Following the dramatic team final at Paris 2024, where France secured the bronze medal over the Netherlands based on time after finishing on equal penalties—the FEI is proposing a significant change.

Under the new proposal for LA28, any tie for first, second, or third place will be decided by a jump-off against the clock. All three horse-and-rider combinations from the tied teams will participate. In the event of multiple tie-breaks, the jump-off for bronze will take place before the battle for gold.

Avoiding Empty Slots: New Replacement Rules

The "Mexican situation" from Paris 2024, where a team withdrawal left the final with only nine competing nations, has prompted a revision of the substitution rules. The new proposal ensures a full field of ten teams:

  • The Top 10 from the qualifier move to the final.

  • The 11th-placed team can now act as a reserve and step in if a qualified team is unable to start.

  • This replacement can happen up until two hours before the start of the Team Final.

Key Deadlines and Logistics

Áine Power, FEI Executive Director of Sport & Games, also reminded National Federations of the strict nationality requirements. For a combination to compete at LA28, the horse and rider must share the same nationality in the FEI Database by January 17, 2028.

Additionally, the starting order for the Individual Qualifier in Los Angeles will be determined by a "slow computerized draw" in the presence of the Ground Jury, Technical Delegate, and Chefs d’Equipe.

Youth: The Foundation of the Future

Earlier in the day, the forum opened with the session "From Pony to Podium: Our Youth, Our Future." Outgoing FEI President Ingmar De Vos, who concludes his final term this December, emphasized that while the Olympics are the pinnacle, the sustainability of the sport depends entirely on the pathway created for the next generation of riders.

Watch the first session here

Watch the second session here