Rules 2025

Each Region holds two (2) Regional Qualifiers at CSIO3* level and the Teams qualify for the EEF Series Semi-Finals through the Nations Cup competitions at the RQs in their own Regions.

RQs take place between April and end of June of the current year.

To earn points, a team must participate in the Nations Cup competitions at both RQs in its Region. Teams earn points according to their classification in the respective RQs in their Region (non- Region Teams not counting for points, irrespective of their final placing), using the following point scale:

• Placing – Points
• 1st – 100
• 2nd – 90
• 3rd – 80
• 4th- 70
• 5th – 60
• 6th – 55
• 7th – 50
• 8th – 45
• 9th – 40
• 10th – 35
• 11th and beyond – 30

The points for each team are added together to establish the Region standings. In the event of equality of points, the highest ranked team will be the team with the most points at the respective RQ with highest * level or, in case of RQs with same * level, the team highest placed in the second RQ in the region.

1.1.1.  Regional Qualifier not taking place

 In the event that only one RQ takes place in a Region (instead of two), for whatever reason, the teams of the Region will qualify for the respective Semi-Final according to their classification in the RQ that has taken place.

In the event no RQ takes place in a Region, for whatever reason, the teams in the Region will qualify for the respective Semi-Final based on the Longines League of Nations™ Qualification Ranking No. 1 (30.09.2023).

Teams in the EEF Series may take part in EEF Series CSIOs outside their own Region by way of (a) FEI Wild Card or (b) OC invitation, but in the latter case (b) priority is given to EEF Teams that have taken part in both RQs in their own Region in the preceding season. These EEF Teams may not earn points for their Region standings at these Events.

The Semi-Final is a CSIO3*, where the Nations Cup competition is reserved for the top ten (10) teams (five from each Region) qualified according to the respective Region standings above, as follows:

• Top 5 teams from Regions South & Central qualify for EEF Series Semi-Final 1
• Top 5 teams from Regions North & West qualify for EEF Series Semi-Final 2
• At every Semi-Final the OC has the right to invite up to two additional non-EEF teams. Those teams are not eligible for qualification for the Longines EEF Series Final.

The home team in a SF, if not qualified as above, has the right to participate in the Nations Cup competition of said SF as 11th team, without being eligible for qualification for the Final. In this case the OC can invite only one additional team.
The top five (5) placed eligible teams in the Nations Cup competition at each Semi-Final, respectively, qualify for the EEF Series Final.

All teams which are not eliminated in the first round take part in the second round.

SFs take place in June or July of the current year and there must be at least one (1) free week between the last RQ in any Region and its respective SF, as above.

1.2.1.  Non-Participation of a team from an EEF Series Semi-Final

Should a qualified Team for either of the Semi-Finals not participate at the respective Semi-Final, it will be replaced by the next best placed team from its own Region. Substitution may only go down one place in each Region.

Should it not be possible to substitute a team with the next best placed team from the same Region, the vacant quota place will be filled from the next best placed Team, not already qualified, from the other Region in the same Semi-Final.

Should it not be possible to substitute a team as per the above, up to two (2) quota places will be filled through the Nations Cup Ranking commencing with the first Nations Cup competition following the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final of the previous year until two weeks prior to the respective Semi- Final of the current year, otherwise they will remain
vacant.

1.2.2.  Semi-Final not taking place

In the event that a SF does not take place, for whatever reason, the five (5) teams to be qualified from such SF for the EEF Series Final will be determined as follows:

• From SF 1: the top 2 teams from Region South and the top 3 teams from Region Central, as per their classification under “EEF Series Regional Qualifiers (RQs)” above
• From SF2: the top 2 teams from Region North and the top 3 teams from Region West, as per their classification under “EEF Series Regional Qualifiers (RQs)” above

The EEF Series Final is a CSIO4* reserved only for the ten (10) teams qualified:

• From the two (2) SFs, as above,
• and the home team as the 11th team if not qualified but providing the home team has tried to qualify for the Longines EEF Series Final.

The Nations Cup class at the Final takes place after the Grand Prix class.

The Final takes place from July until September of the current year, unless otherwise approved by EEF Board decision in accordance with relevant FEI Rules and Regulations, and there must be (a) at least one (1) free week between the Final and the last SF and (b) at least two (2) weeks between the Final and the Jumping Event of the Olympic Games or the World and EU CH for Seniors or the Longines League of Nations™ Final of the current year.

1.3.1.  Non-Participation of a team from the EEF Series Final

Should any qualified Team(s) not participate at the EEF Series Final, it/they will be replaced by the next best placed team from its/their own Semi-Final.

