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FEI Passports

Last reviewed: 10/07/2024

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) is the world governing body for all international equestrian sport, including jumping, dressage and para dressage, eventing, driving and para driving, endurance and vaulting.

What do I need to know about FEI Recognition Cards?
When should I have my horses FEI Recognition Card Revalidated?
How do I change the ownership details on my FEI Recognition Card?
How do I change my horses name on an FEI Recognition Card?
What are the current Flu Vaccination Rules for competing under the FEI?

What do I need to know about FEI RECOGNITION CARDS?

The FEI Recognition Card (RC) is a cover that wraps around your equine’s national passport. The national passport sits in the back of the RC and both should stay together.

Do I need an RC to compete at a CIM event?

FEI RCs are not compulsory for horses competing in their country of residence for CIM events. You can compete using just your national passport.

From 1 January 2017, all equines must be identifiable with a national passport approved by the FEI. If an equine is competing at a CIM in the country in which the equine resides, the equine must be registered with the FEI and be identifiable. Your national passport will need to be scanned to the FEI database and your competing disciline will do this at the time of registration.

Please note if a FEI RC is presented to the FEI Veterinarian Official at a CIM event and an irregularity is detected, he/she must impose a sanction according to the regulations. To avoid this if you are competing at a CIM event, only hand in your national passport (eg if your RC requires revalidating). If you are competing in a FEI event that is not a CIM, you will always need to have am up to date and valid RC.

WHAT IS A CIM EVENT?

A CIM is a Minor International Event. A list of CIMs by Discipline can be found below. For example you would not require a FEI RC if you were competing in a horse's country of residence for a Jumping CSI1* but if you were travelling abroad you would need one.

How do I register my equine with the FEI?

Your equine must be registered on the FEI database and a copy of their national passport uploaded to the FEI database. Please contact the discipline you compete with – they’ll be able to do this as part of the passport application process or if you’re competing at lower level CIMs.

What do I need to check before applying for an RC?

You must have a compliant national passport approved by the FEI.
The national passport must be a valid, compliant passport and must be one that the FEI will cover. A list of approved national passports that the FEI will cover can be found here.
You must have a diagram page that is stamped, dated and signed by a vet.
Your equine influenza (flu) vaccinations must be complete and in accordance with the FEI Rules .

Can I get an RC if there are any irregularities with the national passport?

Unfortunately, a FEI RC can’t be issued if there are any irregularities with the diagram page or vaccinations. Contact British Equestrian on 02475 313 433 if you require further clarification.

What happens if I have a NATIONAL PASSPORT not on the approved FEI list?

Please contact British Equestrian on 02475 313 433 to get assistance.

How do I get an FEI RC?

Please contact your discipline to apply for a FEI RC.

British Eventing: 02476 698856
British Showjumping: 02476 698800
British Dressage/ Para Dressage: 02476 698830
Endurance GB: 02475 313353
British Carriage Driving: 07494 876 814
British Vaulting

I’ve lost my equine’s FEI document. How do I obtain a replacement?

Contact your discipline to request a duplicate RC. If the national equine passport has been lost, too, you must obtain a duplicate one first.

when should I have my horses fei recognition card REVALIDATED?

HOW LONG DOES AN FEI RC LAST FOR?

An RC must be renewed every four years if you intend to compete in FEI competitions in the UK (not CIMS) or abroad (all events including CIMS)

You don’t need to renew an RC once it has expired if you’re no longer planning to compete at FEI competitions or at FEI CIM events in the country of residence of the horse.

If you are competing in a FEI CIM event and your RC has expired, do not present the RC part at the vet inspection otherwise you will be sanctioned for not revalidating it. Just present the national passport for inspection.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO REVALIDATE MY FEI RC?

Please contact your discipline to arrange for the passport to be revalidated. You’ll need to send them your RC and national passport. Your Flu vaccinations will be checked for compliancy according to the FEI rules.

What do I do if I need to CHANGE THE OWNERSHIP DETAILS registered on the FEI RC?

