[Winding Down]

I don't see how any of this "clarification" makes any of it better. So, FEI won't have spies, but the NF's can use this as "leverage" to spank any unrecognized competition that runs afoul of them? How does any of that have anything to do with the supposed "competing" international events this rule is supposed to address?

You know what they say about what to do when one finds oneself in a hole...

Well, at least it doesn't affect schooling events.

[ACMEeventing]

Thank goodness the FEI is "safeguarding the welfare of horses and athletes". I feel so nurtured.

Funny, I don't recall moving to Stepford .....

[skydy]

It's quite possible that I am being dense, but that explanation seems to me not to have anything to do with horse welfare, but has only to do with the FEI's desire to be the "only game in town" as far as International competitions are concerned.

[vineyridge]

The FEI language about international events that are not on the FEI calendar is directed straight at the Global Champions Tour--and its dressage offshoot. I would think that the FEI will not rely on the affected NFs to enforce the rule against riders in those events but will police the rule itself.

I also think that they are just as bent out of shape about officials as riders and horses.

[Blugal]

[snip]
5.3 It is not triggered by participation in unsanctioned events that the National Federations authorise or have no express objection to, such as local events run outside the NF structure but with the knowledge and acceptance of the NF. Again, however, if this is abused, it may be necessary to revisit and tighten the regulation.

Yet another point of concern. If, in the eyes of the FEI, the NFs don't do a good enough job of policing this rule (or maybe give the FEI the middle finger over it), then the FEI may revisit and tighten the regulation.

[JWB]

Well, at least it doesn't affect schooling events.

It doesn't affect schooling events so long as the USEA/USEF don't have issue with them. Nothing there provides any sort of safeguard that they might change their mind.

I think the heart of the issues is from your earlier post where it says that unsanctioned events undermine and emasculate the FEI. The FEI is hiking its leg and peeing on everything in sight right now.
This is mine, this is mine, this is mine.... You can keep that for now but at a later date I may revisit it and decide this is mine too.

[JP60]

Two quotes are the heart of this...

Instead, reflecting the principle that those who benefit
from the collective efforts of the FEI and its stakeholders should not at the
same time participate in activities that undermine those efforts, it prevents
simultaneous participation in both sanctioned and unsanctioned events, by
making any Athlete, Horse or Official that participates in an unsanctioned
event ineligible to participate for a specified period in sanctioned events.

and
indirectly (by undermining public confidence in the ability of the FEI to protect
the safety and integrity of the sport). The public is unlikely to appreciate fully
the distinction between sanctioned and unsanctioned events, and so if
problems occur in unsanctioned events the image of the entire sport will
suffer, and public confidence in the ability of the FEI to maintain the integrity
of the sport and to protect the welfare of its participants will be undermined,
to the great detriment of the sport as a whole.

This rest is hooey. The FEI feels that they are the one and only legitimate body to protect the child...um..I mean the horses. They also feel that if you don't play in their sandbox, you are stealing candy from the ba...I mean, they are taking money from them.

I swear they must think only horses are reading this tripe.

The mob just moved into town and the NF have rolled over to save their own skin.

"Ey, Yo, USEF...yuz like your pretty rolex? Yuz like to keep that pretty Rolex? Then yuz better be nice to me and the FEI boyz, 'cause utta wize...well lets just say yuz might have...trouble...coming to the Olympic party...got it? Good, now vote this way"

Then we read this...

. The FEI will not on its own initiative look for or police national events to determine whether or not they are authorised. Therefore, local events do not come within the scope of this rule so long as the NF does not expressly object to them.

See, now that started off rational till the last part. It looks great for the NF until the day the NF does not object to the World of Champions Tour the FEI does not like. The NF takes a look and says, yeah its being run safely though not strictly by FEI rules. The FEI steps in and then says...Hold on there pardna. You're not seeing the big picture here. It would be very bad if you do not object to this show...very bad.

Maybe I watch to many movies, but the reason we have RICO laws is to stop a company or organization from being able to improperly control peoples lives or business. This rule and this rationale reek of allow one governing body to dictate the actions of other groups and individuals.

People backed down from this, because they felt it was better to kiss the ring of the Don, then call a turd a turd and tell him to take a flying leap. For one moment I wish I could be the president of USEA (or F) and write a public statement that would simply state,

"We do not agree with this rule. We will not object to any non-sanctioned event held in our regions, but will be available to advise on how to run a proper show. Our concern is first and foremost the welfare of the horse, but we feel we cannot, and will not be in the way of any rider or official as they make their choices on earning money or gaining experience. If the FEI objects or attempts to suspend any rider, official, or horse having ridden in any show in our regions we will support the party and vigorously argue against the suspension. Oh and FEI, Go F yourself."

Which is why I'm not in politics.

[vineyridge]

Here's where I'm confused. It sounds as if the FEI itself will be policing "international events" wherever they are. And that means 15 riders who are not from the country where the event is held with at least 4 different residences/citizenships. If there aren't the minimum to make an international event, then it's up to the National Federation to be the policeman.

