Text © World of Showjumping

The FEI has published the final draft on the proposed changes to the FEI Jumping Rules for 2026, together with relevant memos. After a first draft on the proposals was published in July, stakeholders were given seven weeks to comment.

The final draft on the proposed rule changes will be voted on at the 2025 FEI General Assembly that takes place in November. 

A full revision of the FEI Jumping Rules

As per the periodical FEI Rules Revision Policy, the FEI Jumping Rules are subject to a full revision this year. In addition, the rulebook has also been restructured.

Several stakeholders have used the opportunity to submit proposals, and a broad range of topics have been subject to discussion.

The final draft includes a ban on the use of mobile phones while mounted in the warm-up arena during competitions, as well as a new rule applicable in cases where blood is detected on a horse.

Ban on use of mobile phones and earphones while mounted in the warm-up arena

A proposal from the Irish federation regarding safety in the warm-up area and a suggested ban on the use of mobile phones to watch videos while mounted was initially rejected by the FEI. However, following comments on this proposal, the FEI has decided to make an addition in the rules to ban the use of mobile phones and earphones while mounted in the warm-up arena during a competition.

The proposed final wording to article 207.3.1 reads:

“Mobile phone devices, other electronic communication devices, and earphones may never be used by an Athlete while mounted in the Warm-Up Arena during a Competition. Failure to comply with this Article will incur a Warning in accordance with JRs Art 261.”

A similar rule has also been suggested as an addition to the General Regulations.

Jumping Recorded Warnings proposed introduced for blood caused by tack or equipment, or athlete induced blood

Several federations as well as the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC) have suggested to change the much debated “blood-rule”, found in the FEI Jumping Rules article 241 regarding eliminations. As a result of the extensive discussions, the FEI has proposed a new article 259 which will regulate Jumping Recorded Warnings in certain situations where blood is detected on a horse.

The FEI has decided to remove the suggested word “minor” from the original proposal it received, explaining that it would be a challenge for FEI officials to determine whether blood is minor or not, which could lead to inconsistencies in the rule’s implementation in practice.

Similar to what is already applicable in eventing for the cross-country tests, the FEI has proposed to introduce the concept of 'blood on the horse caused by tack or equipment or any athlete induced blood'. Furthermore, the FEI has added to the proposed rule that in all cases of blood the horse must be deemed fit to compete in order to continue showing and that the Veterinary Delegate will be consulted in this regard.

The final proposal to a new article 259, to be voted on at the General Assembly in November, reads:

“259.1 Any blood on the Horse caused by tack or equipment or any Athlete induced blood detected during a Competition (from warm-up until completion of any post-Competition controls/testing) will result in the following consequences for the Person Responsible, issued by the President of the Ground Jury:

First Offence – Jumping Recorded Warning
Second Offence – Jumping Recorded Warning

Should the same Person Responsible receive two or more Jumping Recorded Warnings at the same or any other Event within 12 months of the delivery of the first Jumping Recorded Warning, the Person Responsible shall be issued with a fine of CHF 1'000 and be automatically suspended for a period of one month, such suspension to commence on the day after the last day of the Event where the Second Jumping Recorded Warning was issued. The FEI shall notify the Person Responsible and confirm the date of suspension. For the avoidance of doubt, the delivery of the notification from the FEI after the start date of the suspension shall in no way invalidate or postpone the commencement of the suspension.

259.2 In other cases of blood on the Horse detected during a Competition (for example where a Horse appears to have bitten its tongue or lip or in cases where a Horse is bleeding from the nose), the Officials may authorise the rinsing or wiping of the blood and allow the Athlete/Horse Combination to continue the Competition, provided that the horse is deemed fit to compete in accordance with Article 259.3. The Athlete will not receive a Jumping Recorded Warning if this Article applies.

259.3 In all cases of blood on the Horse under this JRs Art 259, the Horse may only be permitted to continue in a Competition or participate in any subsequent Competition(s) at the Event if the Ground Jury, in consultation with the Veterinary Delegate, has deemed the Horse to be fit to compete.”

Other proposals accepted by the FEI

• Falls

Following proposals from the Pan-American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC), International Jumping Officials Club (IJOC), as well as the American, Brazilian and Swiss federations, a new article 248.2 will further clarify the protocol used in case of a fall, while the consequences of a fall and its effects for a possible jump-off will also be further regulated.

• Unauthorized assistance

The FEI Jumping Rules article 225.3 regarding unauthorized assistance will be amended by detailing situations where airbags in safety vests might deploy – following proposals from the American, Brazilian, Belgian and Swedish federations, as well as PAEC and IJOC.

• The number of horses at CSI and CSIO events

In order to create consistency in the enforcement of the rule, a proposal from the Swiss federation to increase the number of horses at CSI and CSIO events from three to four was accepted by the FEI, with the addition of a new article 203.1.1.

• Mandatory salute

The Swedish federation has proposed the removal of mandatory salute, which was accepted by the FEI. As a consequence, the FEI has suggested to remove article 256.2.1.

• Removal of special competitions

The FEI has proposed to remove several special competitions from the rules, such as masters, fault-and-out, hit-and-hurry, relay and knock-out.

