Breach of IP and copywrite law? Protecting a brand and trademark?
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No doubt that is their reasoning.
It seems a bit weird to me under the circumstances, pandemic and all.
FEI competitions not happening anywhere in the world in the near future, and all. 
It just doesn’t seem to me to be the best time to stand on minutiae, but it’s the FEI, bless their hearts.
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You don’t see the point but clearly enough people saw the point of why it’s necessary to have a little fun during a pandemic that the FEI had to step in and kill all the fun.
A virtual horse show isn’t a threat to FEI competitions in real life but apparently the FEI felt like throwing its weight around.
As for the schooling shows, why can’t an FEI trainer take some client’s horses to a schooling show? It’s a heck of a lot cheaper.
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That was me. My horse had a passport because we had done a regular CDI previously. Just because you don’t need one for a particular class doesn’t mean you don’t have one. My current horse came with an FEI passport and I am still in the FEI rider database so does that mean we can’t do unrecognized horse trials and schooling dressage or jumper shows even though I’m not doing a CCI (or CDI) anytime soon or maybe ever? Clearly I have to look into this rule more although it’s moot for a while since my horse stepped on a nail Thursday. 
As @ghst13 said, many active FEI eventers do unrecognized events all the time so the rule seems to not be well known or enforced. I also know FEI dressage riders who take young horses to schooling shows for the experience. And frankly I’m grumpy today so I’ll go ahead and say that I think that if the rule means you can’t do that, it is a bunch of bullsh!t. How does Boyd Martin taking a young horse to some unrecognized jumper or dressage shows in between events hurt the sport?
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For anyone who is interested, here are the sections of the FEI General Regs that pertain to horse/rider participation in unsanctioned events (Article 113 from here: https://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/FEI_General_Regulations_eff_1January2020-Final_web-Clean.pdf):
113.4 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.
- For purposes of Article 113.4, an ‘Unsanctioned Event’ is an event and/or a competition that is neither published in the official Calendar nor authorised by an NF and/or a National Event authorised or organised by a NF that is suspended by the FEI. Please also refer to the Appendix J for the rationale for the Unsanctioned Event Provisions.
6. 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).
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Where it is then alleged by the FEI that a person participated in an Unsanctioned Event, the FEI shall notify the relevant person(s) of the alleged participation in an Unsanctioned Event and shall give such person(s) an opportunity to be heard in either written or oral form.
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Any Decision of the FEI Secretary General to apply Article 113.4 may be appealed to the FEI Tribunal in accordance with Article 162.5 of the FEI General Regulations and the Internal Regulations of the FEI Tribunal.
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Instead of applying the sanctions provided for in Article 113.4 the FEI may issue: (i) a “no fault” finding where: (a) the Athlete and/or Horse participated in an event that would clearly have been sanctioned by the FEI or the NF but for administrative error by the organiser of the Unsanctioned Event; or (b) exceptional circumstances exist; or (ii) a “Warning” in circumstances where the Athlete or Owner was reasonably aware that the event was not sanctioned (and there is no suggestion of an administrative error by the organiser) but has demonstrated that the event otherwise adhered to the objectives of the FEI as stated in the Appendix J.
113.6 (bolding mine) makes it sound like the FEI has to specifically identify every event it considers unsanctioned?? So are they going to be publishing a list of all the virtual horse shows? I searched the FEI website for “unsanctioned events” and didn’t find any lists.
I also found this previous “clarification” that says, as I think someone said upthread, it wasn’t meant to apply to local schooling shows: http://www.equestrianlife.com.au/articles/FEI-Clarifies-Ruling-On-Unsanctioned-Events. From that link:
“Local events do not come within the scope of this rule so long as the National Federation does not expressly object to them. The FEI will rely on the National Federations to bring any national or local events that they have concerns about to the FEI’s attention.”
John Madden, the chair of the FEI Jumping Committee, elaborated on the clarification. “It’s not to stop [grand prix show jumper] Beezie Madden from doing charity things or a four-star event rider from taking a green horse to a local schooling event or a dressage rider from going a lower level event,” Madden said.
