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Last week, the FEI headquarters hosted a meeting for jumping stakeholders to discuss the latest developments regarding tack and equipment. “I think this meeting was an extremely positive step forward for our sport, in the direction of tack and what we want to see in the future,” FEI Jumping Director Todd Hinde tells World of Showjumping. “We sat and listened to everyone's views on where the sport is today and where we want it to go. Certainly, the need for further education – for everyone – was one of major take-aways from these discussions.”

Certainly, the need for further education – for everyone – was one of major take-aways from these discussions

“There needs to be better education for riders and officials on certain items of tack and how they are used,” Todd points out. “We know that there are certain items of tack which in one set of hands can be used one way, but in another set of hands can be used the complete opposite. We also need to look into what items of tack should be introduced at a more educated level, and how we can implement tack throughout a rider’s career. To grow together as two athletes, we need tack; it's clear that we need certain equipment for our sport.”

Currently, the tack and equipment that is allowed to be used in FEI competitions is regulated across the FEI rules and regulations, including the FEI General Regulations, the FEI Veterinary Regulations as well as the relevant discipline-specific sport rules, in the case of jumping, the FEI Jumping Rules. Additionally, the FEI TackApp was launched in May 2023 to help the community navigate what can and cannot be used.

To better control the use of tack and equipment, and to be able to react faster to changes in the market, the FEI has proposed to create a separate, stand-alone document for each discipline. The proposal will be voted on at the 2025 FEI General Assembly in November, and when accepted, the FEI headquarters will create a document detailing tack and equipment requirements – which in jumping would come into effect in the beginning of 2027.

“The next step will obviously be in Hong Kong, for the General Assembly to approve the proposal of moving the current tack regulations out of the discipline rules and over to a standalone document,” Todd explains. “Post-GA, we will then start to create the document based on the discussion points from the meeting we had last week. We will also engage again with the stakeholders and the riders to keep working with them on creating that document.”

The plan is that the FEI headquarters will create the document on tack and equipment with involvement from all the stakeholders. “It has to come from the sport, and we need the athletes' views as well as the officials’, the stewards’, and the veterinarians' take,” Todd points out.” We have to take in all aspects from safety and welfare to the practical approach, as well as the purpose of the tack.”

“Ideally, we don't want to update this document often,” Todd adds. “That's not our plan. However, with the growth of our sport, the evolution of tack and as new items of tack come on the market that may not fit in within the guidelines and requirements of the document, it might need to be adjusted slightly for certain new items. Our intention is not to update it on a regular basis, even though it will give us the flexibility to be able to update it when needed.”

The new document is meant to complement the FEI TackApp. “The FEI TackApp will still work as it does now,” Todd explains. “However, we are going to be clearer of how we upload items on it. We will have clear guidelines of what can and cannot be used in competition and in training.”

“The implementation for jumping is not until 2027, because we can't rush this process,” Todd continues to explain. “We have to make sure that this document is fair and what we need for the future of our sport – and everyone's involvement is necessary in creating it. We didn't want to get to the point that we had to rush within six weeks and have a document ready for 2026 that maybe wasn't right. We must ensure that we engage with everyone and hear everyone's thoughts – and this takes time.”

For 2026, the rules that apply will still be found in the FEI Jumping Rules. “Next year, the rules that we have in the restructured rule book regarding tack and equipment will be in effect,” Todd explains. “In the new structure, this item has been brought down into the lower end of the rule book, to make the transition in 2027 easier.”

The FEI Jumping Rules were subject to a full revision this year and the rulebook has been completely restructured. Simultaneously working on the tack issues concerning all FEI disciplines has not made the process easier, and next year does not look any quieter for the FEI headquarters. “This year has certainly been a massive year,” Todd says. “My idea for the full revision for the FEI Jumping Rules was to restructure the whole rule book to make it a clearer document. It's been a great deal of work for the Jumping Department to create this new structure.”

I really want to dig deep into it next year and see how can we better educate our athletes, our youth, and our officials

“My wish is that we all get on the same train and go on the journey together,” Todd says as he looks towards 2026. “Together we are stronger – and that's the way forward. Next year is not going to be a quiet year; we have the World Championship in Aachen, and the ongoing discussions with our stakeholders regarding the tack and equipment document are going to be crucial. However, we have to look at the sport as a whole as well, and there are so many different areas that we need to continue to grow on. I mentioned education; I really want to dig deep into it next year and see how can we better educate our athletes, our youth, and our officials. I believe that more engagement from our community and from our athletes is vital to our sport – and I will continue listening.”

21.10.2025 No reproduction of this article, or parts of this article, will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.