The FEI has ruled that maternity leave will be awarded to riders on the FEI Dressage World Ranking List, effective from 1st January 2019.
Riders will be able to apply for maternity or ill-health leave allowing them to keep some of their points on the world ranking list, bringing the discipline in line with showjumping.
Dressage riders will need the reason for their leave certified by a doctor, in writing. Leave will be able to be taken for a period of six months to a year.
The FEI state, in the rule amendment;
During the period which an Athlete has officially ceased to compete due to pregnancy or a medical condition, he/she will retain 50% of the Dressage World Rankings points earned from the corresponding month of the preceding year until he/she recommences competing internationally.”
The change to the rule within FEI Dressage has come eight years after the change in FEI Showjumping rules; the FEI have yet to change rules regarding eventing.
Top event rider’s world rankings have been heavily effected by, unaccounted for, maternity leave. Four-star eventer and Badminton 2018 Champion, Jonelle Price, saw her world ranking drop from 7th to 217th, whilst she took maternity leave to give birth to her first-born.
On social media, Price called for equality;
Come on FEI, why on earth is eventing not in line with other disciplines?? Maternity leave saw me plummet from #7 to #217 and that was with returning to competition sooner than most!”
The FEI are yet to comment on their stance or plans on rule amendments, regarding maternity or medical leave within their Eventing structure.
