Turns out the FEI Rules are for Indoor/Arena Eventing, are very poorly drafted, and, by their own terms, seem to apply only to indoor competitions. I shall email the FEI for clarification.
The professionals all want more money in the sport in order to make their living. Who can blame them? But inevitably there is some tension between the requirements of amateurs who compete because they love the sport but have other lives to support their expensive habit and those professionals who are talented enough - and in my view privileged - to make a living from the sport.
On the other hand, how many people recall the winners of arena eventing or Welly World displays vs the winners of 4* events? At root, I believe eventing is an individual sport and for most people the pinnacle remains those few 4* events around the world.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;9042908]
Turns out the FEI Rules are for Indoor/Arena Eventing, are very poorly drafted, and, by their own terms, seem to apply only to indoor competitions. I shall email the FEI for clarification.[/QUOTE]
I agree, viney. Devon is not running this under the FEI rules because they don’t have any reason to. As you said, they seem to apply only to indoor competitions.
None of the jumper riders would be permitted to participate if they used them, as you need eventing qualifications to ride per the FEI requirements.
Not a fan.
It would just be nice to have a pro actually care about the future of eventing and safety over prize money just once.
Those who truly are pushing for these things are not at the top. If they are, they keep quiet.
Interesting to think about some of the top riders who were NOT at the Wellington Showcase: Lauren Kieffer is the most notable one that comes to my mind. Was she not invited? Did she politely decline? There are some other names I can think of too…
Hickstead in England ran a class similar to this for a number of years. I can’t remember what it was called, but both eventers & jumpers participated. The jumping course combined XC & show jumping obstacles. For a while there was also a dressage test, but that was eventually eliminated. I don’t think it had the same problems as Express Eventing or Indoor Eventing with horse/rider falls & injuries, but I may be wrong about that.