Changing the ownership on the RC cannot be done online by an owner. Please contact your discipline to arrange for the passport to be updated. You’ll need to send them your RC and national equine passport so that both the ownership details match on the RC and the national passport.

If your national passport is from a UK Passport Issuing Organisation, we would recommend that you arrange for the ownership details to be updated by them first before sending it to your discipline for updating the RC but if you would prefer British Equestrian can do this for you. Details can be found here.

Please do not send the RC to the National Passport Issuing Organisation as this can only be updated by the British Equestrian and could get lost.

How do I CHANGE THE HORSE'S name on an FEI RC?

Name changes are highly discouraged by the FEI.

The equine's birth name must remain the same for the entire life of the Horse in the FEI Database and/or FEI Document.The equine's birth name will still need to be recorded. In order to change the name of a horse once it has been issued a passport you will need to contact your discipline.

Any modification/change to the current name of the Horse or the creation of a different current name than the Horse Birth Name is considered a name change by the FEI.

Inappropriate names: Horse names that are offensive towards other persons, that could be considered political, religious or racial propaganda, or which are discriminatory in any way (an “Inappropriate Name”) will not be accepted by the BEF or by the FEI, whether that is the birth name of the Horse or a requested name change. Even after a name has previously been accepted by the FEI, whether as a requested name change or the original birth name of the Horse, the FEI reserves the right, acting in its sole discretion, to subsequently require a name change if the FEI determines, based on validated information, that the name in question is an Inappropriate Name.

Horse Name Criteria and Name Change Fees

Free of charge - back to the birth name

Changing the Horse’s Current Name back to the Horse’s Birth Name is free of charge.

Free of charge - use of the National Sport name - The use of the Horse’s National Sport Name as the Horse’s Current Name in accordance with the following criteria:

Creation of a new Horse in the FEI Database
The National Sport Name (Current Name) must be significantly different from that of the Birth Name, with the exception of name shortenings which fulfil all other criteria of a National Sports Name
The Horse must have competed regularly at a National level for at least 12 months. This does not apply to Horses of 6 YO and younger.
The National Sport Name does not fall into the commercial category.
A Horse may only have one National Sport Name entered as Current Name in the FEI Database

Invoiced - higher fee - Any Horse Name Change for a Horse created or already existing in the FEI Database is invoiced following the criteria below.

1. Complete change of Current Name: i.e. VLEUT => GUCCIO TEQUILA DU TYL => AL MAZYOUNA

2. Commercial Names: The FEI consider a commercial name as:

A company/brand: adding the name of the company or brand to the Horse’s Current Name
A stable: adding the name of the stable to the Horse’s Current Name
A group of persons/association: adding the name of the group of persons/association to the Horse’s Current Name
A person: adding the name of the person/owner to the Horse’s Current Name
- i.e: Brand name CONTENTO => AUDI’S CONTENTO
- Company name CADJANINE Z => CITIZENGARD CADJANINE Z
- Stable name BOWMAN => FE BOWMAN (FE = Fredericks Equestrian)
- Group of people ZENITH => ZENITH SFN Association ARLANDO => ARLANDO N.O.P
- Person's name BANANA => DJB BANANA (DJB = Darolyn Jane Butler)

Invoiced - lower fee

1. Addition of Breed or Breeding associations’ initials

i.e: CH, SF, DSP, NRW, OLD, FRH
- COPAIN DU PERCHET => COPAIN DU PERCHET CH

2. Addition of non-profit organisation or state organisation name initials

i.e: MILI, HN
- NARKOS D'OREAL => NARKOS D'OREAL MILI

3. Addition of Non-Commercial Initials

Addition of initials, 2 letters or 3 figures maximum which are not listed in any category in the higher fee rates
- i.e: COMO => COMO II

4. Addition of Stable Name or Initials

Addition of the name or initials of the stable where the Horse was bred to the Horse’ Current Name
- i.e: LORE JANE => LORE JANE ZSZ
When the stable name is confirmed as: ZUCHT UND SPORTPFERDE ZEY

5. Name Shortening

Removal of one or more parts from the Horse’ name
- i.e: CADE VAN’T ZORGVLIET => CADE

