As per last year, Ireland will be eligible to gain league points at four of the European Division 1 fixtures, including Dublin.

The selection process is similar to last year, with the top-three teams in last year’s final given the opportunity to make their selections first in each round. As Ireland finished third at Barcelona, Splaine is confident of being allotted his choice of shows.

“We’ve a meeting on Monday and I expect to be in a position to speak to the FEI regarding our choices for the league on Tuesday,” said Splaine. “Our programme for the year is to prepare for the World Equestrian Games in the best possible way.

“Certainly, the emphasis will be on meeting the needs and requirements of the horses; no two horses are the same. Discussions are ongoing with all the riders to formulate a plan that will meet their individual requirements with the overall goal in mind.

“There is a possibility that our championship team will be required for a particular show at some stage, we may decide to do that. Team jumping in the Furusiyya league is the closest test comparable to the World Equestrian Games, but some riders will have other goals. We will endeavour to facilitate them as well and that might include the Global Champions Tour also.

“The new league was very successful last year and hopefully it will remain and become firmly embedded as part of our annual calendar for the foreseeable future.”

AACHEN

On Wednesday, the FEI confirmed the calendar for the 2014 league and a noticeable absentee is Aachen. The FEI statement said that organisers of the famous German fixture were unable to meet the “commercial requirements” and so the show has been replaced in the Europe Division 1 by Lummen, Belgium to make up the full complement of eight events in the division.

However, the traditional Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup will continue to be held at Aachen, with the organisers now “more flexible” about who they invite to compete.

“We have come to this decision due to substantive and financial reasons,” stated Michael Mronz, general director of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH, the company responsible for the marketing activities of Aachen.

Frank Kemperman, chairman of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, organisers of the event, added: “This new situation means that we are now significantly more flexible regarding which teams we invite to participate.”

Splaine added: “We were there last year and traditionally we’ve been quite good there, but that doesn’t mean we would have nominated it as a venue this year. The most important goal this year is the World Equestrian Games and everything else surrounding that would be aimed at maximising our chances for preparing correctly.

“There is a possibility that we would go to Aachen if invited. We’ll be looking at all shows with the view of offering the up and coming combinations the opportunity to represent their country and gain experience at Nations Cup level.”

FEI jumping committee chairman John Madden said: “Regretfully, at the time of the 31 December deadline for declaration of participation, we were informed by the German National Federation that Aachen was unable to meet the commercial requirements and therefore would not be part of the Furusiyya series in 2014. Despite the best efforts of all parties, with discussions continuing right up to yesterday (Tuesday), it was not possible to resolve this matter.”

The number of qualifiers for the 2014 season has been limited to 20, with eight in both Europe Division 1 and 2. Ireland will form part of Division 1, which begins at Lummen on May 2nd. It will be followed by La Baule (May 16th); Rome (May 23rd); St Gallen (May 30th); Rotterdam (June 20th); Falsterbo (July 11th); Hickstead (August 1st); and Dublin (August 8th). Ireland will be eligible to earn points at four fixtures, including Dublin. The North and Central America and Caribbean League now has three qualifiers, including a new show at Coapexpan, Mexico in May.

The season opens at Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, the single qualifier in the Middle East League, with the five-star show running from February 5th to 7th.

The Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final will once again be held at the Real Club de Polo of Barcelona, Spain from October 9th to 12th.