FEI Veterinary Highlights 2023

2023 was another busy year for the FEI Veterinary Department, with numerous projects underway to support veterinarians and promote equine health and well-being at FEI Events. Let us take a look at some of the major highlights  

• New educational material was launched for Endurance Official Veterinarians (EOVs) and Endurance Veterinary Treating Officials (EVTOs). This was used for in-person training courses, which are hosted by National Federations on a regular basis to allow FEI Officials to maintain or transfer up to another officiating level.  

• Scientific studies within the fields of equine health, biosecurity and Clean Sport were commissioned, including the “Can objective gait analysis be a decision support during the horse inspections in long-format Eventing competitions”. This project uses technology to support decisions when it comes evaluating the fitness of horses to compete.  

• New sampling kits manufactured by LockCon for use in Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication testing. The kits are FEI branded so that the testing laboratory can identify which samples are from FEI Events.   

• Collaboration with the FEI Legal and Education & Officials Departments leading to the launch of a Prohibited Substances educational course hosted on FEI Campus and the FEI’s “Think Outside the Box” campaign.

Access the course here.

Visit the FEI Education & Officials section to find out everything about the campaign.

The FEI Veterinary Department was represented at many meetings throughout the year, including… 

• International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians;
• Strangles Awareness Week;
• Federation of European Equine Veterinarians’ Association General Assembly;
  
• The Polish Equine Veterinary Association Congress;
• The American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention. 

Importantly, and alongside its ongoing collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Veterinary Department continued to lobby the European Commission on the EU Law on Animal Welfare during Transport. The department also worked with the International Horse Sport Confederation, conducting an official visit to the People’s Republic of China that included meetings with the Ministers of Agriculture and Sports for the adoption of updated chapters on Equine Piroplasmosis and Contagious Equine Metritis into the WOAH Terrestrial Code.