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EnglishWhat Are the FEI's Goals for Developing Equestrian Sport Globally?
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The FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) states that it aims to develop equestrian sport worldwide "in a modern, sustainable and structured manner," with three commitments running through that work: guaranteed athlete welfare, equal opportunity, and an ethical partnership with the horse. These goals describe the governing body's stated direction for the sport rather than a published set of numeric targets, so they are best read as principles that shape how the FEI frames its role and priorities.
The Three Pillars of the FEI's Development Goals
The FEI's own description of its mission groups its aims into a short set of connected ideas. Each one answers a different question about how the sport should grow.
1. Modern, sustainable and structured development
This pillar is about how the sport expands. "Modern" signals an openness to current expectations around how sports are run and presented. "Sustainable" points to growth that can be maintained over time rather than pursued at any cost. "Structured" indicates that development should follow organised frameworks rather than ad hoc expansion. Taken together, the FEI positions itself as a governing body that grows the sport deliberately, not simply by adding events.
2. Guaranteed athlete welfare and equal opportunity
This pillar is about who the sport serves and how they are treated. The FEI frames welfare as something to be guaranteed rather than aspired to, and pairs it with equal opportunity — the idea that access to the sport should not be arbitrarily restricted. In practice, this is the language a governing body uses when it wants its development agenda to be judged on fair and safe participation, not only on growth in numbers.
3. Ethical partnership with the horse
This pillar is about the relationship at the centre of the sport. The FEI describes itself as celebrating "the unique bond between horse and human," summarised in its #TwoHearts message. Framing the horse as a partner rather than equipment is the ethical core of the FEI's stated approach, and it is the principle most distinctive to equestrian sport compared with other international federations.
How the Goals Fit Together
The three pillars are not separate programmes; they reinforce one another. A sport that grows in a structured, sustainable way is better placed to protect welfare and widen access, and an ethical partnership with the horse is the standard against which both growth and access are judged. The table below summarises the link between each goal and what it implies.
| Goal | Core idea | What it implies for the sport |
|---|---|---|
| Modern, sustainable, structured development | Growth should be deliberate and lasting | Expansion follows organised frameworks, not unchecked growth |
| Athlete welfare and equal opportunity | Participation should be safe and fair | Welfare is treated as guaranteed; access is broadened |
| Ethical partnership with the horse | The horse is a partner, not a tool | The human–horse bond anchors decisions about the sport |
What These Goals Mean for Someone Using FEI.org
If you arrive at FEI.org wanting to understand the organisation's direction, these goals are the lens to apply. They explain why the site foregrounds the #TwoHearts message and why its description of the sport emphasises the bond between horse and human alongside competitive development. They also tell you what the FEI says it will prioritise when the sport grows: structure and sustainability over speed, welfare and access alongside performance, and the horse's role as a partner at the centre.
The goals do not, on their own, specify particular programmes, eligibility rules or competition formats. For those details, the relevant FEI pages and regulations are the place to look; the mission statement tells you the principles those details are meant to serve.