LAST Friday’s International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) at the five-star Geneva Horse Show attracted all the big names in international show jumping, as well as FEI General Secretary Sabrina Ibáñez, director of show jumping John Roche, chef d’equipes, owners and journalists.

IJRC president Kevin Staut welcomed all parties to the meeting before underlining the positive relationship between the IJRC and the FEI Jumping Committee and legal department, adding that in the future the IJRC hopes to improve co-operation with the main body of the FEI and create more contact with National Federations.

The ranking points and invitation system featured high on the list of priorities. Jérôme Begey and Victoria Rydborn from the FEI information technology team underlined that the system proposed for the New Year regards athletes’ active process - future models should give all athletes and National Federations a time frame which is long enough to choose and set priorities for the events they wish to be invited to. The new system will be approved and validated shortly.

John Roche discussed the new minimum fixed prize money for three, four and five-star shows which comes into effect on January 1st, 2019. A CSI five-star show requires to have a minimum Grand Prix prize fund of 175,000 CHF (€155,000). A four-star Grand Prix must have a minimum of 112,500 CHF (approx. €99,675), while a three-star Grand Prix must carry at least 60,000 CHF (€53,157).

Another topical theme was contamination. Anna Thorstenson of the FEI legal department explained the different types of contamination. She explained most contamination derive from natural feed, environment, supplements, human medicine and habits. Some banned substances can remain in the horse’s body for many months.

Thorstenson underlined the riders’ responsibility and suggested that they should always remain vigilant and informed. They should educate grooms and actively support the team working with the horse to be especially careful, since the rider is held responsible if not able to prove his or her innocence.