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“Overall, from the owners’ point of view, 2023 was a good year,” Dominique Megret – chairman of the Jumping Owners Club – tells World of Showjumping. “I am convinced that our sport has a bright future.”

“At the Jumping Owners Club we believe that it is necessary to put the horses more in the spotlight, and not only the riders,” Megret reflects on the issues worked on in the past year. “We have suggested to the FEI to create a Horse of the Year award next to their other annual awards, and as far as I have understood, this will be introduced in 2024 – for the first time. If this actually happens, it will be a step in the right direction; there are two athletes in our sport and we should never forget that. A horse is absolutely vital for a rider to achieve anything, and therefore presenting an award to the best horse of the year will be very important. Many might consider this as a minor achievement, but for us it is a major one in terms of visibility.”

At the Jumping Owners Club we believe that it is necessary to put the horses more in the spotlight

For the owners, horse welfare has always been a key issue and Megret believes some improvements were made in 2023. “In my opinion there have been key initiatives taken by the FEI and I believe riders also understand that there is an issue when it comes to horse welfare – especially in terms of how the wider public views our sport. In addition, I think show organizers are making more effort as well. I think we have moved towards the right direction in 2023.”

“That being said, the European Championships in Milan probably could have been better organized and the footing could have been of better quality,” Megret continues. “However, the winners were undoubtedly among the best horses and riders in the world, and therefore not much can be said in sporting terms – although everything else had room for improvement.”

“We have challenges ahead of us,” Megret says when asked about the new year. “We have to ensure the future of our sport long-term and in order to do so, we need to make the right decisions. We have to move forward with determination, to ensure the sustainability of our sport. I don’t want to be negative; I am positive about our sport and I think we are moving in the right direction.”

“I believe the future holds great opportunities for our sport,” he continues. “The world has changed and we are starting to have a truly global audience. It is important for me to point out how amazing our sport is; it creates intense emotions and the connection with horses – whatever the level – is something unique. We have to share the joy of riding, and the joy of ownership. Unfortunately, for the time being, our sport seems to have an image of a sport reserved for the elite, which is not true, and we have to make sure that everyone understands this.”

To create great sport and emotions, we have to make sure that the most beautiful formats of our sport work well

“Audience is key, and our sport, without audience, it is not at all the same. We need audience and we don’t have enough of it at the moment. I remember the World Equestrian Games in Caen in 2014, in a football stadium with 30 000 people capacity – and fully booked from day one to the final. It was one of the best events I have ever attended, and this kind of atmosphere is what we must aim for. To create great sport and emotions, we have to make sure that the most beautiful formats of our sport work well and make the best competitions more understandable. When there are more than 100 five-star events each year, how can the general public understand what the best of our sport is? It is not easy to follow.”

“In tennis, there are only four Grand Slam tournaments, and everyone knows that the best players will be there. Perhaps the time has come to make a selection among the best five-stars. We, maybe, have to create a six-star level with only a handful events. I am not sure that is the best option, but we have to find a solution to better display what the best in our sport is – the crème de la crème. Additionally, the number of stars assigned to an event should not only be linked to prize money, but have a basis of other criteria as well. What is important in my opinion is the audience, and media attraction.”

“2024 will be an Olympic year and I believe that these Olympics will be spectacular. The venue in Versailles is probably one of the best ever and we can’t wait to be there. I think – and hope – that it will be something special.”

The current voting system of ‘one country, one vote’ at the FEI General Assembly is another point that Megret believes needs attention in 2024. “It is a very sensitive issue, obviously,” he says. “Clearly, this kind of system can be a problem because in the end decisions are affected by countries who might have very few horses, riders and events. In my opinion, the European countries, as well as the US and Canada, could have a stronger say on the important issues, given these nations’ large number of horses, riders and events. I trust the FEI for taking the right initiatives. Last year, the EEF changed their voting system in favour of having a greater number of votes for larger countries.”

We want to make sure that the sport evolves in a direction that guarantees horse welfare and keeps our horses’ best interest at the forefront

The Jumping Owners Club has an MOU with the FEI, which allows them to take part in some of the FEI Jumping Committee meetings – giving them great insight to the proposals at the table. “We think it would probably be good if all stakeholders – from riders, owners and organizers to officials – were officially represented in the Committee,” Megret explains. “In the end, it is up to the FEI Board to make the final decisions, but as in any large organization in the world, those decisions have to be prepared, and in our sport, that happens in the Jumping Committee – which is why it is so important to be included.”  

“All in all, things don’t move rapidly in any sport – and especially not in ours, but we have to have a goal,” Megret concludes. “When you have a goal, a larger perspective, you can put short-term issues within that framework. For us in the Jumping Owners Club, what is important is that our horses are considered athletes and that their owners are their representatives – and as such, able to speak on their behalf. We want to make sure that the sport evolves in a direction that guarantees horse welfare and keeps our horses’ best interest at the forefront.”

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