The FEI will next week discuss the final report of the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission
THE FEI has been urged to be bold and ambitious, and make evidence-based decisions to ensure equine welfare is always at the forefront of horse sport.
There will be a session to discuss the final report of the independent Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWC) at the FEI sports forum (29–30 April). The aim is to “discuss a proposed practical plan”.
The final report, “A good life for horses: a vision for ensuring the future involvement of horses in sport”, was presented at the FEI general assembly last year (news, 30 November 2023). It included 30 recommendations and asked the FEI to determine what a good life is for sport horses.
It also urged the FEI to adopt the precautionary principle; putting horse welfare as the focal point in decisionmaking by understanding that absence of evidence does not mean evidence of absence. This was also urged at the 2024 International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) conference in March.
An ISES spokesman said after the conference: “We urge the FEI to think progressively and take action on the recommendations, to safeguard equine athletes as well as equestrian sports for the future.
“The world is changing fast and as the equestrian domain is beginning to realise, the opinions of the public in a democracy are the undaunted drivers of what is deemed acceptable, especially with regard to animals in sport.”
The spokesman added that the days of stakeholders and experts determining change are “fading away”.
“Sustainability can only come through the FEI and federations making calculated, forward steps,” he added. “The sleeping giant of public opinion is awakening and there is no sensible alternative but for the FEI to take on the EEWC’s 30 recommendations.”
EEWC chair Nat Waran agreed on the ne
