FEI regulations: what strict liability means for you
Every rider competing under FEI rules carries direct responsibility for any substance found in their horse at testing. This is called strict liability: it does not matter whether contamination was intentional or accidental. Ignorance is not a defence. This principle is deliberately uncompromising because intent cannot be proven from a urine or blood sample. only the substance and its concentration can be measured.
This makes the selection of competition-safe supplements not an optional extra but a core part of responsible sport horse management.
The prohibited substances list
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is updated annually and contains over 700 substances. It includes not only classic performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids and corticosteroids, but also many substances naturally present in common plants, herbs, and feed ingredients. Capsaicin (found in warming liniments and some herbal extracts), theophylline (in tea extracts), and hordenine (in barley sprouts) have all caught riders off guard.
The question "which supplements are FEI permitted?" cannot be answered by reading an ingredient list alone. What matters is whether the finished product has been tested and confirmed free of detectable prohibited substances.
The risk of untested supplements
The vast majority of equine supplements on the market have never been tested for FEI prohibited substances. This does not mean they contain banned substances. but it means you cannot prove they don't. Specific risks include cross-contamination from shared production facilities; variable concentrations in herbal ingredients; incomplete labelling using trade names for substances listed differently on the prohibited list; and storage-related degradation or contamination.
What "FEI-tested" actually means
The FEI does not issue official approval certificates for supplements. What exists is an independent testing system: manufacturers submit their products to accredited laboratories, which test for prohibited substances against FEI detection thresholds. Products that pass receive a batch certificate. a document that proves this specific production run was free of detectable banned substances at the time of testing.
Horse Tonic tests every production batch individually at an accredited laboratory. Batch certificates are available on request with every order, providing documented evidence that due diligence was exercised in product selection.
Protecting yourself: practical steps
- Request the batch certificate for every supplement you use. Any credible supplier can provide this. If they cannot, look elsewhere.
- Verify the testing laboratory is independently accredited. recognised names include LGC, Eurofins, and certified veterinary analytical laboratories.
- Keep records. store certificates alongside purchase receipts, matched to the specific batch you used.
- Check the FEI Clean Sport database at horsesport.org/clean-sport for registered tested products.
- Apply a 14-day rule for new supplements before competition. never introduce a product you have not previously used in the two weeks before a major event.
- Never use human sports supplements on horses. Pre-workouts, protein powders, and performance enhancers designed for humans frequently contain substances that are banned in equine competition.
If your horse tests positive
A positive test triggers the FEI's Clean Sport process. Riders who can demonstrate "no fault or negligence". through documented evidence of due diligence. may receive reduced sanctions. Batch certificates, purchase records, and a documented supplementation history are your strongest evidence. Without them, your position is significantly weaker. The paperwork matters.
Summary checklist
- Use only supplements with batch certificates from accredited laboratories
- Maintain systematic records of certificates and purchase receipts
- Check the FEI Clean Sport database before adopting new products
- Apply a 14-day new-product freeze before competitions
- Never use human sports nutrition on horses
- Ask your supplier about their testing protocol, not just their label claims
- Strict liability applies. your diligence is your protection
New supplements and the safety window
A golden rule in competition equestrian sport: never introduce a new supplement within two weeks before a competition. Even if the product has an excellent batch certificate, you cannot predict how your specific horse will metabolise the ingredients or how long any trace compound will remain detectable. Out-of-season introduction gives you time to assess both safety and effectiveness before the competitive window.
Herbs and natural products: heightened caution required
Herbal products are often assumed to be safe because they are "natural." In an FEI context, this assumption is dangerous. Valerian, arnica extract, willow bark (salicylates), and certain lavender and chamomile extracts contain substances detectable at equine doping controls. The rule of thumb: if it contains biologically active compounds that affect behaviour, pain perception, or recovery, it must be tested for competition use. "Herbal" and "organic" are not synonyms for "FEI-safe." Only a batch certificate from an accredited laboratory that specifically tested for FEI prohibited substances provides meaningful assurance.
Veterinary medication versus supplements: a clear distinction
Confusion between veterinary treatment and supplementation regularly causes problems. Medicines prescribed by your vet. NSAIDs, antibiotics, sedatives. have withdrawal periods before competition. Your vet knows these or can obtain them from the manufacturer. Supplements are not medicines; they support baseline physiology. However, supplements from manufacturers who do not adequately separate their production from pharmaceutical lines can contain trace residues. This underlines the importance of batch certification from dedicated supplement manufacturers.
Communicate with your federation contact
When in doubt about a specific product, the most direct route is contacting your national federation's FEI liaison or the FEI Clean Sport helpdesk. They can advise on the status of specific substances. The official FEI Clean Sport app also allows substance checks. Ask before assuming. the cost of a query is zero; the cost of a positive test is not.
New supplements and the safety window
A golden rule in competition equestrian sport: never introduce a new supplement within two weeks before a competition. Even if the product has an excellent batch certificate, you cannot predict how your specific horse will metabolise the ingredients or how long any trace compound will remain detectable. Out-of-season introduction gives you time to assess both safety and effectiveness before the competitive window.
Herbs and natural products: heightened caution required
Herbal products are often assumed to be safe because they are "natural." In an FEI context, this assumption is dangerous. Valerian, arnica extract, willow bark (salicylates), and certain lavender and chamomile extracts contain substances detectable at equine doping controls. The rule of thumb: if it contains biologically active compounds that affect behaviour, pain perception, or recovery, it must be tested for competition use. "Herbal" and "organic" are not synonyms for "FEI-safe." Only a batch certificate from an accredited laboratory that specifically tested for FEI prohibited substances provides meaningful assurance.
Veterinary medication versus supplements: a clear distinction
Confusion between veterinary treatment and supplementation regularly causes problems. Medicines prescribed by your vet. NSAIDs, antibiotics, sedatives. have withdrawal periods before competition. Your vet knows these or can obtain them from the manufacturer. Supplements are not medicines; they support baseline physiology. However, supplements from manufacturers who do not adequately separate their production from pharmaceutical lines can contain trace residues. This underlines the importance of batch certification from dedicated supplement manufacturers.
Communicate with your federation contact
When in doubt about a specific product, the most direct route is contacting your national federation's FEI liaison or the FEI Clean Sport helpdesk. They can advise on the status of specific substances. The official FEI Clean Sport app also allows substance checks. Ask before assuming. the cost of a query is zero; the cost of a positive test is not.