Glossary of FEI Competition Acronyms

FEI General Terms

FEI: Fédération Equestre Internationale. This is French for International Equestrian Federation, the world governing body for equestrian sport, based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

CI: Concours International or International Event of any discipline for individual competitors organised under the FEI’s statutes, general regulations and sport rules.

CIO: Concours International Officiel. An Official International Event organised under the FEI statutes, general regulations and sport rules whereby national equestrian federations are invited to send selected representative individuals and teams.

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CH: Concours Hippique or Equestrian Competition – An FEI-sanctioned event that includes competitions for more than one discipline.

CHIO: Concours Hippique International Officiel or Official International Equestrian Competition – An FEI-sanctioned event that includes competitions for more than one discipline and includes Nations Cups. (i.e. CHIO Aachen, CHIO Rotterdam).

CC: Concours Complet d’Equitation – Eventing competition. (See more below.)

CD: Concours de Dressage – Dressage competition. (See more below.)

CS: Concours de Saut d’Obstacles – Show jumping competition. (See more below.)

NC: Nations Cup – Team competition in which riders represent their countries.

W: World Cup qualifier

W-CH: World Championship

CN: Concours National – A National Competition organized under FEI rules but primarily for participants from a particular host country. They usually serve as qualifiers for international competitions or national championships.

CIM: Concours International Mineur – Minor International Events.

CPE: Para-Equestrian competition.

P: Pony competition (rider ages 12-16)

CH: Children’s competition. (ages 12-14)

J: Junior competition. (ages 14-18)

Y: Young rider competition. (ages 16-21)

U25: Under-25 competition. (ages 16-25)

V: Veterans’ competition. (female riders ages 45+, male 49+)

AM: Amateur competition.

L: Ladies’ competition.

YH: Young horse competition.

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FEI Eventing Terms

CCI: Concours Complet International – French for International Complete Competition or International Eventing Competition. CCIs combine three disciplines – dressage, cross country and stadium jumping. They are organized by a level of difficulty that’s indicated by a progressive star rating system (expressed by asterisks), beginning with CC1* competitions and reaching a five-star level (FEI classics such as the Olympic Games and World Equestrian Games).

CCIs are either short- or long-format:

CCI-L: Concours Complet International Long. (Formerly CCI.) Takes place over three or more days. The dressage test is spread over one or more consecutive days, followed by cross country, which is directly followed by the jumping test. Cross country is a length that the horse needs to be supremely fit and needs stamina to be successful.

CCI-S: Concours Complet International Short. (Formerly CIC or Concours International Combiné). Takes place over one or more days. The dressage test occurs first and is followed on same or following days by jumping and cross country. The level of difficulty of the cross-country course is similar to the long format according to the star system, but the course is shorter, and the intensity of efforts is higher.

CCI Levels

CCI1*-Intro: (unified format, meaning competitions can be short or long). Cross-country max. height 1.05m; distance 2,000m to 3,000m over 20 to 25 obstacles; finishing min. 4 minutes max. 6 minutes.

CCI2*-S: Cross-country max. height 1.10m; distance 2,600m to 3,120m over 25 to 30 obstacles; finishing min. 5 minutes max. 6 minutes.

CCI2*-L: Cross-country max. height 1.10m; distance 3,640m to 4,680m over 25 to 30 obstacles; finishing min. 7 minutes max. 9 minutes.

CCI3*-S: Cross-country max. height 1.10m; distance 3,025m to 3,575m over 27 to 32 obstacles; finishing min. 5:30 minutes max. 6:30 minutes.

CCI3*-L: Cross-country max. height 1.15m; distance 4,440m to 5,550m over 30 to 35 obstacles; finishing min. 8 minutes max. 10 minutes.

CCI4*-S: Cross-country max. height 1.10m; distance 3,420m to 3,990m over 30 to 35 obstacles; finishing min. 6 minutes max. 7 minutes.

CCI4*-L: Cross-country max. height 1.20m; distance 5,700m to 6,270m over 35 to 40 obstacles; finishing min. 10 minutes max. 11 minutes.

CCI5*: Cross-country max. height 1.20m; distance 6,270m to 6,840m over 40 to 45 obstacles; finishing min. 11 minutes max. 12 minutes.

Olympics/World Championships: 1.20m; distance 5,600m to 5,800m over 38 to 42 obstacles; finishing min. 9:50 minutes max. 10:10 minutes.

CCIO-L or CCIO-S: An official three-day-event (long, or short, respectively) that includes a Nations Cup (e.g. the Olympic Games, the World Equestrian Games).

FEI Youth Eventing

CCIP: Pony riders, ages 12-16

CCIJ: Juniors, ages 14-18.

CCIY: Young riders, ages 16-21.

CCIU25: Riders, ages 16-25.

Other Eventing Designations

CCIYH: Young horses, six and seven years old.

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FEI Jumping Terms

CSI: Concours de Saut International – French for International Jumping Competition. CSIs are approved by the FEI and are organized according to a progressive one- to five-star system (expressed by asterisks) based on the level of difficulty and the amount of prize money they offer. (Euros are used in all European countries, U.S. dollars in the rest of the world.)

CSI Star Rating

CSI1*: Prize money up to $51,424 USD. Max. height 1.40m.

