The FEI jumping rules undergo their four-yearly, full periodic review this year, when there are no constraints on suggestions that FEI stakeholders and national federations may make. All other FEI sport rules not subject to periodic review may be amended where special conditions apply, for example relating urgently to horse welfare or to correct inconsistencies. The IJRC has therefore made proposals for FEI general regulations, veterinary regulations and Olympic format to complement its suggested changes to the jumping rules. A session is devoted to them on the first day of the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne from March 31-April 1. The IJRC will be represented throughout the Sports Forum and is ready to actively participate in the discussions, with its Director, Eleonora Ottaviani, and President, François Mathy.

Eliminations

Since Tokyo, there has been no drop score in equestrian team events at the Olympic Games. This meant that a minor presence of blood on a horse's flanks led to the non-appealable elimination of the Brazilian jumping team in Paris last year. The IJRC believes that consequence lacked all proportionality. IJRC requests that the FEI Jumping Rules allows more discretion over minor blood on the flanks of the horse, with heavier consequences only where there the rider is involved in a further incident with blood in a 12-month period. The IJRC is concerned that elimination for any reason is increasingly misinterpreted by the public as resulting from a horse welfare issue, which is catastrophic for the image of our sport.

Drop scores and the Olympic Games 

The IJRC has always opposed the removal of the drop score at the Olympic Games ever since the FEI raised the issue over eight years ago. The elimination of a team for a minor incident was a foreseeable if unintended consequence. IJRC also believes no drop score is horse unfriendly and against horse welfare. IJRC again requests a return to teams of four with a drop score. "For welfare of the horses, riders would like to have the chance to retire his/her horse in any problem without causing the elimination of the team. It is therefore considered correct to get a fourth team-member reinstated in the Olympic format firsts round to safeguard the welfare of the horses. This format is implemented in the LLN and has proven to be successful and attractive to both the public and TV audience."

Noseband testing 

The IJRC suggests a new wording in the FEI Veterinary Regulations, requiring noseband checks to be done pre-competition, before warming up, and not post-competition. Where there is post-competition testing, the athlete must be allowed a pre-competition test. Most importantly, the tool should not be used on every horse but only where the FEI official has doubts.