At the FEI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is not just about gender but also about making equestrian sport more inclusive for people of different races, cultures, ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, sexual orientations and abilities.

We firmly believe that when people feel respected and included, they can be more creative, innovative, and successful.

Gender parity and a culture of inclusivity also lead to stronger governance structures and more innovative teams with better problem-solving abilities, which is crucial to the survival of an organisation.

While there is a common misconception that “equality” and “equity” mean the same and the words are often used interchangeably, they are in fact two very different concepts. As American author Jodi Picoult said, “Equality is treating everyone the same. But equity is taking differences into account, so everyone has a chance to succeed.”

As an organisation, the FEI’s DEI initiatives fall on different levels of the equality-equity spectrum.

Our end goal is always to reduce the inequalities and barriers to inclusion and to ensure that everyone is given an opportunity to reach their full potential in equestrian sport.

The conversations around DEI are constantly evolving, and the FEI as an organisation is always learning. While we have taken some key steps to advancing DEI on the field-of-play, as well as in our HQ operations, within our National Federations and in the staging of our Events, we know that there is still much work to be done to address inequalities and barriers to inclusion and participation in a sustainable way.