6. Addition of Horse Pedigree Names

Addition of the Sire, Dam or Sire of Dam’s name, or part of their name, to the Horse’ Current Name
- i.e: DONNA => DONNA DANCIER
When the Sire’s name is confirmed as: DANCIER
- i.e: DORADE => DIAMOND FLAME
When the Sire is DIAMOND HIT and FLAME is confirmed as a National Sports Name
- i.e: BOB => BOB CHACCO When the Sire’s name is confirmed as: CHACCO BLUE

7. Small name change

A small name change that does not fall into any cases above in the higher rate. This can include but is not limited to:

the addition or change of a few letters within a word
- i.e: EMY RAVA => EDY RAVA i.e: CKIKI CARLOU => CIKY CALOU
the order of the Horse’s name
- i.e: WINTER COLD => COLD WINTER
the addition or change of 1 or 2 non-commercial word(s) to the Horse’s Current Name
- i.e: COCKTAIL => DRESSCODE COCKTAIL i.e: CALL ME RUDIGER => CALL ME DREAM

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT FLU VACCINATION RULES FOR COMPETING UNDER THE FEI?

All horses entering FEI competitions must be vaccinated against equine influenza (flu). Every horse's passport is checked at events to ensure that the horse has been vaccinated according to the FEI Veterinary Regulations. All vaccinations must be administered by a licensed vet.

VACCINATION SCHEDULE For HOrses RECEIVING A NEW PRIMARY COURSE AS OF 1 JANUARY 2024

Your horse's vaccination schedule against equine influenza will look like this...

First Vaccination V1 (initial vaccination) Day 0 (e.g. 1 March 2014)

Second Vaccination V2 (second vaccination) 21 - 60 days (e.g. 1 April 2014)

First Booster V3 (first booster): Within 6 months and 21 days of V2 eg 1 October 2024.

Subsequent boosters Minimum within one year of previous booster vaccination

Booster if competing Equines must have had a vaccination within 6 months +21 days (and not within seven clear days) of arriving at the venue

Equines who have received V1 and V2 can compete, provided the vaccine hasn’t been given within seven days of arriving at an event venue.
Equines cannot compete if they have only received V1.
Ensure you leave 7 clear days (ie not on the 7th day) before competing.

WILL AN FEI RECOGNITION CARD (RC) BE ISSUED IF THERE ARE ANY IRREGULARITIES WITH THE FLU VACCINATIONS?

No. Vaccinations must be correctly identified in the passport for an FEI RC to be issued.

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM VACCINATIONS NEEDED FOR A RC TO BE ISSUED?

An FEI RC will be issued if the equine has had V1 and V2 of the primary course correctly administered.

Unfortunately, a FEI RC cannot be issued if there are any irregularities with the diagram page or vaccinations.

Contact British Equestrian on 02475 313 433 if you require clarification.

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO ENSURE THE EQUINE IS VACCINATED ACCORDING TO FEI VETERINARY REGULATIONS?

It’s responsibility of the Person Responsible (PR) for the equine to ensure that their equine has been vaccinated according to the FEI Veterinary Regulations. Sanctions can be given at events for any irregularities or not entering details of equine influenza vaccinations in the equine’s passport.

WHAT ARE THE SANCTIONS GIVEN FOR VACCINATION IRREGULARITIES?

Sanctions may be given by the Ground Jury to PRs whose equines don’t comply with the FEI’s vaccination requirements. PRs may be issued with a fine, ineligibility to compete or disqualification from the event.

A full list of sanctions can be found in Annex VI of the FEI Veterinary Regulations, which can be found below.

FEI VETERINARY REGULATIONS.

WHAT DOES MY VET PUT FOR A LONG VACCINATION HISTORY IF I HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH A DUPLICATE PASSPORT?

Where vaccination details are to be recorded into duplicate FEI RCs, the following statement can be used: "The vaccination history of this equine is correct to date. Last vaccination on 00/00/00 (date).” The statement must be signed, stamped and dated by a licensed vet.