Veterinary Department Updates

Team changes
We have the pleasure to welcome Annick Hauser to FEI Veterinary Department, who has joined following the departure of Anne Saez. We would like to extend our gratitude to Anne for all her work and wish her every success in her future endeavours.
Changes to the Veterinary Regulations
The FEI Veterinary Regulations have undergone a minor revision this year and we would like to make you aware of some significant changes. 
At the Examination on Arrival, all horses participating in FEI Eventing and Driving events (both indoor and outdoor), will have to undergo a clinical examination to assess their heart at the Examination on Arrival. The purpose of this examination is to check the heart rate and heart rhythm to identify any issues that could be a problem for a good tolerance of exercise. 
With respect to the administration of medication, it is no longer possible to treat horses until 10:00h on the day on which they are to compete, where their class starts after 18:00h. Furthermore, the administration of infusions or injections of vitamins and/or minerals are prohibited during the Period of the Event, unless in the event of an emergency where their use is to be supported using a Veterinary Form A. 
We encourage you to become familiar with the remaining changes in preparation for FEI Events next year. The clean and marked-up versions of the 2025 Veterinary Regulations may be found here.

Clean Sport  
Sampling kits
Official Veterinarians and Testing Veterinarians are reminded that from 1 January 2025 Berlinger and Australian Racing sampling kits will no longer be permitted for use at FEI events. FEI-branded LockCon sampling kits will be the only sampling kits approved for use at FEI events. 
Instructions on how to use the LockCon sampling kits may be found in the Testing Veterinarians’ Manual, located Resources section of the FEI website, here. Please note it is necessary to log into the website using your FEI ID to access the information.
We would like to take this opportunity to request vigilance regarding the disposal of needles used to take EADCM samples. Please dispose of them into an appropriate sharps container immediately after use and refrain from sending them to the laboratory with the samples.
New Detection Times
We are pleased to inform you that the FEI List of Detection Times has been expanded. Detection times for acepromazine, clodronic acid and xylazine are now included and the new list can be found here. 
Equine Prohibited Substances List (EPSL)
In preparation of 2026 EPSL, we invite you to submit any suggestions for change which would be considered by the FEI List Group during 2025. Suggestions for change are to be submitted before 1 February 2025, using the dedicated FEI Prohibited List Suggestions Form which can be found here. 

Updates to the Veterinary Reports & Testing Veterinarian Reports
Please note that changes have been implemented in the Online Reports, namely:  

• Uploading the supporting documents and pictures directly in the reports. Please use the corresponding boxes in the reports instead of sending them to vetdocs@fei.org.
• Various user experience and display improvements.
• If you mentored a OV Candidate, please mention their FEI ID, Complete Name, Assignment and Dates Present in the corresponding box in complement to the Evaluation form which can be found here.

Please note that the changes are effective immediately for all reports loaded from this date. Forms that have been loaded before today will remain on the old version. 

CES Online Assessment & Education System
We would like to remind all Officiating Veterinarians that the CES Online Assessment, which is one of the three requirements for status maintenance, is accessible online during the entire Maintenance Year, from 16 December and until 15 December 2025. It must be taken and “passed” to officiate after 31 March. If not, the function will be placed ON HOLD, until the CES Online Assessment is taken and “passed”. Please refer FEI Database to check your own profile and to the Education System for FEI Veterinarians the for the requirements to maintain your status as FEI Veterinarian.

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 27 August. 

Veterinary

Proposed Changes to the Equine Prohibited Substances List
The Board approved the proposed changes to the Equine Prohibited Substance List (EPSL).
The changes to the EPSL will come into effect on 1 January 2025 and will be published here three months before at the latest.

FEI PERMITTED TREATING VETERINARIANS & FEI OFFICIAL VETERINARIANS

FEI Permitted Treating Veterinarian’s status 
The FEI would like to clarify the legal standing of the Permitted Treating Veterinarian’s (PTV) status. 
The PTV status allows veterinarians to work at FEI events to satisfy the FEI Rules and Regulations. The PTV status does not override any national legislation where a licence to practice veterinary medicine is required. 
If a PTV attends an FEI event in a country other than where they are a licensed veterinarian, they must obtain a temporary or permanent license to practice veterinary medicine, if such legislation is in place. This requirement is in addition to holding the PTV status. 
In some countries this requirement may also be applicable to Official Veterinarians carrying out their duties at events, even though they are not treating horses. 
If you are attending an event and don’t know if you require a veterinary licence, we encourage you to contact the Veterinary Services Manager of the event or the relevant National Head Veterinarian.

