Dressage-News

A meeting of about 60 members of the International Dressage Riders Club supported the club in seeking to name the rider representative to the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) Dressage Committee.

The group which met at the Vidauban, France, CDI3* on Mar. 1 considered ways to expand the IDRC which the FEI last month threatened to suspend as an associate member.

Kyra Kyrklund, IDRC president, opened the meeting with a talk to rally members and called for strong attendance at the club’s next General Assembly at the Global Dressage Forum in October.

“The riders unanimously agreed that the IDRC should appoint their own representative to the Dressage Committee,” the club reported. It spelled out the IDRC’s new membership policy that riders can join without paying a membership fee, but must pay the fee to be entitled to vote.

Steps suggested to expand IDRC membership included:

– Encourage Pony, Junior and Young Riders to join;
– Appoint national representatives in each country to launch membership drives;
– Create an information sheet about the IDRC to distribute at national shows, and
– Explore ways to use social media to grow membership.

The meeting overwhelmingly agreed to ask for the Grand Prix Special to be reinstated in place of the Olympic Grand Prix Special introduced as a shortened version for this competition year to meet requirements for the London Games. Suggestions were made to use the OGPS test for Young Horse/Under-25 Grand Prix riders.

The meeting also opposed running scores being visible to judges during competition.

The system of judging also came under review with proposals to improve and change it.