Substitution may only go down two places in each Semi-Final. Should it not be possible to substitute a withdrawn team with the next two best placed teams from the same Semi-Final, the vacant quota place(s) will be filled from the next best placed Team(s), not already qualified, from the other Semi-Final, again going down only two places.

Should it not be possible to substitute a withdrawn team as per the above, the quota place(s) in the Final will remain vacant.

At all EEF Series Events, the Nations Cup Competition is run over two rounds, with identical courses.

Both rounds are run according to Table A against the clock. In both rounds the time must be displayed at a minimum on a screen visible from the warm-up arena.

Four Athletes per team take part in the first round of the Nations Cup Competition. Unless teams are eliminated, disqualified, have retired or withdrawn in the first round, all teams take part in the second round with four Athletes each.

Riders of eliminated, disqualified, retired or withdrawn teams in the first round, are not allowed to take part in the second round.

The classification is established according to the combined Penalties of each team’s three best Athletes in each round. In case there is a tie on penalties for first place after both rounds there will be a jump-off with one Athlete per team.

In case there is a tie for any other place following both rounds, the times of the best three Athletes in the second round will be used to decide the team classification.

The prize money for the teams in the Nations Cup competition at each EEF Series Event is distributed as follows: 1st 32%, 2nd 20%, 3rd 16%, 4th 11%, 5th 7%, 6th 5%, 7th 3%, 8th 2%, 9th 2%, 10th 2%.

In case of eleven (11) teams in a Regional Qualifier, a Semi-Final or Final (refer above to participation of home nation under “EEF Series Semi-Finals (SFs)” and “EEF Series Final”), the 10th and 11th placed teams receive each 1% of the competition prize money.

In case of 12 or 13 participating teams the 10th and the following teams receive prize money equal to the prize money for the 10th place divided by the number of 3 (if there are 12 teams) or 4 (if there are 13 teams).

A team which is eliminated, disqualified, has retired or withdrawn (see JRs Art. 264.8.1 and 264.8.2) in the first round of a competition is not entitled to receive prize money or points for that competition. EEF Series team competitions with less than ten (10) teams participating or entitled to receive prize
money, subject to the previous paragraph, will have the remaining prize money divided equally among all teams placed.
Each CSIO which counts for EEF Series must offer the following amount of prize money in the Nations Cup competition:

• RQs CSIO3* €65’000 per competition;
• SFs CSIO3* €90’000 per competition;
• Final CSIO4* €200’000 per competition;

EEF Series OCs may offer additionally €50’000 as prize money to the Athlete(s) with the best performance in both rounds of the Nations Cup competition.

The above amounts of prize money may be increased, subject to FEI Approval, but the total amount of prize money offered at the Event may not exceed the maximum established for the star level of the Event.

Minimum number of Competitions at all EEF Series CSIOs counting for points in the Longines Rankings must be 3 (i.e. GP + NC + one Ranking Competition) in accordance with FEI JRs, Annex VI, Art. 3.

Individual Competitions counting for the Longines Rankings must have minimum height 1.45m and minimum prize money CHF 30’000, regardless of EEF Series Region.

The Grand Prix competition is open to 60 Athletes for CSIO3* and to 50 Athletes for CSIO4*, and is held before the Nations Cup competition unless an exception is granted by the EEF. There must always be one (1) day between the Grand Prix and the Nations Cup competition.

• When the Grand Prix competition is held before the Nations Cup competition the following qualifying system applies:

Four (4) out of the five (5) team members from each team participating in the Nations Cup competition, as declared by the team’s Chef d’Equipe the day before the first day of competition, these members not necessarily being the same four (4) team members that will ultimately participate in the Nations Cup competition, are automatically qualified for the Grand Prix, along with those Athletes who are pre-qualified in accordance with Art. 261 of the FEI Jumping rules. The OC must hold a qualification competition of minimum 145 cm in height for the remaining places on a day prior to the day of the Grand Prix for the 5th team member from each team not pre-qualified as above and the individual Athletes.

• When the Grand Prix competition is held after the Nations Cup competition the following qualifying system applies:

 Each OC must provide two opportunities for each Athlete to qualify for the Grand Prix Competition. The first qualifier is held prior to the Nations Cup competition and is open to all Athletes. 20 best Athletes are qualified for the Grand Prix. In case of a tie for 20th place, all Athletes equal on the 20th place are permitted to take part in the Grand Prix. The Nations Cup competition counts as a qualifier for the team Athletes. The third qualifier is held following the Nations Cup competition and counts as a qualifier for the non-team Athletes plus individuals and those Athletes not taking part in the second round of the Nations Cup competition. Both the first and third qualifiers must have a minimum standard of 1.45m.

