The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has announced the formation of a new Working Group dedicated to developing a Strategic Action Plan for Dressage. This initiative aims to establish a clear vision for the sport, realign objectives, and create actionable steps to enhance Dressage at all levels.
Bringing together leading experts and stakeholders, the Working Group will focus on addressing current challenges, integrating ethical training principles, and ensuring the well-being of horses remains the top priority in both training and competition.
A Team of Experts Leading the Way
The Working Group is chaired by George Williams (USA), former President of the United States Dressage Federation and a key figure in Dressage development. He is joined by a distinguished panel of experts, including:
- Monica Theodorescu (GER) – Olympic, World, and European champion, and the first woman appointed as German National Dressage Coach.
- Raphael Saleh (FRA) – President of the Dressage Ground Jury for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and a Level 4 Judge.
- Gareth Hughes (GBR) – Highly decorated British Dressage rider with over 60 national and international titles.
- Kyra Kyrklund (FIN) – Six-time Olympian, former FEI Dressage World Cup™ champion, and Vice-President of the International Dressage Riders Club (IDRC).
- Klaus Roeser (GER) – Chairman of the German National Federation Dressage Committee and Board Member of the European Equestrian Federation (EEF).
- Lise Berg (DEN), DVM PhD – Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, specialising in veterinary clinical sciences.
Shaping the Future of Dressage
FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy emphasised the importance of Dressage being built on balanced, ethical training, ensuring freedom of movement, ease in transitions, and harmony between horse and rider.
“Our focus now is to embed these principles in the FEI Rule Book and ensure they are applied consistently in training and competition, always putting horse welfare first,” he said.
The Working Group’s immediate priorities include:
- Conducting a comprehensive review of the current state of Dressage.
- Analysing stakeholder feedback, including insights from the October 2024 stakeholder meeting.
- Prioritising equine ethics and well-being, using the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Action Plan as a foundation for reform.
- Creating a scientific research repository, working with veterinary experts to provide an accessible knowledge base.
- Proposing future rule revisions, with initial updates for 2025 and a full Dressage Rules Revision set for 2026.
Transparency and Ongoing Collaboration
To ensure transparency and community engagement, the Working Group will report regularly to the Dressage Technical Committee, the FEI Board, and key stakeholder groups. Their first presentation is scheduled for the FEI Sports Forum on 31 March 2025, where they will share initial findings and strategic recommendations.
This initiative marks a significant step toward modernising Dressage, ensuring it remains a fair, ethical, and horse-centric discipline while addressing the evolving needs of the sport.
Read the story on the FEI website – HERE
