ONE of the key proposals put forward at the highly anticipated FEI dressage stakeholder meeting, held at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne on Tuesday, was that a mandatory trainer registration, and potential certification aimed at ensuring accountability and standardisation, be introduced within the discipline.

Experts and representatives from across the sport met to reaffirm the core objectives of dressage and discuss ways of realigning the discipline to reflect these objectives.

The group committed to defining ethical training methods, with an emphasis on increasing transparency and showcasing good practices. Additionally, participants identified the need for a more comprehensive communications plan to better inform and engage with the broader public and stakeholders.

The aim is that through balanced and systematic education, horses are trained and ridden to be calm, supple, flexible, confident and responsive, fostering a deep and positive connection with the rider. The group agreed that these core objectives should be integrated in the FEI Rule book and applied in practice, both while training and competing.

Stakeholders expressed support for a thoughtful approach to revising the rules, favouring a comprehensive, strategic evaluation based on available research. This will ensure that all changes are sustainable and beneficial to the sport in the long-term.

“The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games showcased the best our sport has to offer in competition, but also brought to light challenges that have prompted us to reflect and reassess in the post-Games period,” FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said.

FEI Dressage Director Ronan Murphy added: “Establishing a unified vision is the essential first step in fostering a shared purpose. With this foundation in place, we can now focus on restoring public trust and confidence in the sport.

“Our goal is to be aligned and move forward in the same direction. We have clearly defined what we want to see as a sport and the next step is for all parties to assess how we can adapt our practices and approaches to ensure these standards are met.

“This effort is not the responsibility of any one group; it is a collective mission for the entire dressage community and we look forward to engaging with the wider community, especially our National Federations.”