USDF Looks at FEI Blood Rule Oct 2011
The Internaional Equestrian Federation’s Dressage Committee has sent to the
133 national federations a controversial proposal to allow elimination of a
horse with visible blood eliminated from a championship to undergo a veterinary
examination and, if found not to be harmful to the horse, to be allowed a second
opportunity to compete.
The proposal made by the International Dressage Trainers Club and accepted by
the Dressage Committee over the objections of the formal groups of riders,
officials (judges) and organizers is aimed at producing a consensus that would
be approved at the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro Nov. 11-14.
However, the U.S. Equestrian Federation is seeking approval of its own
dressage committee to have the U.S. delegation to the General Assembly seek to
have the so-called “blood” proposal removed from the package of dressage
proposals and submitted as a separate single issue for a vote.
The U.S. will then propose sending the issue back to the FEI Dressage
Committee to prepare a new proposal for a rule dealing with “blood” that
essentially provides for elimination if blood is visible and no opportunity to
compete again.
U.S. officials admit privately that exposure of the issue may lead to the
proposal being witdrawn before the General Assembly.
Either way, a successful effort by the U.S. would delay implementation until
the 2012 General Assembly, well after the Olympics in London next July.
The proposal submitted to the FEI national federations is being labeled by
many stakeholders as a “nightmare scenario.”
The U.S. move would leave in place the vague wording covering “welfare of the
horse” for another year, but provide more time to build opposition to the
“second chance” proposal and to write a clear-cut rule that a horse displaying
blood will be eliminated from competition with no recourse.
The issue of the so-called “blood” came about as a result of the elimination
of Parzival ridden by Adelinde Cornelissen of The Netherlands from the Grand
Prix that decided the team gold medal at the World Equestran Games in Kentucky
last year. The horse had nicked his tongue, and under generally accepted
practise dealing with the sight of any blood on a horse, Parzival was eliminated
by the president of the ground jury, the head of the judging panel. Holland won
gold based on the scores of the three other combinations which included Edward
Gal and Moorlands Totilas.
Following that incident, many in the horse industry pressed for a clear-cut
rule.
Some influential trainers argued that in a major championship such as the
Olympic Games in London next year a horse that is eliminated because of the
visibility of blood should undergo a veterinary inspection.
Details have not been worked out, but the probable course of action would be
that a panel of veterinarians would determine the degree of seriousness. If the
injury is not considered against the welfare of the horse, the combination would
be given the opportunity to ride again.
One of the arguments in favor of this approach is the format to be applied in
dressage in London of three team riders and one individual.
If a horse nominated for the team is found to be unfit more than two hours
before start time, the team has the right to use the individual combination to
complete a team of three. However, if a horse is found to be unfit within that
two-hour window then the team is autmatically disqualified as it could not
fulfill the requirement for three scores.
Opponents of the “second chance” present a “nightmare scenario” of a horse on
a prospective medal team with blood on it being excused from the competition,
undergoing a veterinary examination, then going through another warm-up before
going back into the arena.
All of this would be under the microscopic scrutiny of global television
cameras and thousands of mobile telephones recording the event and a probable
torrent of comments on Twitter, Facebook and other worldwide social networks
that would be devastating for the sport. Further, the pressures on the
veterinarians could be unbearable; imagine, goes one scenario, if a prsospectve
medal team is effectively disqualified if blood shows on a horse and the
veterinariany panel decides the horse should not be allowed to compete again?
The effects could impact the veterinarians for years afterward.
The outpouring of objections in recent years to various training practices,
they say, would pale in comparison.
Although U.S. horse shows have not faced the same level of scrutiny as in
Europe–show horse sports do not have the same degree of popular interest in the
U.S.–the U.S. federation led by Olympic eventing gold medalist David O’Connor is
the largest in the Western Hemishere and is generally regarded as among the
leading dressage nations.
