The FEI Dressage Committee held a meeting at Hotel Aurora in Heathrow, London, on 25 - 26 February 2013. Members present were Thomas Bauer, David Hunt, Hans-Christian Matthiesen, Kyra Kyrklund and Trond Asmyr (DD), with Anne Gribbons attending over the phone.
The major conclusions and discussions at the meeting concern these topics:
Test of Choice - Owners Class
It was seen as positive to have the possibility of some kind of training classes (“test of choice”, “training session” or “owners classes”, name TBC) to boost the sport, allow athletes to take along young horses, especially to events lasting over long periods of time. These would not give rankings or a result, but the athletes would receive the test sheets. The FEI Legal department would need to draw up a wording, the basic criteria being that this opportunity would be offered to athletes participating in a CDI, on another horse (as cannot take part in such a test in the middle of a CDI with the same horse). The formulation needs to ensure it is not seen as an unsanctioned event. The definition used in Jumping for similar training classes was to be checked first.
Deputy Chair after Elisabet Lundholm
Chair Frank Kemperman informed the Committee that he had appointed Thomas Baur the new Deputy Chair, and Mr Baur had accepted. The DC congratulated Mr Baur on this appointment.
FEI Sports Forum
For Dressage, the two specific issues on the Sports Forum Agenda were the Round Table discussion (Tue 9th April 10h15) and the Olympic qualifications and format (Mon 8th April 10h00-13h00).
Dressage Round Touble: Dressage is enjoying the highest interest in its history and the London Olympics were a fantastic showcase for the sport. How can we build on this by making it even more attractive and securing its further development? What are the factors that contribute to the sport’s expansion? Do we need to know more about our fans? What makes the sport popular? Is it, for example, the freestyle phase or the star status of competitors? How can we develop new, young sports stars? How important is TV coverage for Dressage and how far should we go to accommodate interest from TV broadcasters? Are too many important decisions made on the basis of intuition and myth rather than data?
The freestyle is clearly established as the most exciting part of Dressage. It has been a championship test since the World Equestrian Games 1994 in The Hague and is now the class that draws the most interest from spectators, media and TV viewers. The judging format has developed rapidly, but what can we do to ensure that the winners are decided on the basis of criteria that are as fair and objective as
possible? Ideas put forward include changing the artistic marks, further defining the degree of difficulty and improving the way the selected music is judged.
Olympic Qualification and Format: A first draft on these issues was to be presented and discussed at the Sports Forum to receive some input, to then present the final version at the GA.
Updates
Nations Cup
The DD had sent the draft Rules to the DC. It was agreed to modify the amount of prize money to EUR 20’000 for CDIOs5*, 15’000 for CDIOs4* and 10’000 for CDIOs3*. The DD was to contact the Organisers to check that they could put up the required prize money.
EU-CH 2013 Seniors
The DD informed that the timetable had been established for all three disciplines. The GP would take place on 21-22 August (team final), the GPS on 23 August (first individual medals) and the GPFS on the 25 August (second individual medals). The overall time schedule seemed to make it possible to have sufficient time for arena familiarisation on Mon/Tue 19-20 August.
The Arena was new, but the Organisers experienced in general. All three TDs were to go visit together. The DD was to keep updating the DC at the next meetings.
World Cup Final 2015
The World Cup Final for 2015 was still open, the allocation to Guadalajara (MEX) having fallen through due to insufficient financial guarantees. It had been offered to Las Vegas, which also needed to produce the guarantees and a solution for the transport of the horses.
Other EU-CHs and Games
The Pony EU-CHs were to take place in Arezzo (ITA) for all three disciplines 23-28.7.13. Mariette Withages was helping the OC to ensure the smooth running for Dressage.
The Y/J EU-CH was to take place in Compiègne (FRA) 10-14.7.13. The YH-WCH in Verden (GER) was on 7-11.8 and the Central Asian CHs in mid-June.
Candidates for 2014 were Arezzo (already allocated) for EU-CH-Y/J. For the Ponies this was still open, Poland being a candidate. Italy had also shown interest in bidding for a EU-CH-Ch.
For 2015, the Senior EU-CH was to take place in Aachen (GER); the YH-WCH in Verden (had been allocated for 2013-15). The EU-CH-Y/J had not been allocated yet, although Vidauban (FRA) had bid for a Y/J/Ch CH. Almaty (KAZ) had bid for the Central Asian CH. Malmö (SWE) had bid for the EU-CH-P. These bids were to be allocated this spring.
For 2016, the only bid received so far was for the World Cup Final in Gothenburg (SWE), which was to be presented to the DC on 8th April in Lausanne. This was also to be allocated this spring.
Bromont (CAN) was to give a presentation of their bid for the WEG 2018 at HQ on 27th February 2013.
