The Malta Equestrian Federation, which is affiliated to the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), was set up in 1999 in order to promote equestrian sports and attract new talent.

The disciplines governed by the FEI and represented by the Malta Equestrian Federation are jumping, dressage, eventing, driving, endurance, reining and vaulting; of these, jumping, dressage and eventing are Olympic disciplines. Equestrian sport is in fact the only Olympic discipline performed by humans in union with an outstanding ambassador of nature: the horse.

Jumping and dressage are arena disciplines whereas eventing includes both disciplines as well as a cross country course. There is also an increasing emphasis being placed on para-equestrian sports, the paralympic disciplines of the equestrian world. The 2004 Summer Paralympics in fact included dressage amongst the competition disciplines.

The Malta Equestrian Federation with the help of the Malta Olympic Committee and the guidance of Director of Sport Pippo Psaila, has for the last couple of months endeavoured to raise the profile of this sport in Malta and ensure that proper rules, regulations and structures are set down to bring this about.

Following a recent meeting where over 50 equestrian enthusiasts met up to discuss the newly formed statute; a number of points were raised for discussion including how the national body is run, the issue of conflict of interest and how club representatives are elected.

Through the deliberations it has been proposed that one representative from each region (defined) can be represented on the Executive irrespective of number of national bodies. However, if there are more national bodies in the region then the number will increase to two representatives for every 4 national bodies and three representatives for over five or more national bodies; this will guarantee proportional representation.

Notice was duly circulated that an ad hoc general meeting in accordance with the current statute of the MEF will be taking place at the MOC Head Quarters on 15 December at 6pm.

The objective of this meeting is to further define and clarify the new MEF statute that will govern Equestrian Sport in Malta and to elect a new Steering Committee.

This meeting will be chaired by Pippo Psaila and the agenda will include the motion to change the statute, to adopt new text with all amendments, to suspend the rules of new statue; to approve the new statute to govern the MEF, and to decide on a date for the first elective general meeting under the new statue.

At this same meeting a new steering committee which will be chaired by Mr. Ronald Gaerty will be elected. The objective of the new steering committee will be to evaluate all statutes of national bodies, draw up statutes and regulations governing districts, approve the calendars for each national body and each district, organise and host the national championship/s of the MEF, evaluate and conclude the sponsorship proposal for the bi annual period 2007-2009 of Equus Co. in line with the new statute and decide on membership and subs.