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Lexington, KY (October 1, 2009) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) is pleased to announce that FEI dressage judge and rider, Anne Gribbons, will be speaking at the 2010 USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate Program in West Palm Beach, FL, from January 16-18, 2010. Anne Gribbons has been recently named as the USEF Dressage Chef d'Equipe/Technical Advisor, pending successful contract negotiations. The Young Rider Graduate Program, with funding support from The Dressage Foundation, is designed to help the young rider transition into the world of international competition, teaching, training and equine business management.
During this invaluable weekend seminar many top professionals including former NAJYRC riders, Jennifer Baumert and Todd Flettrich, who are now both successful FEI-Level trainers and riders, will focus on crucial topics such as sponsorship, training opportunities, business management and issues related to the high performance dressage horse. Participants will also enjoy an evening reception with the 2010 Succeed®/USDF FEI-Level Trainers' Conference presenter, Henk van Bergen, and may elect to attend the trainers' conference at the conclusion of the Young Rider Graduate Program. The age limit for Young Rider Graduate participants has been extended so now USDF members ages 20-28 may apply. The deadline for applications is October 30, 2009.
For more information about the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate program or other continuing education opportunities, please visit the USDF Web site, www.usdf.org, or contact the USDF office at youngridergrad@usdf.org.
Founded in 1973, the United States Dressage Federation is a nonprofit membership
Facts & Statistics USDF Membership
- 304 Business Memberships
- 20,177 Participating Memberships
- 15,214 Group Member Organization Memberships
- 129 Affiliated Group Member Organizations
- 37 Intercollegiate/Interscholastic Member Organizations
- 850 Recognized Competitions
- 90% are adults
- 96% are female
- 66% are over the age of 41 years of age
- 96% own at least one horse
- 87% compete at least one horse
- 37% own at least five acres of land
- 70% have an income of $75,000 and above
- High insured values
- Large investment and long-term relationship between horse and rider
- Average competitive life is ten years
- Peak performance age average is twelve years
- Average age at which a horse is USDF lifetime registered is 7.5 years
- 13,666 new horses have been registered since 2005
- 92% increase in the horses competing at USDF recognized shows
USDF News For Immediate Release Thursday, August 13, 2009
The search and selection process to fill this role for the U.S. dressage program was exhaustive. It began in November 2008 when the high-performance dressage athletes met in Chicago, IL, seeking the successor to Klaus Balkenhol who had served as USEF Dressage Coach and Technical Advisor for the eight years ending in 2008. By recommendation of the High-Performance Dressage Committee, USEF Chief Executive Officer John Long formed a search committee and named Chester Weber to the Chair.
"This search was conducted following the same process that was used to place George Morris in his current role for show jumping. This model ensures that the Eligible Athletes Committee, representing the interests of their peers, makes the choice about who they want to lead their sport into the future. The role of the Search Committee is to steward all of the parties through this process, and I am quite pleased that they have done this so successfully. I thank everyone on the Search Committee for their objectivity throughout the process and their commitment to achieving the best possible result," said Weber.
Eleven applicants met the qualifying criteria. The Search Committee narrowed the field to three candidates. Following interviews held in Denver, CO, the Eligible Athletes Committee, chaired by Sue Blinks, recommended to the USEF High-Performance Dressage Committee that Anne Gribbons be offered the position. At a meeting of that committee on August 10, the recommendation was approved.
"We are grateful to all those who put forth the time and energy to this important process," said Long, who continued, "The USEF looks forward to continue building a strong dressage program for the future, and we believe Anne Gribbons is the ideal person for this job."
USEF News
USDF News
For Immediate Release Tuesday, December 09, 2008
USEF Dressage Performance Standards – Statement from the USEF Dressage Committee During the USEF Dressage Performance Standards Open Forum held December 4th as part of the USDF Annual Convention, it was clear that the majority of attendees support some form of performance standards for dressage, mirroring the support shown in a USEF on-line survey conducted in early 2008. However, in consideration of concerns which have been expressed by membership, and sensitivity to the current state of the economy, the USEF Dressage Committee has voted to withdraw the rule change proposal for dressage performance standards.
