In an effort to ensure maximum equine welfare, the vote on the highly debated "Blood Rule" of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) that would affect all FEI dressage and para-equestrian dressage competitions has been postponed until next year, the FEI reported.

The FEI Bureau elected unanimously Nov. 11 to withdraw the proposed modifications from the agenda of the 2011 FEI General Assembly, which ended Monday in Rio de Janeiro. The proposal would have been sent to the vote on Nov. 14.

The commonly called "Blood Rule" would have allowed horses with blood on their bodies at high-level competitions to return to the dressage arena if an FEI veterinarian determined the bleeding had stopped and welfare was not an issue. At lower level FEI dressage and para-equestrian dressage competitions, such horses could remain disqualified and would not be permitted re-entrance despite a veterinary exam.

The debate gained significance as opponents claimed that any bleeding horse at any level of competition should remain disqualified, as a question of fairness and equine welfare