New Stars on the Eventing Horizon Four star, fi ve star, how about a three star?
Yes, the stars are aligning in 2019 for Eventing calendars around the world as the new Fédéra- tion Equestre Interationale (FEI) classifi cation system gets going this year. While it may seem an easy change to the same old way things have been done, the new star system will take some getting used to.
In general, events that were previously set at each star level have been granted an additional star for 2019. For example, the LandRover Kentucky T ree-Day Event, currently the only CCI4* in the U.S., has been granted CCI5* sta- tus for 2019. In fact, all six CCI4* events around the world are now classifi ed as CCI5* events. Current Concours International Combine
(CIC) events are now classifi ed as CCI – S (short) where as Concours Complet International (CCI) events are CCI- L (long). Traditionally, when the sport of Eventing held full three-day events that with an “endurance” day consisting of roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross- country phases, a CCI event was a long format event while a CIC event was short, holding only the cross-country phase of endurance day. In more recent years with the dropping of the long for- mat, a CCI event had a longer cross- country course with more jumping ef- forts. T us CCIs are now being called CCI - Long and CICs with shorter cross-country courses are now called CCI - Short. “T e new FEI star system won’t impact the
U.S. eventing calendar,” said U.S. Eventing As- sociation CEO Rob Burk. “All the levels cur- rently exist in the U.S. already. T e biggest issue is just educating our members and the public of the new names for the same events.” T e Olympic Games have been given their own special category that is in essence a com- bination of what was the CCI3* and CCI4* levels. T e level of competition at the next Olympic Games, held in Tokyo in 2020, will be a four-star dressage and show jumping test with a three-star cross-country course. T e idea is to allow for more countries to qualify teams. Other FEI changes to the Olympic Games will limit teams to three riders with no drop score. “Here in the U.S., we were against the Olympic change but I understand how it will help more
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countries qualify and compete at the Olym- pics,” Burk added. In previous years, the highest level of inter- national Eventing competition was the CCI4*. Now the CCI5* has taken that coveted top spot. T e CCI5* will be an international level three-day event that will off er a 5* dressage test and show jump course along with a 5* cross- country course consisting of 40-45 eff orts in 11-12 minutes. T ere are other requirements as well for this
new top level that fi ve-star venues will have the next two years to fulfi ll. T e new requirements include a mandatory minimum level of prize money of 150,000 Euro, mandatory closed- circuit televisions for the public, athletes, own- ers and ground jury, and a minimum number of 30 starters with a maximum number of 75. T e cross-country course will need to be changed
new Introductory Level is a CCI1* in 2019. “It looks like the U.S. might be the only ones ready to off er these new one-stars since we were a bit ahead of the FEI by already off ering the Modi- fi ed level,” Burk stated. “Its not exactly like a Modifi ed horse trials but is a good gateway into the FEI levels, especially for those in foreign countries with low numbers of eventers.”
Here in Maryland, there are two venues
that off er three day events for the 2019 calen- dar: Fair Hill International and the Maryland Horse Trials at Loch Moy Farm. FHI will be off ering CCI-S divisions at the
new two-, three- and four-star levels on April 19-21. T eir big October international has been upgraded to a CCI-L for the three- and four-star levels and is set for October 16-20. MDHT has moved its annual CIC one- and two-star to its fi rst weekend of summer competition this year. It will hold CCI-S divisions at the new one-, two- and three-star levels July 4-7. MDHT is one of only two venues in the U.S. so far to have added the new CCI1* level of competition. Organizer and Loch Moy Farm owner Carolyn Mack- intosh said, “Now that Great Meadows has moved to August, we can move our three day back to the fi rst weekend when the ground is better.” Mackin- tosh went on to explain that the fi elds at Loch Moy are aerated and rested for much of June and July in preparation for its two weekends of USEA competition.
from 6,270 to 6,840 meters with 40-45 eff orts in 11-12 minutes. Starting in 2020, those venues wishing to maintain a fi ve-star status will need to undergo yearly reviews. “I’m not worried that [LandRover] Kentucky will lose their fi ve-star status but there is con- cern for some of the other fi ve-stars in other countries that don’t tend to see the required en- try numbers,” Burk explained. As for the future Fair Hill International CCI5*, “Time will tell for them as a new venue but they have great placement on the calendar. T ose not ready for Kentucky or those who might not have had a great go at Kentucky will aim for Fair Hill in the fall.”
In addition, the FEI has created a new star level that is similar to the Modifi ed division. T is
When the USEA fi rst issued a proposal back in 2017 to add a new international level com- petition to its calendar, the bid was for a CCI4* to be held in the fall. Fair Hill International was voted as the proposed location of this new four-star and was granted its bid request by the FEI in 2018. At fi rst, the goal was to hold the four-star in the fall of 2019 but once the FEI started to play with the star classifi cation system, the crew at FHI put things on hold awaiting the FEI’s star decisions. Now that the stars are in place, FHI co-president Trish Gilbert reports that plans are underway to host a CCI5* in the fall of 2020. “It’s a work in progress, but that is the current plan,” Gilbert stated.
JANUARY 2019 | THE EQUIERY | 27
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