Recommendation: Collective marks should be partially removed from all FEI tests in 2018, keeping only the collective mark for the Rider. This will not be applicable for the Young Horse Tests.
Dressage Judging working Group (DJWG)
With the possible exception of the Rider/Aids mark, the DJWG feels that the collective marks are already taken into account in the movement scores. The switch of emphasis from a movement mark - based on exactly what the judge sees at the moment of execution - to a collective note that is designed to summarize the entire test, does not aid the judge’s focus. In analysis of the ~1000 2017 tests it is seen that while technical and collective scores are quite correlated, the riders at the top of the ranking do typically receive an extra boost from the collective marks. We also observe that even in some high level events the ranking of the technical marks is effectively overruled by that of the collective marks. The completion of the collective marks also takes time between starters and. particularly for televised events, a small gain in overall competition time can be expected if collective marks are no longer used.
GBR NF Collective marks - There was more support among our stakeholder groups for the proposal to drop the collective marks. It is generally felt that this is effectively ‘double counting’ and rewarding combinations twice for the same effort. These are also the marks that are open to the most variation and / or potential abuse by judges who are not being wholly objective and impartial in their scoring, whether in terms of international or reputational bias towards individual riders.
We would still want to retain collective marks up to FEI level, as they do provide a useful training guide, although some concern has been expressed about the impact this could then have on national competition longer term. Ideally we always want to ensure that our rules domestically are harmonised with those at international level to avoid confusion, which would obviously not be the case if collectives were removed.
We would also question whether it is appropriate for these changes to also apply to Under 21 competition, where the collectives have more use for the training and development of young riders? We would recommend that the needs of this group is considered more carefully before applying rule changes to all FEI competition
ESP NF - Agree with the suggested change but the mark for the Rider should be maintained
GER NF - Collective marks. They seem to be dispensable because their statistical impact on the overall result is low, but the collective marks are a means to express the Judge’s evaluation of the important basic requirements. And those should not be neglected. But again they only make sense if an unprejudiced Judge gives marks for what he sees, irrespective of the rider’s/horse’s name.
IDOC - Regarding the collective marks, we would like to support the recommendation made by the 5* judges during the meeting in Amsterdam earlier this year to keep all four of them with coefficient 1.
SWE NF - Regarding the Rule change of taking away the Collective Marks, except the Rider's position and effect of the aids, we believe, that these are a Summary of the whole performance, which together with the comments of the Judge, gives a very valuable guidance for the continuation of the rider/horse training.
NED NF - Collective marks. Agreed. We also recommend that the judges write more feedback on the protocols. Also remarks instead of only marks.