Recording of Equine Influenza Vaccinations 
Many horses will have been vaccinated against equine influenza before acquiring an FEI Recognition Card and their vaccinations will have been recorded in the horse’s national passport. In such cases, we advise that the vaccinations continue to be recorded in the horse’s passport. 
When there are no more pages remaining, veterinarians may then continue recording vaccinations in the vaccinations section of the horse’s FEI Recognition Card, in line with Veterinary Regulations, Article 1002.7. We anticipate that this will facilitate the record keeping of long vaccination histories without the inconvenience of requesting duplicate national passports.

Testing Veterinarians selection process and status
The FEI Veterinary Department would like to clarify the Testing Veterinarians selection process. Please note that the number of Testing Veterinarians required per National Federation is determined by the FEI Testing Plan. Any FEI Veterinarian may attend the Testing Veterinarian Transfer-Up Course to increase their knowledge of EADCM sample collection. Please kindly be aware that only candidates formally invited by the FEI Veterinary Department will be asked to take the practical exam and undergo mentoring in order to be listed as FEI Testing Veterinarian.

FEI HorseApp – Offline Mode 
We know that in certain parts of the world, or at certain Events, the internet coverage is not sufficient making it challenging for you to use the FEI HorseApp correctly.
We are therefore pleased to announce that an “Offline Mode” has now been launched. This will allow you to use the FEI HorseApp to perform the Examination on Arrival without an internet connection at the time of the Horse’s arrival. The relevant information will then be synchronised to the FEI Database at a later stage when an internet connection has been established. 
In order to benefit from the FEI HorseApp offline, you must first ensure that you have the latest version of the FEI HorseApp and open the App prior to the Event while you have a secure internet connection. You will see that the offline database will download to your device. You can then use the FEI HorseApp as normal to perform the Examinations on Arrival. We suggest you do this prior to any FEI Event where you suspect you might have limited internet coverage. 
Please click here for a step-by-step guideline on how to use the FEI HorseApp offline. 
If you need any assistance or have any questions regarding the FEI HorseApp, please contact usersupport@fei.org.

Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication (EADCM) Sampling Kits  
Further to the introduction of the new LockCon sampling kits, we would like to advise on the correct version of the kits. 
Only the FEI branded LockCon kits are to be used for taking EADCM samples from horses at FEI events. They are the only FEI approved LockCon kits with respect to the Veterinary Regulations, Article 1071.1. 
LockCon kits that do not carry the FEI brand are not approved by the FEI and must not be used for EADCM sampling. Use of non-approved sampling kits for EADCM sampling may invalidate the entire sampling process and complicate work at the FEI laboratories. 
Please could we therefore request your vigilance in using the correct version of the sampling kits.

Online networking
We have been made aware that a number of FEI Veterinarians have been invited to join an online networking website. The invitation cites that the FEI has shared information about individuals’ experience with the company. We would like to clarify that the FEI was not previously aware of the company in question and can reassure all FEI Veterinarians that no information has been shared with third parties.

Contact
If you have any questions or require support on any veterinary matters, please feel free to contact us on veterinary@fei.org.

The FEI will launch the "Be a Guardian" initiative today, calling on community members to embrace their roles as guardians of FEI horses. A full press release will be issued shortly and can be found here.

The ‘Be a Guardian’ initiative represents a significant shift in the FEI's approach to equine care, emphasising the importance of horse welfare.

Based on the concept of guardianship, the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission created a comprehensive document highlighting six priority areas and 30 recommendations to improve the welfare of sport horses.

The FEI has since developed an Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan to address the priorities identified by the Commission.

Supported by a CHF 1 million allocation approved by the FEI Board in June 2024, this plan aims to enhance the wellbeing of FEI horses through robust rules, guidelines, educational programmes, and various initiatives.

The goal is to respect the natural needs of horses in international equestrian sports, fostering a global commitment to equine welfare and ensuring that horses receive the care and respect they deserve.

We urge our National Federations to embrace this call to action, actively promote this shift in perspective, and recognise the responsibility we all share in being the guardians of our beloved horses. 

The Rules Revision Process 2024 is well underway with the first draft of the proposed changes now available to National Federations and Stakeholders for review and feedback by 21 August 2024 prior to being submitted to the FEI General Assembly for approval in November as per the timeline below: 
1 March 2024
National Federations and Stakeholders with whom the FEI has signed an MOU have the opportunity to propose Rules changes as per the FEI Periodical Rules Revision Policy.
26 June 2024
The FEI provides National Federations and Stakeholders with the first Draft of proposed Rules changes.

