Matthiesen's 2025 End-Of-the Year IDOC Message: "On Achieving Lasting Change Through Education, Discussion and Collaboration"

Opinions

Guest columnist of the week is Hans-Christian Matthiesen, Danish 5* judge and president of the International Dressage Officials Club (IDOC). Traditionally Matthiesen writes and end-of the year review and mission statement for the next year.

Here is his end-of-the-year message to the IDOC members, which he addressed to the IDOC members at the General Assembly in Kronberg.

"On Achieving Lasting Change Through Education, Discussion and Collaboration"

Dear friends, colleagues, and members,

Another year has passed and, once again, we are gathered here at Schafhof for our annual meeting. First and foremost, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to our hosts, the Linsehof-Rath family. This has become a valued tradition. Although the seminars are now held under the auspices of IDOC, the family has hosted meetings and educational events for dressage officials for generations. For this, we are deeply grateful.

IDOC is now one of the largest stakeholder group within the FEI. We represent dressage officials from around the world and across all levels, from national senior officials to the highest FEI levels, including judges, stewards, and veterinarians. Our organisation now comprises more than 400 members. A few months ago, we entered into a new Memorandum of Understanding with the FEI. The agreement does not introduce major changes, and the fundamental principles of our cooperation remain unchanged.

Collaboration

For the most part, we work well together with the other stakeholder groups. Collaboration is essential, particularly on specific and complex issues. At the same time, it is natural that we sometimes have differing perspectives. These differences do not concern the overall welfare of our sport, but rather the details and the ways in which objectives are pursued. In the broader context, continued cooperation remains crucial, particularly in discussions related to horse welfare.

While maintaining a shared commitment to the sport, we are entitled to hold our own views and, where appropriate, to adopt a proactive position on certain matters. Considerable progress has been made, yet there is still much work ahead. It is essential that these discussions never cease. We must continually strive for improvement and further development of the sport, while enhancing understanding and transparency towards, not only the critics, but even more important the wider public.

Education

As in previous years, education remains one of IDOC’s key focus areas. Our objective is not only to further develop the educational structures already in place, but also to create additional tools and opportunities that reach a broader and more global audience.

We are fortunate to have a highly experienced and dedicated team. In this context, I would particularly like to acknowledge Alexandre, who carries a significant responsibility, as well as Zosia, whose work ensures that operations run smoothly and efficiently.

Our course directors consistently deliver seminars of a very high standard, combining education with engagement in a creative and stimulating manner. We have set a high benchmark and are committed to maintaining and further developing this level. In addition, we continue to work on expanding educational opportunities for stewards.

Discussion

I would also like to address the 2025 FEI General Assembly. From a personal perspective, the FEI General Assembly remains a challenging institution. In previous years, I relied greatly on the experience and insight of our honorary president, Mariette W., particularly regarding the underlying dynamics of the process. Nevertheless, I continue to believe that the democratic procedures and the manner in which rules are presented and advanced are not always optimal. This year’s discussions once again confirmed this view. The debate surrounding the so-called “blood rule” was no exception, and the message conveyed to the outside world was difficult to interpret, regardless of the arguments presented.

In 2026, a full revision of the dressage rules will take place. This process is governed by specific deadlines that must be respected. Too often, we hear stakeholders ask how certain rules were introduced, who proposed them, and why they were unaware of the process. Each year, we circulate information regarding the upcoming rule revision. Proposals must be submitted by February 15 to allow sufficient time for review and preparation. The FEI requires that a specific form be completed, including clear arguments and justification, whether the proposal concerns a rule change, a new rule, or another modification. I therefore strongly encourage you to submit any proposals or concerns to us.

As a recognised stakeholder, IDOC is able to present these proposals to the FEI and the Dressage Technical Committee (DTC) for consideration. Ultimately, only those recommendations approved by the DTC and the FEI will be forwarded to the General Assembly. One illustrative example is the daily fee — a rule change that we have proposed repeatedly over many years, and which has been rejected on four different grounds.

Self-Reflection

It is also important to reflect honestly on how IDOC is perceived among dressage officials worldwide. While much of the feedback we receive through official channels is positive, supportive, and constructive, the picture is more nuanced when we look at discussions on social media and other informal online platforms. In these spaces, IDOC is sometimes criticised for not being sufficiently visible, not acting quickly enough, or for not taking a strong or clear enough public position on certain sensitive issues.

We acknowledge that some of this criticism highlights real challenges. The balance between working constructively within official FEI structures and responding to the often fast-paced and emotionally driven discourse on social media is not always easy to achieve. At times, our communication through formal and structured channels may appear distant or slow when compared to the immediacy of online debate. This is an area where we recognise the need for continued reflection and improvement.

At the same time, it is important to underline that IDOC’s primary responsibility is to work through established, official processes, where lasting change can be achieved. Nevertheless, we must remain attentive to the concerns raised in informal forums, ensure that we listen carefully, and strive to improve how we communicate our positions, our actions, and the rationale behind them. Constructive criticism — regardless of where it is expressed — remains a valuable tool in strengthening both our organisation and our credibility. I

n closing, I would like to thank all of you for being here today and for your continued support of IDOC. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the entire board for their dedication and the many hours of work they invest in our organisation. A special word of thanks goes to Alex — your contribution is invaluable, and the role you fulfil is of great importance to us all. Once again, thank you to our hosts, and let us continue to work together towards an even stronger and more successful year in 2026.

-- Hans-Christian Matthiesen