December 8, 2022 
It’s that time of year again!
Time for one of the premier events on the international show jumping calendar, CHI Geneva! CHI Geneva is not only one of four events that comprise the Rolex Grand Slam—the others being CHIO Aachen, the Spruce Meadows Masters, and The Dutch Masters—but it is home to one of my personal favorite classes: the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final!
In my humble opinion, this is the greatest class ever, full of drama, excitement, and top riding! It’s the ultimate destination for the eyes of any true show jumping fan!
As owner and manager of the show jumping outfit known as Team Eye Candy, I am one of those super fans. Team Eye Candy participates, as everyone knows, in Major League Show Jumping, and we have among our team members the world ranked number five rider, Conor Swail.
Imagine my anticipation and delight at being able to watch someone I’ve actually stood next to and shared words with in this unmatched class! A thrill beyond all thrills, except…
Nope.
This is not the FEI World Rankings Top 10, this is the IJRC Top 10, meaning the top ten riders who are up-to-date (two years minimum) with their International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) dues.
Fun fact: Conor is not.
And I’ve been forced into the unfortunate position of having to enlighten the show grounds to this fact.
“I bet you can’t wait to watch Conor in the Top 10 class!” says this acquaintance and that rider and the announcer person and that other guy as they pass my table in the VIP.
“Yeah, I can’t wait,” I reply. “It’s just kinda gonna be a long one because it ain’t gonna happen until 2024, when his dues will be paid up and current…”
“What dues? Huh? What are you talking about?”
Then the long, tearful explanation, which nobody really understands.
You might think this is a one-off oversight. It’s not. Last year the world number eight hadn’t paid his dues and was replaced in the Final. This year, it’s Conor.
Of course, there are two sides to every story, so before you start screaming about useless bureaucracy and administrative errors, consider the work the IJRC does. The IJRC is an important advocating body on behalf of riders at the FEI—and who knows the sport better than those who participate? It is open to all top 300 riders, as well as riders who have competed in the Olympic Games, in World or Continental Championships, or in at least five Nations Cups.
There is absolutely no doubt that the IJRC does important work on behalf of riders, horses, and the sport. I ain’t gonna knock them.
I am going to propose one little change to one little rule: Rule 42.11b, the one that says you can’t participate in the Top 10 class if you’ve neglected to pay your dues. I don’t actually know if it is called Rule 42.11b, I made that up for comedic effect, but you get my drift.
Now I will tell you quite honestly that as a gentleman, Mr. Swail took full responsibility for not paying these dues. In fact, he seemed quite pacific about the whole situation, admitting he rarely reads his emails, while I shook my fist at the sky and let spittle fly thither and yon during a passionate tirade.
“Oh, someone is always mad,” says a well-known IRJC board member.
“Yes, I know this is true,” I reply. “But can we just have it not be me?”
So, in order to assuage my own riotous emotions, I have offered to pay the past dues of any and all top-10-ranked international show jumping riders. It is not much money, I think the dues are a 500 euro a year! I will pay for you guys, and then I will entertain myself with a round-the-world bounty hunt for repayment. Imagine the joy of hounding the top 10 riders of the world!
I believe in the IRJC and its mission, I will get this job done!
In addition, I am proposing a mechanism by which these errant riders can return to the IRJC’s good graces and participate in the class: forfeit all prize money back to the IRJC! Have riders pay, literally, for the error in their bookkeeping ways.
If the rider finds the penalty too odious, simply do not pay, do not participate and explain to your owner the situation is beyond your control and they will not be seeing their horse in this magnificent prestigious class!
I dare you.
