FEI Makes Urgent Rule Repair - Forbids Products that May Imitate, Induce, Cause Foaming

Dressage

FEI

The FEI has made an emergency board resolution and requested an "urgent rule repair for Equine Welfare reasons" to forbid the use of "products" to imitate, induce, or cause foaming.

This measure was taken at the first in-person FEI Board meeting of the year on 17-18 June at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne (SUI).

Urgent Rule Repair for Equine Welfare Reasons

The following paragraph will be added to the FEI Veterinary Regulations, Article 1004 ‘Prohibited Methods’, for equine welfare reasons:

“1004.4 It is strictly forbidden to use any type of substance/product inside or around the Horse’s mouth and/or tongue that may (i) imitate, induce or cause foaming; and/or (ii) coat or otherwise cover, or partially cover the bit. The prohibition excludes the use of products permitted in the FEI Tack App and the provision of permitted natural treats given in moderation. Contravening this rule will entail a Yellow Warning Card and Elimination.”

Replacing Previous "Fluff Rule"

This rule will come into effect on 1 July 2025 and will replace the following provisions in the FEI Dressage Rules and FEI Para Dressage Rules:

Article 434 6.5 of the FEI Dressage Rules and Article 8431.4.4 of the FEI Para Dressage Rules which currently state:

“It is strictly forbidden to use any type of substance (like “marshmallow fluff”, shaving cream etc.) around the Horse’s mouth to imitate foaming; contravening this rule will entail a Yellow Warning Card and Elimination.”

Emergency Board Resolution

These rules will be removed from the respective rulebooks as of 1 July 2025 and the new provision in the FEI Veterinary Regulations will apply.

Given that this is an Emergency Board Resolution, National Federations have until 18 July 2025 to signify their disapproval by sending an email to Francisco P. Lima, Director of Governance.

Update on FEI's Welfare Strategies

2024 Olympics: sugar cube or foam
inducing product?

At this in-board meeting the FEI Director of Veterinary and Welfare provided an update on the continued implementation of the FEI Equine Welfare Strategy Action Plan especially on the six focus areas and 30 recommendations established by the Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission.

The successful presentation and discussions held at the European Parliament in December 2024 and May 2025 were important developments.

The Director outlined the FEI ‘First Principles’ of Ethical Training and the ethical framework proposed by the Working Group on Ethical Training Methods. The ultimate objective would be to minimise negative welfare effects while maximising the positive welfare effects.

The Director emphasised the positive launch of the FEI Noseband Tightness Measuring Device.