Could mandatory registration of dressage trainers be on the horizon, along with a certification requirement for these professionals?
It’s a definite possibility in the wake of Tuesday’s FEI stakeholder meeting in Switzerland, where some key players in the discipline met to discuss the core objectives of dressage and “ways of realigning the discipline to reflect these objectives.”
Dressage has been under scrutiny not only since the pre-Olympic Charlotte Dujardin scandal (the Olympic multi gold-medalist was shown hitting a student’s horse with a longe whip in a video that went viral) but also after other allegations of abuse became public.
What is the overall goal as seen at the meeting? Those attending contended that horses should be trained through balanced and systematic education, while being ridden to be calm, supple, flexible, confident, and responsive, “fostering a deep and positive connection with the rider.” You may be seeing that perception written into the FEI Rulebook going forward.
“A crucial aspect is that Dressage is practiced without tension or resistance, ensuring harmony between the horse and rider,” the FEI stated.
FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy explained the next step is to figure out how to “adapt our practices and approaches to ensure these standards are met. This effort is not the responsibility of any one group; it is a collective mission for the entire Dressage community.”
FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said, “While showcasing top sport, the Paris Games brought to light challenges that have prompted us to reflect and reassess in the post-Games period.”
One thing that should be reassessed is how the blood rule is handled. A case in point was the way the head of the ground jury stopped Marcus Orlob in the middle of his Paris Grand Prix test because his mount, Jane, had a tiny scratch on her white hind leg. It wasn’t gushing blood. Had it been on a black leg, it wouldn’t have been visible at all.
Was anyone in the stands, far from the middle of the arena, able to see that? No, so they were mystified when the rider was excused. Why not let the athlete finish his test and then have the veterinarians in the backstage area determine afterward whether the horse should be disqualified. The scratch obviously was not anything to do with abuse; it happened when the mare whirled to follow the previous entry, who exited the arena the wrong way.
The FEI should train and trust officials to make judgments about the presence of blood and determine whether it stems from something the rider has done or from another source. Animal rights activists have terrified officials, even though many of these protestors know nothing about horses and may have objectives that don’t necessarily relate to horse welfare. The fear of having horse sports excluded from the Olympics has been a driver for incidents like the one involving Jane.
National federations and media were not part of the Tuesday meeting. Participants included representatives of the
International Dressage Rider’s Club, the International Dressage Officials Club, the International Dressage Trainer’s Club and the dressage organizers, as well as the presidents of the European Equestrian Federation and the Pan American Equestrian Confederation; the FEI vice president, the chair of the FEI Para Equestrian Technical Committee and the FEI Dressage Steward General.
The discussion will continue at the FEI annual meeting in November and its sports forum in April 2025.