Dressage Ireland and Horse Sport Ireland Disagree on Team Selection for 2026 European Junior Championships

Dressage

Ireland

Dressage Ireland and its umbrella federation Horse Sport Ireland are disagreeing on sending riders to the 2026 European Junior Riders Championships this summer.

Although several rider have met the FEI Minimum Eligibility Requirement scores to compete at the Europeans, they have not achieved the national threshold set by Horse Sport Ireland, which is now refusing to nominate them for the summer Championships.

A Plea with HSI

Dressage Ireland wrote to Horse Sport Ireland seeking an urgent review of the position regarding possible Irish youth representation at the 2026 FEI European Dressage Championships.

The Board of Dressage Ireland understands that three Junior combinations appear to have achieved the FEI qualification requirement for the 2026 European Junior Dressage Championships. Subject to selection, availability and the combinations choosing to travel, this would appear to allow a Junior team to be considered.

The Board has also noted that there may be an FEI-qualified Children’s combination and has asked that all FEI-qualified youth combinations be properly considered as part of the wider youth dressage pathway.

Dressage Ireland fully recognises that international selection is a matter for Horse Sport Ireland and that selection policies must be applied fairly, consistently and transparently. The Board also recognises the importance of appropriate performance standards for combinations representing Ireland.

However, the Board is concerned that the application of an additional national threshold, if applied in a manner that prevents FEI-qualified combinations from being considered, risks cutting off progress rather than increasing standards.

"Discouraging"

Irish junior Rebecca McGrath on Summersong Caledonia at the 2026 CDI Wellington Heckfield

A spokesperson for the Board of Dressage Ireland said: “Where Irish youth combinations have achieved the FEI qualification standard, they should be properly considered in the context of the long-term development of the sport. This is not about automatic selection of any rider. It is about ensuring that qualified combinations are given fair consideration and that the opportunity to develop an Irish youth team pathway is not lost. For larger dressage nations, higher national thresholds may operate as a selection filter. Ireland is not in that position. Our youth pathway is still being built. If riders who meet the FEI standard are excluded from team consideration at this stage, the practical effect is not to raise the standard. It is to cut off progress as it will not only deter those riders but the riders coming after them.”

"The Board believes that the possibility of fielding a Junior team at European Championship level is significant for Irish dressage. It would recognise the work of riders, parents, owners, coaches and volunteers who have invested considerable time and resources in the youth pathway. Dressage Ireland is concerned that a decision not to send a team in circumstances where sufficient FEI-qualified combinations appear to be available would have an impact beyond the riders immediately affected."

"It risks sending a discouraging message to young riders and families that even where the international qualification standard is reached, Ireland may still decline to support a team. The Board has asked Horse Sport Ireland to urgently review the position before final decisions are made and to take into account the wider developmental and stakeholder impact of not sending a team."

HSI Responds

Horse Sport Ireland's Avalon Everett, Chief Operations Officer & General Counsel, responded with a three-page letter in which HSI explains its viewpoint.

Everett stated, "the FEI criteria establish which combinations may be eligible for consideration. HSI’s additional criteria are designed to ensure that those ultimately selected have demonstrated the level required to compete at contemporary European Championship level.

International youth dressage has become increasingly competitive over the past decade. While FEI qualification identifies combinations eligible for consideration, HSI’s responsibility is to determine whether those combinations have demonstrated sufficient performance, consistency and readiness to justify selection to represent Ireland at a European Championship.

HSI’s role is not simply to facilitate participation, but to select athletes who can compete effectively at the level they will encounter. The consistent application of published standards is fundamental to the integrity, credibility and long-term success of the High Performance programme.

Maintaining these standards is not about restricting opportunity or preventing progress. Clear and objective performance benchmarks are a central component of athlete development: they provide transparency, recognise achievement and give athletes a clear understanding of the level required for Championship selection. To select solely on the basis of FEI eligibility would undermine the purpose of having published national criteria and would be fundamentally inconsistent with a High Performance approach based on demonstrated readiness.

"Structured Pathway"

HSI fully recognises the importance of providing championship opportunities as part of athlete development. However, such opportunities must be delivered within a structured pathway that prioritises appropriate preparation, positive athlete experience and long-term progression. Participation at championship level, in the absence of these factors, carries risks for both athlete development and welfare and is therefore carefully considered within the High Performance programme.

In addition, HSI has a duty to safeguard athlete and horse welfare, which is a central consideration within the High Performance programme and is explicitly reflected in the selection policy. Selection decisions therefore necessarily include assessment of factors such as horse welfare, veterinary considerations, suitability for travel and the demands of Championship competition. These considerations are integral to determining whether a combination is appropriately prepared for the conditions and challenges associated with European Championships and are not always fully visible outside of the programme environment.

It is important to avoid reducing a detailed, criteria-based selection process to simplified characterisations which do not reflect the full context of technical assessment, programme standards and welfare considerations. Selection decisions are made following comprehensive evaluation against all published criteria. While HSI remains committed to transparency, it would not be appropriate to comment on the performance, preparation or individual circumstances of athletes or combinations in open correspondence.

We do not accept that the consistent application of clearly defined and previously communicated criteria undermines the development pathway. On the contrary, transparent and progressive standards provide clarity for athletes and stakeholders, support sustained improvement and ensure alignment with the demands of international competition.

HSI remains firmly committed to the development of youth dressage and to supporting athletes in their progression towards championship participation through the High Performance system. This includes ongoing programme support, pathway development and engagement with stakeholders across the discipline.

Everett further concludes in HSI's statement that, "HSI is satisfied that the published selection criteria were appropriate, proportionate and clearly communicated in advance of the season, and that selection decisions have been made in accordance with those criteria."

FEI vs HSI Minimum

For the FEI the MER is 64% but Anne-Marie Dunphy, Ireland's Youth Dressage High Performance Team Manager, has set higher HSI standards for team selection. Selection is ather absolution sole discretion.

Athletes who have competed at TWO CDICh/J and achieved a final score of minimum 66% in either the team or individual test between 16/06/2025 and 15/06/2026 will be considered eligible for selection.