FEI kills the fun

[enjoytheride]

With COVID-19 shutting down all the things there was a movement with a lot of pros to do some online showing, using real live FEI judges. A fun, non serious thing to do when everyone is depressed and bored.

The FEI noped that hard with this statement

The position of the FEI Board is that FEI judges are not permitted to judge in national or international online competitions.

In addition, they reminded everybody that FEI horses and riders are not allowed to stoop to schooling shows.

An Athlete and/or Horse, even if registered with the FEI, is not eligible to participate in an International Event or National Event (and so may not be invited by an OC to such Event or entered by an NF in such Event) if that Athlete and/or Horse has participated, in the six (6) months prior to the first day of the International Event or National Event in question, in an Unsanctioned Event.

https://horsesdaily.com/article/fei-…PAScDw3Mhjr4q4

[Janet]

Not new. But they are trying to throw their weight around.

[ghst13]

@Janet

Not new. But they are trying to throw their weight around.

Someone better tell the riders. Out of curiosity a quick check of one starter trials last summer quickly popped up two FEI riders who also completed in FEI competitions that summer.

[enjoytheride]

@Janet

Not new. But they are trying to throw their weight around.

Is there a reason that FEI riders and horses can’t compete at schooling shows?

[bornfreenowexpensive]

@enjoytheride

Is there a reason that FEI riders and horses can’t compete at schooling shows?

I think in the US…they would have some legal issues with that restriction being enforced…

[enjoytheride]

@bornfreenowexpensive

I think in the US…they would have some legal issues with that restriction being enforced…

I know people that ride at the FEI level and I know I’ve seen them competing at schooling shows. Usually with a green or student’s horse. I wonder how many people know about this rule?

[Janet]

When this rule came in a couple of years ago, the FEI insisted that their INTENTION was to apply to “unrecognized” (not FEI, not NF) competitions that were setting themselves up to compete with FEI competitions (upper level, competitors from multiple countries,etc.). While there is nothing in the wording of the rule, they SAID they were not worried about what we call “schooling” horse trials.

Now it sounds as if they intend to go by the letter of the rule, rather than what they SAID was the intent.

Throwing their weight around. Acting like a monopoly.

[ghst13]

@Janet

When this rule came in a couple of years ago, the FEI insisted that their INTENTION was to apply to “unrecognized” (not FEI, not NF) competitions that were setting themselves up to compete with FEI competitions (upper level, competitors from multiple countries,etc.). While there is nothing in the wording of the rule, they SAID they were not worried about what we call “schooling” horse trials.

Now it sounds as if they intend to go by the letter of the rule, rather than what they SAID was the intent.

Throwing their weight around. Acting like a monopoly.

Yes, I feel like they’ve stepped in it by coming out so strong on virtual horse shows. Because virtual horse shows certainly don’t seem like a threat to FEI competitions and if you are going to apply the rule evenly that would include standard schooling shows.

And they already got in legal trouble in Europe with the Global Champions League under the argument that FEI was acting as a monopoly. GCL and FEI finally came to an agreement a few years ago.

[Sticky_Situation]

Leave it to the FEI to try to keep people from having fun.

[hoopoe]

a real contrast to the world federation of the sport I am now participating in. The World Archery association is sponsoring weekly challenges using different targets and “rules” for people to shoot a scoring round and send their scores in. Some of the “events” are actually tried and true training exercises.

it is all in fun and something to enliven people. I am currently participating in a League shoot ( 6 scores over 6 weeks) with a club in Ireland. It is all in good fun open to all comers. I know there are Master US shooters ( over 50 ) who have been on team that are participating, no worries. No one cares

I think the FEI is so caught up in their own straight laces they fail to consider the opportunity for all folks to have a good time and perhaps a learning opportunity

[FitToBeTied]

The FEI needs to be killed because they are slowly but surely killing eventing.

[midstride]

@FitToBeTied

The FEI needs to be killed because they are slowly but surely killing eventing.

