Following extensive consultation between the FEI and the respective Organising Committees, the CDIOs of Falsterbo (SWE) and Rotterdam (NED) will not host legs of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ in 2024. However, both Events will proceed as regular CDIO5* and CDIO4* competitions, respectively.
Control Over Invitations
In February, CDIO Aachen had declared its decision not to stage an FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ Event in 2024, opting instead to hold a regular CDIO5* Event.
The Organising Committees of Falsterbø and Rotterdam decision to withdraw from the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ 2024 was based on their preference to invite participating teams and confirm their participation independently of the updated regulations specified in Article 3.4 of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup Rules 2024.
FEI Aimed for More Inclusivity and Transparency
The updates to the Rules were introduced with the purpose of promoting inclusivity and transparency in the invitation process, and extending invitations to all National Federations (NFs) who wished to participate in the FEI Nations Cup™ Series.
The rule revision was approved by the FEI Board at their meeting in August 2023 and all National Federations were notified of the change immediately after.
Three Legs
The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ 2024 season has now been reduced to just three competitions: It began with its first leg in Wellington (USA) in February will take place in Compiègne (FRA) from 2 to 4 May, followed by Pilisjászfalu (HUN) from 8 to 12 May.
Following this year's Series, all stakeholders will convene to explore future possibilities for the FEI Nations Cup Dressage Series, and we hold an optimistic outlook for its future success.
Rotterdam Issues Statement
Just minutes after the FEI press release was sent out, the CHIO Rotterdam issued their press release.
“The decision was taken in accordance with the CHIO Aachen and CDIO Falsterbo because the CHIO Rotterdam cannot fulfill the agreements previously made with the National Federations of the participating countries on the basis of the rules amended by the FEI at the beginning of this year, that mean that the best teams based on the average of the points in the FEI world ranking may participate," said Patrick van der Meer, sport director of dressage at CHIO Rotterdam.
He continued, "for us, the interests of the participants come first. This means that we would only be able to admit teams two weeks before the start of the CHIO Rotterdam. We had already invited eight countries before the rules changed and, especially in an Olympic year, you cannot leave participants in uncertainty for so long, says Patrick van der Meer, director of sporting dressage at CHIO Rotterdam.'
Rotterdam already invited teams from Belgium, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, USA and The Netherlands for their version of the Nations Cup.
Photo © Dirk Caremans
Related Links
Aachen Breaks Tradition and No Longer Hosts FEI Dressage Nations' Cup
Germany's Fabulous Four Go for Four in 2024 CDIO Wellington Nations Cup