Development Issues incl. the FEI Challenge
The DC was positive to testing the new format for the “Educative Events”. The DD was to send the FEI Coaching system to Kyra and David. Jacqueline Braissant and her department would be in charge of this programme.
New 5* Judges based on input from JSP, IDRC and IDTC
The new judges were to be promoted to 5* status from 1 July 2013.
Dressage Tests
A working group consisting of David Hunt, Kyra Kyrklund and Katrina Wüst had been in charge of looking at the current Dressage tests, particularly the ones for seniors, to evaluate if any test(s) needed to be modified for 2014.
David Hunt reported that the group had had a meeting in London in December, and felt that the tests did not need changing, with following exceptions:
- Intermediaire II
- In the Grand Prix, the walk pattern could be changed to add more extended walk and give the judges a better view and change the transition marks for this
- The Young Horses tests should be looked over and input from Wim Ernes and Dieter Schüle had been asked for
The tests for the other categories were judged to be good. The Judge General was also to be involved in the process.
As the Freestyle tests and the judging of them was an important issue in 2013, the task of the group was broadened to include also how to judge the tests. This same group would also work on the test event for Freestyle.
Any new test(s) must be ready at the end of summer of early autumn 2013.
The DD reminded that there was no absolute must to change tests for small details only, as this had vast consequences all over the world (NF translating and using FEI tests).
Conclusion: The Working group (Katrina Wüst, Stephen Clarke, Kyra Kyrklund and David Hunt) proposed to update the Intermediaire II test and would proceed with working on this based on the DC input. They were to meet once in the UK, and would report to the DC on the progress over the next meetings. The revised test(s) needed to be ready by the end of summer 2013.
Judging Systems Evaluation of Half Marks, 7 Judges and JSP
The DD replied to a request by the DC for an evaluation of the above three new judging systems. He had annexed a short report by David Stickland on this for the DC’s information.
The main conclusions regarding the Half Marks were that they had been used more and more by everyone, e.g. at the Olympics 35-44% of the time. They were most useful in the middle range of marks. Many judges reluctant to them in the beginning were now in favour of them, as a tool to refine the marks given. The statistics are inconclusive regarding if the marks have gone up or down since their introduction.
Regarding 7 judges, the main advantages are that the influence of each judge is reduced from 20% (with 5) to approx. 14 %, so if one judge misses something in a test, it is levelled out more. Also the placing of the two additional judges in the arena on the short side of A adds to complete the 360° view of the arena.
Big events benefit from both the added two judges and the JSP (who can only correct technical and counting mistakes). In conclusion, having 7 judges was seen as overall positive and works well.
For the JSP, the Stickland statistics cannot be used for analysis, as he bases them on the final (corrected) marks. The technical functionality works well for the JSP at shows. It is clear what the JSP can change (technical and counting mistakes, i.e. the objective parts), and some clarifications had been made, such as that they cannot change marks outside the range given by the other judges. At the Olympics in London, the JSP made 85 changes from over 12’600 marks, i.e. to 0.3% of the marks given. All marks that are changed are communicated to the judges in question. Having the JSP adds value as it works as a safety net and can the changes can influence placings.
Increasing the JSP’s rights to change marks for more subjective issues such as a judge being out of line or judging nationalistically was discussed, but not seen to be needed to be approached by changing marks, but rather to be taken up with the judge in question. The possibility of anonymous judging was also discussed.
Overall, the DC was very content with the work of the JSP. They should also attend smaller shows regularly for observation.
Future Judging of Freestyle
The judging of Freestyle was currently under review. A test event was to be held based on input from the 5* Judges seminar in Paris in January 2013. It was agreed that it was preferable to test as many things as possible, even when doubtful about them being possible.
Conclusion: All agreed that as much as possible should be tested. The testing event was to be held after the senior EU-CHs approximately in September, the place was still to be confirmed, logistically most likely in GER or NED. Around 20 tests were needed, but the same rider could ride their same Freestyle twice.
Professional / Semi-professional Judges – first report
Thomas Baur reported to the DC that a first meeting on this subject had been held in Paris after the 5* Judges seminar in January. Some opinions had changed and so far there had been no tangible progress. The working title had been changed to “semi-professional judges” as it had been concluded that realistically it could not provide a full-time income. The Chair commented that not only the judges, but also other officials, such as Stewards, were currently not professional. He would also follow up in finding out about tax issues linked to this.
Conclusions: Possibly having semi-professional judges was seen as a long-term project. The next step was to revert to the DC with the pros and cons list for the next meeting.
Horse Inspections
The Chair explained that the background to this point was a horse that did not pass the horse inspection at an event, but was worked as normal right after this. The question of how to regulate what should happen or not after a horse fails the Inspection has to be defined.
This needs to be a general recommendation for all disciplines.
