Should the same blood rules apply across all horse sports? FEI reviewing ‘harmonised’ approach, plus other revisions
The blood rules are once again a talking point in the annual FEI rules revision process
Blood rules could be harmonised across the disciplines, as stakeholders continue to debate the issue.
The contentious topic continues to be a talking point and has been addressed in the FEI rules revision process, but no change will be made yet.
Currently rules differ across the Olympic disciplines. This year, a rule was introduced in showjumping, whereby rider-induced blood does not automatically lead to elimination but instead a recorded warning. If a rider has two warnings in 12 months, they are fined and suspended for a month. Since 1 January, 282 warnings have been issued and 13 suspensions. Although the rule generated much discussion ahead of its implementation – including concerns that it was “weakening” protocols – no further changes have been requested.
There is now discussion around harmonising the rules across the disciplines after the FEI established a “horse condition task force” to review protocols. It has not been confirmed what this might look like or if it means implementing the showjumping blood rule across the board.
“The primary objective of the task force is to recommend a more harmonised approach to the FEI’s regulations concerning blood on the horse across all disciplines,” said an FEI spokesperson.
The task force held a meeting in June but “has not achieved consensus” so no rule change will be voted on at the General Assembly. An FEI spokesperson told H&H “discussions are ongoing”.
British Equestrian (BEF) “strongly recommends” that no change is made to the blood rules in dressage, as “it would be a retrograde step from our current zero-tolerance approach”. Currently, any fresh blood on the horse in dressage results in automatic elimination.
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“While we are sympathetic to instances where blood is not in the area of influence of the rider or directly caused by the use of tack and equipment, it is often very difficult to determine the exact cause of blood during competition or warm-up. Unless this can be very clearly defined, with appropriate veterinary checks in place before/after competition, we believe the current rule should remain in place,” said the BEF spokesperson.
The Dutch federation is among those in agreement that the existing rule in dressage should continue.
“We understand that the FEI intends to harmonise this rule with the regulations currently applied in jumping. However, for our discipline, we respectfully request that the existing rule remains unchanged,” said a spokesperson.
Elsewhere in the rules revision process, the FEI has put forward additions to the veterinary regulations. Proposals include using body condition scoring to ensure that horses are not “very thin or obese”, compulsory vet exams for horses who have fallen during an event and potential elimination of horses that show “unsafe behaviour” around horses and/or humans.
“The FEI believes that it is not in the horse’s best interests, in terms of welfare, for them to compete if they are very thin or obese and proposes the implementation of the Henneke [body condition scoring] scale to support this,” said an FEI spokesperson.
“Also, with respect to welfare, horses must be excluded from competition where they have an injury or disease that causes pain or discomfort that could be exacerbated by competition.”
Ahead of the LA Olympics, there have been calls for an increase to the 20 penalties incurred in eventing if teams substitute a rider after the cross-country. The US federation proposed 35 penalties, the German federation 40.
“The Olympic Games in Paris demonstrated that it was possible to win a team medal even after a substitution, which was perceived as being contrary to the original and traditional intention of the rule,” said a German federation spokesperson.
“Therefore, we recommend increasing the substitution penalty and would welcome renewed discussion on this matter.”
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.