There’s been a delay in the planning of the equestrian sports for the 2016 Olympics Games, set to take place next year at the Deodoro Olympic Park, outside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. About 200 horses will be invited to compete in the Games, but as of right now, they won’t be allowed into the country.

Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture has been slow to agree upon import and export procedures with the Fédération Equestre Internationale concerning the transportation of equine athletes. This issue was first brought to light by the president of the Brazilian Equestrian Confederation, Luiz Roberto Giugni, who is also working with the FEI to secure the necessary approvals for these protocols.

Guigni told reporters at an Oct. 7 news conference in Sao Paulo that if the problem isn’t resolved by the end of the month, then the equestrian events might not be able to take place in Brazil.

“We have been working for some time with Rio 2016, the Brazilian and Rio Authorities, and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture to get the Veterinary Certificate and Protocol approved that will define the conditions for importation and exportation of the horses that will compete at the Rio Olympic Games,” said FEI President Ingmar De Vos via an emailed statement.

“The process of approval of the equine health certificate by the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture has already taken a lot of time and is still not finalized,” he continued. “This has an important impact as it delays the planning and preparation of the horses that will take part in the Games.”

Will Connell, director of sports programs at the U.S. Equestrian Federation, believes Olympic equestrian sport will still take place in Rio next year, but the process to secure these protocols has been frustrating. He hopes the recent publicity will cause the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture officials to stop dragging their feet.

“It would be a huge failing by the Brazilian Ministry if we couldn’t go to Rio because there wasn’t an agreement around import/export protocols,” said Connell. “I think that would leave a very nasty taste, and I don’t think it will happen. I just think the delay is annoying, verging on unacceptable.”

Connell stressed that the International Olympic and U.S. Olympic Committees had nothing to do with this jurisdictional delay, and that the committees have gone above and beyond to ensure horse safety and comfort.

“In terms of the welfare of the horses while they are traveling [to Rio] and while they are there, we don’t have concerns,” he said. “Where the delay is, is the protocol of what has to be done before the horses travel [to Rio] and for them to travel back.”

FEI officials conducted further discussions with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture earlier in the week, and De Vos is hopeful an agreement on protocols will be set soon, ensuring the safety and health of all the Olympic horses. He is also confident that, despite this hiccup, horse sports will make an appearance in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.