The FEI Online General Assembly - Summary of key discussions

The FEI Online General Assembly was held digitally yesterday.

A summary of all the key discussions and decisions can be found here as well as the opening and closing statements by the FEI President and other presentations.

The FEI Online General Assembly can be watched on replay on the FEI General Assembly 2020 hub.

Board Meeting II will be held on Wednesday 25 November and a full wrap-up summarising all key discussions and decisions will be made available soon after. 

Below a summary of Key Discussions fregarding the discipline of jumping:

MODIFICATIONS TO THE FEI RULES AND REGULATIONS

The General Assembly unanimously approved the modifications to the FEI General Regulations. All changes to the FEI General Regulations can be viewed here in due course.

Following discussions at the dedicated Sessions on the proposed amendments to the human and equine Anti-Doping Rules, the General Assembly unanimously approved the modifications to the Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) as well as the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations (EADCMR). All changes to the Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes can be viewed here in due course. All changes to the Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations can be viewed here in due course.

Jumping

The Jumping Committee report updates on the considerable effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the discipline, with multiple cancellations, including two major FEI named series Finals - the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final in Las Vegas (USA) and Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona (ESP).

The ongoing global health crisis continues to impact the 2020/2021 season of the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series, although plans are in place for alternative qualification pathways to the Final in Gothenburg (SWE).

The report, which can be viewed here, also highlights the considerable impact on the FEI Invitation System - especially at the CSI2* level - as well as the Longines FEI Rankings.

The General Assembly unanimously approved the modifications to the Jumping Rules. All changes to the Jumping Rules can be viewed here in due course.

Veterinary

The FEI Veterinary Committee report, which can be viewed here, highlights the proposal to the trimming or removal of horse’s sensory hairs a prohibited method. The report also provides an update on the Veterinary Department initiative to ensure a high level of safety, stable security and biosecurity for horses stabled at FEI Events.

The project will be linked to a Jumping Department project on venue requirements. The Veterinary Committee has confirmed the new Pony Measuring system has been successfully implemented in the EEF in cooperation with National Federations in the region.

Following the introduction of a new Pony Measuring System, minor changes have been proposed to improve the system. The General Assembly unanimously approved all modifications to the Veterinary Regulations. These changes can be viewed here in due course.

MEDICAL

The FEI Medical Committee report, which includes athlete anti-doping, athlete welfare and Enhanced Competition Safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, can be viewed here.

ATHLETES

The FEI Athletes’ Committee report, which includes an update from the Committee’s online meeting on 7 October 2020, is available here.

CLEAN SPORT

The report from the FEI Global Equine Anti-Doping Controlled Medication Programme (EADCMP) can be viewed here. The report notes that the high number of positive cases last year was partly due to Synephrine contamination, with a total of 15 cases in Jumping and four in Vaulting.

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES

The progress report on the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which includes an update on proposed Covid-19 countermeasures and the current eligibility status of National Federations for both Games, can be found here.

ALLOCATION OF FEI SERIES, CHAMPIONSHIPS & FINALS

Delegates were informed of allocations made by the FEI Board at its online meeting of 18 November 2020.

FEI MANAGEMENT

The FEI Management report from each of the non-sports Departments at FEI Headquarters can be viewed here. FEI TRIBUNAL The FEI Tribunal report, which reflects the reduction in the number of cases submitted due to the pandemic, is available here.

EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY INTEGRITY UNIT

The report from the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit (ECIU) also reflects a reduction in output over the past 12-month cycle due to the impact of the pandemic. Although there have been no major events for the ECIU to attend, the Unit has continued to operate the Integrity Hotline and has conducted a range of investigations throughout 2020. The report can be viewed here.

WORLD HORSE WELFARE

In a video address to the FEI General Assembly, the Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare talked through the key points of the charity’s new four-year strategy. He highlighted that horse sport needs to continue to work hard to maintain its social licence to operate as some sectors of the public are increasingly questioning the validity of equestrian sport, particularly in terms of the treatment of horses. He stressed the importance of ensuring that competition rules and guidance are regularly reviewed, that any changes are made based on sound evidence and that the community acts decisively when regulations are not respected. He also stated the importance of communication and the need to actively demonstrate to the public everything the community does to consider the needs of sport horses.

FEI SPORTS FORUM & GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2021

The FEI Sports Forum 2021 is set to be held on 19-20 April, with both in-person and online platforms being considered given the ongoing uncertainty around the Covid-19 pandemic. Topics currently being considered include sessions on Rules Revisions for Jumping, Minimum Requirements for International Events, formal integration of grooms as a stakeholder group in the FEI Family, and FEI Calendar processes. Johannesburg (RSA) was due to the host this year’s in-person FEI General Assembly, but the pandemic resulted in a need to move online for the first time in FEI history. As a result, the FEI General Assembly 2021 has been re-allocated to the South African Equestrian Federation and will be held in Johannesburg from 13-16 November.

Press release