In January 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new Coronavirus outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”.

The FEI began to liaise closely with National Federations, providing regular updates and recommendations.

The first FEI Event was cancelled, namely the Longines Masters in Hong Kong (HKG). The government of Hong Kong also cancelled Asia Horse Week that same month. This coincided with the first recommendations regarding travel restrictions to China and information around personal hygiene.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the disease caused by the novel coronavirus would be named COVID-19.

Cancellation of the FEI Sports Forum in-person

The FEI conducted a full risk assessment of the rapidly evolving Coronavirus Covid-19 situation in line with the recommendations of the relevant health authorities in order to evaluate whether the health and safety of delegates would be at risk at the FEI Sports Forum 2020, scheduled to be held from 6 – 7 April 2020.

As this annual gathering involves multiple persons travelling from all over the globe, it quickly became clear that there were too many potential health risks associated with hosting the Sports Forum, and the FEI took the decision to cancel the in-person event and host the time-sensitive sessions online.

Home office for FEI Staff

In line with the situation at the time in Switzerland, and to ensure maximum safety for both FEI Staff and the local population, working from home was introduced. The FEI maintained all services to the equestrian community and stakeholders, with each department fully operational and all members of staff available by phone and email.

Cancellation of the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2020 in Las Vegas

For the first time since their inception

Creation of discipline-specific task forces

The FEI created a series of discipline-specific Calendar Task Forces to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the FEI Calendar, which resulted in multiple Event cancellations and the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to 2021.

These Task Forces, which included a cross section of equestrian stakeholders, reviewed all FEI Calendar related issues caused by Covid-19 throughout the year and made recommendations to the FEI on ways to address them.

New dates for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

WADA creates Covid-19 Q&A

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the global body that promotes, coordinates and monitors the fight against drugs in sports, published a Q&A responding to athlete queries about anti-doping during the ongoing pandemic.

FEI President message to the equestrian community

You can read the message of the FEI President by clicking on the image

First virtual meetings of the FEI Calendar Task Forces

FEI creates new way of calculating the world rankings

In 1 April 2020, the period during which Ranking points in Jumping (Longines), Eventing, Dressage and Para Dressage remain valid had been prolonged by one month and continued to be prolonged for an additional month with each new ranking until the FEI Calendar returned to normal. For Jumping, since 1 June 2021 a process to progressively “defreeze the Longines Ranking points has been put in place”. For the other disciplines it remains to be determined when and how the process to defreeze them will take place.

Points earned in ranking competitions at events that take place during the Covid-19 affected period will continue to count, and the maximum number of results that count for each athlete will remain, ie for the Longines Jumping Rankings best 30; Dressage best eight; Eventing and Para Dressage best six.

Rankings for the other FEI disciplines – Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining – are calculated on a fixed period (calendar year or other fixed period) so they will remain untouched. The change to the Driving Rules that means the discipline rankings will be based on a rolling 12 months does not come into effect until 1 January 2021.

FEI Covid-19 related Executive Board and Board Resolutions

• Cost-saving measures to reduce expenditure: 60% of the FEI staff on temporary partial unemployment as of 15 April, a freeze on recruitment and non-essential projects
• Waiving of Calendar Fees from 15 March 2020 to the end of 2020
• Reduced National Federation 2020 annual subscriptions by 50%
• Reimbursement of FEI.TV subscriptions

First FEI Board Resolutions based on Calendar Task Forces proposals

Following the videoconference held by the FEI Board on Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Vaulting and Reining, it was agreed that:

• Jumping: all Calendar date applications/modifications for Jumping Events taking place up to and including 30 August 2020 were approved by the Board and no date clash rules were applied for this period.

• Dressage: date applications and/or modifications for high level events (CDI5*/CDI4*/CDI3* and CDI-W) needed to reach the FEI eight weeks prior to the event and that date clash rules would not apply to CDI3*.

• Eventing: date applications and/or modifications for CCI5* & CCI4* Long Format needed to reach the FEI six weeks prior to the event; date applications and/or modifications for CCI4* Short Format and all other Events needed to reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.
• Driving: date applications and/or modifications must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.

• Vaulting: date applications and/or modifications must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.
• Reining: date applications and/or modifications must reach the FEI four weeks prior to the Event.

Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Rules 2020 modified to allow for a potential Final of the series in 2020

WHO: Over one million confirmed Covid-19 cases worldwide

The FEI President and FEI General Secretary reach out to Athletes and Organisers with a message of hope and determination

You can read their messages by clicking on their picture

FEI creates a Policy for Enhanced Competition Safety during the Covid-19 pandemic

The FEI Medical Committee and FEI Headquarters created a protocol for National Federations and Organising Committees to provide measures for the safe resumption of international equestrian events.

This Policy contains recommended discipline-specific guidelines including an obligation for Organisers to carry out a Risk Assessment to host safe competitions. To carry out the Risk Assessment, the FEI created a Risk Assessment Tool in form of an excel file, based on the WHO Risk Assessment for sports.

FEI Board approves further Covid-19 related Resolutions

• FEI Series affected by Covid-19
• Discipline specific Calendar Task Force proposals in relation to date clash rules, date modifications, redefining Higher Level Events.
• Extensions regarding various deadlines for qualification processes, championships, FEI Officials   

Cancellation of FEI European Championships 2021 in Olympic & Paralympic disciplines

The FEI European Championships for Jumping, Dressage and Eventing were then reinstated in Jumping and Dressage following the FEI Board meeting in October 2020 (see October for details). In Eventing, the FEI Board agreed to reopen the bidding process for the FEI European Eventing Championship 2021 in December (see December for details).

