Department updates in Main Driving

As we approach the New Year, we would like to share some important updates and developments for the Driving discipline.
Driving Forum 2025: Save the Date!
The FEI is pleased to announce its second Driving Forum, which will take place ahead of the Full Rules Revision. This event will provide the community with an opportunity to discuss challenges and proposed updates to the rules in Driving and Para Driving. 
The Forum is scheduled for the afternoon of 25 March 2025 and the morning of 26 March 2025 in Exloo (NED). 
Further details will be shared closer to the date of the event.

Carriage Measurement and Tyre Regulations
The FEI Board has approved the suspension of the implementation of Annexes 11 and 12 of the FEI Driving Rules 2025, pending the full revision of the FEI Driving Rules that will take place in 2025.
As this is an Emergency Board Resolution, National Federations have until 18 January 2025 to signify their disapproval. 
Although these annexes were approved without objections during the General Assembly, feedback from key stakeholders has highlighted challenges since their approval. The Driving Committee will continue working on a standardised and accurate measurement method, ensuring the rules enhance horse welfare and fairness in competition. 
These updates will also be discussed during the Driving Forum 2025 and the FEI Sports Forum as part of the Full Rules Revision process.

Changes to the Examination on Arrival
Further to the annual revision of the FEI Rules and Regulations, we would like to bring to your attention a change in the Veterinary Regulations concerning the Examination on Arrival at Driving and Eventing Events. All horses participating in FEI 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. We thank you for your patience whilst these assessments are carried out and remain available should you have any questions.

Qualification Criteria for the FEI Driving Championships 2026
The qualification criteria for the FEI Driving Championships 2026 are now available on the FEI Website. You can find all relevant details here. 
We thank you for your continued commitment and passion for the sport. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and an exciting start to 2025!

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 17 December. The main resolutions taken on this occasion are listed below.

Governance
Elections and appointments 2025
The Board approved the timeline for the 2025 elections and appointments, as follows:

• 1 February: Publication of open positions (as well as Rules of Conduct, Job Specifications and other working documents);
• 1 May: Deadline for applications to be submitted to the FEI;
• May – June (exact date TBC): Nominations Committee in-person meeting;
• August – September (exact date TBC): If contested, online elections for Group V Chair position;
• 4 November: Appointments by the FEI Board at in-person Board meeting in Hong Kong;
• 7 November: Election by FEI General Assembly 2025.

Legal
Appointment of a new Chair of the Atypical Findings (ATF) Panel
The Board approved the appointment of Clíodhna Guy (IRL) from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board as Independent Chair of the Atypical Findings (ATF) Panel for one year.

Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals
The Board approved the re-allocation of the FEI Jumping European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Riders 2025 to Riesenbeck (GER) on 7-13 July.

Jumping
The Board approved the proposed modifications to the following rules:

• Longines EEF Series Rules 2025. The updated document will be published here.
• FEI Jumping World Cup Rules 2025/2026 (Annex D Arab League; Annex F North American League; Annex G China  League; and Annex J Eurasian League);
• FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Rules 2025.

The updated versions of the latter two documents will be published here.

The Board approved the removal of the Šamorín (SVK) leg from the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Series 2025 season without replacement.

Vaulting
The Board approved the FEI Vaulting Guidelines 2025.
The updated document has been published here.

Grooms Consultative Group (GCG)
The Board appointed Daniela Garcia Nigaglioni (MEX), High-Performance Director of the Mexican Equestrian Federation and Secretary General of the Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC), as the representative of the National Federations and Tomas Torgersen (SWE), the Equestrian Organisers Board Member, as the stakeholder’s representative on the Grooms Consultative Group.

Driving
FEI Driving Rules 2025 – Postponement Application Annexes 11 and 12*
Emergency Board Resolution
The Board approves the suspension of the implementation of Annex 11 and Annex 12 of the FEI Driving Rules 2025 pending the full revision of the FEI Driving Rules that will take place in 2025.

Given that this is an Emergency Board Resolution, National Federations have until 19 January 2025 to signify their disapproval by sending an email to Francisco P. Lima, Director Governance & Institutional Affairs.

We are pleased to inform you that the FEI Secretary General has approved the FEI Calendar for 2025 for all disciplines. It can be consulted online in the FEI Database.  

Should you have any questions related to the FEI Calendar, please do not hesitate to contact calendar@fei.org.

We wish to remind you that in accordance with Art. 112 of the FEI General Regulations, the dates for all 2025 International Events must be entered into the FEI online Calendar through FEI Database before Tuesday 01 October 2024 midnight CEST, with the exception of CSI5* and CSIO5* Events for 2025 which had to be entered before 1 May 2024 and have already been approved as previously indicated in our newsletter dated 22 August 2024.

At 23:59 CEST on 01 October 2024, the 2025 online Calendar will be blocked. Any modification requested after the deadline will need to be addressed to the FEI by email (calendar@fei.org) using the Calendar Form available on FEI Documents.

The full Memo can be accessed via the FEI Calendar page (click here).

The FEI Board held a teleconference on 27 August. 

Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals

FEI Driving European Championships for U25, Young Drivers and Children 2026
The Board allocated the FEI Driving European Championships for U25, Young Drivers and Children 2026 to Osorhei (ROU) on 12-15 August 2026.

We would like to remind you that the nominated entry deadline for the FEI Driving World Championship for Young Horses in Lamotte Beuvron (FRA), 26 to 29 September 2024 is on Wednesday 28 August 2024.

Please make sure that you have submitted your entries and your certificate of capability, on time, directly on the FEI Entry System.

Please do not hesitate to contact Driving@fei.org should you need any further information.

We would like to remind you that the Nominated entry deadline for the FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horse in Le Pin au Haras (FRA) 19-22.09.2024 is on Monday 19 August 2024.

Please make sure that you have submitted your entries and your certificate of capability on time, directly on the FEI Entry System.

Please contact Driving@fei.org should you need any further information.

This is a kind reminder to inform you that the Nominated entry deadline for the FEI Driving World Championship for Four-in-Hand in Szilvásvárad (HUN) 04-08.09.2024 is on Monday 05 August 2024.

Please make sure that you have submitted your entries and your certificate of capability, if any, on time, directly on the FEI Entry System.

Please do not hesitate to contact Driving@fei.org should you need any further information.

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 FEI Board held a teleconference on 16 July. The Driving resolutions taken on this occasion are listed below.

Allocation of FEI Championships and Finals

FEI Driving World Championships 2024, Four in Hand – Change of Organiser
The Board accepted the request of from the Hungarian Equestrian Federation to change the organiser of the FEI Driving World Championships 2024, Four in Hand, from Állami Ménesgazdaság Szilvásvárad to Nemzeti Rendezvényszervező Ügynökség.
The dates and venue for the Championship remain unchanged.