The FEI Vaulting World Challenge (FEI WCHA-V event) is a new annual vaulting event, held from January to December in accordance with the FEI Vaulting Rules. The first edition is for 2020, so if you never heard about it before, keep reading!

> What is the FEI WCHA-V?

It is a new vaulting event with three different levels (beginners, intermediate and advanced), open to National Federations (or NF hereafter), which in the opinion of the FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale), are still in the ongoing progression of Vaulting Development. The aim is to support the growth of the discipline in some specific countries.

> How can I be part of the FEI WCHA-V?

> National Federations (NF)

The Application Form must be submitted by your National Federation to the FEI before the 1st of December of the year previous to that in which the Challenge will take place (all forms should be submitted to the FEI and can be downloaded from the FEI website). The FEI WCHA-V event can be organised a maximum of twice a year in the same country and the two events will receive financial support from the FEI.

It is the responsibility of the National Federation to select the participants (Horses / Athletes) for the FEI WCHA-V event in strict accordance with the participation rules* and make sure that athletes and horses comply with these rules. National Federations are also responsible to declare that their athletes have the experience required to take part in the level in which they have been entered and that their performances entirely satisfy the standards.

*Read the “Article 4 – participation rules” of the FEI Vaulting World Challenge Rules 2020 for more details.

> Vaulters

First of all, your National Federation must apply to be part of the Challenge. The event is open to vaulters from the 1st January of the year in which they reach their 12th birthday. There are no maximum restrictions on the age of the vaulters.

What is interesting and new is the following:

As an exception to the FEI General Regulations*, in the FEI Vaulting World Challenge “Athletes living outside their country of nationality” (as defined in the FEI General Regulations*) may compete for their country of residence. 

Foreign athletes from another Challenge NF or from a “non-Challenge” NF may compete in the Vaulting World Challenge under the conditions of Art. 101.2, FEI General Regulations*. Foreign athletes may only compete for their country of sport nationality.

Nevertheless, you should be aware of some conditions that could prevent you to be part of the Challenge: a vaulter that has participated in FEI World/Continental Championships in Individual and/or Pas-de-Deux is no longer eligible to compete in the Challenge.

This is also important to know: a vaulter is allowed to start once in an individual and once in a PDD and is not allowed to start in a national competition held at the same event. This means you will have to choose between being part of the Challenge and competing at the national event.

*Read the FEI General Regulations for more details.

> Lungers 

Lungers must be at least 18 years of age to compete in The FEI Vaulting World Challenge. There are no maximum restrictions on the age of lungers and may be of a different nationality to the vaulters.

> Horses

The FEI WCHA-V event is open to all Horses of minimum 7 years old provided they have successfully passed the Veterinary Inspection. Please refer to the FEI Vaulting Rules to have more details about the horse participation.

Whilst FEI Registration is not mandatory, it is highly recommended for horses and vaulters/lungers. Remember that the FEI Registration for athletes under 18 years old is free of charge!

> Basic Rules of the FEI WCHA-V

The following points should be familiar to you but it’s always good to have it in mind:

  • All vaulters per level need to perform on the same horse enter the arena together.
  • No one else may enter the arena.
  • All tests must be performed on the same horse with the same lunger.
  • Once the competition has started, a horse or a lunger may not be replaced.
  • The horse may go to the right or to the left, in canter or walk depending on the test being shown. 

> Individual Competition

The Individual Competition is open to male and female athletes who will compete against each other. This means that there is no separate competition per gender. The individual vaulter is accompanied only by the lunger and the vaulting horse. In beginner classes, a helper will be accepted if necessary. 

> Pas-de-Deux Competition

It is composed of two vaulters of any combination of gender, the lunger and the vaulting horse.

> Levels

The following levels of the FEI Vaulting World Challenge may be organised separately or together:

> FEI Challenge I – Beginner:

The level is open to Individual competition only. The competition consist of one Compulsory Test and one Freestyle Test. 

  • Compulsory Test in canter, includes the following exercises: 
    • mount without score (may be helped)
    • flag without arm, kneeling (arms to the side)
    • swing forwards (legs closed)
    • half mill
    • swing backwards (legs open)
    • off to inside
  • Freestyle Test in walk, consists of static and dynamic exercises. A static exercise must be held for three seconds. 

