Rolex and Badminton confirmed to EN today that both events will not enforce the FEI’s new CCI4* qualification requirements for the 2016 competitions. The new qualifications will come into effect on July 1, 2016, but the FEI confirmed yesterday that the three CCI4* events held prior to that date could choose to use the new requirements.
The new FEI CCI4* qualification requirements are as follows:
- Uncategorized, Category C, and Category D riders must now obtain two CCI3* and two additional CIC3*.
- Category B riders must obtain one CCI3* and three additional CIC3*, alongside National Federation requirements.
- Category A riders must qualify for the four-star level by completing a CCI3* as a pair with the horse.
- Categorized requirements for other levels now require some qualifications to be accomplished as a pair with the horse.
- The definition of a Minimum Eligibility Requirement (MER) has been added to allow 11 penalties for breaking a frangible pin to qualify.
Hugh Thomas, director of Badminton Horse Trials, noted that the event’s unique qualification requirements will still remain in effect. Badminton requires an extra CCI3* or CIC3* completion for all except the Category A riders, as well as requiring that all horses must have placed in the top 50 percent of a CCI4* or top 25 percent of a CCI3*.
We are still waiting on confirmation from Luhmühlen as to whether or not the 2016 event will use the new CCI4* qualifications. This year Luhmühlen required an additional CCI3* completion for horses ridden by Category C or D (and presumably non-categorized) riders in addition to the FEI requirements.
The three CCI4* events that fall on the calendar after July 1, 2016 — Burghley, Pau and Adelaide — will all use the new CCI4* qualification requirements. All six CCI4* events will use the new requirements starting in 2017.
Click here to read more on the new CCI4* qualifications, plus see other notable FEI rule changes coming in 2016.