The news that the Fédération Equestre Internationale General Assembly voted to change the competition format of all three disciplines at the Olympic Games—dressage, show jumping and eventing—on Nov. 22 wasn’t universally well received.

The major changes that riders—especially show jumpers—spoke out against were the shift to a three-man team and the elimination of a drop score.

The U.S. Equestrian Federation voted at the Nov. 22 FEI General Assembly to support changes to the Olympic format for equestrian sport. 

The Fédération Equestre Internationale General Assembly voted Nov. 22 in favor of the proposed format changes for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, which will now go to the IOC Executive Board for final approval in 2017.

Under the new proposals, the number of athletes in national teams will be reduced to three, and the drop score, which previously allowed for a team’s worst score to be discarded, will be removed. The use of a reserve combination for teams will remain in place, but will be even more important and will be a key element in ensuring horse welfare.