What I'm wondering now is what about National events that meet the criteria for "international" but haven't signed on with the FEI. Thinking of the big USEF H/J shows. For instance the Phillippaerts twins are currently show jumping in the US at big east coast shows to get experience where the competition is less intense. They're Belgians but non-resident. Canadians come down. All they would need is one rider visiting North America for the events to be FEI and not USEF.

In other words, what I'm asking is whether the FEI plans to force USEF shows to become FEI shows instead. But maybe there aren't 15 non-residents who show at USEF shows.

[frugalannie]

This is starting to sound a little like Catch 22. Is the FEI's contention that any international competition not sanctioned by them is unsafe and may reflect negatively on them? NFs are charged with deciding which competitions are of concern, which they can only do by investigating said competitions, but what are the criteria and who is going to fund the investigation? And how will organizers of unsanctioned events get "the assistance" and tacit approval of the NF (presumably not for free)?

Way too byzantine for me today.

[echodecker]

I don't know enough about the politics to know the answer to this, but maybe someone here does...

What if the USEF actually stood up to the FEI as suggested by JP60 above and said, "we will not go after any unsanctioned events in our nation, because this is America and we believe in free market competition?" Then the FEI says "Fine, we're taking our toys and going home, you can't play in the Olympics, neener, neener." At that point, would the USOC actually get involved and fight on behalf of the US athletes?

Because it seems like maybe that's the right path to take? Right now this is being quietly implemented in horsey land so no one else is paying attention. But if we stood up for ourselves now and forced it to a confrontation this year rather than 6 months prior to the 2016 games when our hands will be tied, might that not be a solution?

[skydy]

OK, (since no one anwered my question) I dug around a bit and found that the "Global Champions Tour" is run in accordance with FEI rules, so the horse welfare concerns cited by the FEI are bunk.
Now, how can following FEI rules be construed as using the FEI system without paying into it?
With the great concern the FEI has regarding horse welfare, you'd think they'd be thrilled with the Global Champions Tour's keeping to FEI rules, (unless of course the FEI is actually ticked off that GCT hasn't paid the FEI to use FEI rules).

Remember, those rules the FEI is horrified might NOT be used at unrecognized competitions?

Seems it's "damned if you do and damned if you don't".

[Janet]

In other words, what I'm asking is whether the FEI plans to force USEF shows to become FEI shows instead. But maybe there aren't 15 non-residents who show at USEF shows.

I think there is something already in the rules that says that.

3. Not counting "Athletes Living Outside their Country of Nationality" (Article
119.6), the number of foreign Athletes who may take part at a CN shall,
subject to the appropriate laws if applicable, be as specified in the relevant
Sport Rules. However, a CN which allows more than fifteen (15) foreign
Athletes or more than four (4) different NFs to take part in the Event is
considered to be a CI with the following implications:

(i) organising fees are due for a CI of the relevant Discipline and category in
accordance with the Sport Rules;

(ii) results of CNs considered as CIs under the provisions of this Article do not
count for any qualification or ranking purposes, unless the FEI has given its
prior written approval.

A "CN" is a USEF competition. A "CI" is an FEI competition.

[vineyridge]

Oops. Missed the "or". Does that mean athletes from 4 different NFs even if less than 15? And if 15 Canadians ride at one US competition, does that mean it can't be a CN and count for qualifying? And, of course, the FEI fees.

[poltroon]

It is my expectation that we have many non-FEI shows that have more than 15 non-resident international entrants from more than 4 countries, especially on the winter circuits.

[GotSpots]

Strikes me that the new press release expands the prohibition rather than limiting it, by prohibiting a rider to cross over between National and unrecognized events, as well as between FEI and unrecognized:

DIRECT QUOTE FROM USEVENTING.COM

http://useventing.com/news/clarifica...ned-event-rule

"
***
If an Athlete, Official, or Horse does participate in a competition and/or event that is not on the FEI calendar or in a national event and/or competition that is expressly unauthorised by their NF, they or it cannot participate in any International or National Event for a period of six (6) months thereafter.
***

[vali]

I'm not feeling any better about any of this than I was earlier in the thread. It still seems hugely overreaching and bound to hurt both true upper level riders who need to make a living bringing along young or sale horses and us AA's who might want to occasionally do an FEI sanctioned 1 or 2 star. I like to do a mix of things - jumper classes here and there, some local dressage shows as well as the unrecognized and recognized events. I currently ride my little Connemara cross mare at prelim, and she could probably do a two star if I was so inclined, but neither of us is ever going to Rolex. Last season I also competed my daughters pony at elementary and BN, and that was a lot of fun as well. As an attorney, I think the rule is very badly written, and I'm not comfortable that they will refrain from enforcing it as written.

[barnworkbeatshousework]

after 13 pages of discourse, I still can't make sense of this nonsense. This is why I don't compete, I simply ride...

[JER]

The welfare argument is utter nonsense because the sanctions are about the rider, not the horse.

If you ride Horse A in the Global Champions Tour last month, you can't ride Horse B or Horse C in an FEI competition -- even if it's eventing or dressage -- for six months.

Yes, I can see the horse welfare improving already!