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FEI maintains provisional suspensions on horses
Jum[ing horse
While Guerdat is eligible to compete in Aachen, he will not be able to ride Nino and will need to select an alternative pre-declared horse.
Subsequent request for suspension to be lifted refused

The FEI Tribunal has maintained provisional suspensions on three Swiss jumping horses ridden by Steve Guerdat and Alessandra Bichsel.

Two-month provisional suspensions were imposed on the horses in July after tests for prohibited substances returned positive.

Samples taken in May from Steve Guerdat's horses, Nino des Buissonnets and Nasa, tested positive for the banned substance codeine and the controlled substance, morphine.   Both horses also revealed traces of the banned substance oripavine, however there was not enough in Nasa's sample to declare a positive for the substance.

In the same month, samples taken from Alessandra Bichsel's horse, Charivari KG, also returned positive for codeine, oripavine and morphine.

The athletes were notified of the positives and both immediately asked for the provisional suspensions to be lifted. While the FEI lifted the provisional suspension on the riders, requests for the lifting of the suspensions on the horses were denied.

On Monday (10 August), the closing date for entries to the FEI European Jumping Championships Aachen 2015, Steve Guerdat made a subsequent request to have the provisional suspension on his horse lifted.

In response to the request, the FEI Tribunal has decided to maintain the provisional suspensions of the horses.  While Guerdat is eligible to compete in Aachen, he will not be able to ride Nino and will need to select an alternative pre-declared horse.

Decisions on the full merits will be made at a later stage.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.