Until now, even a small trace of blood on the horse automatically led to disqualification at tournaments. But the World Equestrian Federation FEI has softened the “No Blood Rule”. The new rule is now being applied for the first time in Leipzig.
It is the first major international show jumping tournament of the year in Germany: as part of the “Partner Horse” trade fair in Leipzig, a World Cup show jumping event will also take place at the weekend. The changed rule, which has been the subject of discussion in Hong Kong since the controversial decision of the FEI General Assembly in November 2025, applies there for the first time. Also because the topic is about animal welfare, trust and the image of equestrian sport.
That’s exactly why Volker Wulff, the organizer of the World Cup jumping in Leipzig, finds the new regulations sensitive. “So in terms of PR, I don’t think it’s a successful campaign. Definitely not, because when the word blood is mentioned, you immediately think that blood is flowing and yet these poor horses are being ridden.”says Wulff in an interview with Sportschau.
Beerbaum: “Establishing proportionality”
The rule change is an initiative of the International Jumping Riders Clubthe international interest group for show jumping riders. One of the most prominent supporters is Ludger Beerbaum, one of the most successful German show jumpers – and Board member des International Jumping Riders Club. He says it’s not about tolerating blood, but about “To establish proportionality”.
Beerbaum refers to hardship cases such as the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024, where even minor injuries to the horse, for example in the area of the spurs, led to the disqualification of individual riders or, as in the case of the Japanese Equipe in Tokyo, even entire teams. “All of Japan’s medal hopes and dreams were gone”says Beerbaum.
Committee instead of automation: disqualification or warning
Exactly such cases should now be assessed differently. In international tournaments, if there are scratches, abrasions or blood in the horse’s mouth, a committee of three decides whether disqualification is necessary: the head steward of the respective tournament, the responsible veterinarian and the head of the Ground jury.
The committee may issue a warning instead of an immediate disqualification. This means that riders stay in the competition – and teams are not automatically eliminated from the rankings. Ludger Beerbaum believes that nothing will change for the worse for the horses: “Not a single horse on this planet is suffering anymore as a result of this rule change – not at all.”
“Blood has no place in equestrian sport”
In Germany, the easing of the No blood rule but to clear criticism. The German Equestrian Association (FN) voted against the change at the FEI General Assembly in November. FN General Secretary Dennis Peiler emphasizes: There should be no gray areas, especially where the rider has direct influence on the horse. “First of all, we say that blood has no place in equestrian sport and certainly not in the rider’s sphere of influence.”says Peiler. “The rider’s area of influence is called the horse’s mouth, the area of the thigh, i.e. the spur and the whip. We see the need for an absolute, clear regulation that does not allow any interpretation.”
The old rule was clear and, from the FN’s point of view, sufficient, said Peiler. Cases in which traces of blood were found in the area of spurs or mouth are rare internationally, as are disqualifications of horses and riders. Peiler refers to statistics from the FEI, according to which horses and riders were excluded from international competitions in significantly less than one percent of cases in 2024 and 2025. “We didn’t see the need for anything to change here again.”says Peiler.
“Animal protection law remains the benchmark”
In Leipzig, the new rule now has to be implemented in practice for the first time in Germany. And this means that the responsibility now lies with those who have to make decisions on site in individual cases. One of them is Michael Köhler, head tournament veterinarian in Leipzig. Köhler is also chairman of the Horses Committee of the Federal Veterinary Association, which has also been critical of the FEI decision.
According to German animal protection law, a horse in pain is not allowed to start, emphasizes Köhler, “Although the interpretation of sports law would perhaps allow that”. However, pain is to be expected in the event of bleeding or injury.
Köhler sees the new rule as primarily a structural problem: more responsibility – and more pressure on veterinarians in international operations. “Of course this also creates pressure for the vet.”he says. “And the pressure will possibly be increased even further by riders and horse owners, because they of course like to ride and therefore want a decision that it is possible to continue riding.”
Warnings and bans as a new consequence
The chief steward of the tournament in Leipzig, Michael Wassmann, is responsible for implementing the rules on site. In practice, he says, the new regulations will mean one thing above all: more documentation and stricter consequences for repeat cases. Because riders who become conspicuous because of a blood incident receive an entry with the FEI, a so-called “Jumping Recording Warning”a kind of yellow card.
A few riders have already received their first warning, says Wassmann. The next incident within twelve months would result in a four-week ban from participating in international competitions. That’s exactly why the relaxation initiated by the International Jumping Club could end up being an own goal. “Because then it might be that someone won’t be able to compete in the championship later because they’re banned during that time.”said Wassmann.
The new FEI rule is intended to prevent hardship cases. Whether it ultimately brings more fairness or creates new gray areas will perhaps become apparent in practice in Leipzig.
