Call for new protocols to govern the movement of elite sport horses.

This research article indicates that the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) are urging for new rules to manage the transportation of high-performance sport horses, acknowledging their lower risk of disease due to careful veterinary care.

About the Call

• The OIE and the FEI made a joint appeal during the 80th general assembly of the OIE, held in Paris. This meeting assembled representatives from 178 member countries of the OIE and 50 international organizations.
• The two organizations have been working to identify and create a subpopulation of horses. This special group is intended to represent the superior health of top-level international sports horses. Because of their extensive and rigorous veterinary care, these horses are considered a lower disease risk.

Need for New Protocols

• The call for new protocols stems from the recognition that current import and export procedures for horses, meant to prevent diseases prevalent in the general horse population, fail to consider the exceptional veterinary care given to high-performance sport horses.
• To address this, a working group has been formed to evaluate the relevant issues and propose adequate solutions.

Increase in Equestrian Sport and Related Concerns

• The call for these new protocols is also driven by the surge in international equestrian sport. As the number of events has grown by 34% over the last three years and is expected to continue to increase, there is an urgency to ensure efficient cross-border movement of these equine athletes.
• It is also deemed vital to maintain high levels of biosecurity around international events to avoid potential spread of diseases.
• The FEI emphasizes that when high-performance horses travel internationally, they should be perceived by governments as being at a significantly reduced health risk due to stringent regulation and vet supervision.