FEI Now Requires Cards for Equine Therapists

EquiManagement and partner KindredBio will be bringing you news and information leading up to the FEI WEG Tryon 2018.

EquiManagement and KindredBio will bring you news and information leading up to and during the FEI WEG Tryon 2018. undefined

The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018 will be held at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. The event will take place September 11-23. There are several new rule changes that affect veterinarians who are treating or officiating at FEI events, including WEG Tryon 2018, according to Mike Tomlinson, DVM, MBA, who is president of the Veterinary Commission I for the 2018 World Equestrian Games.

One of the most immediate needs is not necessarily for veterinarians, but for non-veterinary therapists, who often work in conjunction with treating veterinarians at events.

If you are a treating veterinarian who also does therapy, you are covered by FEI under your Permitted Treating Veterinarian (PTV) licensing for conducting therapy at FEI-sanctioned events with approved devices and equipment, noted Tomlinson.

However, if you are not a licensed veterinarian and you do therapy on horses, “You now have to be registered with the FEI. There is an application on the FEI website (http://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/veterinarians/pet_sign-up) and further information online (http://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/veterinarians/permitted-equine-therapists),” Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson said that Permitted Equine Therapists need to have all the paperwork filled out and submitted to ASAP to the FEI in order to be carded and to perform therapy work at FEI events.

Veterinarians who work with therapists—or those with therapists in their practices who work on FEI-level horses—need to make sure that those people get registered with FEI.

An FEI-recognized therapist is going to receive credentials that will allow him or her to use any legal modality in FEI stabling because that person is a carded professional, explained Tomlinson. He said that the FEI is trying to elevate the status of the therapist to that of a recognized profession.

However, in the United States, there is no such thing as a “licensed equine therapist.” Tomlinson explained that FEI is facing the challenge of how to consistently decide who is a professional therapist and who isn’t. This is in contrast to veterinarians who are licensed in the areas where they practice.

Tomlinson said that the change to requiring an FEI card for therapists really “dovetails” into trying to reduce restrictions on carded professionals.

“The intent is to say, ‘You are a professional; you know what you are doing; go do it!’ ” explained Tomlinson. On the other hand, if you don’t meet the criteria, then you are not a recognized professional and are not allowed in FEI stabling.

Anyone applying for an FEI Permitted Equine Therapist card should read the Codex for those persons (http://inside.fei.org/system/files/PET%20Codex.pdf).

FEI Permitted Equine Therpists’ Codex

1. Permitted Equine Therapists must ensure that at all times the Horse’s welfare and health are prioritized according to the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse, the FEI Veterinary Regulations, the FEI General Regulations, the FEI Equine Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication Regulations and any other applicable rules or regulations.

2. Permitted Equine Therapists must continually be aware of both human and equine safety.

3. Permitted Equine Therapists must act in compliance with all applicable local and national laws.

4. Permitted Equine Therapists must not work in any official capacity during the Event regardless of any FEI Official function they may hold.

5. Permitted Equine Therapists must not compete in the Event or any other competition taking place on the Event site whilst working as a Permitted Equine Therapist.

Editor’s note: This is the first of a series of articles, videos and other content that will be brought to you by KindredBio leading up to the WEG Tryon 2018. Then we will have behind-the-scenes coverage from the event. Stay tuned!

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