After seeing their weak responses to a few different riders’ atrocious performance behaviors, it convinced me that they do not have the horses as their focus. I’m pretty small potatoes, but no longer have an interest in riding within their organization. If they put connections and money first rather than love of horse and sport, it is no surprise they are raining on the parade or digging their own graves.

[JER]

This is an excellent time for athletes/riders/participants to realize that it’s time for them to take back their sports from these self-interested, self-enriching dinosaur organizations.

The FEI is an org that should be about encouraging rather than blocking participation.

Archery, which someone mentioned upthread, is booming. At every level. In the US, this is due to a very robust and active grassroots with programs supported by the national federation. Other sports should learn from that.

(I will also mention that much of this is due to the leadership of Denise Parker, who’s been both a legendary athlete and a visionary leader. This is what happens when you get rid of the dinosaur men who lead most sports and bring you outrages like the USA Swimming sexual abuses and Larry Nassar.)

[RAyers]

I have said it here for 15 years, the FEI needs to burn to the ground. Nothing but a bunch of corrupt hypocrites who are only in it all for the money.

[anon69112984]

Where I come from it was never allowed to compete in unauthorised competitions so in all I cannot see why there is such a big fuzz about it.

That said I believe the circumstances with Covid-19 really should open up for alternate ways to keep on going with the sport. FEI need to loosen up and start facing reality too.

[subk]

Funsuckers.

If the FEI thinks that virtual competitions are a threat to them I can only hope that it is true.

[Rnichols]

Wait. I’m sorry. Am I understanding this correctly? If you compete at the FEI level you are not allowed to participate in a schooling show, even if on a different horse than you show at the FEI levels?

[ghst13]

@Rnichols

Wait. I’m sorry. Am I understanding this correctly? If you compete at the FEI level you are not allowed to participate in a schooling show, even if on a different horse than you show at the FEI levels?

That seems to be the way the rule reads. If refers to “athlete and/or horse” not athlete/horse pairing. Others have said that originally FEI clarified that they weren’t looking to go after schooling shows just shows that would be competitors for FEI (think Global Champions League). Of course, FEI now throwing the book at virtual shows puts them in an awkward spot. Why would schooling shows be given a pass but not virtual shows?

[Libby2563]

@Rnichols

Wait. I’m sorry. Am I understanding this correctly? If you compete at the FEI level you are not allowed to participate in a schooling show, even if on a different horse than you show at the FEI levels?

@ghst13

That seems to be the way the rule reads. If refers to “athlete and/or horse” not athlete/horse pairing. Others have said that originally FEI clarified that they weren’t looking to go after schooling shows just shows that would be competitors for FEI (think Global Champions League). Of course, FEI now throwing the book at virtual shows puts them in an awkward spot. Why would schooling shows be given a pass but not virtual shows?

Yes, although the rule does say that the FEI needs to provide notice of what events are considered unsanctioned. You can read the rule here, Article 113: https://inside.fei.org/sites/default…_web-Clean.pdf. 113.6 says:

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹

The FEI may only apply Article 113.4, if the FEI has either (i) informed the Athletes and Owners, via the NF(s) with whom the Athlete/Horse is registered/administered by, of the competition(s) or event(s) that are considered as Unsanctioned Event(s) and/or (ii) published the list of such Unsanctioned Event(s) on FEI website so that Athletes, Chefs d’Equipe, Owners, or NFs are on notice, such notification/publication to occur no later than seven (7) days prior to the relevant competition(s) or event(s).

This makes it sound like they would have to notify the NF and athletes of all the schooling shows that are considered unsanctioned, or at least some set of criteria that makes them unsanctioned. I searched the FEI website for a list of unsanctioned events and couldn’t find anything. How this fits with the virtual shows, I don’t know. Does their press release constitute notice? Does there need to be a list? I don’t know.

[Janet]

@Rnichols

Wait. I’m sorry. Am I understanding this correctly? If you compete at the FEI level you are not allowed to participate in a schooling show, even if on a different horse than you show at the FEI levels?

The way I understand it, the rule does not apply to people competing at “FEI LEVELS” at National shows. It applies to people competing at FEI shows.