Days After the Decision to Host Longines League of Nations in Florida, Major Equestrian Venue Takes a Forward-Looking Stance

The 2023 Longines FEI Nations Cup ended on a bittersweet note for British fans. It marked the first-ever victory for the country on home soil in 13 years. But this also became the last time that the FEI Equestrian events would be held in Hickstead. The FEI made the announcement that Hickstead did not make the cut for the venue selection for the upcoming seasons.

This announcement came in the aftermath of the FEI’s decision to overhaul the format of the existing showjumping tournament. In July of 2023, the FEI started accepting bids from events to host the qualifier events and the Finals. Unfortunately, both Hickstead and Dublin were not chosen among the four qualifiers, which now includes the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. Obviously, The All England Jumping Course was not happy with the FEI’s sudden dismissal.

FEI’s controversial decision threatens Equestrian Hickstead’s legacy

Lizzie Bunn, director of Hickstead, expressed her disappointment and was upset with the FEI’s high-handed approach. Bunn spoke to Horse and Hound, saying that she had not expected the FEI to treat Hickstead in this manner after their victory in the previous week. She was unhappy that the course’s 50-year-old legacy of hosting the Nations Cup was ending abruptly. But Hickstead is not ready to give up on the Nations Cup that easily. Bunn said, “We are still keen to have the Nations Cup, and we now have the freedom to explore other sponsors”. It is all hands on deck at the moment for Hickstead, as they have a huge task ahead of them in the coming weeks.

Ever since Horse and Hound broke the news on their Twitter account, saying, “Huge disappointment as Hickstead – and Britain — miss out in Nations Cup revamp,” fans have been expressing their concern for the event’s future. Bunn reassured the fans that Hickstead would still be part of the championships next year. Their biggest challenge will be to secure a new sponsor within the next few weeks. Thankfully, Hickstead has the support of many stakeholders who have begun exploring new options for the jumping venue. In the meantime, Ingmar de Vos, the FEI president, was quite happy with the decision and said it would help the sport to evolve.

Ingmar de Vos defends the FEI’s decision

Mr. de Vos said that the FEI was facing a dilemma between prioritizing the series’ long-standing principles and current needs. He said that after days of deliberation, the FEI was able to reach a decision that struck a balance between the two. Hence, the revamp will have a deep impact on the equestrian community. He said, “We undertook the task of selecting the events with great responsibility…striking a good balance between continuity and evolution”. The FEI had received multitudinous bids, which made deciding even more challenging. He also thanked the organizers like Hickstead for hosting the events in the past.

Read More: French Equestrian Forced to Withdraw Hours Ahead of Tokyo Olympics 2020 Event to ‘Preserve the Health and Integrity’ of the Horse

The FEI had initially decided to keep the events to five qualifiers. But they reduced it to four qualifiers after considering the 2024 Olympic Games. De Vos said that the four events will free the horses and athletes from excessive travel and competition, allowing them to perform at their best during the Olympic Games.

Watch This Story: Mastering Equestrian Anxiety: Five Powerful Mindset Techniques to Overcome Fear in Horse Riding