Are the Days Finally Numbered for Faux ‘International’ Horse Events?

HorseSport.com - Full Article

Scandals over Olympic jumping qualifications and endurance races have prompted the FEI to review what is meant by national, international and minor events.

By: Cuckson Report // Pippa Cuckson

So: a 2* jumping event involving half a dozen riders of moderate achievement can be deemed “international” and qualify you for the Olympics. Yet the world’s second-most gruelling 160km endurance race with a $2 million purse and 300 riders from 24 nations is allowed to run under “national” rules.

These cock-eyed scenarios have always been possible under FEI protocols, but it’s almost unheard-of for organisers or riders to exploit that loophole. Most decent people have a basic respect for fair play or, failing that, a semblance of personal pride. Winning world rankings points for a 28-fault jumping round, or being simultaneously in the top five AND bottom-placed, are not achievements most people would boast about, after all.

These nonsenses are finally in the spotlight at the same time, for widely differing reasons...

Read more here:
https://horsesport.com/cuckson-report-1/days-finally-numbered-faux-international-horse-events/