French Equestrian Federation

The French Equestrian Federation was founded in 1921. In 1963, an Association nationale pour le tourisme équestre (ANTE) was created with the support of the Haras nationaux, and grew thanks to the new popular craze for leisure riding.[4] In 1971, the Poney Club de France appeared, thanks to the renewed support of the Haras nationaux, reaping the rewards of the penetration of pony riding among children.[4]

Thus, until 1987, the French horse world was divided into three independent entities, before the French Equestrian Federation was created that year, unifying and grouping the entities. Delegations were nevertheless set up: the Délégation nationale aux sports équestres (DNSE); the Délégation nationale au tourisme équestre (DNTE); and the Délégation nationale à l'équitation sur Poneys (DNEP).[4]

In 1999, the FFE's statutes changed, and the delegations were dissolved, although the specialties were still represented on the Steering Committee, which comprised a Horse Committee, a Pony Committee, a Tourism Committee and a Competition College.[4]

The Sports Modernization Act of 2000 led to the creation of new statutes. These, creating the CREIF (Comité Régional d'Equitation d'Ile de France by its extension in French), were approved by the equestrian centers with 94.24% of the votes cast. The former independent bodies : Comité régional de tourisme équestre, Délégation régionale à l'équitation sur poney (DREP) and Ligue régionale des sports équestres were grouped together under the CREIF umbrella, thus guaranteeing the continuity of their specificity. The CREIF inherited the Ligues de Fontainebleau, Versailles, ARTE and DREP Île-de-France through a merger-absorption process. This administrative restructuring is in line with regional state administrations and political bodies.[5]

The CREIF now heads 8 departments: Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise, representing more than 600 equestrian associations and establishments affiliated to the FFE and more than 100,000 licensees, its mission is to encourage, promote, develop and organize equestrian activities in all forms and practices.[6][5]

The CREIF is one of the FFE's 23 deconcentrated bodies, following the law on the modernization of sport.[5]

By order dated 2 and 3 2005, the FFE lost its approval and delegation from the French Ministry of Youth, Sports and the Voluntary Sector. The Federation is accused of failing to bring its statutes into line with the so-called "Lamour" law no. 2003-708 of 1 August 2003. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries also withdrew its approval by order dated 6 October 2005.[7]

The main reason why the FFE has not updated its statutes is that the Lamour law de facto imposes an under-representation in voting rights of commercial equestrian clubs, which represent the majority in number, to the benefit of non-commercial structures.[7]

In 2004, Serge Lecomte's re-election as FFE president led to legal proceedings initiated by the unsuccessful candidate, Jacqueline Reverdy. The FFE was placed under judicial administration, entrusted to Monique Legrand, following the annulment of Serge Lecomte's election by the Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance.[7]

To ensure continuity of public service, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF by its acronym in French) temporarily exercises the prerogatives lost by the FFE following the withdrawal of its approval and delegation. In particular, it has authority over the organization of competitions and high-level sport. A specialized Equestrian Commission has been set up. Various agreements between the FFE and the CNOSF enable activities to run smoothly, particularly for competitions and top-level sport.[8]

The FFE's new statutes were adopted at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 19 June 2006, raising hopes of normalized relations between the French government and the FFE. As a result, in September 2006, the FFE was once again approved by the public authorities.[9]

In a decree dated December 21, 2006, the Minister for Youth, Sports and the Voluntary Sector once again granted the FFE the delegation provided for in article 131-14 of the French Sports Code, thus putting an end to several years of conflict between the association and the public authorities.[10]

In 2008, the FFE's statutes underwent further changes. The head office was moved from Boulogne-Billancourt to the Federal Equestrian Park de Lamotte-Beuvron.[11]