4th of July 2014 Independence day for horses, in the year of the horse
FEI CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE WELFARE OF THE
HORSE ANNOTATED
As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. ~Andrew
Carnegie
The FEI can claim no credit for a code of conduct that they themselves infringe. Words
not practiced are meaningless. Words without action are not only meaningless but can
also be construed as devious, hypocritical and disingenuous. The following line-by-line
annotations in blue font of items in the code highlighted in red are all summarized by the
annotation for the penultimate line of the code on EDUCATION – “Particular attention
will be paid to new research findings.” Read this first if you are short of time.
Otherwise, the code starts here. The formatting has been improved for easier reading
but the words are unaltered:
The FEI requires all those involved in international equestrian sport to adhere to the FEI
Code of Conduct and to acknowledge and accept that at all times the welfare of the
Horse must be paramount. Welfare of the horse must never be subordinated to
competitive or commercial influences.
Yet a rule that mandates the bit for dressage and other disciplines does exactly that - it
subordinates the welfare of the horse to competition
The following points must be particularly adhered to:
1. GENERAL WELFARE:
a) Good Horse management
Stabling and feeding must be compatible with the best Horse management practices.
Clean and good quality hay, feed and water must always be available.
Stabling is not the best method of horse management. Horses are nomadic, herd
animals. They require mobility and company.
b) Training methods
Horses must only undergo training that matches their physical capabilities and level of
maturity for their respective disciplines. They must not be subjected to methods which
are abusive or cause fear.
Research has shown that the bit is abusive and causes fear.
c) Farriery and tack
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Foot care and shoeing must be of a high standard. Tack must be designed and fitted to
avoid the risk of pain or injury.
Research has shown the shoeing is a source of pain, injury, shortened lifespan and
wastage.
d) Transport
During transportation, Horses must be fully protected against injuries and other health
risks. Vehicles must be safe, well ventilated, maintained to a high standard, disinfected
regularly and driven by competent personnel. Competent handlers must always be
available to manage the Horses.
e) Transit
All journeys must be planned carefully, and Horses allowed regular rest periods
with access to food and water in line with current FEI guidelines.
2. FITNESS TO COMPETE:
a) Fitness and competence
Participation in Competition must be restricted to fit Horses and Athletes of proven
competence. Horses must be allowed suitable rest period between training and
competitions; additional rest periods should be allowed following travelling.
b) Health status
No Horse deemed unfit to compete may compete or continue to compete,
veterinary advice must be sought whenever there is any doubt.
c) Doping and Medication
Any action or intent of doping and illicit use of medication constitute a serious
welfare issue and will not be tolerated. After any veterinary treatment, sufficient
time must be allowed for full recovery before Competition.
d) Surgical procedures
Any surgical procedures that threaten a competing Horse’s welfare or the safety of other
Horses and/or Athletes must not be allowed.
The word ‘surgery’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘a work of the hands.’ The
horse’s bit is an extension of the rider’s hands. It invades a body cavity and its effect
can be likened to that of a blunt instrument. In this sense, a bitted bridle is a surgical
instrument and it is wielded by an unlicenced ‘surgeon’ on a fully conscious horse.
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e) Pregnant/recently foaled mares
Mares must not compete after their fourth month of pregnancy or with foal at foot.
f) Misuse of aids
Abuse of a Horse using natural riding aids or artificial aids (e.g. whips, spurs, etc.) will
not be tolerated.
Horses in FEI sponsored competitions are abused on a daily basis by bits, whips and
spurs. Competitors are not being disqualified for these blatant infractions of the code
3. EVENTS MUST NOT PREJUDICE HORSE WELFARE:
a) Competition areas
Horses must be trained and compete on suitable and safe surfaces. All obstacles and
competition conditions must be designed with the safety of the Horse in mind.
b) Ground surfaces
All ground surfaces on which Horses walk, train or compete must be designed and
maintained to reduce factors that could lead to injury.
c) Extreme weather
Competitions must not take place in extreme weather conditions that may compromise
welfare or safety of the Horse. Provision must be made for cooling
conditions and equipment for Horses after competing.
c) Stabling at Events
Stables must be safe, hygienic, comfortable, well ventilated and of sufficient size
for the type and disposition of the Horse. Washing-down areas and water must
always be available.
