May 29, 2026
A multi-discipline Task Force is being set up by the FEI–International Equestrian Federation–to review welfare protocols for horse sports and consider a harmonized approach across disciplines.
Among the most prominent issues will be the “blood rule” on a horse in competition that varies in different disciplines–from automatic elimination in dressage to a review by the ground jury and the veterinary delegate to determine if the horse is fit to compete in show jumping.
Automatic elimination as occurred at the 2024 Olympics when a horse nicked a leg to display blood essentially eliminated an entire dressage team of three horses and riders.
The issue of blood came up at the FEI’s General Assembly last November and an easing of the rules were approved for jumping. No change was made for dressage.
FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez said the sport had taken note of the request from several national federations “for a more harmonized approach to protocols, regulations and sanctions across all disciplines.”
The FEI Board recently approved creation of a Horse Condition Task Force to report to the Board.
The task force will be led by an independent facilitator, include discipline and regional group chairs, veterinary and athlete committee chairs, representatives of key stakeholder groups, national federations and FEI officials.
The primary objective “is to review current protocols, regulations and sanctions across all disciplines and recommend a more harmonized regulatory framework before, during and after competitions,” the FEI said. Final approval of any recommendations would be voted on by the governing body’s general assembly that is typically held near the end of each calendar year.
The board wants the task force–members yet to be announced–to:
–Conduct a comprehensive review of the current rules regarding blood on the horse within the general and discipline-specific rulebooks;
–Identify inconsistencies and gaps in the current regulatory framework;
–Assess the rule proposals submitted by March 1 2026 on the topic in accordance with the FEI Rule Revision Policy by national federations and stakeholders;
–Standardize definitions, categorizations and subsequent field-of-play protocols for FEI Officials when blood is detected, and
–Ensure that any proposed harmonization upholds commitment to horse welfare, whilst acknowledging and providing for any strictly necessary discipline-specific nuances.
“We have very different disciplines within our sport but we share a common goal of ensuring the best welfare for our horses and our athletes,” said Sabrina Ibáñez. “Injury occurs in any sport but it is our responsibility as the governing body to review, reduce and regulate, where possible, using clear protocols, rules and sanctions that everyone in our sport and our millions of fans understand and respect.
“We hope this joint Task Force of representatives across our sport will be able to review, discuss and debate protocols and regulations in a unified and open way and, where possible, reach common recommendations for approval by the FEI Board and ultimately the FEI General Assembly.”
The FEI did not give a deadline for the task force to complete its recommendations and whether it would be in time for the end of year 2027 General Assembly that could be applied to Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
