Global Equestrian Body Enhances Horse Abuse Sanctions Following Recent Scandals

The global governing body for equestrian sports has reinforced the penalties for horse abuse, with these revised regulations set to be implemented on 1 January 2025. During its annual general assembly held in the United Arab Emirates, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) approved modifications to its rules. These modifications involve extending the duration of suspensions imposed on any rider, owner, or team member determined to have violated the organization’s ethical guidelines for the care of competition horses. For ‘top-end’ horse abuse, the penalty has been elevated from a range of two to five years to a ban spanning three to 10 years. Furthermore, the prescribed sanction for ‘maximum’ level abuse now ranges from 10 years to a lifetime ban. The FEI’s penalty for what it classifies as ‘low-end’ horse abuse has been increased from a maximum ban of three months to up to six months. Concurrently, the ‘mid-range’ sanction has been adjusted upwards, moving from a period of three months to two years to a new range of six months to three years. These revisions, effective 1 January, were prompted by a succession of abuse controversies that have emerged within equestrian sports over recent years. A notable incident involved three-time Team GB Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin, who was prohibited from competing in dressage events at this year’s Games in Paris subsequent to the online circulation of a video depicting her excessively whipping a horse. Following this event, the 39-year-old athlete forfeited most of her sponsorships and has refrained from making any public statements since issuing an apology for the occurrence on social media. Dujardin remains under an active disciplinary investigation by the FEI, which imposed a competition suspension on her in July. Additionally, the revised regulations introduce, for the first time, penalties for ‘witness intimidation and retaliation’. Concurrently, the punishment for actions deemed to be ‘bringing the FEI and/or equestrian sport into disrepute’ has been increased, moving from a prior maximum of one year to a new range of five years to a lifetime ban. Changes to anti-doping protocols grant the FEI the authority to solicit information regarding the location of any horse registered with the organization from its respective trainers and owners. Furthermore, horses will now undergo out-of-competition doping tests. Beyond blood and urine samples, anti-doping tests can now also incorporate samples taken from the hair and skin of horses.