The FEI, AQHA, and NRHA all say they're open to discussions on a new cooperative agreement in the future. | Photo: FEI/Liz Gregg

Discord concerning anti-doping, stewarding, and horse age has led to a rupture of the agreement between the international governing body for equestrian sports and two major organizations that manage reining competitions throughout the U.S.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) announced last month that it would sever its cooperation agreement with the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) and the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), effective immediately. FEI leaders said the NRHA and the AQHA were “in breach of the terms” of that agreement, which led to the decision.

“The best welfare standards have to be in place for competing horses to ensure the integrity of the sport and maintain a level playing field across all our disciplines,” FEI Reining Director Bettina De Rham told The Horse. “The AQHA and the NRHA do not have the same rules in place as the FEI, and the FEI officials working onsite at all FEI events must ensure all FEI protocols are not only respected but also enforced. Therefore, the FEI officials at FEI reining events must adhere to the FEI rules