For the first time in the 93-year history of the Fédération Equestre Internationale, the athletes themselves can vote for their FEI Athlete Representatives. The election will take place via a secure online voting platform here, where the curriculum vitaes of all athlete candidates will be available for review. Voting opened today, April 15, and will remain open until June 1.

FEI-registered athletes, 18 and older, who are included on their respective FEI Ranking Lists from Dec. 31, 2013 will be eligible to vote for their Athlete Representative.

A total of 26 candidates from 10 nations are standing for election as FEI Athlete Representatives on the FEI Technical Committees for jumping, dressage, para-equestrian, eventing, driving, endurance, vaulting and reining. The appointed FEI Athlete Representatives in each discipline will also form the FEI Athletes’ Committee when the FEI’s Technical Committees require feedback and proactive input on areas relevant to all FEI athletes.

“Our athlete representatives play a vital role in the governance of equestrian sport, acting as a voice for all our athletes and actively shaping the FEI’s global development, so it is only right that the athletes themselves should decide who will represent them,” said FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos. “We are encouraging all our athletes to take this opportunity to cast their vote on these key ambassadors for equestrian sport.”