In an open letter to the FEI, the Jumping Owners Club expresses surprise, disappointment and concern in regards to the process leading to the Olympic and World Equestrian Games format changes.
The Jumping Owners Club writes that it is 'surprised and disappointed' that riders and owners were not heard with the alternative Olympic Games format proposal put forward by the International Jumping Riders Club. The Jumping Owners Club voiced its full support to the proposal to the FEI.
"We expressed on various occasions, and notably during your presentation at the Jumping Owners Club General Assembly in Barcelona, that the new Olympic Games format proposed by the FEI, now approved by the National Federations, was not satisfactorily taking into consideration the welfare of our horses," states the open letter signed by Jumping Owners Club President Christian Baillet.
The Jumping Owners Club have no objections towards the format changes made for the World Equestrian Games. However, the Club has concerns as to the process leading up to the changes – stating in the letter: "The fact that the decision about the new WEG format was made without prior consultation with the riders or the owners reinforces our concerns and tends to reflect a lack of consideration for the primary partakers of equestrian sports."