Rolex and Badminton Will Not Enforce Stricter CCI4* Qualifications for 2016 Events

Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Photo courtesy of Rare Air Photography. Colleen Rutledge and Covert Rights. Photo courtesy of Rare Air Photography.

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.

[New 2016 FEI Rules Overhaul CCI4* Qualifications]