• CSIO1* and CSIO2* Nations Cups

The FEI has suggested to increase the maximum height in one- and two-star Nations Cups to 1.40m and 1.45m respectively.

• Clear rounds in Grand Prix classes

Several stakeholders have suggested that all athletes without penalties in a Grand Prix should be allowed to continue to the second round, a proposal which was accepted by the FEI with a suggested new article 221.2.2.2.

• Horse inspections

The wording of a proposed new article 275.1.3.7 reads:

“At FEI Jumping World Cup™ Finals, Longines League of Nations™ Finals, Championships and Games, the Athlete or a person designated by the Athlete must present their Horse(s) at the Horse inspection and (in any event) the Athlete must be present at the Horse inspection when their Horse(s) are presented. Any Athletes who fail to comply with this provision may be fined CHF 2'000.”

• Extra fees

A IJRC proposal regarding a fixed list of extra fees has led to the addition of a new Annex II. “A list of fees will be implemented in schedules and not in the rules, therefore it will be possible to update it regularly if needed,” the FEI commented. “The FEI will separately publish a list of fees (e.g. manure, electricity, parking, TVA) which must be respected by OCs for all CSIs/CSIOs, unless agreed otherwise by the FEI.”

• Prize money distribution

Another proposal from the IJRC, regarding prize money distribution, was also accepted, leading to the distribution to the first 13 placed athletes instead of the previous 12, and the use of two separate charts of either 25% or 30% to the winner instead of the previous 33%.

• Medical services

A new Annex regarding medical services will be added to the FEI Jumping Rules. “The medical service requirements proposed by the FEI Medical Committee for the Jumping Rules are intended to complement the general medical coverage outlined in Article 109.10.1 of the FEI General Regulations, ensuring discipline-specific coverage tailored to the needs of Jumping,” the FEI explained.

Proposals rejected by the FEI

• Timetables

Noteworthy proposals from stakeholders that have ended up being rejected by the FEI include some of the suggested changes from the Grooms Consultative Group (GCG) and International Grooms Association (IGA).

With timetables at FEI events having been a concern for years in regard to the grooms’ working hours, the GCG and IGA suggested the following: “Classes in horse shows should not begin before 8.00am and should be concluded (prize giving included) by 11.00pm at the latest. There should be a minimum of 10 hours between the end of the last class a horse has jumped in and the start of those horses first class the next day (i.e. a horse that competed in the last class, terminated at 11.00pm cannot compete before 9.00am the following day.”

However, the proposal was rejected with reference to how the FEI will work on sanctions for non-compliance as regulations are already included in their schedule template – which states that competitions “must not start before 08:00 h and must not finish after 23:00 h, unless prior approval is granted by the FEI”.

The GCG and IGA have gotten another of their proposals accepted though, but as an addition to the General Regulations as it will be applicable across all disciplines: For prize givings held after 10.00pm only the top three placed riders will be required to attend mounted.

• Use of whips

The Swedish federation suggested changes to the rules regarding the use of whip, stating: “The current Jumping Rules regarding use of whip is clearly not in line with Social License to Operate for equestrian sports. As a minimum, the rules should be acceptable to the public and all stakeholders.”

The Swedish proposal included that “- - As a guidance only, the Athlete may signal the horse at the most two times in the arena (before and during the ride) by gently tapping with the whip on the shoulder or behind the saddle,” and that “- - All other means of using the whip is considered excessive. All strokes are forbidden.”

The FEI, however, has rejected this proposal, with reference to having sufficient provisions in the rules to address excessive use of the whip. The FEI has also referred to education being carried out with judges.

• Boots and noseband checks

The Dutch federation suggested that to ensure safety at boots and noseband checks, areas for this purpose at FEI events should be regulated. “We should avoid stressful situations for the horses when the check is done,” the Dutch federation pointed out.

The FEI has decided to reject the proposal with reference to venue differences.

• Eligibility to enter FEI events

The Austrian federation has urged the FEI to consider whether the eligibility of horse-and-rider combinations should be regulated prior to entering international events – as is the national procedure in Austria, where two national results are required for each horse-and rider combination in order to be able to make entries at FEI events.

“We urgently ask and appeal to the FEI once again to reconsider whether it would be possible to inform other European nations that it is absolutely necessary to establish a uniform rule for the MER (Horse-Rider-combination) before the responsible Federation enters the Horse-Rider-combination in an international event and assumes responsibility for it,” the Austrian federation pointed out, referring to the importance of presenting harmonious images to the public in a time where equestrian sport is under strong criticism and scrutiny.

In response, the FEI has explained its rejection as follows: “As per the General Regulations, it is up to the NF to make their selection and do the entries, no criteria will be added in the Rules as each NF may have its own criteria.”

• CSI and CSIO requirements

The Monégasque federation and the Equestrian Organizers (EO) suggested changes to Annex VI which regulates CSI and CSIO requirements, proposing to align the requirements worldwide. Currently, the requirements differ between Europe and North America. It was pointed out that the requirements should be the same for all events of the same level, and that entry fee payments must be standardized for all five-star events.

However, the FEI has rejected the proposals, stating that this requires further discussion, and that insufficient feedback has been received.