By Nick Butler

An Independent Advisory Committee has been set up to preserve the integrity of the Presidential election process ©FEIAn Independent Advisory Committee has been set up by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) Bureau in order, they claim, to preserve the integrity of the Presidential election process and to avoid any potential conflict of interest.


It follows the announcement this week of the six candidates standing to replace Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein as President of the organisation, with FEI secretary general Ingmar De Vos putting himself forward as the final one of the six contenders on Monday (September 1).

He joins Spaniard Javier Revuelta del Peral, Briton and current FEI first vice-president John McEwen, French Olympic show jumping champion Pierre Durand, Danish Equestrian Federation President and European Equestrian Federation vice-president Ulf Helgstrand and Swiss businessman and horse breeder Pierre Genecand.

The President is due to be elected at the FEI General Assembly in Baku, Azerbaijan, on December 14.

The temporary Committee, established under Article 36.1 of the FEI Statutes, will include Princess Haya, who served two terms as leader after being first appointed in 2006 before announcing last month that she will step down at the end of her current term. 

She will be joined by Britain's Lord Stevens, chair of the Equestrian Community Integrity Unit and former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London, Israeli lawyer Ken Lalo, former chair of the FEI Tribunal, and Ireland's Brian Mangan, chair of the FEI Audit and Compliance Unit.

The Presidential race is continuing as the World Equestrian Games continue in Caen ©AFP/Getty ImagesThe Presidential race is continuing as the World Equestrian Games continue in Caen ©AFP/Getty Images



No candidate will be involved in any aspect of the election process, with the process to be handled in FEI Headquarters by the Director of Governance and Executive Affairs and the Legal Director.

All candidates will pay their own costs when travelling to attend meetings organised by FEI Regional Groups to present candidates, although De Vos will continue his work as secretary general, except for that which will affect the electoral process.

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