Since the attendees demonstrated overwhelming support for the concept of "rider tests", the USEF Dressage Committee will proceed with the development of these tests, and will also be looking into ways to address judging consistency. In addition, the Dressage Committee will pursue the appointment of a joint USEF/USDF task force, with a mission to continue to study statistics and investigate performance standards options for the sport.
The USEF Dressage Committee would like to thank all USEF and USDF members for taking the time to send feedback regarding this project and look forward to future endeavors for continued improvement of the sport of dressage
USDF Rule Change
Sept 29,2008
Proposed Rule Change/Bylaw Change
Rule: DR135
Rule Change Type Standard
From time to time rules are adopted which change the sequence of rule numbering. The rule reference used here is the rule number that appears in the current website
version of the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. Rulebook
Proposed Change:
DR135 Dressage Competition Performance Standards. [Chapter DR. Dressage Division] Add new and renumber remaining:
The purpose of Competition Performance Standards is to ensure that riders are properly prepared to successfully move up the levels. The
qualification system is based on the rider, not the horse. Multiple horses may be used by a rider to earn qualification. Rider qualification is
permanent and there is no time limit for earning qualification.
1. Three levels exist:
a. Bronze Level: (Training-Third Level). All riders may compete at this level without earning qualification scores or points.
b. Silver Level: Required to compete at Fourth Level - Prix St. Georges (including USEF Developing Horse Test). Qualification at this
level may be achieved as follows:
(1) Earning the USDF Bronze Medal
(2) Earning a minimum of ten (10) qualification points (as defined under DR135.3, below) in USEF Third Level tests ridden in USEF
licensed/USDF recognized competitions. Scores must come from at least three different USEF or FEI judges. A panel of two or more
judges will count as one distinct judge.
(3) Earning a minimum of 65% (6.5) in the USEF Riders’ Test. The USEF Third Level Test 3 will be ridden using a separate “USEF
Riders’ Test” score sheet. Only one riders’ test qualifying score is required with a panel of two eligible judges. Judges will officiate
separately and both judges’ scores must be a minimum of 65% (6.5) in order to achieve qualification at this level. If only one eligible
judge officiates, two separate rides earning scores of at least 65% (6.5) will be required for qualification. Scores may be obtained at the
same competition.
c. Gold Level: Required to compete at Intermediaire I - Grand Prix (including Brentina Cup). Qualification at this level may be achieved
as follows:
(1) Earning either the USDF Silver or USDF Gold Medal
(2) Earning a minimum of eight (8) qualification points (as defined under DR135.3, below) in the FEI Prix St. Georges test. Scores
must come from at least two different USEF or FEI judges. A panel of two or more judges will count as one distinct judge.
2. Qualification may be earned only at USEF licensed/USDF recognized or FEI recognized competitions. At all levels, freestyle scores and
FEI Young Horse tests/rides do not earn points. FEI Junior, Young Rider, and Pony Tests and the USEF Developing Horse and USEF
“Brentina Cup” tests may be used to earn points at the equivalent national or FEI level, as listed under DR119.2.
3. Qualification System.
a. Qualifying points will be awarded for tests/rides with the following scores. A score from a panel of two or more judges will be
considered one test/ride.
58-59.99% One (1) Point
60-62.99% Two (2) Points
63-64.99% Three (3) Points
65% and Above Four (4) Points
b. In order for qualifying points to be recorded after December 1, 2010, the rider must be a USDF Group, Participating or Life Member
and a USEF Active Member at the time points are earned.
c. Scores/points earned between 1974 and December 1, 2010 at USEF licensed/USDF recognized or FEI recognized competitions
(including foreign CDI’s) may be used towards the number of points required for rider qualification as follows:
(1) Scores earned in any Third Level test (except Freestyle) or equivalent may be used toward the ten (10) points needed for Silver
Level qualification;
(2) Scores earned in any test at or above the Prix St. Georges level or the equivalent level may be used toward the eight (8) points
needed for Gold Level qualification.
