Covid&Ehv-1: what are the international changes

Bologna, March 25, 2021 – Due to the pandemic and the Ehv-1 outbreaking, the Fei decided, together with the representative of the disciplines from all around Europe, to present some changes as far as requirements for continental and Olympic qualifications go.

New FEI Endurance Calendar Measures

Following stakeholder consultation and recommendation from Endurance Calendar Task Force, the Board approved the following resolutions concerning Endurance World Championship. It has been scheduled for 22 May 2021 in Pisa (ITA), having been postponed from its original date of 6 September 2020 due to Covid-19.

• Extension of Nominations Entries Deadline from 9  until 21 April 2021 (qualification dates have not changed. Therefore deadline remains 5 April 2021).
• Increase the number of Nominated Entries from 10 Athletes and 14 Horses to 15 Athletes and 15 Horses (i.e. 15 combinations). This condition is a modification of FEI General Regulations hence it shall be considered as an Emergency Board Resolution.

These resolutions are based on a decision to maintain the Championship on 22 May 2021. This follows a request by the Italian National Federation and the Organiser to postpone the Championship due to  uncertain evolution of Covid-19 and impact of EHV-1 in Europe.

Although two alternative dates were proposed, FEI Endurance Calendar Task Force unanimously agreed to recommend to the Board to maintain the initial date of 22 May 2021.

Endurance Calendar Task Force also highlighted to the FEI Board that the new proposed dates would have an impact on FEI Endurance Pan American Championship for Seniors & Young Riders 28 – 29 July 2021; FEI Endurance European Championship 6 to 11 September; and FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 15 to 19 September.

In addition, they noted there were a total of 44 qualified NFs, with 584 qualified combinations from all FEI Regional Groups for the Championship. Therefore, moving the Championship to July or September would require National Federations to adapt their planned selection process. It will force them to adjust training programmes. It would also have repercussions on available horsepower for the different Championships.

New FEI Dressage Calendar Measures

Following the announcement on Friday 19 March regarding four FEI Jumping calendar recommendations approved by the Board, similarly we would now like to share the FEI Dressage Calendar measures which have been approved. Once again, these measures seek to mitigate the negative effects of Covid-19 and EHV-1. And in particular to allow as many Events as possible to take place leading up to Tokyo 2020.

They will provide Athletes more opportunities to compete to obtain the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) and Confirmation Results. And also to train for the Olympic Games as well as for other Championships. While for Organisers, these measures provide more flexibility to re-schedule their cancelled or postponed Events.

The FEI Dressage Calendar measures approved by the FEI Board are:

• Application of Date Clash Rules until Tokyo 2020 (Emergency Board Resolution)

The FEI Board approved that all Dressage Event Organisers may, until the end of the Tokyo Games, organise their Events (subject to Calendar applications deadline below) on their selected dates. No Dates Clash Rules shall apply during that time.

• Deadlines for Calendar Applications (Emergency Board Resolution)

Therefore, in order to give National Federations and Organisers flexibility when applying for their Events, the FEI Board approved the reduction of deadlines for Calendar applications as follows:

• CDI5*/CDI4*/CDI3*/CDI-W CDIO5*/CDIO4*/CDIO3*: from 8 week to 4 weeks
• All other Dressage Events: same 4 weeks deadline as approved before remains.