The world’s top 10 show jumpers, who include British number one Robert Smith, have threatened to boycott the 2003-4 World Cup series if a proposed rule change takes place.
The FEI marketing committee, which took over the running of the World Cup after director Max Amman retired in April, has come up with a new formula for the qualifiers.
This would mean that only 10 horses would go through to the jump-off in each qualifier. This would potentially stop some riders who go clear from progressing or allow through riders with four faultsin the first round.
This format appears to have been introduced to fit in with the demands of TV companies. The International Riders’ Committee, headed by Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum and Franke Sloothaak, has issued a statement resisting this change and threatening a boycott.
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