Happy Friday! We’re kicking off with a quick look at the updated flag rule, per the FEI’s 2026 rule changes. We’ll have a deeper breakdown for you soon, but here’s the overfiew.
One Big Thing: FEI Trims the Flag Tax
Allison Springer and No May Moon, very much earning a clear trip between the flags at Stable View. Photo by Shelby Allen.
That pesky flag penalty that has caused plenty of controversy in its lifetime has just gotten *slightly* less pesky. Instead of 15 penalties, missed flags will now cost 9 penalties.
The criteria for assessing the flag penalty remains the same, as follows (FEI Eventing Rules Art 549.2): A Horse is considered to have missed a flag when the point of a shoulder fails to pass between the extremities of the obstacle as flagged. The head and neck must pass inside the extremities of the obstacle as flagged. If a flag is dislodged, the hindquarters must jump the height of the solid part of the obstacle.
Zooming out: 15 penalties is margin risky enough to lose out on a win or a team placing. We’ve seen controversial flag calls at nearly every major event, including the Paris Olympics. Lowering the penalty to 9 is still a margin any rider would prefer to do without. It will also be interesting to compare the number of flag penalties assessed in the coming years with the previous period.
You can view the full rule changes for 2026 (and videos explaining them) here.
U.S. Events This Weekend
Horse Trials at Majestic Oaks (FL): [Website] [Entries/Ride Times] [Volunteer] [Scores]
Other Links & Reading
Mini Classifieds
We’re kicking off 2026 with a new feature: mini-classifieds! If you have something to sell or promote, consider this your space to get right in front of an audience within your target market. Listings cost just $5, or you can purchase 3-5 days of mentions here in News & Notes at a bulk discount.
Please note: horses for sale MUST be listed on our partner site, Sport Horse Nation. We will not accept horse listings here, but we can feature your Sport Horse Nation listing! This space should be used for promoting events, fundraisers, clinics, job openings, tack sales and other events.
Have questions? Email [email protected]. If you want to purchase your listing, click here.
You may also see some links from our sponsors and partners in this section, but they’ll always be labeled as sponsored if applicable.
Our first batch of listings will launch next Monday — be sure to get them in if you want to be included in our early runs!
Sponsor Corner: Stable View
Photo by Christine Quinn Photography.
Stable View’s Aiken Opener H.T. is approaching next weekend, and we’ve got all the early info you need. With Mogie Bearden-Muller building the cross-country questions and Michel Vaillencourt on show jumping, you’ll get a perfect season kick-off out of the weekend.
Stable View also understands that “family weekend” is part of the sport, so don’t miss Graze & Gaze, which features complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres for competitors and families Friday + Saturday, 5–7pm in Ollie’s Inn. (Friday’s Graze & Gaze is sponsored by Pony Policy)
Not able to make it out for this one? Check out Stable View’s full calendar of recognized and unrecognized opportunities here.
Training Tip of the Day
When was the last time you checked the evenness of your stirrup leathers? You might be surprised at what you find next time you do. Lucinda Green explains more:
Go Eventing
Play “this or that” with European champion Laura Collett:
