FEI Tech Goes for Gold at FEI Sports Forum

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is no stranger to technological innovation, which was recently evidenced by it’s placement on the 2022 sports technology power list, so it was fitting that it showcased no fewer than 10 of its latest innovative digital platforms at the FEI Sports Forum in Lausanne today, demonstrating its commitment to preparing athletes and horses from grassroots to the highest level of the sport.  

In the second session of the day, entitled ‘TechQuestrian – Going for Gold’, the FEI’s Technology and Sports Services (TSS) department presented a wealth of technology enhancements to the delegates. They highlighted their digital solutions, including the FEI World Challenges platform, FEI Database, and FEI HorseApp, in an entertaining and interactive way, engaging the audience from the start with a quiz, with questions interspersed throughout the session. 

Some of the new features presented include comprehensive horse registration data protocols, horse document management and vaccination recording, tools which aim to simplify and provide efficient processes for National Federations, horse owners and athletes. 

Updates to the FEI Entry and Invitation systems were also introduced, and the much-awaited launch in May of the online schedule for Jumping. These updates will streamline the management of competitions and entries, making it easier for organisers and participants to navigate the scheduling and registration process.

Vaccination Recording

One of the highlights of the session was the announcement of a progressive roll-out of Equine Influenza vaccination recording for all FEI horses using the FEI HorseApp. 

This important initiative is aimed at enhancing horse health management and biosecurity measures in accordance with FEI regulations. To this end, the FEI is currently working on a new feature for the existing HorseApp that will help Veterinarians and horse-owners better manage and keep track of all vaccination requirements.

With this new system, FEI Veterinarians will be able to enter vaccination information directly into the app, and also access information on the vaccination status of any horse at an event, including details such as administration date, batch number and validity. 

In order to address connectivity issues at stables and events, the FEI announced they are working on an ‘offline mode’ feature, meaning it can be used without Internet access with all information synched with the database when connected again. This will first launch with the new vaccination module and later spread to the other HorseApp functionalities. 

There will be a pilot phase in 2023 and a progressive rollout throughout 2024, with all FEI horses projected to have influenza vaccination details on the HorseApp by 2025.

The FEI RuleApp and the newly launched FEI TackApp were also introduced as key resources for athletes, their Support Personnel, FEI Officials and horse owners, providing easy access to information on tack and equipment for FEI disciplines, outlining what is permitted or not permitted at FEI competitions.

FEI Tack App

In particular, the FEI TackApp was launched as the go-to destination for all pieces of tack and equipment related to horses and athletes for all FEI disciplines. The app - which was created with the input of the FEI Equipment Expert Group - is a living platform that will continuously be updated with the latest information, provides a comprehensive, user-friendly database of tack and equipment, making it convenient for athletes to ensure compliance with FEI regulations.

The purpose of the app is to make the equipment, tack and dress guidelines easily available in a friendly manner for all the equestrian community, which will be another positive step for horses’ well-being and athletes’ safety all around the world. Athletes, grooms, FEI Officials and other stakeholders can use the app to check if a specific piece of equipment, tack or dress is permitted or not at FEI Events.

Tying all this new innovation together is the brand new FEI Hub, which was unveiled as a central place where users can access all FEI online platforms, providing a seamless and convenient experience for the equestrian community. With a user-friendly layout that’s based on the periodic table of the elements, it showcases all the platforms and apps in the fei.org ecosystem.

"We were thrilled to showcase our latest platforms and initiatives at the Sport Forum," said Gaspard Dufour (FRA), Director of Technology and Sport Services. 

"These cutting-edge tools and resources are designed to support our athletes at every level of the sport, and we are committed to providing innovative solutions that promote horse welfare and streamline processes. It's all about making our sport better for everyone involved, and we are excited about the possibilities these new platforms bring."

The FEI invited all participants at the Sport Forum to visit the app marketplaces for iOS and Android to download the apps and experience them for themselves.

For more information, please visit hub.fei.org.