In a letter to National Federation Presidents, McEwen said he can offer the "best of both worlds", if elected as President at the FEI General Assembly in Baku on Sunday (December 14), by continuing to work with De Vos, who announced his candidacy in September, in his current position.

McEwen said he decided to speak out after listening carefully to colleagues and having considered what he believes is in the best interests of equestrian sport.

He claims his approach will help to protect the sport from "becoming mired in legal and constitutional wrangling", particularly as International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach's Agenda 2020 is seeking improved governance and reform of the Olympic programme.

"Thus far I have kept my counsel on the controversial issue of the candidature of Ingmar De Vos in order to focus on the policy discussion about our future and the positive plan I have set out in my manifesto on all the major challenges and opportunities we face," he wrote.

"However, having heard the different sides of this debate and thought long and hard, I do now believe that it is right to set out a position which I hope will be helpful in order to avoid a period of uncertainty, potential instability and division within the FEI.

"This is particularly important as it follows a significant period of unity and stability in our organisation under the leadership of Princess Haya and at a time when we need to demonstrate the quality of our governance and our sense of common purpose to the Olympic Movement and the wider public.

The FEI will elect a new President to replace outgoing Princess Haya in Baku on Sunday ©Getty Images


"I believe that we can also approach this in a spirit of friendship which delivers continuity, transparency and progress.

"And it is in that spirit that I would suggest that we should debate a Presidential solution based on the 'best of both worlds'.

"By this I mean a President who follows the tradition of the FEI and provides leadership but not the executive, fully remunerated control, of a secretary general who we know and who we can trust.

"If I had the honour of being elected I would be in a position to deliver that 'best of both worlds' as a President committed to our guiding principles and committed to working with Ingmar as secretary general."

McEwen admitted that he is hoping the National Federations vote for him to become President of the FEI and promised to lead the body with "a proper division of roles, responsibilities and rewards".

In addition to Briton McEwen and Belgian De Vos, there are a further three candidates running for the position of FEI President, namely 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.

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