The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (French: Fédération Équestre Internationale, FEI) is the international governing body of equestrian sports. The FEI headquarters are in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The FEI is responsible for drafting and enforcing regulations within the six disciplines under its jurisdiction. Besides regulation, overseeing all international competitions and Championships, overseeing and cooperating with all affiliated national federations, overseeing and educating officials and registering riders and horses are core tasks of the FEI. As an umbrella equestrian organisation, the FEI focuses on promoting equestrian sport, attracting and cooperating with sponsors, media and fans, and representing equestrian sport on various online and offline channels.[1]
An FEI code of conduct[2] protects the welfare of the horses from physical abuse or doping. On 2 March 2022, in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FEI banned Russian and Belarusian athletes, horses, and officials from FEI events, and subsequently an FEI Tribunal panel dismissed an appeal by Russia's Federation of Equestrian Sports challenging the ban.[3]
Disciplines
The FEI recognizes six disciplines under global governance in both regular and para-equestrianism competition: [4]
To grow the unique and mutually beneficial bond between horse and human in sport globally.[13]
Mission
To drive and develop equestrian sport globally in a modern, sustainable and structured manner with guaranteed integrity, athlete welfare, equal opportunity and a fair and ethical partnership with the horse.[13]
The first Olympics held under its authority were in 1924. Jumping, Dressage and Eventing have been a part of the Olympics since 1912.[15] Para-Equestrian Dressage has been part of the Paralympic games since 1996.[16] Jumping has been part of the Youth Olympic Games since its creation in Singapore in 2010.[17]
FEI World Equestrian Games
The FEI has organized the FEI World Equestrian Games every four years since 1990. The idea of the World Equestrian Games (WEG) came into being in the mid-1980s and was strongly supported by HRH Prince Philip, who was then FEI President.
The WEG encompasses the World Championship titles in all the FEI global disciplines.[18]
World Cup
The FEI World Cup is an indoor series and takes place throughout the world with qualifying leagues leading to a final in each of the disciplines. The FEI World Cup series began with show jumping in 1978 and has since been extended to the disciplines of dressage, driving, and vaulting. Main events include:
First Asian Equestrian Championships in Pattaya (THA) 30 Nov to 8 Dec 2019
Ratings
History
The FEI was formed in 1921 with the joining of the national organizations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the United States of America.[20] Today, there are 136 National Equestrian Federations affiliated with the FEI.[21]
On March 2, 2022, in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the FEI banned Russian and Belarusian athletes, horses, and officials from FEI events, and subsequently an FEI Tribunal panel dismissed an appeal by Russia's Federation of Equestrian Sports challenging the ban.[3]
Presidents
There have been 13 different presidents of the organization. Major Jhkr Karl F. Quarles van Ufford is the only individual to have served twice. Nowadays, a President can serve for a maximum of three terms. Since 2014, the President of the FEI is Ingmar De Vos from Belgium.
^"About FEI". www.inside.fei.org. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
^"The FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2017.
^ a b"FEI Tribunal dismisses Russian appeal against equestrian ban". www.insidethegames.biz. 30 May 2022.
^"Sport". 15 July 2020.
^"Disciplines – Dressage – About Dressage". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Disciplines – Driving – About Driving". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Disciplines – Driving – About Para Equestrian Driving". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Disciplines – Endurance – About Endurance". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Disciplines – Eventing – About Eventing". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Disciplines – Jumping – About Jumping". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Disciplines – Vaulting – About Vaulting". Fei.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^"Welcome to Reining". FEI. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
^ a b"FEI Values | FEI". 12 June 2019.
^"All Events".
^"Does Olympic horse-riding have a gender problem?". The Economist. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
^"Americans Hart, Shoemaker & Trunnell Win 4 Para-Equestrian World Medals – For A Program That Had None". Team USA. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
^"Equestrian". 21 December 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
^"FEI Championships". FEI. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
^"Jumping Main Events". 9 March 2012.
^Allen, K; Schumacher, SA (2015). "Chapter 26: Impact of FEI rules on sport horse medications". In Sprayberry, KA; Robinson, NE (eds.). Robinson's Current Therapy in Equine Medicine (7th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. pp. 112–115. ISBN 9780323242165.
^"FEI National Federation Members". fei.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
External links
Official website
FEI TV: Official Equestrian Sport streaming website