2015 Pan American Games Final Qualification, Competition Format Published
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May 13, 2014
The final qualification procedures and competition format for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto were published by the International Equestrian Federation Tuesday, that will be a unique mix of big and small tour horses for team and individual medals and to qualify a single team for the Olympics in 2016.
Up to a total of 45 horses and riders–nine teams of up to four combinations for a total of 36 plus nine individuals–can qualify to compete at the Pan Ams, the world’s largest multi-discipline sports event after the Olympics. Dressage and the other two Olympic disciplines of eventing and jumping will be held July 10-26 with dressage and jumping to be at the Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park about 36 miles (58km) northeast of Toronto.
The competition format was drawn up after three years of Nations Cups at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. The Nations Cup will be staged during the 2015 winter circuit in Wellington that will provide an opportunity to prepare for the Pan Ams.
The qualifying period is from Jan. 1, 2014 to the date of the nominated entries for the Pan Ams.
Qualifying of the nine teams:
* Canada as the host nation.
* Two best ranked teams from the Americas at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France in August. Brazil, host Canada, Mexico and the United States have nominated teams for the WEG.
* Three best ranked teams from the South American Games in Santiago–Brazil, Argentina and Chile.
* Three best ranked teams from the Central American and Caribbean Games to be held in Veracruz, Mexico in November.
Nine individual places reserved for nations not represented by teams will come from:
* Three best ranked individuals from the Americas at the WEG. Nations with individuals nominated for the WEG are Argentina, Bermuda and Colombia.
* Three best ranked individuals from the Central American and Caribbean Games.
* Three best ranked individuals from the South American Games.
If the number of qualifiers from any of the three events do not fill the quota, combinations further down the rankings would be invited and places can be switched to the other competitions.
Small tour horse/rider combinations must achieve at least 62 per cent twice in a CDN or CDI or at a Games while for big tour the score is 58 per cent at a CDN or CDI2* or higher in a Grand Prix.
Teams of three or four combinations can be made up of all small tour combinations but would not be eligible to qualify for the Olympic slot.
A team of three or four can have a maximum of two Grand Prix combinations.
Team competition will be Prix St. Georges and Intermediate 1 for small tour and Grand Prix and Special for big tour. All combinations scoring at least 58 per cent move to the second day of team competition.
The top half in both small and big tour with scores of at least 58 per cent advance to the individual final of Intermediate and Grand Prix Freestyles.
A bonus of 1.5 per cent will be awarded for each Grand Prix/Grand Prix Special rider per team. The drop score for teams of four will be determined after adding the bonus to the Grand Prix results and if one of the Grand Prix riders is the drop score the bonus will be dropped.
The gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded for the best total result, no matter whether all small tour or mixed.
The team that finishes best with at least one Big Tour result will get the Olympic qualification slot.
Bonus points will be used only for team rankings and will not count toward qualifying for the Individual final.
Individual big tour riders will not get bonus points–but straight head to head scores with small tour. If there is a tie of big and small tour riders for medals, the big tour rider will be placed ahead.
