Eventing rule changes for 2026 – what you need to know about voice aids in dressage, tack rules and flag penalties

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Are you up to speed on your eventing rule changes for 2026? We’ve looked at both the British Eventing rules, governing national competitions, and the FEI rules, which are in place for international classes, to highlight key changes.

Do make sure you look at the full rule book for whatever level of eventing competition you are interested in so that you are not caught out.

British Eventing rule changes 2026

Voices in dressage tests

Rule 6.1.4.5, page 44

What’s changed: this is an interesting “non-change” insofar as BE has had to add wording saying use of the voice is prohibited in dressage tests and will be penalised with the loss of two marks for each movement where it occurs.

There is no change here – use of the voice was not previously allowed in BE tests, but because BE dressage is governed by the rules of British Dressage, which now allow discreet voice aids, BE has had to clarify that it’s still banned in eventing.

Pulling yourself up across country for safety reasons

Rule 6.3.9.14, page 60

What’s changed: for the first time the rulebook makes provision for a rider to pull themselves up across country “on grounds of safety” – the specific reasons mentioned are a loose horse, loose dog or something blocking the course – and have their time adjusted.

Previously this time adjustment has only been possible if the competitor was pulled up by officials (which can also still happen).

Water trays in showjumping

Rule 6.2.6.3, page 50

What’s changed: if you’re competing at novice level or above, you need to teach your horse to jump a water tray – the new showjumping course and obstacle table shows that a water tray will be used from this level upwards if available.

Tack rules

Rule 7.19.2, page 68

What’s changed: bridles without throat lashes are now allowed in the dressage (but a throat lash is still needed for the jumping phases).

Rule 7.19.2, page 69

What’s changed: two changes around nosebands. Firstly, double or dual nosebands are now allowed for the jumping phases, including Kineton nosebands/bit lifters.

Secondly, a chain on the lower strap of a grackle is now allowed in the jumping phases, but the chain must be covered for cross-country. Chains on the inner surface of nosebands are still banned.

Rule 7.19.7, page 72

What’s changed: this is not a new rule, but it has been clarified that when using a running martingale in the jumping phases with two reins, the martingale rings can only be used on the top rein.

Option to run British open championships at four-star

Annex 6, page 170

What’s changed: the option has been added for the British open to be run at four-star, rather than as an advanced. With the championships now at Hartpury Horse Trials and the CCI4*-S proving much more popular than the British open there in terms of quality and quantity of entries, it will be interesting to see if the classes are combined this year and whether that can rejuvenate the open.

Jumping fences after retirement in showjumping

Rule 6.2.9, page 49

What’s changed: the rulebook now formalises that you can “make up to two attempts to jump any single obstacle in the proper direction” after retirement in the showjumping; previously the rule only allowed this after elimination.

Continuing before the bell after being stopped in showjumping

Rule 6.2.7, page 48

What’s changed: if you are stopped by the judge or stop voluntarily in the showjumping and then continue before the bell, you are eliminated – this is unchanged from last year’s rules. However, what’s new is that at BE80, BE90 and BE100 level, you will be allowed to finish the round before being eliminated.

Eligibility for BE80 championships

Annex 6, page 165

What’s changed: combinations who have gained foundation points at BE100 can now compete in BE80 regional and national championships.

Qualifying after the ballot date

Annex 6, page 164

What’s changed: a new rule states that combinations qualifying for a championship, series or qualifier after the ballot date will only be accepted at the organisers discretion and if the timetable allows for that specific class. If necessary, a wait list may be held.

Cross-country falls on the flat

Rule 6.3.11.4, page 61

What’s changed: a new cross-country rule sets out that a fall of rider or horse and rider that is not associated with a fence is a fall on the
flat (FOF) and that any fall within the lettered elements of a combination is considered to be associated to that fence.

Vaccinations

Rule 10.2.1, page 90

What’s changed: the wording has been updated to reflect BE moving from six-monthly to annual boosters and also remind riders that disciplinary sanctions will be applied for vaccination violations.

Coaching sessions for those whose riding gives cause for concern

Rule 3.8.6, page 23

What’s changed: the wording covering what happens if someone’s riding has given cause for concern, but without resulting in a disciplinary sanction, has been updated to say that if additional coaching sessions or assessments are needed, they will be paid for by the member or associate.

Electric and push bikes

Rule 5.2.1, page 38

What’s changed: the wording has been updated so that the clause covering disciplinary sanctions if members or their connections are found to be riding or parking bikes in an unsafe manner, which includes following a horse cross-country.

FEI eventing rule changes 2026

Flag penalties

Article 548.1, page 73

What’s changed: penalties for missing a flag across country have been reduced from 15 to nine.

Dressage scoring

Article 544.1.2, page 59

What’s changed: at higher level events and four-star championships, previously only marks for flying changes could be reviewed and altered when there was a difference of three points or more between judges. This has now been expanded to include halts, rein-backs and walk pirouettes.

Blood rules

Article 526.4, page 44

What’s changed: the rules around blood on the horse in the showjumping phase have been rewritten to bring them in line with the new blood rules in pure showjumping. In short, previously all horses with blood on the flanks or bleeding in the mouth were eliminated. This has been replaced with wording stating that any blood on the horse caused by the tack, equipment or athlete results in a recorded warning.

These will be issued by the ground jury in minor cases after providing the rider with the opportunity to have a hearing. There is still provision for stronger penalties where warranted as cases indicating abuse can be dealt with under that rule and in all cases of blood, the horse can only continue in the competition if the ground jury, in consultation with the veterinary delegate deems the horse fit to compete.

Whip rules and sanctions

Article 525.2, page 22; article 526.1.3, page 45; annex 1, page 87

What’s changed: the wording around use of the whip has been tweaked and separated by sanction type in terms of what offences lead to a recording warning and what to a yellow card. There is also new wording stating the whip is “not to be used to discipline the horse”.

A new Annex 1 has also been introduced “presenting all eventing sanctions in a single table for easier overview and comparison”.

Horses acting as schoolmasters

Article 504.2.1, page 19

What’s changed: previously, horses that had achieved minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) at World Championships, Olympic Games, or CCI5*s could not compete in one or two-star events in the same or following year. This has been removed “to support the development of less experienced athletes and allow experienced horses to act as schoolmasters”.

In addition, horses at junior championships now cannot have obtained an MER in World Championships, Olympic Games, or CCI5* in the current year, whereas previously it was the preceding or current year.

Dress and kit mistakes in dressage

Article 544.2.1, page 59

What’s changed: there is some new wording around “technical faults” in dressage, which includes that if a rider starts their test with a whip, boots or bandages on the horse’s legs or with discrepancy in dress (for example, no gloves), “the judge at C stops the athlete and, if needed and possible, an assistant may enter the arena to remove the item(s). The athlete then continues the test from the movement where they were stopped. The marks given before they were stopped are not changed.”

The implication seems to be that this will be penalised with two penalties rather than elimination – we have asked the FEI for clarification on this and whether it’s a change from previous rules.

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Library image. Credit: Getty Images