The Para Dressage community agreed it was not feasible to host a European Championship in close succession to a Paralympic Games, and the cancellation for the 2021 European Championship was maintained.

Approval of the revised qualification systems for rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

For the Olympic Games this meant:

• Introduction of a new concept: “Confirmation Result” for the three disciplines only for those Athlete/Horse combinations that had achieved the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) during the period 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019

• Rescheduling the MER Deadline to 21 June 2021 (three weeks later than the corresponding deadline in 2020) to maximise opportunities for Athlete/Horse combinations (including new combinations) to obtain the MER.

• 21 June 2021 set as the deadline for Athlete/Horse combinations to achieve the Confirmation Result (where applicable).

For the Paralympic Games this meant:

• Revising the start date to 1 January 2019 and extending the deadline to 5 July 2021 to ensure that all Nations get sufficient chances to achieve the MERs and that all Nations have access to Events despite the issues due to Covid-19.

FEI Dressage European Championships for Youth 2020 in Pilisjaszfalu (HUN) from 11 to 27 August goes ahead

Postponement of the Longines FEI Endurance World Championships 2020 to 2021

Announcement of the FEI General Assembly 2020 – moved online

The FEI Board approved the move to an online General Assembly and the cancellation of the in-person FEI General Assembly 2020 in Johannesburg (RSA) in November due to Covid-19 social distancing requirements and travel restrictions.

The FEI Board also voted unanimously to allocate the FEI General Assembly 2021 to South Africa.

Cancellation of FEI Endurance Young Horses & Youth Championships 2020

Cancellation of FEI Solidarity course for NF Secretary Generals and NF Administrators 2020

Re-allocation of FEI Driving World Championship four in hand 2020

The Championship, which had originally been scheduled to take place in Kronenberg (NED) in September, was rescheduled to take place in Valkenswaard (NED) in October 2020 and eventually cancelled (see October).

Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2022 postponed to 2026

FEI Board approves additional Covid-19 related Resolutions

• Cancellation of the FEI Jumping European Championships for Youth in 2020
• Possible waiver of FEI World Cup™ hosting fees on a case by case basis and based on a valid reason from the Organiser
• On a case by case basis, a CSI-W in Western Europe could have the status of a CSI4* Event (only for the 2020/2021 season) in terms of Prize Money and subject to the following conditions:
  • The overall quality of the Event must be maintained at 5* level.
  • The Host Agreement must be respected.
  • There should be a minimum Prize Money guaranteed for both the World Cup and the Grand Prix.

Cancellation of the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championship for Young Horses 2020

Cancellation of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2020

Dr Mark Hart, Chair of the FEI Medical Committee, provides a message of support

Update to the FEI Return To Play Policy

The Policy now strongly recommends that face masks are worn by all persons on the venue at FEI Events, except:

• When mounted on a horse or driving a carriage; and,
• For athletes and Driving Grooms, while training and competing.

New Covid-19 guidelines and protocols made available on the FEI Return To Play hub

• Covid-19 guidelines for prize giving protocols and media activities at FEI Events, effective 1 September 2020
• Covid-19 Veterinary-specific guidelines for FEI Events
• Covid-19 discipline-specific guidelines for FEI Vaulting Events

Creation of FEI Covid-19 Relief Fund

The FEI Board unanimously approved the creation of an FEI Covid-19 Relief Fund, a financial support plan that will make CHF 1,050,000 available to National Federations that have been seriously affected by the ongoing pandemic.

A total of 105 of the 137 National Federations were identified as eligible for support from the Covid-19 Relief Fund, intended to provide targeted financial assistance (CHF 10,000 per NF) to boost grass roots equestrian activities at riding clubs and schools, particularly the care and upkeep of horses.

The FEI Board approved additional Covid-19 related Resolutions

• FEI Calendar 2021 and the prolonging of specific measure taken in 2020 regarding calendar application deadlines
• Emergency Board Resolutions for Para Dressage, Eventing, Endurance and Vaulting
• Championships and Series related Resolutions

FEI Covid-19 Relief Fund application process opened

Cancellation of the FEI Driving World Championships

Sharing the responsibility for a safe competition environment – A message from Maria Gretzer

FEI Board confirms Jumping & Dressage European Championships 2021 in Germany

The FEI Board has committed to allocate European Championships in two Olympic disciplines –  Jumping and Dressage – for 2021, both to German venues. The FEI Board confirmed allocation of the FEI Jumping European Championship 2021 to Riesenbeck pending final confirmation from the Organiser. The Championship will be listed in the FEI Calendar from 31 August to 5 September 2021.

FEI Online General Assembly

For the first time since its inception, the FEI General Assembly was held online. Find out everything about this edition by clicking here

Cancellation of the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Championships for Young Horses 2020

The FEI Board approved additional Covid-19 related Resolutions

• Deadlines for late date applications and Date Clash Rules
• FEI Jumping World Cup™ 2020/2021 Covid-19 By-Laws: Update.
• Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Rules 2021: Rules for the Eurasian League.

FEI Board Meeting Resolutions on the FEI European Eventing Championships 2021

Further to the numerous requests received from a number of European Eventing stakeholders, including National Federations and Athletes, and with the full support of the European Equestrian Federation and the FEI Eventing Committee, the Board agreed to reopen the bidding process for the FEI European Eventing Championship 2021 (timeline attached). The bid process opened on 18 December 2020; applications had to be submitted via the FEI Bidding Platform no later than 15 January 2021. The Board the decided on the allocation of this Championship at its March 2021 teleconference, the event being allocated to Avenches (SUI) 23-26.09.2021.

*Text in blue denotes non-FEI related information and decisions.