Equine Fitness Inspections Scheduled for January
Italy is leading the way in equine sports regulations, becoming the first country in the European Community to legally recognise the status of athlete for sport horses. From January 1, 2026, it will be mandatory for every athlete horse to have a fitness certificate.
The decree, signed by Ministers Abodi and Schillaci, establishes the contents of the veterinary visit and the methods of verification and certification of the horse's fitness for sporting activity. The fitness certificate, issued by a licensed veterinarian, is valid for 12 months.
The certificate, available in an electronic format, is often provided as a digital document or through an authorized electronic system for veterinary certification. It may specify fitness for one or more sporting activities, as well as any limitations related to other disciplines or competitive levels that require particular commitment.
Annually, the horse is subjected to a visit that includes a general physical examination, a specific physical examination, and a behavioural assessment. The veterinarian's evaluation sheet and the sports fitness certificate are drawn up in electronic format, using exclusively the models made available in the National Database of Equines.
If a horse is not found fit, it will not be allowed to participate in sporting events. The reason for the denial of fitness will be specified by the veterinarian on the evaluation sheet. In the absence of the fitness certificate, a veterinary visit by the on-site veterinarian is foreseen, except for international sporting events held under the aegis of the international federations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and for temporarily imported equines registered abroad.
The veterinarian who examines the athlete horse has the faculty to request additional specialist and instrumental examinations if necessary. Guidelines have been issued for the visit, but the veterinarian can integrate their clinical evaluation, considering any health documentation produced by the operator.
For further information, refer to the Veterinarian's evaluation sheet, Fitness Certificate, and Guidelines for the visit. The Decree of June 25, 2025, regulates the cases of admission of equines to sporting events in the absence of the fitness certificate.
Italy's new regulations aim to ensure the health and wellbeing of performance sport horses, providing a safer and more competitive environment for all participants.
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