Dressage-News

Oct. 2, 2024

A dressage stakeholders meeting organized by the FEI–International Equestrian Federation–stressed restoring core objectives of the discipline to deal with stress in the sport, while the U.S. federation in a statement on its expanded powers to handle horse welfare said it is depending on individuals to report issues for investigation.

The meeting at FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland of dressage riders, trainer, judges and others “sets unified vision for the future of dressage” following reports of abuse that have led to suspensions by the FEI of Cesar Parra of the USA and Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Carina Cassøe Krüth by the Danish federation. All three competed at Olympics.

The FEI said representatives at the Lausanne meeting “reaffirmed the core objectives of dressage and discussed ways of realigning the discipline to reflect these objectives. The aim is that through balanced and systematic education, horses are trained and ridden to be calm, supple, flexible, confident, and responsive, fostering a deep and positive connection with the rider. The group agreed that these core objectives should be integrated in the FEI rule book and applied in practice, both while training and competing.

“This approach emphasizes key qualities such as the freedom and regularity of movement, the ease and lightness of transitions, and the horse’s balance. A crucial aspect is that dressage is practiced without tension or resistance, ensuring harmony between the horse and rider.

“Participants acknowledged the impact of breeding on the evolution of the sport and explored the relationship between judging, training, and riding. They also emphasized the importance of examining the sport holistically by introducing principles of behavioral science and the five domains of animal welfare, focusing on the horse’s positive physical and mental well-being.”

FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said: “The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games showcased the best our sport has to offer in competition, but also brought to light challenges that have prompted us to reflect and reassess in the post-Games period.

“To many, this vision of what dressage should embody may seem self-evident. But as highlighted during the meeting, over the years the discipline has moved away from its traditional purpose and this realization requires a necessary realignment to the foundational principles of dressage.

FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy said, “Establishing a unified vision is the essential first step in fostering a shared purpose. With this foundation in place, we can now focus on restoring public trust and confidence in the sport.

“Our goal is to be aligned and move forward in the same direction. We have clearly defined what we want to see as a sport and the next step is for all parties to assess how we can 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 and we look forward to engaging with the wider community especially our national federations.”

A key proposal was mandatory trainer registration and potential certification aimed at ensuring accountability and standardization within the discipline. The group also committed to defining ethical training methods with an emphasis on increasing transparency and showcasing good practices. Additionally, participants identified the need for a more comprehensive communications plan to better inform and engage with the broader public and stakeholders.

Stakeholders expressed support for a thoughtful approach to revising the rules, favoring a comprehensive, strategic evaluation based on available research to ensure all changes are sustainable and beneficial to the sport in the long term.

Participants supported the FEI Equine Welfare Strategy and various actions identified as part of the overall FEI Action Plan.

The discussions emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and collaboration within the dressage community including ongoing and regular dialogue, and to take part in working groups on key topics.

The U.S. federation issued a separate statement on what it called “unethical treatment of a horse” and expansion of authority outside of competition to deal with alleged abuses. The rule change comes into effect Dec. 1.

“The care and welfare of horses, both inside and outside of the competition arena, must be held to the highest standards and levels of ethical behavior,” federation CEO William J. Moroney said. “Good horsemanship and a positive image of our sport is, now more than ever before, of critical importance to our social license to continue to operate our sport. It is the duty of each one of us to do our utmost to preserve and safeguard the integrity of our sport.

“Individuals who engage in unethical treatment of horses—regardless of location—are compromising the integrity of our sport and endangering its viability, sustainability, and public perception at a time when all equestrian sport, including USEF-governed breeds and disciplines, is under increasing scrutiny.

“Situations such as those that have come to light recently via social media are unacceptable. US Equestrian has heard your concerns and appreciates the courage it takes to report alleged incidents of cruelty to and abuse of our equine partners. We understand and share your frustration that, in many instances, we could not act on incidents that occurred outside of the competition environment.”

Based on feedback from members rule addressing cruelty and abuse was revised by the board of directors.

“The revisions replace the phrase ‘cruelty to and abuse of a horse’ with ‘unethical treatment of a horse’ to more accurately reflect US Equestrian’s role as guardian of both sport and our horses,” he said.

“Most significantly, the revised rule applies anywhere, regardless of whether the unethical treatment is in connection to or occurring at a USEF licensed or endorsed competition.

“To be clear, this new rule does not mean that US Equestrian will be coming onto your property. We will not.

“Rather, we will continue to rely on you to report incidents of unethical treatment of the horse. Once a report is received, US Equestrian will work diligently to interview witnesses with personal knowledge and authenticate any photographs, videos, or other physical evidence related to the alleged incident. This takes time. All allegations are taken seriously. While we are eager to hold wrongdoers accountable, fairness and the integrity of the process dictate that they have the opportunity to be heard and offer evidence in response.

“The time has come for the US equestrian community to strengthen our existing leadership on this issue for the betterment of horses and equestrian sport. This also means that each of us must model exemplary behavior at all times. We believe the revisions to GR838, coupled with the existing process and procedures, protect both our horses and our members.”