Richard Davison on FEI apparatus rule adjustments and transparency


  • Richard Davison is a four-time Olympian and multi-medalled rider – however his contribution to dressage extends some distance past carrying luck. Over time he has been part of a number of FEI running teams and job forces in addition to different our bodies, chargeable for making suggestions to the governing frame.

    On the newest episode of The Horse & Hound Podcast, he shared his perception on how tack and kit rule adjustments are lately authorized on the FEI.



    “There are round 123 nationwide federations and all have an equivalent vote,” Richard defined. “On the normal meeting, even though the FEI attempt to provide this stuff merely and as absolute best they may be able to, for those who remember all of the FEI disciplines and all the federations which can be anticipated to vote and perceive the bits and bobs of kit and their impact at the horses, to be fair, it may be very hit or miss – and it shouldn’t be.

    “I don’t suppose the present gadget is especially running, the FEI attempted to have a extra systematic solution to this, however I don’t suppose they’re all the time taking a look at this as an evidence-based procedure.”

    Richard provides that the science in the back of why sure bits are authorized or no longer isn’t all the time revealed via the FEI.

    “I believe there’s a loss of transparency there,” he provides “Even though the science isn’t whole or absolutely powerful, tell us what the reasoning is.

    “I’ve been a part of those teams through the years, and sitting round an administrative center desk seeking to bet how the pressures of slightly paintings is an excessively inefficient procedure, so I believe they want to reconsider it, they want to open the doorways and be extra clear.”

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    FEI Apparatus rule adjustments: “We want to search the enter of professionals”

    Richard emphasises that it’s crucial what the FEI restrict or permit – and why – as a result of their rules most often trickle right down to the nationwide federations, and the principles we experience underneath right here.

    In addition to being extra clear, he encourages the FEI to take at the recommendation of professionals. “We need to cross and search the recommendation of professionals and base [rule changes] on as dependable proof as we now have lately,” he says.

    Regardless of his frustrations, Richard stays overwhelmingly sure about the way forward for dressage.

    “You don’t want to compete to experience dressage, however for those who do compete, it’s a must to do it for the appropriate causes, it’s no longer all about successful prizes, it’s concerning the delight that you just get from the connection with the pony, within the solid and within the saddle, and that’s why I like doing it and don’t intend to retire.

    “We’re all so fortunate that this has been the trail that we’ve been ready to apply.”

    To listen to extra from Richard Davison at the FEI, his expectancies heading against the Paris Olympics and the way Britain become a power to be reckoned with in dressage, pay attention to episode 142 of The Horse & Hound Podcast right here, or seek “The Horse & Hound Podcast” on your favorite podcast app.

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