63%) must be attained in order to qualify.
Image of Mariette Withages by Dirk Caremans