> FEI Challenge II – Intermediate:

The second level is open to Individual and Pas-de-Deux competitions. The competition consists of one Compulsory Test and one Freestyle Test. 

  • Compulsory Test in canter, includes the following exercises: 
    • mount on
    • flare without arm
    • kneeling (arms to the sides)
    • swing forwards (legs closed)
    • half mill
    • swing backwards (legs open)
    • off to inside

For the Pas-de-Deux, both vaulters building a Pas-de-Deux enter the arena together. The second vaulter must perform the Compulsory Exercises immediately without waiting for the bell. 

  • Freestyle Test in canter, consists of static and dynamic exercises. A static exercise must be held for at least three canter strides. For details, refer to Children 1* freestyle in Vaulting Rules.

> FEI Challenge III – Advanced:

This highest level is open to Individual and Pas-de-Deux competitions. The competition consists of one Compulsory Test and one Freestyle Test. 

  • Compulsory Test in canter, includes the following exercises: 
    • vault on
    • basic seat
    • flag
    • stand
    • swing forwards (legs closed)
    • half mill
    • swing backwards (legs open)
    • dismount to inside

For the Pas-de-Deux Compulsory Test, both vaulters building a Pas-de-Deux enter the arena together. The second vaulter must perform the Compulsory Exercises immediately after the first one without waiting for the bell.

  • Freestyle Test in canter, consists of static and dynamic exercises. A static exercise must be held for at least three canter strides.

All the description of the exercises can be found in the FEI Vaulting Guidelines 2019.

> Ground Jury

As an exception to Art. 723 of the FEI Vaulting Rules, only two judges will judge the competition. National Federations are responsible for the appointment of the two judges. The Ground Jury must be composed of a President who must be an FEI Foreign Judge (minimum 2* from the FEI list of Vaulting Judges: plus a certified National Judge. The FEI Foreign Judge appointed by the NF must be from the Region, should this not be the case, the FEI may not contribute towards the travel expense of the FJ as indicated in art. 10.2 of the FEI Vaulting World Challenge Rules 2020. The classes will be judged individually with the President placed opposite the entrance of the arena at table “A” (see Art. 715 of the FEI Vaulting Rules) and the Member at “C”.

After each competition, the President of the Ground Jury is responsible for establishing a score sheet as to the results and placing of the vaulters for each class. This score sheet must be sent to the FEI immediately following the last class with the FEI Foreign Judge’s Report (report and other documents will be available on the dedicated webpage).

> Conflict of interest

A judge must avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest. A judge must have a neutral, independent and fair position towards athletes, owners, trainers, OCs and other officials and integrate well into a team. Financial and/or personal interest must never influence or be perceived to influence their way of judging. It is the responsibility of the judge to be in good health and fit to officiate throughout the duration of the event. Activities which will lead to or may lead to a “conflict of interest” when officiating at an FEI WCHA-V event, include but are not limited to: 

• In any case coaching or training by all FEI Officials at the particular competition must be avoided after arriving at the event grounds.

• An FEI Official may not participate in any other capacity in any competition(s) taking place at an event at which they are officiating. Exceptions to this rule may only be permitted if granted by the FEI further to a written request from the FEI Official. The request must be received by the FEI no later than three (3) months prior to the relevant event and must set out the specific reason(s) for the exception request. The FEI shall be under no obligation to grant an exception and the decision of the FEI shall be final.

• Acting as Team Chef of National teams at international level or being responsible/co-responsible for selecting teams and/or individuals. 

• In case you own/partly-own horses taking part in the event. 

• Being in a situation of financial dependence or gaining financial profit from owners, athletes, trainers, OCs or other related persons or organisations. 

• In case you have a close personal relationship with an athlete or owner. 

• Nationalistic judging.

A judge has the responsibility to notify the FEI in writing of any of the above or other possible conflicts of interest or situations that may be perceived as such. 

FEI World and Regional Challenge Rankings will be established in accordance with the guidelines published on the FEI Website. One for each class/technical level.

Source: FEI – FEI Vaulting World Challenge Rules 2020

Please refer to the FEI Vaulting World Challenge Rules 2020, the FEI General Regulations and the FEI Vaulting Rules for more details.