Dressage Stakeholders Come Together to Seek to Repair Reputation of the Olympic Sport
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Nov. 8, 2024
Virtually the entire stakeholder groups in dressage have come together to seek to repair the reputation and move the Olympic sport forward after high profile horse abuse cases reported over the past 18 months.
The groups representing riders, trainers, officials and competition organizers that meets annually was at Ermelo, Netherlands this week to weigh in on what a media release described as “the current status of the discipline and its future direction and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to focus and debate in a ‘non-competition’ environment. ”
“There was agreement that significant issues for the sport around perception, welfare and transparency and trust exist,” the statement said of the meeting of about 120 participants in dressage. “The group accepted collective responsibility to address these and looks forward to working with the FEI Dressage Director as he develops the FEI Dressage Strategy.”
Stakeholders put aside self-interest by collaborating to accept “their responsibility for the long-term health of the sport.”
Other issues included noseband tightness, effect of shape/fitting of bit and bridle and saddle design on horse performance and equine well-being, rider biomechanics and young horse development from an equine physiological and well-being perspective.
A review of judging statistics and the use of artificial intelligence for judging and training to assist with transparency, education and equine well-being was also undertaken.
The legal perspective on social media, terminology used in FEI regulations and safeguarding of riders as well as the financial viability of organizing international competitions.