4. HUMANE TREATMENT OF HORSES:
a) Veterinary treatment
Veterinary expertise must always be available at an Event. If a Horse is injured or
exhausted during a Competition, the Athlete must stop competing and a
veterinary evaluation must be performed.
b) Referral centres
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Wherever necessary, Horses should be collected by ambulance and transported to the
nearest relevant treatment centre for further assessment and therapy. Injured Horses
must be given full supportive treatment before being transported.
c) Competition injuries
The incidence of injuries sustained in Competition should be monitored.
Horses are being injured daily with the bit yet these incidents are seldom monitored.
The injuries affect the horse’s mouth, its mind and lungs. Due to bit-induced difficulty in
breathing, premature fatigue leads to falls, catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries and
euthanasia. Riders are seriously injured and some die.
Ground surface conditions, frequency of Competitions and any other risk factors should
be examined carefully to indicate ways to minimise injuries.
d) Euthanasia
If injuries are sufficiently severe a Horse may need to be euthanised on humane
grounds by a veterinarian as soon as possible, with the sole aim of minimizing suffering.
e) Retirement
Horses must be treated sympathetically and humanely when they retire from
Competition.
5. EDUCATION:
The FEI urges all those involved in equestrian sport to attain the highest possible levels
of education in areas of expertise relevant to the care and management of the
Competition Horse.
These brave words are not followed by action. The FEI has not acknowledged or
welcomed new research and has signally failed to urge (allow) riders to take advantage
of it in order to improve the quality of life for their horse and safety for themselves.
This Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse may be modified from time to time
and the views of all are welcomed.
The reality is that FEI administrators have stone-walled and resisted pleas for change
and improvement. The current Code of Conduct is in need of a major overhaul to bring
it into line with established science. The code and the competition rules that flow from it
should be consistent with established science and the animal welfare laws of the
countries in which FEI sponsored competitions are held. In the UK, for example, the FEI
rules mandate conditions that are inconsistent with the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The
rules require competitors to break the law.
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Particular attention will be paid to new research findings
Well said but not well done. In practice this is simply untrue. Ground-breaking equine
research in the last 20 years has been consistently ignored. If due attention had been
paid to it, none of the above annotations would have been necessary. This is the crux
of the problem.
and the FEI encourages further funding and support for welfare studies
Again, all very fine but the FEI should first apply the studies that have been completed.
End of Code of Conduct
CONCLUSION
The FEI is currently responsible, within its own competitions, for unnecessary suffering
(cruelty) to the horse and for avoidable accidents to riders. The total number of FEI
competitors is small compared with the total number of riders worldwide but,
unfortunately, the FEI has an influence that spreads far beyond its own ranks. Because
its rules are followed by most national federations and even by Pony Clubs throughout
the world and 4H organizations in the USA, the FEI is also responsible for avoidable
pain and injury during most non-FEI competitions. It is especially egregious that
children are exposed to unnecessary danger and taught bad habits. Because the FEI is
currently setting a bad example on equine welfare, even the much larger population of
recreational riders around the world learn to emulate FEI standards.
As the current FEI Code of Conducts was compiled with advice from World Horse
Welfare this reflects no credit on either organization. Administrative bodies that claim
international and world status have an obligation to strive for the very highest standards.
In any field of study, a scientist for example has to produce evidence of world quality in
order to even take part in the game of science, let alone to be a leader in the game.
Science is played on a world stage. Global organizations can make no progress if their
‘evidence’, their codes and rules, are 20 years out of date. In the world of horse
organizations, and at the current state of knowledge, The Netherlands is the leader, not
the FEI.
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