I wonder if that is when the 18yr old rule will be proposed or if it is just a rumor.
I heard the person on the Maryland 5* live stream say it a few times. Weird if it’s a rumor with no basis in fact.
Is this new event going to continue to be called the Maryland 5* or is there a different title on the way?
I believe it ito be a rumor. There is nothing rumbling around here in the UK that I’ve heard in person or in the media. One person on the livestream…
Is there any reason not to continue calling the Maryland 5* the Maryland 5*? It has the virtue of consistency with other such events, like Pau or Adelaide. It is possible to rebrand with new sponsors without the Event totally disappearing. Only “Rolex” was named after a Swiss watch brand. It tells European-based riders that it isn’t as far to travel!
No , there’s no reason not to call the event the Maryland 5*. I like it and am hoping it will be the title going forward. 
Could it be the ubiquitous fly bonnets that are put over the ears? When they fist hit the scene most people I knew were using them on reactive horses in hopes it might muffle some hearing. Also makes it hard to check if sponges have been put in their ears. Not sure what the specific rules (national or FEI) are about all that, but it has alway seems to me as being counter to the spirit of the rules. I.E you’re not suppose to give any substance “with the intent” of modifying behavior–whether it’s technically legal or not. I’ve never liked the bonnets precisely because I think they might be restrictive to full ear movement, and I think many people are using them with the wrong “intent.”
My horse has no problem moving her ears around while wearing her fly bonnet (she wears it because one bug on her ear leads to a horse who suddenly forgets that there is a human involved at all, and all that matters is removing said bug).
I have never seen a fly bonnet of any design that restricts ear movement.
My bet is that the trend of ergonomic crown pieces has or will go too far. Perhaps if the cutouts were misplaced, or the section between the ears were too wide, incorrectly angled, had sharp edges or corners it COULD inhibit the movement of a horse’s ears. That said, I’m baffled as to what performance advantage a horse with sore ears could give.
Might also be a nod to the compression mask things? Didn’t think those were eventing legal but I’m so far from FEI I could just be out of the loop on that.
Agreed with this. The reactive horse needs to learn to focus, not have his ears wrapped in neoprene.
Horses are reactive in different ways - should the visually reactive horse get to wear a hood with blinkers, too?
It is an unsubstantiated rumor. I have no idea where is came from, but there is currently no such change being discussed or proposed.
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