So much for that interpretation, huh?
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If I am understanding this correctly, then the horse shows that put on Eventing Showcase classes, which are judged and pinned, are actually violating FEI rules as far as the riders are concerned???
I’d have to look up the specific classes, but I think many of the arena eventing type events are sanctioned by the USEF. They are covered under EV157.
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You are reading this rule wrong.
It’s to prevent riders who are riding in International events to go do schooling shows.
You are allowed to do as much unrecognized shows as you want, as long as you then wait 6 months to do a CDI. That’s what the rule says for riders.
As @ghst13 said, many active FEI eventers do unrecognized events all the time so the rule seems to not be well known or enforced. I also know FEI dressage riders who take young horses to schooling shows for the experience. And frankly I’m grumpy today so I’ll go ahead and say that I think that if the rule means you can’t do that, it is a bunch of bullsh!t. How does Boyd Martin taking a young horse to some unrecognized jumper or dressage shows in between events hurt the sport?
Fairness?
They could do lower levels at smaller recognized shows?
I’m not sure I would want to ride against Charlotte Dujardin anytime soon.
To give non-FEI riders/trainers a way to make some money?
There are smaller recognized events all over the country.
What would you think of Carl Hester coming to your unrecognized show with his students?
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Why would I think anything? If his students want to show at my podunk show who cares? Maybe they have green horses? Maybe they have the same budget I do? Maybe they are nervous riders? Maybe they want to have fun? Maybe it was 5 minutes down the road?
I have no idea why it would matter so much, and I’d be thrilled to learn that Carl Hester didn’t think that schooling shows were beneath him.
I mean really, there’s no way the rule is there to throw a bone to the non FEI riders’trainers. Make money. HA!
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? I doubt Carl Hester is that obnoxious and condescending… I did not imply that at all, from any FEI rider/trainer…
I mean really, there’s no way the rule is there to throw a bone to the non FEI riders’trainers. Make money. HA!
Why is there this rule then?
From a post in the Eventing forum, it’s all about money money money. Not to protect the little guy.
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.
Until it’s online, apparently. What a farce.
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But then when it starts pouring and the entire crowd opens their umbrellas at the same time and scares the crap out of a horse, that rider doesn’t get a re-ride. Nor do the riders who have to ride in the afternoon when it’s 100 degrees, or when a tent blows over, or a thunderstorm comes through, or a horse gets loose…
I am showing PSG. And actually LOTS of my learning IS at a show in a test. Clinics and lessons are fine but I find that when I string the entire test together it tends to fall apart. And you are right, I dont care about the competition… ride a test would be fine.
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sorry.
quoted the wrong post…
I wanted the one about national shows holding schooling shows on the side.
I do not think that is permitted.
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You’re right and I guess if I ever do a CCI or another CDI I’d probably plan it at least 6 months out anyway. I still think it’s a ridiculous rule that would be quite onerous if enforced against upper-level riders who might like to start the season with or debut a young horse at a lower-cost option than a recognized show.
Well, we do have different views on showing I guess.
Not that I don’t learn while I go in the ring, but I’m mainly there to see if what I learned is working - and if I’m on the right path. Showing my skills, where we’re at in our training.
It’s totally fine. We can agree to disagree.
Just to change the subject a little.
I do take lessons where I pretend I’m showing - From braiding to wearing my new show clothes. 
My trainer watch my warm up - Says nothing - but take notes.
Then she judges me with a test sheet - (She actually record her comments for each movement so she doesn’t have to write.)
We then go over the test - working what could have been easily improved (forgetting to go deeper in a corner, better prepare my trans., better geometry) and go through what I should have done in my warm up (longer/shorter, more/less of this/that).
We then work on improving whatever we have difficulty with - things that cannot be really improved during a test (better gaits, transitions, self-carriage, etc).
It makes for interesting lessons. She gave me a ribbon once. :rolleyes: :lol:
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@alibi_18 that is a very cool idea - and we are not really far apart in our showing goals. Everything you look for I also look for, and hope I can string the bits together!!
