DUSTPANS and air-fresheners to the ready, as the FEI gears up for a radical spring clean of eventing.

On reading the proposed changes, put forward by the FEI in an audit of eventing’s future, it would seem that no cushion will be left unturned and no cobweb spared.

However, amidst this flurry of activity I cannot but ask, are we merely spring-cleaning in a bid to outdo the neighbours?

Eventing has a lot to prove at the moment. France’s attempt at hosting the World Equestrian Games was more a ‘piéce of most résistance’; and utterly undeserving of a space on the gallery wall. Indeed, the logistical blunders that characterised WEG 2014 were unlikely to provide title sponsor, Alltech with little more than a headache, and any notion of a return on their investment as elusive as a flying pig.

So it is no surprise that the ‘how to’ of WEG is up for questioning. Surely, equestrian’s flagship competition can be run more smoothly,, appropriately representing the inspirational uniqueness of our sport. Having ridden at WEG 2014 and seen first-hand its innumerable faults, I am all in with the FEI on its first area of inquisition. Would that these were the only issues.

unfortunately, WEG’s very public failure means that eventing is currently perceived as the sum of all its parts, with all its associated championships now up for a roasting including the mother-ship of elite sporting events, the Olympic Games.

From my reading of the FEI material on this, it would appear that the forthcoming audit of eventing looks to address the three key issues of viewership, sponsorship and safety.

As a rider, I would naturally place the latter at the top of the list. Alas, the paramount question of enhancing horse and rider safety seems to be somewhat lost in the babble about renaming ceremonies (tri-equathlon anybody?), razzle-dazzle appeal to the non-horsey viewer (now where did I leave my sequined back protector?), and attracting commercial sponsorship (if Carlsberg did eventing... ).

Indeed, the proposals appear less to address the fundamental issue of safety and more to impose somewhat superfluous technicalities.

I am sure that at some point choosing between a team or individual run at a major championship will occupy my mind but at the moment I would rather that rider deaths in eventing become a thing of the past.

Instead of talking about the finer points of a nation’s qualification process, perhaps the FEI stalwarts need to consider making the sport safer for all involved with it? Eventing quite literally needs to be reviewed from the ground up and starting with fence design.

A rather fluffy aspect of the FEI proposals is to “make the Olympic Dream more accessible for smaller nations”.

What is left for elite equestrian athletes if the Olympics are to present the substitution with a chance to leave the player bench? The Olympics by their very virtue serve to showcase elite athletes at the very peak of their career, and should never be compromised in a bid to play everyone.

This is not underage football but instead the pinnacle of the sport to which my eventing squad colleagues and I have dedicated our lives. We are driven to succeed by the promise of success, and not by a ‘poor them’ entry into a global sporting showcase. So why should lesser nations ride along on our coat-tails?

All these proposed changes aside, I am quite sure that the eventing show must and will go on.

Let us just hope that the FEI and its team of highly-paid consultants can see their way through the detail and focus on addressing the fundamentals of our sport - that is horse and rider safety.

Closer to home, and independent of all this talk of reviews, I am delighted to welcome Ian Fearon back into action. Following some enforced and well-deserved rest, Ian is back inspiring my team-mates and I to literally jump to new heights. Show jumping is just not the same without him at the wings!

Fortunately, Ian’s return ties nicely into my preparation for the upcoming Ballindenisk International. I can look forward to a busy weekend in Cork, with five horses in tow.

Horseware Stellor Rebound (Rocket) and I will form part of Ireland’s Nations Cup team, something about which I am very excited. BLM Diamond Delux (Murphy) is not to be excluded, as he too is entered into the CIC*** competition.

These, along with Moss Star in the CIC** class and DHI Okey Cokey and Westwinds Karlos in the CIC* event mean that my feet are unlikely to touch the ground for the entire weekend. I really need to consider placing a bulk order with Red Bull.

I am hoping that Rocket and Murphy’s runs at Ballindenisk will serve as preparation for May’s assault at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials.

I intend leaving no stone unturned in a bid to defend my 2014 title at this CIC*** event. Of course, I will bring the Chatsworth trophy with me to England but, just in case, I will be keeping free its place on the mantlepiece back in Meath.

Sarah Ennis is an international event rider based in Co Meath where she and her husband Niki run Stellor Sport Horses