FEI being forwared proposed dressage rule changes

I recently sent Mr. Stephen Clarke of the U.K. a copy of proposed rule change for FEI and asked for his assistance in getting them to FEI.  Here is his email response to me:

Dear Mr Buck,

I will forward your ideas to Mr Trond Asmyr, FEI Dressage Manager for his perusal.

The FEI has a highly regarded Dressage Committee in place at present, and I feel confident in any decisions they make on behalf of the sport.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Clarke

 

Here is exactly what Mr. Clarke received:

FEI RULE CHANGE PROPOSALS

Chapter I Dressage

Article 401 OBJECT AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF DRESSAGE

The object of dressage is the development of the horse into a happy athlete through harmonious education and the use of soft invisible aids by the rider, including the use of soft spoken words, and including the use of only one hand. As a result, it makes the horse calm, supple, loose and flexible, but also confident, attentive and keen, thus achieving perfect understanding with the athlete.

These qualities are revealed by:

• The freedom and regularity of the paces.

• The harmony, lightness and ease of the movements.

• The lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hindquarters, originating from a free forehand, raised back and thoroughly engaged hindquarter.

• The acceptance of the bridle, with submissiveness/throughness (Durchlässigkeit) without any tension or resistance.

2. The horse thus gives the impression of doing, of its own accord, what is required, which is achieved only when the rider does not compress and constrain the forehand.   Confident and attentive, submitting generously to the soft invisible aids of the rider, remaining absolutely straight in any movement on a straight line and bending accordingly when moving on curved lines creating an arc from nose to tail.

Changes to  Article 401 Part 5 :

In all the work, even at the halt, the horse must be “in the hand”. A horse is said to be “in the hand” when the neck is more or less raised and arched according to the stage of training with the lowest point of the underside of the jaw to be in front of a vertical line downward from the poll at ‘all’ times and with the poll being supple and the highest point at ‘all’ times as the head is held in a steady position, accepting the bridle with a light and consistent soft contact.   The rider shall not compress the head and neck of the horse into any other position through excessive rein contactAt all times, the use of the snaffle bit as the primary bit is to be enforced, while excessive use of the curb shall call for deduction of points for failure to meet the description of ‘in the hand’.

Article 404 THE TROT

5. All trot work may be executed at the sitting trot or the rising trot or any combination thereof without point deduction.

CHAPTER VI – PROTECTION OF ATHLETES AND HORSES

Article 142 - Abuse of Horses

1. No person may abuse a Horse during an Event or at any other time.

(a) The term "person" means; (i) any person who organizes, exercises control over, or administers or who is responsible for organizing, directing, or administering a competitive show; (ii) and/or any individual responsible for the care custody and control , in any manner, of any horse.

(b) The terms maltreatment, abuse/abusive and/or sore means any act that causes pain and/or discomfort to the horse as defined herein through; (i) a corrupt practice or custom (ii) improper or excessive use or

misuse of equipment and schooling method (iii) physical maltreatment; resulting in "a state of physical or mental lack of well-being or physical or mental uneasiness that ranges from mild discomfort or dull distress to acute often unbearable agony” [see (i) below] (iv) and for the horse in any form of competition; “a corrupt practice or custom and  improper or excessive use or treatment that ‘habitually’ causes distress and or discomfort to the horse“.

“Abuse” means an action or omission which causes or is likely to cause pain or unnecessary discomfort to a Horse, including without limitation any of the following:

- To whip or beat a Horse excessively;

- To subject a Horse to any kind of electric shock device;

- To use spurs excessively or persistently;

- To jab the Horse in the mouth with the bit or any other device;

- To compete using an exhausted, lame or injured Horse;

- To "rap" a Horse.

- To abnormally sensitise or desensitise any part of a Horse;

- To leave a Horse without adequate food, drink or exercise;

- To use any device or equipment which cause excessive pain to the Horse upon knocking down an obstacle.

2. Any person witnessing an Abuse must report it in the form of a protest (Article 163) without delay. If an Abuse is witnessed during or in direct connection with an Event, it should be reported as a protest (Article 163) to an Official. If the Abuse is witnessed at any other time it should be reported as a protest

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Comment by Marlene Thoms on February 2, 2012 at 4:11pm

Sounds pretty good to me. I especially like the rule about spurs, but maybe they have to define what excessively or peristently is. I can think of at least one high level rider who should have had their spurs taken away on the spot. Maybe they could have a remote control electric shock to give the rider each time a spur is used more than once in a row? Would that be excessive?

Comment by E. Allan Buck on February 1, 2012 at 7:20pm

Thanks Jackie.  I did this because of what the majority of dressage riders opinions are on the Internet.

There is the need to clarify.

Now it will be in the hands of FEI and we shall see if they really are concerned about the horses

Comment by Jackie Cochran on February 1, 2012 at 7:11pm

I LIKE them.  I'll probably never be able to ride this good but THIS is something to aim for!

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