Press release from FEI

The FEI Horse Condition Task Force held a meeting on 29 June 2026 at the HRH Princess Haya Auditorium at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).

It brought together representatives from across the international equestrian community, including the FEI Board, Technical Committees, Regional Groups, the Veterinary and Athletes' Committees, National Federations, FEI Officials, Athletes and Officials clubs and other stakeholder groups as well as key FEI Directors to begin work on developing a more harmonised approach to horse condition protocols, regulations and sanctions across all FEI disciplines.

The meeting was moderated by Jonathan Taylor KC (GBR), acting as an independent facilitator.

The meeting saw open and collaborative discussion about current FEI rules across the different disciplines on the subject of blood and a review of the rule change proposals received through the rule revision process. There was broad consensus across the stakeholders that Horse Welfare sits at the centre of the rules under discussion and that, whilst complex in some circumstances, current existing rules regarding serious cases of abuse are strong.

Opening the meeting, FEI President Ingmar De Vos said, “The establishment of this Task Force reflects the commitment we made at the FEI General Assembly last year. It brings together a broad cross-section of our community and I thank everyone for their availability. This diversity of perspectives is one of our greatest strengths. I am encouraged by the constructive approach in the lead up to this meeting and confident that we are on the right path towards developing a sustainable, harmonised framework that serves both our horses and our sport. By working together in this way, we demonstrate that the FEI is capable of addressing complex issues through dialogue and consensus. That unity will further strengthen our sport and reinforce its place within the Olympic Movement."

The meeting also covered a general discussion with Task Force Members presenting their perspective on the current framework and outlining areas where greater consistency could be achieved. Participants also discussed key challenges, shared practical experiences and exchanged views on possible ways forward.

It was agreed that the FEI Board will discuss the outcome of the meeting and the next steps.

"I would like to thank all the members of the Task Force for their constructive engagement and willingness to listen and engage with different perspectives,” the FEI President said in his closing remarks. “Bringing together representatives from across our disciplines has already helped build a better understanding of the specific challenges and complexities faced in each sport. That shared understanding is an essential first step towards clarifying the issues, finding common ground and developing a sustainable solution that serves the best interests of our horses."