FEI Creates Working Group led by USA’s George Williams to Develop Comprehensive Strategic Action Plan for Dressage
1 week ago StraightArrow Comments Off on FEI Creates Working Group led by USA’s George Williams to Develop Comprehensive Strategic Action Plan for Dressage

Jan. 31, 2025
The FEI, the international governing body of horse sports, on Friday announced creation of a dedicated working group led by USA’s George Williams to develop a comprehensive strategic action plan for dressage, the Olympic sport that has been mired in controversy over treatment of horses in more than a year.
The aim of the group, the FEI said in a statement, “brings together a wealth of expertise to address challenges and opportunities facing the sport today” by establishing “a clear vision, realigning objectives and creating actionable plans to enhance dressage at all levels.”
The group to be chaired by George Williams, former president of the U.S. Dressage Federation, US Equestrian dressage youth coach and high performance & pathway development advisor, also includes:
- Monica Theodorescu, Germany’s national dressage coach; member of gold medal-winning teams at the Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games, victorious at 1993 and 1994 World Cup Finals, and secured the European Championship title in 1993.
- Raphael Saleh of. France, president of the dressage ground jury for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games;
- Gareth Hughes, prominent British dressage rider with more than 60 national and international titles;
- Kyra Kyrklund of Finland, a six-time Olympian and former World Cup champion, former president and current vice-president of International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC). She has been national trainer for Finland, Sweden, and Portugal;
- Klaus Roeser, chairman of the German National Federation Dressage Committee, board member of European Equestrian Federation and secretary general of the IDRC, and
- Lise Berg, of Denmark, associate professor at University of Copenhagen’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
“Dressage should be built on balanced, ethical training resulting in freedom of movement, ease in transitions, and harmony between horse and rider, with no place for tension or resistance,” FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy said.
“Our focus now is to embed these principles in the FEI Rule Book and ensure they are applied consistently in training and competition, always putting horse welfare first.
“The Working Group’s task is to turn these ideals into everyday practices, prioritizing the wellbeing of horses as we move forward with future proposals and format changes.
“The Working Group was carefully selected not only for their expertise but also for their profound understanding of dressage. This diverse group represents a cross-section of the community, ensuring a broad range of perspectives. Their collective knowledge and vision will be instrumental in shaping a strategic plan that not only addresses the current challenges in the sport but also ensures the wellbeing of our horses, incorporates stakeholder feedback, and positions dressage for long-term success.”
One of the first tasks of the working group will be to carry out a comprehensive review of the current state of dressage, evaluate feedback from stakeholders given in advance and during a stakeholder meeting in October 2024, and will categorize suggestions into well-defined focus areas for targeted action. Central to their efforts will be prioritizing equine ethics and wellbeing.
Additionally, the group will work on creating a repository of relevant scientific research, consulting with veterinary experts to create an accessible information resource for stakeholders. To further enhance the sport’s integrity, the working group will propose future rule revisions, with immediate attention on partial updates for 2025 and the 2026 full rules revision for dressage.
The group will report regularly to the dressage technical committee, the FEI Board, and relevant stakeholder groups to ensure transparency and collaboration throughout the process, making its first presentation to the FEI Sports Forum on March 31.