What action will the FEI take to save the future of dressage?

Background

On the 26th August the FEI issued a press statement announcing that  they will host a key meeting with stakeholders on 1 October 2024, to kick off in-depth discussions on addressing the challenges currently impacting the discipline of Dressage.

As welcome as Owen Jones
at the Labour Party Conference?
©Harveywetdog

This meeting, which will bring together representatives from national federations, recognised stakeholder groups — including athletes, officials, organisers, trainers, and veterinary experts — marks the beginning of a broader strategy to develop a comprehensive long-term strategy for Dressage, to ensure the sustainability and growth of the discipline.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity to update the community on current and upcoming research and development initiatives, including the oral cavity study.

"As the governing body, the FEI is prepared to take the necessary decisions to ensure that we are living up to our promise to ‘Be a Guardian’ for our equine partners, and to improve the standards of safety and care in our sport."

1st October Meeting - the elephant in the room

So tomorrow’s the day when the great and the good of the dressage world will get together to slap each other on the back, say thank goodness it wasn’t me, and then come up with another meaningless strapline before returning home to continue their craft. In the U.K. no doubt we will get another motherhood and apple pie statement from Carl Hester (as long as he’s managed to put sufficient distance between himself and the tarnished reputation of his protégé Charlotte Dujardin).

While the actions of riders like Charlotte Dujardin will be the elephant in the room, of course she won’t be there in Lausanne; I imagine she’d be as welcome as Owen Jones at the Labour Party Conference. She is provisionally suspended from dressage competition for an indefinite period while we wait for the outcome of the investigation/disciplinary proceedings into to her engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare and, with British Dressage CEO Jason Brautigam calling for tougher sanctions for animal welfare abuses at the 2024 FEI Sports Forum, should be expecting a lengthy ban from competition as a result of her exertions with a lunge whip back in 2020 (or was it 2022).

Current levels of sanction available to the FEI
(A Swiss Franc is roughly equivalent to a Pound Sterling)

It really is worth watching the Sports Forum video to see the divisions of opinion in the dressage world. There are clearly those who “still don’t get it”.

FEI Sports Forum Video

In conclusion

As I said in yesterday’s blog on the fall out from my Blenheim debacle:

“It is unfortunate that the numerous incidents of horse abuse and horse welfare violations mean that equestrian sport is seemingly doomed, run by those for whom “the charter for the horse” is a cynical marketing convenience, and who simply wish to maximise profits whilst literally flogging ‘the horse’ until it expires.”

Can the FEI really pull this disparate group together to retain a sport that is still worth watching (and competing in) while addressing the growing social license concerns? Something tells me the best we can expect is a fudge; but a Swiss chocolate fudge could be quite tasty.

The Meeting will take place behind closed doors