CSI2*: Prize money $51,425 – $15,999 USD. Max. height 1.45m (Some exceptions at course designer’s discretion up to 3cm max.)

CSI3*: Prize money $154,000 – $258,499 USD. Max height 1.60m.

CSI4*: Prize money $258,500 – $516,999 USD. Max height 1.60m.

CSI5*: Prize money $517,000+ USD. Max height 1.60m.
(For CSI3* to CSI5* the final competition of an FEI-approved series may allow a height of 1.65m. Also, above max. heights do not apply to Six Bar and Puissance Competitions.)

Other CSI Designations

CSI-W: Event with a Show Jumping World Cup qualifier.

CSIO: Event that includes a Nations Cup (e.g. Dublin Horse Show, Royal International Horse Show)

FEI Youth Jumping

CSIP/CSIOP: Pony riders, ages 12–16

CSICh/CSIOCh: Children on horses, ages 12-14.

CSIJ/CSIOJ: Juniors, ages 14-18.

CSIY/CSIOY: Young riders, ages 16-21.

CSIU25/CSIOU25: U25 riders, ages 16-25.

Other Jumping Designations

CSIAm: Events for amateurs.

CSIV: Events for veterans – female riders, ages 45+, male 49+.

CSIYH: Events for young horses, four through seven years old.

CSIL: Events for ladies only.

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FEI Dressage Terms

CDI: Concours de Dressage International – French for International Dressage Event. CDI is the FEI’s designation for dressage events. They are organized according to a progressive one- to five-star rating system (expressed by asterisks) denoting the level and prestige of a competition and requirements for horse and rider.

Tests ridden at the CDI level
Prix St. Georges (PSG)
Intermediate I (Inter I)
Intermediate I Freestyle (Inter I FS)
Intermediate A (Inter A)
Intermediate B (Inter B)
Intermediate A/B Freestyle (Inter A/B FS)
Intermediate II (Inter II)
Intermediate II Freestyle (Inter II FS)
Grand Prix (GP)
Grand Prix Special (GPS)
Grand Prix Freestyle (GPFS)

Categories of CDIs

CDI1*: No min. qualification requirements. Tests PSG, Inter I, Inter I FS. Snaffle or double bridle. Prize money no min. requirements.

CDI2*: No min. qualification requirements. Tests Inter A, Inter B, Inter II, Inter A/B FS, GP. Snaffle or double bridle. Prize money no min. requirements.

CDI3*: No min. qualification requirements. Tests GP, GPS, GPFS. Double bridle. Prize money max. $26,800 USD.

CDI4*: Athlete/horse combo must qualify at a CDI3* (63% in 1 GP or GPS). GP, GPS, GPFS. Double bridle. Prize money min. $26,800 USD to max. $100,500 USD.

CDI5*: Athlete/Horse combo must qualify at a CDI3* or CDI4* (65% in 1 GP or GPS). GP, GPS, GPFS. Double bridle. Prize money min. $100,500 USD.

(In common dressage vernacular, PSG and Inter I are considered “Small Tour” levels, Inter A & B are “Medium Tour” levels and GP, GPS and GPFS “Big Tour” levels.)

CDI-W: FEI World Cup Dressage series qualifier.

CDIO: An official FEI dressage team competition. CDIOs are organized under a one- to five-star rating system, (expressed by asterisks) denoting the level and prestige of a competition and requirements for horse and rider.

Categories of CDIOs

CDIO1*: No min. qualification requirements. Tests PSG, Inter I, Inter I FS. Snaffle or double bridle. Prize money optional to max. $25,670 USD.

CDIO2*: No min. qualification requirements. Tests Inter A, Inter B, Inter II, Inter A/B FS, GP. Snaffle or double bridle. Prize money optional to max. $36,855 USD.

CDIO3*: No min. qualification requirements Tests GP, GPS, GPFS. Double bridle. Prize money optional to max. $55,840 USD.

CDIO4*: Athlete/horse combo must qualify at a CDI3* (63% in 1 GP or GPS). Tests GP, GPS, GPFS. Double bridle. Prize money mandatory from $55,840 to $111,680 USD.

CDIO5*: Athlete/Horse combo must qualify at a CDI3* or CDI4* (65 % in 1 GP or GPS). Tests GP, GPS, GPFS. Double bridle. Prize money mandatory min. $111’680 USD.

CDIO-NC: A CDIO (3*, 4* or 5*) that is part of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup series. Prize money CDIO3*-NC no min. amount but not more than $16,300; CDIO4*-NC not less than $16,300, CDIO5*-NC not less than $21,700.

FEI Youth Dressage

CDIP/CDIOP: Pony riders, ages 12-16

CDICh/CDIOCh: Children on horses, ages 12-14

CDIJ/CDIOJ: Juniors, ages 14-18

CDIY/CDIOY: Young riders, ages 16-21

CDIU25/CDIOU25s: Riders ages 16-25 competing at Inter II or GP level.

Other FEI Dressage Events

CDIAm: Competitions for amateur athletes (ages 26-plus) not on the FEI Dressage World Rankings at the time of entering the competition.

CPEDI: Para-Equestrian dressage competitions.

CDIYH: Young horse competitions for five- through seven-year-olds.