The new rule banning the shaving of the sensory hairs on the muzzle, eyes and outer ears was passed during the FEI’s General Assembly on November 23rd. This new veterinary regulation that was unanimously passed involves sport horses competing under FEI rules in all disciplines and the penalty for non-compliance is disqualification of the horse from the event. Shaving of sensory hairs for veterinary reasons are exempt; the unanimously-passed wording states that horses are not permitted to compete in FEI events “if the horse’s sensory hairs have been clipped and/or shaven or in any other way removed unless individual sensory hairs have been removed by a veterinarian to prevent pain or discomfort for the horse.”

The FEI Veterinary Committee maintains that removing a horse’s sensory hairs “reduces the horse’s sensory ability” adding “The change will align with legislation in a number of national federations where trimming or removal of sensory hairs is forbidden and in some cases carries a heavy sanction.”

Previously, Germany, Switzerland and France had banned whisker and ear hair removal at various levels of seriousness as part of their animal welfare laws or sporting federation rules.