Organisers of the FEI World Cup Finals 2025, in partnership with the R-haltenswert movement Introduce Pioneering Equine Welfare Initiative
Equestrian sport is built on the principles of harmony, fairness, and respect for the horse. However, concerns over horse welfare and the ethical treatment of equine athletes continue to be a pressing issue. To address these concerns, the organisers of the FEI World Cup Finals 2025 in Basel are taking decisive action by launching the Equine Quality Control (EQC) pilot project in partnership with the R-haltenswert movement.
The initiative is designed to bolster transparency and ensure that horses are treated with the highest standards of care throughout the competition. A team of three independent, highly qualified experts from the equestrian world will oversee activities in the warm-up arenas for the entire duration of the event. Their role will be to monitor, document, and discuss any potential welfare concerns with officials on a daily basis. The Equine Quality Control initiative will complement the work of FEI stewards, offering an additional layer of scrutiny dedicated solely to the well-being of the horses.
Due to infrastructure constraints, public access to the warm-up areas—housed in temporary structures—will not be possible. To counter this limitation and enhance transparency, the organisers will install three large monitors at the entrance of the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, allowing spectators to follow activities in the warm-up areas in real-time.
As Chairman of the organiser of the FEI World Cup Finals 2025, Dr. h.c. Thomas Straumann points out: “We want to offer our main players, the horses, the best conditions so that they feel comfortable with us. This also means that we take a close look, strictly monitor compliance with the rules and report any misconduct and punish it with the means available to us as organisers.”
The introduction of the Equine Quality Control initiative marks a significant step towards fostering greater accountability and safeguarding the welfare of horses in elite equestrian sport. By setting this precedent, the organisers of the FEI World Cup Finals 2025 hope to inspire similar initiatives across the global equestrian community.
Suzanne: BA (Hons) in Marketing Management, Diploma in Equine Studies, B.E.M.A Member. An entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in marketing, publishing, content curation, editing, and media writing. Avid equestrian, riding since the age of 5 and owning horses for over 35 years. Proud mum to humans, dogs, and a horse.