Hagen’s Pony, Junior, Young Rider Sets Pilot Nations Cup Teams of 2 Combinations
11 years ago StraightArrow Comments Off on Hagen’s Pony, Junior, Young Rider Sets Pilot Nations Cup Teams of 2 Combinations
HAGEN, Germany, Mar. 18, 2014–Teams in the Future Champions Nations Cups for pony, junior and young riders can have as few as two horses and riders in a pilot program aimed at increasing dressage participation in the Under-22 event.
The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) approved the change in format to allow up to three combinations on a team with the top two scores to count at the Future Champions tournament June 10-15. Previously, teams could consist of four horses and riders with the top three results counted.
“Our goal cannot be to have a Nations Cup with just three teams, or even fewer,” said Dr. Ulf Möller, responsible for the dressage events at Hof Kasselmann.
“It’s not just business that thrives on competition, sport does too. We very much hope to enable as many teams as possible from different countries to take part in the Nations Cup for this age group.”
The Hagen event is the only German Nations Cup for under-22 riders.
About 600 riders and more than 900 horses from as many as 30 countries participate in the Nations Cups for dressage and jumping at Hagen that were launched in 1997. Dressage participation has fallen behind the jumpers.
The German Federation applied to the FEI to allow the pilot project for dressage that has experienced low participation.
“With this project we are hoping to counter this trend and revive the dressage tests in the Nations Cup competition,” Ulf said.
