The FEI Dressage Committee discussed several issues at its meeting in Paris (FRA) earlier this month and the following five key developments were decided upon.

Blood rule
The committee proposed a new blood rule explicitly stating that the test would be stopped if blood appears anywhere on the horse.

At top level events (Olympic Games, Championships and Finals for seniors), where FEI vets will be present at the warm-up arena, they would examine the horse and the test would resume if bleeding from minor injuries had stopped.

If the bleeding had not stopped, the horse would be eliminated. Where vets are not present to examine the horse, bleeding would result in immediate elimination.

The FEI’s Vet Committee and Legal Department are considering the proposal for this rule, which would sit in Article 430.7.1. or Article 440 of the Rules for Dressage Events, which can be viewed here.

As always, rule revisions will be presented for National Federation approval at the FEI General Assembly in November for implementation on 1 January 2012.

Protective headgear
The FEI Medical Committee has recommended making protective headgear mandatory across all disciplines when riding at show grounds outside competition arenas.

At its meeting, the Dressage Committee discussed making protective headgear mandatory everywhere on the showgrounds except during competition and warm-up prior to competition, and except for athletes under 18 and in Young Horse classes where it would be mandatory everywhere including during the test.

A draft rule is being prepared for the next committee meeting on 2 August. This would then go forward to the General Assembly for approval and implementation on 1 January 2012.

FEI World Cup™ Dressage
At its meeting in Lausanne (SUI) last month, the FEI Bureau approved the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Western European League qualifiers for the 2012/2013 season and the Final in Gothenburg (SWE):

Odense (DEN) 19 October 2012
Lyon (FRA) 31 October 2012
Stuttgart (GER) 14 November 2012
Stockholm SWE) 30 November 2012
London (GBR) 18 December 2012
Amsterdam (NED) 17 January 2013
Neumünster (GER) 14 February 2013
s’Hertogenbosch (NED) 21 March 2013
Gothenburg (SWE) 24 April 2013 (Final)

Revision of Dressage Tests
A working group consisting of international Dressage judge Katrina Wüst, former Olympian Margit Otto-Crepin and international trainer David Hunt has been created to review Senior tests for 1 January 2013 and other tests for 1 January 2014.

Ponies
The FEI has invited the Chef d’Equipes and national pony trainers to a meeting at the FEI European Championships for Ponies in Poland (26-31 July). Following this meeting Trond Asmyr, FEI Director Dressage, will advise on the future formula for the European Championships. A working group led by Katrina Wüst will review the pony tests.