Overview
- FEI delegates voted 56–20 at last week’s General Assembly in Hong Kong to relax the long-standing No-Blood-Rule for show jumping.
- Under the new policy, horses may remain in competition despite visible blood if event veterinarians authorize continued participation.
- PETA criticized the decision as one that should never have been made and noted relief that dressage remains excluded.
- National federations from Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Denmark, and Sweden voted against the amendment, citing welfare concerns.
- German federation president Martin Richenhagen called the move a clear mistake, while supporters argue some blood traces can have harmless causes such as a bitten tongue or minor scratch.