This is me right now.
John’s Note: I want to make a few notes of context. First and foremost, this post is meant to be an update with commentary on where the new FEI Qualification rules are now, NOT a comprehensive or official explanation of exactly what the qualification rules will be for 2013. The FEI is still looking at possibly tweaking some things, as is the USEF for our national qualification rules–these qualification rules are still being worked on by the USEF and FEI. Derek di Grazia and the USEF are working on an official explanation on all of this and we will bring you that along with much more information as those things become finalized. There’s a fair criticism that even mentioning the rules until such clarifications are released is premature, but we think this is a major situation for our sport that deserves coverage as it develops. Kate has spent a great deal of time working through the rule changes and communicating with the very helpful folks at the USEF. We have pulled Kate’s 2013 spreadsheet from this post after some mixed feedback from readers that it was confusing. My feeling is that this is because the rules are confusing, but we have no desire whatsoever to add to the confusion. Don’t read further if you are going to take this as the final and complete explanation of the 2013 qualification rules–I promise it is not. If you want our latest update on where the rules are now and another look at why the qualification rules are more confusing than Elvish then keep reading.
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After finding the new proposed 2013 FEI Qualifications a while ago, I proceeded to freak out, much the same as many of my fellow competitors. As if understanding the qualification system wasn’t already enough of a headache, now there are more requirements? I had a miniature heart attack, and then I decided to try to decode the baffling new literature myself. I figured, if I make some charts and write it all down, how hard can it be?
Let me just go ahead and say that I’m not even going to try to explain the new Matrix of Rider Eligibility, because John did an excellent job explaining that straight from the convention. Aside from that, those new rules affect a very small portion of our population, those who will be doing 20+ FEI events at any level, which is a very select few.
There are things that we do know, and things that we don’t yet know, but I hope that these charts and my explanation will clear the way for a little more comprehension overall. Let’s start by looking at the old qualifications, in order to understand what changes will be coming our way. (Please excuse my ghetto handwritten charts, I process information better if I physically write it down!)
[2012 FEI Qualifications Summary]
2012 FEI Qualifications Matrix
Each way to qualify for the specific level is denoted by a bullet, so don’t get confused and think that ALL of the listed items are combined to make a qualification. I did include that at 1* level, you are required to have NQR’s (National Qualifying Results) at Preliminary, and after that, you must have IQR’s (International Qualifying Results) for the higher levels, and they are a little different. (See 2012 Qualification Rules for explanatory charts.)
The first confusing piece of information that was listed in the new FEI literature was the introduction of the mysterious “CI”. What in the heck is a “CI”??? For example, to qualify for a CIC**, you had to do the National Federation requirements (two Intermediate HT) plus a CI*. I got my answer the other night after badgering John at the convention, and a CI is code for either a CCI or a CIC.
Here is the break down: In 2013/2014, for a CIC2*, you now have to complete either a CCI* or a CIC*. For a CCI2*, you have to have an additional CIC2*. For a CIC3*, you must complete either an extra CCI2* or CIC2*. For a CCI3*, you must complete another CIC3*. For the four star level, they added either two CCI3*’s, two CIC3*’s, or one of each. Got it?
Let us also hold on to our hats, because there will be a transitional period during 2013 and only in 2014 will the rules become absolute. According to the FEI, “These Eventing Rules are effective as of 1 January 2013. However, certain aspects of the Rules will be implemented progressively as specifically indicated herein and will only be fully operational as of 1 January 2014. As a transitory provision for 2013, it has been agreed that, if necessary and for specific reason, NFs could apply for a limited number of targeted national Competitions to be considered equivalent for qualification purposes to international Competitions of the same type/level. This is to avoid, during the first year of the implementation of the new rules, the possible risk of insufficient qualification possibilities in some areas with limited numbers of international Competitions.”
This last part is important to maintaining a reasonable level of panic, because it means that the FEI will approve a certain number of Horse Trials to become equivalent for qualification purposes to a CIC at the same level for the transitory period of 2013. We are still waiting for the FEI to tell us which events these will be, and those events will have an FEI TD at them to enable you to qualify. Therefore, if you’ve completely written off getting to that spring CCI, you might just still have hope yet.
The other possible new item to the qualifications is a change to our National Federation requirements for each level. We have heard rumor of such changes, but seen no evidence thus far. However, it is not yet 2013, and the FEI is bound to throw some new information at us any day now.
This is how the new FEI Rules explain themselves.....get it?
While in many ways I’m sure the FEI will be accused of money-grubbing tactics that are simply implemented to push the budgeted individual further away, I prefer to look at this inevitable change in light of what it can do for the good of the sport, and for the good of the competitor. It is easy and much less complicated to complain and rant about how much we hate something, than it is to accept the change, and find positive aspects.
First off, the use of a 1* to qualify for a 2* creates a lot more participation for those events. As somebody who lives near the Virginia Horse Center, I hold those events close to my heart. As the years have gone by and the 1* level has become unnecessary to moving upwards, I have seen less and less entries in what is truly a phenomenal event, and a wonderful learning experience for both horse and rider. I think that the requirement of introducing either mount or jockey to the International level at Preliminary is a bonus to the education of both.
I think the biggest question is, why all the addition of FEI events to our qualifications? I think this is a legitimate complaint question, because it certainly is more costly. Here is what the FEI has to say about it: “For that part of the qualification pathway that is under the responsibility of the FEI it is important that the FEI can maintain records and can directly control and verify the level and standards of the Competitions involved. This is only possible for the FEI in the international Events held under FEI Rules and with the direct involvement of FEI Officials.” This can be interpreted as either a justification for taking your money and running, or it can be a realistic reason for standardization around the world. While we here in the US are lucky enough to have Horse Trials that are relatively close in difficulty to our FEI levels, it does not mean that it is the same around the world.
While I understand and appreciate that the addition of a CIC anywhere means that it is more costly to get to your end goal, I think that the effect will be better preparation from both horse and rider. In terms of safety, this cannot be a bad thing. However, I do think that a lot of CIC’s are little more than three jumps different than the horse trials equivalent at a lot of venues. I understand that we aren’t going to get a completely different course, but I would like to see CICs become more challenging. Due to their sudden increase in importance for qualifications, I want to see a significant difference between the ability to complete a HT and a CIC. Yes, it should be a stepping stone, but sometimes it feels like an inch of a step, and if we have to do three of them, shouldn’t it be more of a step?
I must applaud the efforts of the wonderful folks at the USEF, who are working tirelessly through this holiday season to make things perfect and clear and reasonable by the time 2013 rolls around. The FEI has still not clarified a lot of the new rules for our nation, and it is due to the efforts of the USEF that we have the previously mentioned “transitional period” which will (hopefully) make all of our lives a little bit easier in adjusting to these new requirements. Imagine spending your holiday season battling with the FEI over jargon and obscurities, and then realize how thankful you are that those individuals at our national organizations are doing that for you.
If you’re still with me, and feel the need to read more literature that the FEI claims “clarifies” the situation, please visit the following website:
For now, I need to go rest my brain, and maybe spend some time at the spa, because reading unintelligible FEI jargon for this amount of time has given me a monstrous headache.
