Dressage-News

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Oct, 8, 2014–The International Dressage Riders Club and the International Jumping Riders Club that represent many the world’s top athletes, have signed Memorandums of Understanding with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

The two organizations whose previous relationship was FEI Associate Members, will “work closely” with the FEI to expand the two Olympic disciplines.

The FEI cited cited the growth of the two sports–an increase of 28 per cent to 450 dressage events a year since 2010 and jumping events up by 20 per cent to 1,300 in the same period in more than 70 countries.

The IDRC, founded in 1986, is the voice of almost 600 dressage riders around the world with Kyra Kyrklund as president.

“This is an exciting new chapter for the IDRC as we represent more and more dressage athletes thanks to the rapid growth of the sport,” Kyra said. “We now have a formal agreement with the FEI that recognizes the IDRC as the sole international organization representing the views and interests of international dressage riders, and our athletes fully understand the weight of this agreement.”

“These new relationships underline the importance of collaborating with our athletes and represent a very important step as jumping and dressage continue to grow in all four corners of the world,” FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said.

The FEI switched to Memorandums of Understanding in 2012 to define its relationship with the different stakeholders in place of associate membership. Although recognition by the FEI does not entail voting rights at the General Assembly, the understandings formalize the relationship with the FEI, giving a voice to organizations working with the FEI to develop equestrian sport.