Controversial “Blood Rule” in Show Jumping Faces Potential Overhaul
Hong Kong โค – A hotly debated regulation regarding blood on horses during show jumpingโฃ competitions is poised โคforโค a vote at the FEI General Assembly in Hong Kong this November, potentially ushering in a new era of sanctioning โfor riders.โ The current rule, Article 241.3.30 of the FEI Show Jumping Regulations,mandates disqualification if a horse displays bloodโ on its flanks,a provisionโ that sparked outrage following the disqualification โof the Brazilian team at the โ2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The โcontroversy surrounding the rule – and its perceived disproportionate punishments – has fueled callsโข for reform, with applications submitted by Ireland, the โขUSA, and the International Jumping Riders club (IJRC) advocating for a more nuanced approach. The debate centers on balancing horse welfare with the often-marginal nature of infractions, and whether a strict disqualification is the appropriate response to minor injuries.
hardly any other topic moves the show jumping world asโฃ much as this regulation. The Olympic Games in Paris last year provided new fuel for the debate, whenโฃ the brazilian teamโ was disqualified due to a โbarely visible scratch on the flanks of Pedro โคVeniss’ horse. Veniss was also no longer โallowed to compete in theโค individual โevent – in the opinion of the IJRCโ a wholly disproportionate punishment.
The “blood rule”,its consequences and possible reinterpretations,were intensivelyโ discussed last april at the โฃFEI Sports Forum in Lausanne.โ Stephan Ellenbruch,โค Chairman of the FEI Jumpingโค Committee, defended the current regulation: “I understandโข that the Jumping Riders Club and the riders want to โdiscuss the consequences of this regulation. The question that arises for meโค is: Do we need โคthe rule or not? And I am absolutely convinced: Yes, we need this rule. for me, changing the procedure is not up for discussion. But if โthere is a better way to sanction riders, thenโค we should talk about it.”
Ellenbruch then brought up a possible reform: a staggered sanction model with aโข warning, a yellow card and only โa banโข for serious or repeated violations.The FEI now seems to be specifically considering this solution.
A revision of the jumping regulations is due inโ 2025. โฃThe planned changes will be voted on at the FEI General Assembly in Hong Kong at the beginning โขof November.
