Annual Chairpersons’ meeting 2025

February 3 2025 | Chairpersons, Chairpersons/Conference, Conference/Chairpersons, Uncategorized

The atmosphere of the Chairpersons’ meeting at the FEIF Conference in Vienna can be summarised as having been both ‘cheerful’ and ‘careful’. Topics for discussion included reports from the member countries. It is always interesting to hear of different approaches, ideas and initiatives. At the same time, one of the common themes emerging from several spots on the globe was a renewed focus, particularly on leisure riding and the implications for horse welfare. Communication and mutual understanding is key to all areas of FEIF work, so the meeting came up with the cheerful idea of setting up a FEIF buddy scheme. Participants felt that twinning countries, which are quite different in size, culture and outlook, might be a fun way of increasing knowledge and understanding of one another.

Other topics deserved a more careful approach. Amongst these were a closer look at FEIF finances, and improvements in the transparency of FEIF structures. The meeting spent considerable time on a proposal for next year’s DA concerning how the Board of FEIF would deal with emergencies and unexpected situations, which would require delegating responsibilities, and especially the role and function of the deputy president. In a joint session with the Sport and Breeding departments, a preliminary structure for a new and improved system of bans on warnings was introduced and received wide support from those present. The request that spontaneous working groups may be set up, which would then channel new ideas and feedback in the direction of the relevant FEIF committees, was also broadly agreed on. All in all, discussions served to improve transparency and a more detailed understanding of the huge diversity within the world of FEIF.