World Championships for young show jumpers: Minimum requirements introduced, five-year-olds in future according to ideal time

The background to the changes is the increasing discussion about age-appropriate requirements and horse welfare as well as the desire for more clarity and more standardized ways of qualifying young sport horses.

Minimum qualification: three clear rounds per horse

MERs already apply in dressage, but are now being introduced for the first time in show jumping to ensure that all participating horses are fit and up to the requirements. Three clear rounds per horse are required in tests with the following minimum heights:

Five-year-olds: three clear rounds in tests with at least 115 cm

Six-year-olds: three clear rounds in tests with at least 125 cm

Seven-year-olds: three clear rounds in tests with at least 135 cm

The results must be achieved either at international youngster tournaments (CSIYH) or within the framework of a selection procedure organized by the respective National Federation (NF). The minimum heights stated also apply in the case of national competitions. The required results must be achieved in the calendar year of the World Championships and at the latest by the date of the final entry. The National Federation must submit a corresponding Record of Results (RoR) to the Organizing Committee with the final entry.

Nomination and selection

There are no changes to the responsibilities of the National Federations: Entries can only be made by the NFs, the selection of horses is still their responsibility – in close coordination with the WBFSH member breeding associations represented in the respective country. Only horses that were registered with a WBFSH member breeding association at birth are eligible to compete.

New examination format for five-year-olds

A second change directly affects the World Championships: in future, the tests for five-year-old horses at the World Championships will be judged according to an ideal time and no longer according to the best time. The aim is to pay more attention to correct riding, focus on the training idea of the test and reduce the time pressure. This should take better account of the level of development of the youngest age group.

Publication and further steps

The WBFSH and FEI see the adjustments as a joint step towards aligning the competitions more closely with the needs of young horses while maintaining the sporting standards of the championships. The complete guidelines including the MERs will be published on the FEI and WBFSH websites. The updated schedule for the World Championships will be announced later this year, in time for the start of the entry phase.

Riders, owners, breeders, breeding associations and national associations are requested to familiarize themselves with the new regulations at an early stage.