Dressage Director Trond Asmyr leaves FEI for health reasons

Trond Asmyr joined the FEI as Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage Director in June 2009 after more than 15 years as an international Dressage judge and 30 years judging on the national circuit in Norway. He was Vice President of the Norwegian Equestrian Federation and was on the Board of Directors of the National Federation for more than a decade. During his time at the FEI he attended the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, two editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games™, other FEI Championships and multiple FEI World Cup™ Finals. He was also pivotal in implementing the recommendations of the Dressage Task Force, created after the 2008 Olympic Games, and initiated the 2010 round table on hyperflexion with the major stakeholder groups which resulted in the redrafting of the FEI Dressage Rules on training techniques.

“We deeply regret that Trond’s health issues have resulted in him having to leave the FEI”, FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said. “It is a big loss to us all at Headquarters and to the global Dressage community, but clearly Trond’s health has to be the top priority. He has done so much for the sport and been a truly dedicated member of the FEI team in his seven years with the FEI, bringing clarity to the sport and implementing FEI decisions in some challenging circumstances, while being fair to everyone. We wish him all the very best for the future.”

“As a Dressage lover, leading the Dressage Department at the FEI has been the best job in the world and I’m really sorry to leave it”, Trond Asmyr said. “I have always been present when decisions have been made, and had the opportunity to influence the way the sport has developed. During my time with the FEI, Dressage has gone through some of the most exciting times, with super-star partnerships like Totilas and Edward Gal and Valegro with Charlotte Dujardin bringing the sport to a completely new level. Since then the development has just continued, but although I’ve now left the FEI I plan to remain very much a part of the Dressage community.”

Carina Mayer, who was appointed Senior Manager and acting Head of the Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage Department in August 2015, will be leaving the FEI at the end of September to take up a new role as Secretary General of the European Equestrian Federation in Warendorf (GER).

The FEI will communicate news on a replacement Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage Director at a later date.