The well-being of the Horse must be the fundamental pillar of equestrian sport. The FEI, RFHE and FCH have as a fundamental pillar in the practice of equestrian sport, the horse and its well-being.

The rider and the horse must form a team and establish a special connection to achieve good results in equestrian sports. The horse is the main athlete and the priority. Poor handling practices and punishment of the horse negatively affect the rider's goals.

It is necessary to care for the horse with diligence and delicacy both in competition and in training and leisure. The horse, like an athlete, requires regular physiotherapy treatments, specialized dental care, veterinary checks and interventions, appropriate tools, specific nutrition and abundant water.

Horses must be provided, on time, with the scheduled vaccination and, possibly, that which is provided on an extraordinary basis. It is mandatory, for all horses, to follow the mandatory vaccination guideline, an aspect that is controlled, especially, before each competition.

The horse needs rest. The horse normally combines life on the farm, staying at paddocks and periods of rest in the field.

In competitions, the horse's effort is controlled with regulating mechanisms. In all competitions, there are mechanisms to regulate the effort of the animals, such as the regulatory minimum of days between races in the Raid mode and the exhaustive veterinary checks.

Bad practices in federated equestrian competitions are sanctioned by a supervising officer of horse welfare. This includes the misuse of mouthpieces, saws, spurs or wood, according to our Disciplinary Regulations. The Disciplinary Committee applies sanctions for non-compliance.

Doping must be strictly controlled and punished. Currently, there are anti-doping controls in all official competitions.

The professionalization of the equestrian sector and the creation of official qualifications that include specific training in animal welfare, promote knowledge and good practices in the management and care of horses.

The federations supervise the approved clubs to ensure their proper functioning and the welfare of the horses housed in them. They conduct regular control visits and score points in the club according to a pre-established scale.