Who owns or governs Fédération Equestre Internationale, and what does it do?
The FEI is an association under Swiss law whose members are national equestrian federations, 135 of which are listed as affiliated on its website. Its General Assembly elects the President, Ingmar De Vos since 2014, its Board sets strategy and policy, and its Lausanne headquarters is led by Secretary General Sabrina Ibáñez. It writes the rules, approves the international calendar, registers athletes and horses and keeps rankings for its disciplines, and sets the equestrian regulations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. A new President is due to be elected at the General Assembly in Jiangyin, China, from 2 to 5 December 2026.
Ownership and governance
The Fédération Equestre Internationale is an association established under Articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code, according to its Statutes (25th edition, effective 7 November 2025). Membership is open to one national governing body per country that controls at least the Olympic equestrian disciplines and is supported by its National Olympic Committee, and is divided into full and associate members; the FEI’s website lists 135 affiliated National Federations. The General Assembly of member federations elects the President. The Board defines general strategy and business and sport policy. It comprises the President, two Vice Presidents, the chairs of the technical committees and of the regional groups, the chair of the Athletes’ Committee and, without a vote, the chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee. Board members serve four-year terms, with a maximum of three full terms before a compulsory break.
The headquarters, the HM King Hussein I Building at Chemin de la Joliette 8 in Lausanne, was gifted to the FEI by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, and under the Statutes it cannot be sold without a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. Just over 100 staff work there. For 2025 the FEI reported total revenues of CHF 60.59 million, including financial results, and expenses of CHF 58.41 million, subject to approval by the 2026 General Assembly.
What FEI runs
Headquarters
- HM King Hussein I Building, Lausanne
Databases
- FEI Database of athletes, horses, events and rankings
Digital services
- Horse Digital Passport (launched 2025)
Education
- FEI Campus e-learning platform
Media
- FEI TV
Series
- FEI World Cup series in Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Vaulting
- FEI Nations Cup series in Jumping, Dressage and Eventing
- Longines League of Nations
Events
- FEI World Championships
Programmes
- FEI Solidarity
As listed by the organisation. See sources.
Key people
- Ingmar De VosPresident
- Jack C. HuangVice President, Chair Group VIII
- Jenny HallVice President, Chair Veterinary Committee
- Sabrina IbáñezSecretary General
- Stephan EllenbruchBoard Member, Chair Jumping Committee
- Diana Al ShaerBoard Member, Chair Dressage Committee
- David O'ConnorBoard Member, Chair Eventing Committee
- Sultan Al YehyaeeBoard Member, Chair Group VII
As listed on Board & Honorary Board / FEI.
Status and listing
- Status
- Not listed
Where it operates
- International
As the organisation reports it. See sources.
Key dates
- 1921
- The FEI was created to oversee the Olympic disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, with eight member signatories. Baron du Teil (FRA) became its first President and Major Georges Hector (FRA) its first Secretary General.
- 1970
- Driving became an FEI discipline, followed by Endurance in 1982 and Vaulting in 1983.
- 1990
- The first FEI World Equestrian Games were held in Stockholm (SWE).
- 1996
- Para Dressage joined the Paralympic programme.
- 2014
- Ingmar De Vos was elected President at the General Assembly in Baku on 14 December, and Sabrina Ibáñez became Secretary General.
- 2021
- On 17 November an Extraordinary General Assembly voted to remove Reining as an FEI discipline.
- 2025
- The FEI launched its Strategy 2025-2029, and the 25th edition of its Statutes took effect on 7 November.
- 2026
- The General Assembly in Jiangyin, China, from 2 to 5 December, is due to elect a new President for 2026 to 2030; the candidates are Mark Samuel (CAN), Sabrina Ibáñez (ESA) and Jack Huang (TPE).
Questions readers ask
Who owns the FEI?
The FEI is an association under the Swiss Civil Code. Its members are national federations, one per country, which meet in the General Assembly and elect the President; its website lists 135 affiliated National Federations.
What does the FEI do?
It governs international competition in Jumping, Dressage and Para Dressage, Eventing, Driving and Para Driving, Endurance and Vaulting. It writes the rules, approves the international calendar, registers athletes and horses, keeps rankings and sets the equestrian regulations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2025 it recorded 4,937 international events, 44,039 registered athletes and 80,297 registered horses.
Where is the FEI based?
Its headquarters are in the HM King Hussein I Building, Chemin de la Joliette 8, 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Sources
Figures are taken from the documents listed below and carry the date they refer to.