–      Nations Cup Athletes

The 30 best-placed Athletes following rounds one and two of the Nations Cup Competition are automatically qualified to take part in the Grand Prix Competition at the same Event. Those equal on penalties for 30th place are separated by their combined times in the first and second rounds of the Nations Cup Competition. In case of a further tie the Athletes concerned are permitted to take part in the Grand Prix.

Riders of eliminated, disqualified, retired or withdrawn teams in the first round, are under no circumstances permitted to take part in the second round.

–      Non-Team Athletes and Individuals

Maximum ten best-placed Athletes, (if more than 50 athletes are qualified after the first and the second qualification the additional number over 50, plus the number of the athletes (if presented) according JR Art. 261.4.1.1 is reduced from the maximum number of 10 qualifying athletes at the third qualification) taken from the non-team Athletes, team Athletes who did not start in the second round of the Nations Cup plus individuals, in the third qualifier are also automatically qualified for the Grand
Prix.

–      Automatically Qualified

Those Athletes who are pre-qualified in accordance with Art. 261 of the FEI Jumping Rules. Should a pre-qualified Athlete be placed among the best 30 after the two rounds of the Nations Cup Competition, their qualification place in the Nations Cup Competition will not be given to another Athlete.

–      Completing the Quota

The remaining quota places for the Grand Prix Competition must be filled with Athletes from the first qualifier.

 EEF Series Event may be allocated only to an EEF country/NF.

The allocation of the EEF Series RQs, the SFs and the Final is the responsibility of the EEF, provided the current FEI General Regulations and FEI Jumping Rules are respected, as well as the following minimum requirements:

a. Subject to FEI Board approval, a CSIO of EEF Series can take place in an EEF Series country already hosting a CSIO.

b. In addition to Nations Cup Prize money provided in 2. above, EEF Series CSIOs must offer the minimum prize money provided for the Grand Prix competition in the relevant JRs, as in force, and at least CHF 60’000 in prize money for the Grand Prix competition in a CSIO3*.

c. Entry fees shall be in accordance with the FEI Jumping Rules, Annex VI CSI/CSIO Requirements.

d. Each Event must be run in a four-days competition format and respect the prize money requirements for the relevant star level category, according to the CSI/CSIO Requirements in force at the time.

e. Quality and size of stables must be in accordance with FEI requirements.

f. Stable security must be in accordance with FEI requirements.

g. Quality of footing must be in accordance with FEI requirements.

h. Expenses for accommodation/meals for Athletes/Chefs d’Equipe/Officials must be in accordance with FEI requirements.

i. OCs of EEF Series RQs may accept requests for invitations from teams outside their Region and/or from other FEI Nations Cup Regions, only after all NFs with a team from their own Region have been invited and confirmed or not confirmed their participation in writing.

j. Number of Athletes, including team Athletes, at EEF Series CSIOs is maximum 100 plus 20 individual Athletes invited by the OC, who are not eligible to take part at Longines Ranking classes.

k. The number of teams that may be invited in each EEF Series RQ is minimum ten (10) and maximum twelve (12), plus one FEI Wild Card team (see paragraph m below), if any. In any case the participation of all NFs from the respective Region willing to compete in the Regional Qualifier will prevail and OCs must give at least 30 calendar days prior notice for NFs from the respective Region to confirm their participation and prepay their entries. Withdrawals after the date of definite entries or no-shows will be liable to reimburse the OC for the financial loss incurred by the OC according to the JRs Art. 251.17. OCs must invite teams of five (5) Athletes, one of the five team athletes being obligatorily an U25 Athlete, with maximum three (3) horses per Athlete. If a team does not enter five (5) Athletes, as above, these vacant place(s) return
to the OC.

l. Notwithstanding paragraph k) above, Individual Athletes may be invited in accordance with JRs Art. 249.5 and 249.6. Contrary to the JRs Art. 249.5 the number of individual Athletes that the OC of a Regional Qualifier CSIO may invite from each of the other NFs part of the same Region in addition to the official team is not limited to two per NF; the exact number must be indicated in the Schedule and must be the same for each of these NFs.

m. FEI Wild Cards shall be granted following consultation between the FEI Jumping Department and the EEF. The final decision lies with the FEI Jumping Department. Applications for FEI wild card invitations for individuals must be submitted to the FEI Jumping Department at the latest on the 4th Monday prior to the week of the event and will be allocated at the latest by midnight on the third Monday prior to the week of the event. Applications for FEI wild card invitations for teams must be submitted to the FEI Jumping Department at the latest on the 8th Monday prior to the week of the event and will be allocated at the latest six weeks prior to the start of
the event. The FEI cannot nominate team wild cards for the EEF Nations Cup Semi-Finals and Final.

n. The maximum height of the Nations Cup competition at the Regional Qualifiers is 1.50m. The maximum height of the Grand Prix at all EEF Series CSIOs is 1.55m.