The riders who participated in the 2017 World Cup Finals in Omaha, NE, USA, signed a letter in which they request more information and communication from the heads of the IDRC, who are part of the Dressage Judges Working Group, as well as from the rider representative on the FEI Dressage Committee.
This plea relates directly due to the lack of communication about the changes to the dressage judging system that will be presented at the FEI Sport Forums tomorrow, 11 April 2017.
On Saturday morning 1 April 2017 before the World Cup Freestyle finals, German judge Katrina Wust made a short presentation of the initial findings of the Dressage Judges Working Group (DJWG) to the riders. As this meeting was behind closed doors, it is unclear in which way Wust presented the project.
However, after the meeting, sixteen of the world's best riders drafted a letter and signed it, requesting more information and a better communication and involvement of the riders in the decision making about the future of dressage judging. They addressed IDRC president Kyra Kyrklund and IDRC secretary general Wayne Channon in particular, as well as FEI Rider representative Anna Paprocka-Campanella.
The letter read as following:
Dear Kyra, Wayne & Anna,
While here in Omaha, we drew a meeting of all riders competing to discuss the JWG Propoal that we have just been made aware of. Although we are aware that not all riders are members of the IDRC, we feel the communication is not getting through the information to where riders feel involved. As the board of the club and riders do not meet, all riders present feel the need if our rider rep could at least become more visible at shows and help up with communication so that we can convey our thoughts on having issues. The proposal should not be taken up from the rider's club while it is not the view of the full membership. Could we please request a meeting very soon to discuss this issue and any others.
Many thanks from those here present,
(signatures of Kasey Perry-Glass, Edward Gal, Laura Graves, Carl Hester, Madeleine Witte-Vrees, Steffen Peters, Isabell Werth, Judy Reynolds, Marcela Krinke Susmelj, Kristy Oatley, Mai Tofte Olesen, Wendi Williamson, Florencia Manfredi, Hans Peter Minderhoud, Inessa Merkulova, Joao Victor Oliva
The Dressage Judges Working Group includes Frank Kemperman, Maribel Alonso, Kyra Kyrklund, Richard Davison and David Stickland. The first outline of the DJWG proposal was presented at the Global Dressage Forum two years ago in Denmark with Kyra Kyrklund and Wayne Channon speaking for it.
The DJWG will be presenting its findings for changes and improvements to the dressage judging system at the 2017 FEI Sports Forum tomorrow. The initial findings were first made public on 15 March 2017 by the FEI. This resulted in the IDOC (International Dressage Officials Club) heavily reacting against potential change to their modus operandi in letters to the FEI, while the IDTC (International Dressage Trainers Club) embraced parts of the proposal.
Hans-Christian Matthiesen, president of the IDOC, added another column to the debate, posted on Eurodressage, expressing his anxiety to change, which was followed up by an article from Wayne Channon, who although not on the DJWG, is one of the fierce behind-the-scene propulsors of change to the system.
All the sessions from the 2017 FEI Sports Forum will be live streamed. The dressage session will take place Tuesday 11 April 2017 from 9h00 till 13h00 and can be viewed live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l4m24BmU6Q
Related Links
Wayne Channon: "Who Moved My Cheese?"
Hans-Christian Matthiesen: "The Problems We Have to Face at the FEI Sports Forum"
IDTC, IDOC and Judge General React to Judges Working Group Findings Ahead of 2017 FEI Sports Forum
Dressage Judges Working Group to Present Initial Findings at 2017 FEI Sports Forum