Dressage stakeholders have mirrored on the Paris Olympics, and the way the game can regain the general public’s belief.
The Worldwide Dressage Riders Membership (IDRC), Worldwide Dressage Trainers Membership (IDTC), Worldwide Dressage Officers Membership and Dressage Organisers held their annual assembly on 5-6 November, designed to “inform members about technical elements of the game, interact stakeholders within the present standing of the self-discipline and its future route, and supply a chance for stakeholders to focus and debate in a non-competition surroundings”.
The subjects mentioned included a overview of Paris, using synthetic intelligence in judging, an FEI replace on its dressage technique and challenges for CDI organisers. A spokesperson for the organisations mentioned that “glorious collaboration” was proven on the assembly, with stakeholders “placing apart self-interest” and embracing “their accountability for the long-term well being of the game”.
Media didn’t have entry to the assembly – however a press convention was held afterwards with IDTC secretary normal Linda Keenan and IDRC secretary normal Klaus Roeser.
The representatives have been requested how lengthy they thought it will take to win again the “hearts and minds of individuals doubting the game”, and the way this shall be communicated to the broader public when many individuals type opinions based mostly on photographs and video clips.
Ms Keenan mentioned that this was a key dialogue throughout the assembly and that members “had numerous good concepts about learn how to method that”.
“Completely we need to be sure that our entry into the Olympics is protected. When it comes to public opinion we actually want a bit extra information, however from what we’re seeing the overall opinions about dressage are nonetheless fairly robust and optimistic. What now we have is a comparatively small group trolling us,” she mentioned.
“Though we’ve had a few high-profile cases, the precise abuse could be very, very small.”
Ms Keenan mentioned there had been “two or three [cases] over the previous a number of years”.
“Compared to different disciplines it’s insignificant,” she mentioned. “We have to do one thing, it’s to not say that we don’t have an issue, and that we haven’t accomplished issues that in all probability contribute to the issue, however we’re engaged on it.
“Individuals need to consider in dressage and the game, apart from the actually die-hard activists that don’t need you to journey a horse. I feel for the affordable sceptic, it’s potential to realize again their belief.”
Mrs Keenan mentioned the golf equipment shall be doing “particular issues to realize extra belief” however was unable to provide particulars till the FEI dressage technique is launched. There may be not a date for this but.
Mr Roeser added that “we’re underneath stress, however now we have to unravel the issue”. He mentioned there are “large issues”, however that “the final circumstances occurred at non-public barns”.
“There have been numerous adjustments should you look to the final large occasions, and from our viewpoint it’s actually getting higher, and this was underlined [in the meeting] by Ronan Murphy [FEI dressage director] and Jacques van Daele [chief steward],” he mentioned.
He continued that there are limitations on what could be accomplished in circumstances “behind closed doorways” – however mentioned the golf equipment wish to work with the media to “level out that issues have modified in hopefully what we see in the proper route”.
“If we at all times publish unhealthy information, then persons are an increasing number of considering that everyone is unhealthy, and that’s not true,” mentioned Mr Roeser.
Ms Keenan mentioned the golf equipment have a chance to work tougher so optimistic tales appeal to extra consideration – and might “counterbalance something that comes up”. However she mentioned “numerous issues are being portrayed as abuse or welfare points that aren’t”.
“If a horse is hanging on the bridle and never in self-carriage, that horse shouldn’t get a great rating in a take a look at. Clearly that’s not the target – however that’s not a welfare difficulty. That’s only a query of the particular person, horse or mixture, not being adequate at that second,” she mentioned.
“A few of these issues; unhealthy using, inexperienced using or no matter you need to name it, not fulfilling the objectives to get a great excessive rating is being conflated to be a welfare difficulty and it’s not. We’ve got to be somewhat cautious about not simply leaping that every time someone isn’t excellent that they’re abusing their horse – it’s not the identical factor.”
Horses ridden behind the vertical in warm-ups was mentioned. Mr Roeser mentioned taking a look at “one image” doesn’t make sense, and that horses should be checked out as a complete.
“Restricted information will come to restricted solutions by individuals who don’t have any actual understanding to have a look at the horse as a complete; at what’s warm-up, what’s stretching, what’s ‘simple’ using and what’s aggressive using,” he mentioned. “To say ‘the horse is behind the vertical that’s unhealthy’, is completely silly.”
Instances of horses’ blue tongues on the Paris Olympics, which have been reported by the mainstream media, have been tackled and one photographer mentioned she took photographs of “prime riders’” horses displaying blue tongues throughout the competitors.
Ms Keenan mentioned she noticed no blue tongues at Paris, however that she was not within the warm-up. On blue tongues on the whole, Mr Roeser mentioned that “we don’t need to say there will not be any issues”, however extra analysis is required.
H&H requested a couple of overview of the Paris Video games that was mentioned throughout the assembly, and what any considerations have been.
Mr Roeser mentioned: “That’s fairly simple. From the riders, stewards and judges, Paris was the most effective commercial for our sport. Fabulous using, tremendous environment, unbelievable area, nice photos. That’s the manner we wish to see it extra usually at all types of exhibits.
“There have been no considerations. Ronan advised us that the freestyle had the very best social media figures ever, so folks actually loved it.”
Requested if this response contradicted claims of blue tongues pictured at Paris and the general public notion of this, Ms Keenan mentioned: “The blue tongue difficulty continues to be up within the [air] by way of what’s the difficulty, and is it a problem”.
One other journalist requested about riders who got FEI warnings as their horses have been pictured with blue tongues in Paris – as reported after the Video games by Swedish media following an interview with FEI veterinary director Goran Akerstrom.
Ms Keenan mentioned “I don’t know something about it as a result of I wasn’t within the warm-up”.
Mr Roeser added: “As Ronan mentioned [in the meeting] there have been no large points”.
The journalist referred to Mr Akerstrom’s interview with the Swedish media, and identified the warnings associated to points in competitors – not the warm-up.
Mr Roeser confirmed this subject was not mentioned throughout the assembly, “as a result of we have been not likely conscious of it”. He mentioned Mr Akerstrom was invited to the assembly however unable to attend, and for additional clarification on these warnings to ask Mr Akerstrom “what he’s speaking about”.
The FEI has introduced {that a} dressage motion group will “overview the self-discipline comprehensively” and suggest a “strategic motion plan”.
Olympic dressage rider Richard Davison moderated the assembly on behalf of the riders’ and trainers’ golf equipment.
He advised H&H that he has chaired many stakeholder conferences however “this one stands out”.
“The highest riders and trainers from across the globe attended and have been absolutely engaged,” he mentioned. “They unanimously acknowledged the seriousness of the reputational hurt which dressage has suffered in latest occasions.”
He added: “Reviewing practices and laws with the goal of bettering equine wellbeing was the overriding focus of the two-day assembly. Matters equivalent to laws governing tack and tools, younger horse physiology and judging have been additionally mentioned by way of the lens of horse welfare. Along with the give attention to horse welfare, human safeguarding protocols additionally got here underneath overview ”
“We carried out ourselves underneath Chatham Home guidelines so everybody felt they could possibly be frank and speak freely. The diploma of collaboration between stakeholders was refreshing, so too was the optimistic assist for the work of the FEI dressage director. Other than the formal shows breakaway teams produced priceless proposals and the assembly agreed on the subsequent steps to assist develop these.”
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