"Domarna följer inte reglerna"

Dressyrdomarna dömmer inte enligt reglementet. Så vad ska ändras – reglerna eller bedömningen? Läs de väsentligaste delarna av Christian Cardes brev till FEI:s nya dressyrkommitté.

(Bild: Gustaf Svalling och domarassitenter i Göteborg)

DEL AV CHRISTIAN CADRES BREV, daterat 11 april:

”To experienced Riders and Trainers it appears that the manner of training and of judging the horses has evolved over 20 years quicker that the rules themselves. The consequence of which is that we do not judge according to the rules but according to the fashion; and the fashion is to look for that which is spectacular more than that which is classical or academic. This causes great difficulty for judges to agree in their marking and to educate new judges. This question is fundamental, because it is the judgement by which Equitation evolves and not the contrary. It also places huge importance and responsibility on Judges in the development of Equitation.

Therefore, has Equitation evolved in a good direction? Some very precise signs show that this is not the case:

• In competition:
– The reins excesssively tight,
– the poll rarely the highest point,
– pacing at the walk (when it is not an amble)
– swishing of the tail (rarely taken into consideration)
– the piaffe which is not on the spot but advances several metres.

…..can be seen very frequently. These are the characteristics of horses not in collection or badly collected.
• In training: the quasi generalisation of hyper-flexion of the neck: the dangers of this procedure of which the FEI does not want to give a verdict and produces catastrophic effects. Hundreds of good horses are broken-down each year because their riders or trainers want to imitate those who are winning in competition using this procedure.

And why do we not smile after these sad words? So, let me know what you think of the photograph of the grey horse which can be found on the Dressage column of the Internet Site of the FEI. Does it not confirm that which I have written above?

We must ask ourselves if Dressage competition continues to assure the preservation of the Art of Equitation (Article 419) and if the judgement of the tests is completed in the spirit of the excellent 401. To answer these two questions many will reply, No.

We must therefore proceed, in all honesty and objectivity, to a re-reading of the Article 401 and decide

whether we must reapply this more rigorously, or we must change it. To not respond to this question
will be to side-step the issue and all reform will be in vain.”
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