IMPORTANT
The 1st Draft of proposed Rules changes Memos as well as the Templates to provide feedback by 21 August 2024 can be found here. ONLY proposals submitted online on the Rules Revision Platform using the respective Templates will be accepted.
21 August 2024
National Federations and Stakeholders are given eight weeks to review the first Draft and the proposed amendments in this first Draft and make comments and/or propose any changes in relation to the first Draft.
16 October 2024
Final Draft of the proposed Rules changes is provided to National Federations and Stakeholders.                                                                                  
12 November 2024
Rules Session at FEI General Assembly.
13 November 2024
Voting of Rules at the FEI General Assembly.

For more information on the FEI Rules Revision processes and timelines, click here.

If you have any questions please contact the FEI Director Governance & Institutional Affairs at Francisco.lima@fei.org.

The FEI Sports and Veterinary Departments would like to draw your attention to the application deadline to host FEI Transfer Up or CES (FEI Competency-based Evaluation System) Maintenance Courses in 2025.

We kindly ask you to download the relevant application and budget forms, which can be accessed via the links provided below, and to send them to the FEI via the corresponding email address also provided below, no later than 31 July 2024.

Should you have any questions regarding the administration of our courses, please contact the relevant FEI Discipline or Veterinary Department who will be able to assist you.

The FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Group - the sub-committee of the Veterinary Committee responsible for the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List (EPSL) - has met to consider changes to the 2024 EPSL which can be found here. Any accepted changes will come into effect as of 1 January 2025, and are subject to consultation and review before their implementation.

Please submit all comments regarding the proposed changes, together with a clear scientific reasoning, to Caterina Termine by Friday 26 July 2024. All comments received within this deadline will be considered by the FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Group before finalising their conclusions.

Please be informed that the next update of the FEI Tack, Equipment & Dress Database (FEI Tack App) will be released after the Easter holidays, on 8 April 2024.

Further to feedback received from numerous Athletes and Officials, who are seeking clarity regarding the use of tack and equipment during the Olympic & Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, the FEI agreed that this would be the last update of the FEI Tack App prior to the Games. The temporary pause of updates to the FEI Tack App will be applied to all FEI Disciplines, including non-Olympic Disciplines.

Following the conclusion of the Olympic & Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, the updates shall resume on every first Monday of the month, as per the usual process.

Veterinary Rules Revision Video
We are pleased to inform you that the Veterinary Regulations video explainer for 2024 is now available on FEI Campus.

Equine Influenza Vaccination Intervals
Since 1 January 2024, new equine influenza vaccination intervals were introduced concerning horses undergoing new primary courses. We would like to clarify the regulations that are applicable to horses that may not have completed their primary course or received their first booster. 
Scenario 1
A horse received V1 in December 2023 and is due to receive V2 in January 2024 or later.
In this case, V2 may be given between 21-92 days of V1. 
Scenario 2
A horse received V1 and V2 in 2023 and was due to receive V3 in January 2024 or later.
In this case, V3 should be given within 6 months and 21 days of V2 to comply with the new vaccination rules.

FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List: call for suggestions by List Group
The Equine Prohibited Substances List 2024, effective since 1 January 2024, is available in the FEI Anti-Doping Rules hub. The review process for changes to the Equine Prohibited Substances List 2024 is now underway and details regarding this process are explained on the dedicated page.
In preparation of the List for 2025, we invite you to submit your suggestions for consideration by the List Group via the FEI Prohibited List Suggestions Form. Please submit any suggestions no later than 1 March 2024 for consideration during 2024.

EADCM Sampling Kits
We would like to remind you that since 1 January 2024, the FEI’s new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication sampling kits have been available for use at FEI events.  
Up until 31 December 2024, existing supplies of Berlinger and Australian Racing sampling kits may still be used. 
The new LockCon sampling kits are FEI-branded and are for use only at FEI events. They must not be used for sampling at national events, submitting elective testing samples or pre-purchase examinations.

Key Event Requirements (KERs) System
The FEI Key Event Requirements (KERs) System has been launched and covers all FEI events from 1 January 2024. 
Fourteen (14) KERs that have been identified, cover aspects such as biosecurity, veterinary services, field of play and training provision, as well as multiple aspects of stable provision, including security, stable size, ventilation, fire precautions and stable cleanliness. For reference, please see FEI General Regulations Appendix L. 
All KERs are covered by FEI rules, and the monitoring of their compliance is conducted by FEI Officials at Events. The Veterinary Online Report has been updated to reflect these changes and now includes questions that cover nine of these KERs. 
The monitoring of the KERs will allow for a systematic follow up on non-compliances with the Organising Committees of the Events. 
All information outlining the KERs, how they are monitored and followed-up on is available here.

