‘Patting’ rule clarified after rider eliminated
The FEI judge general has proposed the rule is reworded
THE “patting” rule that caused recent controversy after a rider was eliminated at an international dressage show has been amended in proposed 2018 FEI rules.
Australian rider Tristan Tucker patted his ride Jewels Sir Weibach behind the saddle and on his withers to relax him during an inter I level test at Uggerhalne CDI3* in Denmark in June.
At the end of his test, German judge Gotthilf Riexinger informed Tristan he had been eliminated for taking his hand off the rein.
The wording of the current rule — which states riding with both hands “is obligatory” — is open to interpretation, both about what it means and what the penalty should be.
FEI judge general Stephen Clarke has proposed a significant clarification to the wording.
“Apart from the halt and salute, where the athlete must take the reins in one hand, riding with the reins in both hands is obligatory at FEI dressage events, but a discreet pat on the neck for a well performed exercise, or for reassurance, is perfectly acceptable — as is the situation of an athlete needing to wipe a fly from their eye, or other situations such as adjusting clothing, saddle pads etc,” reads the proposal.
“However, if the rider intentionally takes the reins into
one hand in order to use either the reins or the other hand to produce more impulsion from the horse, or to promote applause from the spectators during the test, it will be considered a serious fault and will be reflected in the mark for both the movement and the collective mark for riding.”
Tristan told H&H he thinks clarification is a “very good idea”.
“I was riding in the moment and only thinking about my horse,” he said.
“It is good to have the rule that you keep two hands on the reins. You open up a can of worms if you can ride with one hand and reach behind [the saddle] as there is a whole load of possibilities.
“The rules are in place for a reason and I respect that.”
A British Dressage (BD) spokesman added that clarifying the rule is a positive step and that it’s likely to adopt similar wording.
Other proposals include tightening up of the rule over who can ride a horse that is competing at an event on the showground.
There is also a call for as many venues as possible to have judges’ huts fitted with a signaling system to contact the judge at C in case of blood, lameness, error of course or saddlery concerns.
BD chief executive Jason Brautigam told H&H the organisation is consulting with its stakeholders on the proposals.
“Most of the proposed changes primarily affect international competition only, although we do like to follow the FEI’s lead where possible,” he said. “So it is likely that some of these will be adopted into BD rules for 2018.”