VetClick
Menu Menu
Login

VetClick

/ News
Thursday, 3rd April 2025 | 2,384 veterinary jobs online | 102 people actively seeking work | 5,539 practices registered

Veterinary Industry News

Send us your news
EEWB logo

EEWB logo

New Equine Ethics And Wellbeing Commission Presents First Report To FEI Members

2 years ago
1359 views

Posted
25th November, 2022 09h23

Author
EEWBC


The Equine Ethics and Wellbeing Commission (EEWB) for the FEI delivered its first report to FEI delegates at the FEI General Assembly (GA) in Cape Town (12 November).

The independent EEWB was founded in June 2022 to address equine welfare issues of public and equestrian concern to ensure the welfare of the horse is paramount - and so strengthen horse sport’s ‘social licence’ to operate. The Commission, which meets monthly, immediately commissioned two substantial surveys to provide concrete data to help shape its proposals.

The surveys were conducted in English, Spanish and French; one designed for horse enthusiasts, the other for the general public. Almost 28,000 equestrians – including almost 8,000 FEI affiliates - responded to the former from 116 countries, and more than 14,000 people from 14 nations were surveyed in the latter.

Full details of the methodology and findings can be viewed at the EEWB Commission’s new website at https://equinewellbeing.fei.org/key-documents.html. Amongst the key findings were:

From these findings, the EEWB Commission has made six initial recommendations which range from tack and equipment issues (eg. double bridles no longer being mandatory in Grand Prix dressage) to education (an Education Focus Group is being established to review and adapt horsemanship teaching as necessary).

A list of further sources used by the EEWB in producing its tack and equipment recommendations is also available on Commission’s new website at https://equinewellbeing.fei.org/key-documents.html .

Professor Dr Natalie Waran, Chair of the EEWB, told delegates: “As the Commission, we will be blunt. We will be direct and we will tell you the truth. But in the end we will be here with you. There is change that needs to happen and we are here to develop a strategy, provide objective advice, make recommendations and then see how these recommendations can be put into operation.

“I am pleased FEI members recognize that the data from the surveys is extremely valuable to identify concerns as well as suggested courses of action to mitigate them. While it’s clear that change is needed, I am confident that the FEI, the National Federations and equestrians around the world are committed to the journey. The work of the Commission will provide the structure, set the direction and help with navigating the actions that can be taken, but it will be the ongoing leadership of the FEI and work at local level that will help ensure that equine welfare is fully prioritized – and seen to be so – and so help equestrianism maintain its social licence.”

She then outlined the EEWB’s strategy to address social licence based on six main pillars: evidence, education, engagement, effective regulation, enforcement and empowerment. Commission member Professor Kathalijne Visser, who led the analysis of the survey results, presented the key findings and where there were differences in perspectives within equestrian audiences.

The Q&A session at the GA enabled open and positive discussion between delegates and EEWB members for the first time on a wide range of topics. The EEWB’s strategic roadmap will now be further developed and consulted on at the FEI Sports Forum in April 2023.


More from EEWBC


You might be interested in...

Equine Vet vacancy in North Yorkshire - flexible role

North Yorkshire. United Kingdom
We are seeking an experienced equine Vet to join a reputable practice in North Yorkshire.You will be joining a well established and experien...
1 week ago

Equine Vet

Bromyard, Herefordshire. United Kingdom
Are you passionate about first opinion equine practice? We are looking for a colleague to join our 4-5 vet equine team within a friendly and...
4 weeks ago

Lancashire Practice Seeks Farm & Equine Vet

Lancashire. United Kingdom
My client is looking for a confident Vet to join their Farm Animal and Equine Team in Lancashire. Whilst both areas are required, the practi...
3 weeks ago

SA/ Equine locum - April 3 months

Shropshire. United Kingdom
We have a 3 month locum for an SA/ Equine vet :April startOn call on rota 1 night per week70 SA - 30% Equine biasMidlands locationAccommodat...
1 week ago