CES online assessment
We kindly remind FEI Official Veterinarians of all levels to complete their CES online assessment before 31 March 2024 in order remain listed. 
To do so, please log in on FEI Campus with your FEI ID number and password. Then click on your name and Dashboard and then on the “FEI Maintenance” title at the top of the page.

Changes to the Veterinary Regulations
We would like to remind you of the new rules regarding the vaccination of horses against equine influenza that will come into effect on 1 January 2024.
Any horse receiving a new primary course as of 1 January 2024 must be vaccinated as follows:

• V1 (initial vaccination)
• V2 (second vaccination) must be administered 21-60days after V1
• V3 (first booster) must be administered within 6months and 21days of V2 

Further to these changes, the Veterinary Regulations have undergone a minor revision this year and the 2024 version of the Veterinary Regulations can be found here.

Use of Duphalyte at FEI Events
The FEI has been made aware that 500ml bottles of Duphalyte Solution for Injection (Zoetis) are being increasingly requested for use at FEI events. The product would be considered as an infusion with respect to the Veterinary Regulations, Article 1060.1. It is not necessary to give intravenous fluids simultaneously to satisfy Article 1060.4 in these cases.

Changes to the FEI HorseApp
In accordance with Article 1030.2 of the FEI Veterinary Regulations, the validity of the FEI Passport or FEI Recognition Card must be controlled during the Examination on Arrival. To assist with this process, information has been added to the Examination on Arrival screen on the FEI HorseApp displaying the validity status and date of validity with an easy colour code.
This information is available to assist, however it remains the responsibility of the VC/VD to check the relevant passport information and validity sticker as per the FEI Veterinary Regulations.
Click here for information regarding the use of the FEI HorseApp during the Examination on Arrival.

FEI Fan Shop
With Christmas just around the corner, many of you may still be out searching the perfect present. The FEI’s Fan Shop stocks a wide range of gifts, clothing collections and branded merchandise for all equestrian enthusiasts. Discover the FEI Fan Shop here.

New EADCMP sampling kits
We would like to provide you with additional information regarding the transition to new Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication sampling kits.
The new sampling kits are manufactured by LockCon. The FEI’s Central Laboratory will continue to supply testing kits to you and the sample collection procedure will remain unchanged. 
The main changes to the sampling kits are summarised as follows:

• The kits are FEI branded to help the laboratory identify which samples are from FEI events. We therefore request that these kits are not used at national events or for any other reason, to prevent confusion.
• The kits include four bottles instead of three, where the four vacutainers that make up the ‘A’ sample will now be placed into a bottle instead of a security bag.
• The bottles in which the urine ‘A’ and ‘B’ samples are poured are smaller and have to be filled to the 100ml mark which is indicated on the side of the bottle.
• The bottles supplied in the kits feature a modernised and secure locking mechanism however they close and click shut in the same manner as the Berlinger kits.

An updated version of the FEI Testing Veterinarian manual, explaining how to use the kits, is now available on the FEI website, here. Please log into the FEI website using your FEI ID and password to access the document.
Before ordering the new LockCon kits, we request our community to finish using the supplies of Berlinger and Australian Racing sampling kits during 2024. The LockCon kits will however be available from the Central Laboratory from 1 January 2024.
Berlinger and Australian Racing sampling kits will not be permitted for use at FEI events from 1 January 2025.

CES Officiating Review & Education System (for OVs)
We would like to remind all Officiating Veterinarians that the CES Officiating review, which is one of the 3 requirements for status maintenance, will start at the end of 2024. The minimum number of events for all Levels is 1 every 3 years. Please refer to the Education System for FEI Veterinarians for the type of events required for your Level.
At the end of 2024, the FEI will look at the officiating records for the years 2024, 2023 and 2022. The veterinarians who have not had any activity in 2023 and 2022 are invited to officiate at minimum 1 event in 2024 in order to maintain their status. 
The Officials’ Exchange Programme can be applied for if no officiating opportunity is available in your country.

New Expense Claim & Payment Form (for OVs)
There is a new Expense Claim & Payment Form for FEI Officials to be used as of 1 January 2024. From that date, former forms will not be accepted anymore. The new form is accessible here.

FEI Christmas Card
We would like to thank our FEI Veterinary community for all of their dedication and hard work in supporting our events in 2023. We wish you an enjoyable holiday season and a great start to the New Year. Please click here to see the video card.