The Annual General Assembly of the IDRC (International Dressage Riders Club) took place at the Schafhof in Kronberg on October 9, 2006. For the second time Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, a board-member, was the host of the event.
Here are the minutes of the general assembly.
1. ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
The President extended a special welcome to all the representatives of the FEI, AIDEO and IDTC (Eva Salomon; Gotthilf Riexinger and Elisabeth Max-Theurer; David Hunt; Bianca and Uli Kasselmann for the organisers) and thanked them for attending the meeting. She also expressed her gratitude to Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff who for the second time was hosting the General Assembly in an absolutely wonderful way. Thanks were also extended to the staff of the Schafhof, who had done a great job in organising the meeting.
Apologies were received from IDRC Board Members Anky van Grunsven, Pia Laus-Schneider and Jacques Albeck.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2005
The Minutes of the 2005 General Assembly were approved.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2005
No matters arose from the Minutes from the previous year’s General Assembly.
In the absence of JA, RD informed the members about the financial report as prepared by JA and the financial standing of the IDRC. He said that it was clear that the IDRC needed to attract more members. In order to do so the IDRC would have to contact national riders clubs and media institutions and set up links on NF’s and other websites (for example: eurodressage.com; dressage direct). Riders could also be contacted through the FEI.
It was agreed that once registered, IDRC members should receive a pin code which they could then use on the IDRC website to obtain information.
4. REPORT ON THE FEI DRESSAGE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, 21 – 23 MAY 2006 (AACHEN GER) AND 25 – 26 SEPTEMBER 2006 (TURIN ITA)
Max-Theurer gave a detailed report on the Dressage Committee meetings held at Aachen and Turin and highlighted some of the decisions taken by the Committee as follows:
- At CDIOs the draw for the individual competitors in the Team Competition would be done in 2 groups, in reverse order of the World Dressage Ranking List.
- A proposal for scheduled training in the main arena would be drafted.
- A judges Codex (to ensure neutral, independent, correct and fair judging) was presented and would be forwarded to the FEI Legal Department before being published and sent out to all FEI judges.
- A proposal for prize giving ceremonies would be worked out by the AIDEO.
- A Young Rider Grand Prix (age 20 to 25) would be introduced in 2007 on a test basis. The test to be ridden has been published by the FEI and can be found on the FEI website (Grand Prix 20-25).
- New riders’ uniforms were discussed and it was agreed that further discussion on this item be held before any rule amendment was made.
- The IDRC would prepare a draft for the Foreign Rider’s report (distinct from the Foreign Judge’s report).
- The members discussed the issue of the scoreboard: the IDRC would prefer to have as a minimum the individual marks of each judge being displayed on a running basis which should not be visible to the judges (and if possible also the running average score).
The IDRC would prepare a letter to the Dressage Committee and AIDEO proposing that organisers use “open scoring” with individual marks but only if this was not able to be seen by the judges during the competition. If this was not possible then only the average percentage should be shown.
- The IDRC agreed to allow Official International Judges to judge the Olympic Games twice (in order to ensure that the best judges officiate at the OG).
- The IDRC would prepare a draft proposal to allow ear muffs in competition.
5. REPORT ON ROLLKUR-MEETING / IMAGE COMMITTEE MEETING / VETERINARY COMMITTEE MEETING / MEDICATION SUB-COMMITTEE MEETING
Margit Otto Crepin reported on the various FEI Meetings as follows:
- The Veterinary Department had developed a list of prohibited substances which would be distributed by organising committees at the various events.
- The Irish National Federation had published a flyer for human athletes (setting out the rules regarding prohibited substances).
- The FEI would be asked to publish a “Guide to Doping Control in Sports”, with the assistance of the Medical Committee.
- Elective testing for horses is possible for 72 different substances (€200,- per substance).
6. FEI ITEMS
No items were raised.
7. AIDEO ITEMS
Gotthilf Riexinger informed the members about the new categorisation of CDIs as follows:
- The new categories of CDI4* and CDI5* (each with a minimum level of prize money) had been agreed by the Dressage Committee. It had been decided further that the riders’ accommodation at CDI4*s would be at the Organising Committee’s expense for those competitors who qualified for either the Grand Prix Special or Freestyle. At CDI5*s the accommodation for all riders would be at the expense of the Organising Committee. A detailed proposal would be forwarded by the AIDEO to the Dressage Committee for final approval.
8. IDTC ITEMS
It was agreed that the board members of the IDTC and the IDRC should meet to discuss recommendations to be made to the Dressage Committee. In general more meetings and discussion among riders and trainers should be encouraged.
9. FURTHER IDRC ITEMS
The IDRC would make a proposal to the FEI Veterinary Committee regarding the issue of a Person Responsible being permitted to stay in the stables overnight at Championships and Olympic Games.
If accepted, the IDRC would make a request to the FEI Dressage Committee to include this in the rules so as to avoid problems in the future between organisers, chefs d’equipe and riders.
The IDRC would also make a proposal to the Veterinary Committee to allow horses to be tested in their own stable instead of the designated testing stable.
10. MISCELLANEOUS
No items were raised.
11. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be held during the World Cup Qualifier s`Hertogenbosch (NED) (20-22 March 2007).
Photo copyrighted: Barbara Schnell
Related Links
Grand Prix Test to be Used for Consolation Competitions
2005 IDRC General Assembly at Schafhof in Germany