FEIF
FEIF unites people in their passion for the Icelandic horse!
We want to
- to connect Icelandic horse culture, riding, lifestyle, enjoyment and passion
- to focus on horse welfare
- to provide pro-active service and knowledge
- to continuously improve and unify standards
- to promote the pure-bred Icelandic horse throughout the world
- to improve recognition of the Icelandic horse
What is FEIF?
A group of Icelandic horse enthusiasts started FEIF in Germany in 1969. The name they gave the organisation was a statement of what they were – friends of the Icelandic Horse: Föderation Europäischer Islandpferde Freunde (FEIF). Nowadays, FEIF stands for International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations and represents 23 Icelandic Horse Associations worldwide, counting over 80.000 members. FEIF is, in fact, a hugely ambitious project, which holds the Icelandic horse world together across the globe, while endeavoring to overcome the differences in culture, politics and language. What does that entail?
- in sport and breeding: to ensure that there is only one set of standards/rules
- in education: to see that all FEIF instructors and trainers have a comparable skill set, regardless of where they trained
- in leisure riding: to create a sense of common identity and community, regardless of whether you are crossing the Rocky Mountains, or riding along the North Sea
- in youth work: to strengthen what we all share, the love for the horse – particularly for young people
The FEIF Goals
- to put the welfare of the horse first in everything we do
- to organise large scale events, giving people an opportunity to enjoy Icelandic horse culture, riding and life style, and to support and develop standards
- to define the aspects of the Icelandic horse culture and promote them
- to maintain the purity and quality of the breed
- to develop and maintain a sole register for the Icelandic horse
- to show respect towards the environment
- to establish and continuously improve comparable standards for education
- to support member and aspiring member associations to develop their infrastructure as the basis for growth
- to maintain and improve internal and external communication
Horse welfare and ethics
FEIF believes that horses and humans have evolved a unique partnership, and that horses have an important role in society, which is as relevant today as it was 1,000 years ago. Whether as family pets, equine athletes, conservation grazers, or companions, horses contribute to our lives, cultures, and economies. This partnership is right as long as people take full responsibility for their horses’ welfare.
FEIF’s code of conduct is based upon the Codes of Conduct of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and requires acknowledgement and acceptance that, at all times, the welfare of the horse must be paramount.
FEIF’s continued push to improve riding skills also advances the welfare of our beloved Icelandic horse. This becomes obvious on FEIF’s list of riders singled out for Good and Harmonious Riding. These riders – independent of their marks – demonstrate they clearly put the horse first in the presentation.
News
FEIF Instructor/Trainer of the Year 2024
As in previous years, FEIF invites all member countries to nominate candidates as instructors/trainers of the year. All candidates must be a member of a FEIF member association and must be listed on the Trainer Matrix on www.feif.org. More details can be found in the...
Combined FEIF Sport Judges and Trainer/Instructor Seminar
Elevating Equestrian Awareness: Advancing Icelandic Horse Sport through Research & Education Join us in Denmark from March 7th – 9th, 2025, Aarhus/Vilhelmsborg, Denmark for an exciting seminar weekend! In cooperation with Dansk Islandshesteforening (DI) we...
FEIF online meeting about developments in Horse Welfare and SLO in our member countries
Mid of November 2024, representatives from 11 FEIF member countries met online to discuss issues related to Horse Welfare and SLO as concerns the issues in their respective countries. It was a stimulating and informative meeting with lively contributions from all the...
FEI – Fédération Équestre Internationale and FEIF signed an agreement of Official Mutual Recognition
The Official Mutual Recognition is based on a joint commitment to equestrian sports and fostering its growth as we will work to continue to enhance best practice and further development. FEI and FEIF recognize the significant role that each plays in the development of equestrianism worldwide, and therefore, official recognition is an important step for FEIF as the official body responsible for the Icelandic horse.
FEIF is a member of the European Horse Network (EHN)
The European Horse Network is a network to exchange views on political developments affecting the horse sector in Europe, to discuss and define common interests on the political agenda, to discuss and define technical and R&D issues of common interest to move for development of the horse sector in Europe.
FEIF is a partner of Horses of Iceland
Horses of Iceland is a strategic marketing plan co-funded by stakeholders in the Icelandic horse community and the Icelandic Government.
The objective is to make more people aware of the good qualities of the Icelandic horse all over the world. The focus is not only on the horse itself, but also on services, and horse related products, with the aim to enlarge the Icelandic horse community and make its industry more profitable.
FEIF is a member of ISES – International Society for Equitation Science
The International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) is a not-for-profit organisation that chiefly aims to facilitate research into the training of horses to enhance horse welfare and improve the horse–rider relationship.
The Mission of ISES is to promote and encourage the application of objective research and advanced practice which will ultimately improve the welfare of horses in their associations with humans.