(3) All scores earned before December 1, 2010 must be verified by USDF before rider qualification is granted, unless the rider is
“grandfathered" as described under DR135.7 below.
d. Qualification at any level is not required to compete in the following tests: FEI Pony, USEF Four-Year-Old, FEI Five-Year-Old and
FEI Six-Year-Old tests. However, riders competing in the USEF Young Adult “Brentina Cup” and USEF Developing Horse tests are not
exempt from qualifying.
e. Qualification is not required for Juniors and Young Riders who are declared as candidates for the USEF National Championships or
NAJYRC and who enter designated NAJYRC/USEF qualifying classes. However, those riders must obtain the appropriate qualification
in order to compete in any other class at any competition.
f. United States Eventing Association (USEA) members are exempt from qualification requirements as follows: Horse/Rider
combinations who have achieved one or more qualifying scores as defined within the applicable (USEF or FEI) rules for Eventing at the
Advanced, CIC***, CCI*** or CCI**** levels may compete at the Silver Level without any qualifying points in Dressage.
Friday, September 12, 2008 Page 1 of 2
329-08
1
Rule Tracking ID #
Draft #
USEF
Proposed Rule Change/Bylaw Change
4. Compliance with DR135 (Dressage Competition Performance Standards) is mandatory at USEF-Licensed/ USDF Recognized Dressage
Competitions and "Open" Dressage divisions or sections of USEF-Licensed Regular and Local Competitions. Compliance with
Performance Standards is optional for USEF-Licensed Regular and Local Competitions with breed-restricted divisions or sections.
Dressage test scores from all USEF-Licensed/USDF Recognized Dressage Competitions and "Open" Dressage divisions or sections of
USEF-Licensed Regular and Local Competitions will be counted towards meeting Performance Standards eligibility levels. Scores from
"breed restricted" Dressage divisions or sections of Regular and Local Competitions will only be counted for eligibility from those breeds
that require Performance Standards qualification to compete in their breed-restricted dressage sections/divisions.
5. Foreign riders may qualify under this rule, as long as USEF and USDF membership requirements are met. Alternatively, they may prove
competition eligibility with a letter to USEF from their National Federation verifying the level at which they are eligible to compete.
6. Riders may earn a higher qualification level once their scores are verified by USDF. However, a qualification level cannot be changed
during a competition.
7. Prior to November 30, 2010, riders will be “grandfathered” into the qualification system as follows:
a. Riders on a USET/USEF Long List from 1999 to November 30, 2010 will receive qualification at the Gold Level.
b. Riders who have competed at the USEF or USET Festival of Champions from 1985 to 2010, will receive qualification at the Gold
Level.
c. USDF Bronze Medal winners from 1974 to November 30, 2010 will receive qualification at the Silver Level.
d. USDF Silver Medal and Gold Medal winners from 1974 to November 30, 2010 will receive qualification at the Gold Level.
e. USEF Dressage judges will be grandfathered as follows:
(1) ‘r’ judges will receive qualification at the Silver Level.
(2) ‘R’ judges will receive qualification at the Gold Level.
(3) ‘S’ judges will receive qualification at the Gold Level.
f. USDF Certified Instructors certified through Second Level will receive qualification at the Silver Level and those certified through
Fourth Level will receive qualification at the Gold Level.
8. Eligibility and qualification disputes will be addressed by an appeals committee which will include three members of the USEF Technical
Dressage Committee and two members of the USEF High Performance Dressage Committee and one alternate from each committee
9. Qualification levels will be printed on USEF/USDF membership cards and will be available on both the USDF and USEF web sites.
Dressage Committee
Janine Malone
P.O. Box 976
Zebulon, NC 27597-
Proponent:
Contact: 12898 (919) 269-7307
8/27/2008 JEMRPH@aol.com
USEF #:
Date Received:
Daytime Phone:
Email:
Intent of Proposal:
To outline the criteria for the Dressage Competition Performance Standards.
Proposed Effective Date: 12/1/10
Committee/Organization Draft: Action-Date
Date
Budget and Finance Committee Comments:
Staff and Committee Comments
Legal Comments:
Action Date
Proponent
Board of Directors
Action
Dressage Committee
Other Comments:
Linked Rule Changes: 302-08
Friday, September 12, 2008 Page 2 of 2