Hans-Christian Matthiesen pointed out the procedure and the importance of the holding box. If the horse does not pass the inspection and is sent to the holding box, it is examined there by the Treating Vet (the FEI vet is not allowed to touch the horse). If the Treating Vet cannot find anything wrong with the horse, working it for a bit can be beneficial to take away any possible stiffness.
The Horse Inspection had also been generally discussed at the 5* Judges Seminar in Paris. All agreed that sufficient space was needed for it to minimise potentially dangerous situations. The DC suggests that carrying a whip should be allowed without asking special permission. Generally, athletes should be allowed to use the tools needed to safely manage their horses (lunge line, chain, wearing helmets). A possible change will be looked into in the Rules revision process.
Horses misbehaving should also be handled in a stricter way. If misbehaving, the horse should be sent away to come back later. If it still does not behave, it should be possible to not let it start in the event. This would encourage athletes to train also for the horse inspection, which would make it safer for all.
Conclusion: Hans-Christian was to draft a proposal for some guidelines on this whole subject to send to the Veterinary Committee. These could then be added as a clarification to the rules. The DD would ensure this was put on the Veterinary Committee meeting agenda.
Rules re intoxicated Athletes and Officials – how to control/sanction
No further action from the DC on this issue for the time being.
Elimination due to Blood
The DD to ask the Secretary General to take up the approval of this at the upcoming FEI Bureau conference call meeting.
World Cup – North American League – Point System and Organising Dues
The DC would await the Minutes from the North American World Cup Committee meeting. The aim was to have all World Cup 2013/14 rules ready for Bureau approval in June 2013.
Participation in GPS and GPFS – cancellation
This point was brought up as there seemed to be more and more athletes who do not continue from the GP to the GPS or GPFS. Normally the athlete needs a Veterinary certificate to state the horse is not fit to continue or a doctor’s certificate for himself. The FEI is only informed of this via the Foreign Judge report. All issues mentioned there are followed up, so if the FJ indicates that an athlete decides not to continue without a valid reason, action would be taken. If the athlete decides to not start in any further competitions for other reasons, e.g. bad surface, this is fine as long as the FJ agrees. If the FJ does not accept the reason, the athlete’s only option is to appeal this decision. If an athlete does not continue without a valid reason, the prize money is redistributed for the class he participated in as his result there no longer counts.
Action List 2013-2014
The DC went through the Action Plan for 2013 to update it for 2014.
1. Improve quality of Judging
Progress was well under way on all three action points (education/coaching/e-learning, making judging more understandable and transparent and evaluation of new judging methods). A seminar for the Media was held on a couple of occasions at big event by Wim Ernes and Katrina Wüst.
2. Promotion of Dressage, make sport more attractive for wider public
Open scoring is a useful tool in this respect, open scoring also for Freestyle is an aim for the future. If the athletes hand in their choreography/floor plan, this would be technically possible.
Work with the media as in point one above
Stars to promote the sport – new names should be used, but results are needed by them first.
New ideas regarding dress code. Now helmets are used more, which make the riders feel more like athletes. A small survey should be done e.g. at the EU-CH-Y/J to get an impression on how the young athletes view the dress code and what they would like. Hans-Christian had contacts to young riders in Denmark and he was asked to look into this with Thomas Baur. A questionnaire will be drafted.
3. Improve quality of Sport
The Regulations for Olympic Games were being updated and the Nations Cup series project was well under way.
Regarding promoting young people for dressage, the quality among the young athletes had increased. Ponies could receive more attention, especially outside of Europe, by organising e.g. demos at events with Ponies.
4. Welfare of Horses / Handling / Presentation of the Sport
Horse inspections and how to improve them, as well as prize givings had been discussed. The horses needed to be trained to behave, and for prize givings ear muffs were allowed to help horses cope with the noise.
German TV – WDR – Media and Ethics
This agenda point followed the incident of the German TV station WDR filming a rider riding behind the vertical at a national show in Germany, for which there are specific German national regulations. The FEI was not referred to at any point.
Procedure for Appointment of Members to the JSP
Conclusion: The procedure for appointing new JSP members was to remain the same. Mary Seefried (AUS) was appointed new member of the JSP. The length of term of the JSP members was changed to a maximum of four terms of two years each, not necessarily consecutive.
There were not other issues raised.
Training methods and Stewarding would be addressed more in detail later.
The next FEI Dressage Committee meeting, in person, has been scheduled to be held in Lausanne at the Sports Forum 8-9 April 2013. The following conference call was scheduled for 15th May 2013 at 18h00 Swiss time.
Related Links
Hans-Christian Matthiesen To Be Appointed on FEI Dressage Committee
Hans-Christian Matthiesen Officially Appointed on FEI Dressage Committee