Equestrian Sport Productions has announced that there have been FEI-level rating changes to three of the weeks in the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival circuit. Following objections from a number of conflicting CSI five-star events, ESP has been forced to reduce the star levels of three of their events.
However, money has been reallocated to maximize the prize money available during the FTI WEF so that the two CSI***** events, during Weeks 5 and 12, and the two CSI**** events, on Weeks 7 and 9, will have the following prize money in FEI classes:
FTI WEF 5 – CSI-W*****: $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45-meter; $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 5; $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45-meter; $370,000 FEI World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix CSI-W*****; $84,000 Suncast 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic
FTI WEF 7 – Adequan® CSI****: $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45-meter; $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 7; $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45-meter; $280,000 Adequan Grand Prix CSI****; $84,000 Suncast 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic
FTI WEF 9 – The Bainbridge Companies CSI-W****: $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45-meter; $125,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 9; $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45-meter; $280,000 FEI World Cup CSI-W****; $84,000 Suncast 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Classic
FTI WEF 12 – FTI Consulting CSI*****: $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45-meter; $34,000 G&C Farm 1.45-meter; $50,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 12; $100,000 Suncast® 1.50-meter Championship Jumper Series Classic Final; $500,000 FTI Consulting Finale Grand Prix CSI*****.
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ESP CEO Mark Bellissimo stated, “We are disappointed that we have been prevented from increasing the number of five-star events. We are committed to providing the Americas with top class events and maximizing the available prize money. We believe that to grow the sport, the money available must enable riders to make a living from competing, just as happens in every other major sport. However, we have reworked our events to conform to the restrictions and have managed to maintain a significant amount of the prize money that will be offered and the consequent ranking points available for the riders.”
He continued, “We were pleased that some shows were supportive and believe as we do that increased prize money is the way forward for the sport. This will not deter us in the future as we look forward to even more growth in the years to come. We are hopeful that we can work collaboratively to continue to grow the sport in the United States.”
The relevant FEI Rule states: “FEI Art 112.7: For Late Date Application and/or modification for higher level Events as defined in the relevant Rules and received after the deadline, any NF and/or OC that may be deemed to be affected by the acceptance of such Late Date Application and/or modification shall be provided the opportunity to give its opinion and if objecting to the late addition or change of dates must explain the reasons for the objection. After an evaluation of the reasons for an objection, the Secretary General may accept the late addition or change.”
The dates of the 2014 shows affected with FEI-level rating changes are: FTI WEF 3 from January 22-26, FTI WEF 7 from February 19-23 and FTI WEF 10 from March 12-16.
For a 2013 WEF highlight video see: http://vimeo.com/65534140. For more information on the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, please visit www.equestriansport.com.
