Effective from January 1
The international equestrian community enters 2026 with sweeping rule changes that promise to reshape competition standards and strengthen horse welfare protections. Approved by the FEI General Assembly in November 2025, these updates represent the most comprehensive revision to FEI regulations in years, with the Jumping Rules undergoing complete restructuring and modernisation.
FEI Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez emphasised the organisation’s commitment to clarity and accessibility: “We have developed simple and practical tools to support understanding and ensure correct implementation. We encourage everyone involved in FEI events to make use of these resources and to share them widely.”
Showjumping: Major restructure and new blood rule
The FEI Jumping Rules received the most significant overhaul, with a complete restructuring of the rulebook to improve clarity and user-friendliness. The General Assembly approved these changes with 96% support, though one element proved particularly contentious.
Article 259: Jumping Recorded Warnings
The new Article 259 introduces a graduated system for blood detected on horses, replacing the previous automatic elimination policy for certain cases. Under the new system, blood caused by tack, equipment, or athlete action will result in Jumping Recorded Warnings rather than immediate elimination.
Key provisions include:
- First and second offences will result in Recorded Warnings.
- Two or more warnings within 12 months will trigger an automatic CHF 1,000 fine and a one-month suspension.
- Mandatory fitness-to-compete checks will be performed by the Ground Jury in consultation with the Veterinary Delegate for all cases of blood.
- Horses may only continue competing if deemed fit after a veterinary assessment.
- All Jumping Recorded Warnings will be published by the FEI for transparency.
- National Federations will be automatically notified of warnings concerning their athletes.
Importantly, blood from natural causes, such as a horse biting its tongue or nose bleeding, may be wiped away without penalty, provided the horse is fit to compete. Additionally, mandatory disqualification for excessive use of spurs remains unchanged.
While the rule passed with strong support, some national federations expressed reservations. British Showjumping announced it will not adopt these changes at the national level, with CEO Iain Graham stating the organisation remains “committed to evidence-based decisions.”
Mobile device ban and additional updates
Several other significant changes take effect in jumping:
- Mobile phones, electronic devices, and earphones are now prohibited while mounted in the warm-up arena during competition.
- Competitions for five-year-old horses may no longer be run against the clock.
- Maximum heights have been established for 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old horses (detailed in Annex II).
- Only the top three placed riders are required to attend prize-giving ceremonies mounted.
- Championship and Games formats have been integrated into the main rulebook for better organisation.
Maximum jumping heights as per Annex II
5-year-old horses: Maximum height is 1.20m (120 cm). Competitions for this age group must be conducted as Table A Not Against the Clock.
6-year-old horses: Maximum height is 1.30m (130 cm).
7-year-old horses: Maximum height is 1.40m (140 cm).
Eventing: Full revision for clarity
The Eventing Rules underwent comprehensive revision with the primary goal of improving clarity and ensuring consistent understanding across all stakeholders. The revisions focus on four key areas: Championships and Games, Officials, the Eventing Sanctions System, and Scoring.
The changes aim to eliminate ambiguity in rule interpretation and application, providing clearer guidance for officials, athletes, and organising committees. Competitors can expect more consistent judging and clearer communication of expectations at international events.
Dressage: Harmony over general impression
Dressage sees more modest updates in 2026, as the next full revision is scheduled for 2026 with implementation in 2027. The current changes primarily address inconsistencies and welfare-related issues.
The most notable change comes to Article 423.9, where the collective mark term ‘General Impression’ will be replaced by ‘Harmony.’ This shift reflects a broader evaluation criteria that encompasses harmony, cooperation, lightness, effectiveness and sensitivity of the aids, as well as adherence to the Training Scale. The change signals a deeper commitment to classical principles and the quality of the partnership between horse and rider.
Driving: Milestone revision after extensive consideration
The FEI described 2025 as “a milestone year for Driving,” marked by extensive stakeholder consultation across all levels of the sport. This collaborative approach resulted in a full rules revision that emphasises fairness and transparency.
Articles 919 to 925, covering Entries for Championships, have been completely revised to improve clarity and align with the FEI General Regulations. The updated process ensures a fair and transparent system for championship entries, addressing concerns raised by the international driving community.
Para Driving rules have also been updated in parallel with the main Driving regulations.
General regulations: Welfare and compliance
Several important updates affect all disciplines:
- Protective headgear violations now result in a CHF 1,000 fine rather than a yellow warning card (Article 140).
- The FEI’s scope for opening disciplinary cases has been expanded, with broader discretion to investigate alleged breaches (Article 163.1).
- Access to FEI stable areas is now restricted to equidae, dogs, and humans only for biosecurity and safety reasons.
Tack and equipment: New centralised system
In a significant organisational change, tack and equipment requirements have been removed from individual sport rules and consolidated into dedicated FEI Tack & Equipment Requirements documents, the FEI Tack, Equipment and Dress Database, and the new FEI TackApp.
This centralisation makes it easier for athletes, officials, and grooms to access current tack specifications across all disciplines. However, jumping has been granted a one-year transition period, with the new system applying to that discipline from January 1, 2027.
Implementation support
Recognising the scale of these changes, the FEI has developed comprehensive support materials, including summary documents highlighting key amendments, instructional videos with charts and illustrations available on FEI Campus, and both clean and mark-up versions of all rulebooks showing exactly what has changed.
The FEI HorseApp will also provide easy access to summaries and videos, ensuring athletes and officials can quickly reference new rules on the go. All materials are available on Inside.FEI.org.
Looking ahead
These 2026 rule changes reflect the FEI’s ongoing commitment to horse welfare, sport integrity, and accessibility. While some provisions sparked debate, particularly Article 259 in jumping, the overwhelming support from national federations demonstrates confidence in the direction of international equestrian sport.
As competitions begin under the new regulations, the FEI has committed to monitoring implementation closely and gathering feedback for future refinements. Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez noted that the organisation will “take a structured, evidence-based approach grounded in thorough consultation and driven by data” as they continue advancing safety and welfare standards.
For athletes competing internationally, the message is clear: familiarise yourself with these changes now. The rules are in effect, and understanding them thoroughly will be essential for success in the 2026 season and beyond.
Resources for athletes and officials
- Full rulebooks (clean and mark-up versions): Inside.FEI.org
- Summary documents by discipline: Available on Inside.FEI.org
- Instructional videos: FEI Campus
- Mobile access: FEI HorseApp
- Tack and equipment specs: FEI TackApp and FEI Tack, Equipment and Dress Database
- Questions: Contact discipline-specific departments at jumping@fei.org, eventing@fei.org, dressage@fei.org, or driving@fei.org