FEI Proposes To Make Tack and Equipment Rules a Standalone Document

Dressage

FEI

At the first in-person FEI board meeting of 2025, the FEI launched a key proposal to make Tack and Equipment rules a "standalone document."

The FEI Board has reviewed the proposed changes to FEI Rules and Regulations which will be circulated to the NFs and Stakeholders on 8 July 2025.

"Standalone Document"

The FEI stated in its board-meeting wrap-up:

A key proposal is that descriptions and principles related to Tack and Equipment should be removed from the discipline rules and placed in a standalone document (Tack and Equipment Requirements).

The Board endorsed the proposal after an in-depth discussion and emphasised that extensive consultation with all FEI stakeholders (NFs, Technical Committees, Athletes and Officials) was key in the lead up to the publication of the rule modification proposals on 8 July.

Time Line

Three pieces of equipment not allowed in dressage

In accordance with the FEI Rules Revision Policies, the key dates after the Board meeting are as follows:

8 July 2025: The FEI provides National Federations and Stakeholders with the first Draft of the proposed Rules changes.
26 August 2025: National Federations and Stakeholders are given seven weeks to review the first Draft and the proposed amendments laid down in this first Draft. They make comments and/or propose any changes in relation to the amendments referenced in the first Draft only.
10 October 2025: Final Draft of the proposed Rules changes is provided to National Federations and Stakeholders.
6 November 2025: Rules Session at FEI General Assembly.
7 November 2025: Voting of Rules at the General Assembly.

Tack and Equipment No Longer Discipline Specific?

Numerous journalists read in the FEI's statement a wish to streamline the rules and make them no longer discipline specific. The announcement was believed to be by many the first step towards a path of equality between disciplines in order to present a more transparent and fair image of the sport to the public and maintain its social licence to operate based on animal welfare considerations.

On Monday 23 June 2025, the FEI informed Eurodressage that this is not all the intention.

"Nowhere does the report say that the tack and equipment requirements will cease to be discipline-specific and this is not what the FEI’s intention is," an FEI spokesperson told Eurodressage. "Although the FEI strives towards harmonisation of tack and equipment across FEI Disciplines, differences and deviations on account of the Disciplines technical specificities may be necessary and justifiable."

"This proposal concerns a key topic and is currently being discussed with the various stakeholders," the FEI added.