The Executive Board

Messages from the Executive

" FITE: The future is in our hands "
Equestrian Tourism is now an economic reality and one of the surest ways of developing riding.
Equestrian Tourism has appeal. People like its values: focused on human relationships, leisure time and the environment. It brings a breath of new life to the rural world, enabling it to diversify and open up onto new perspectives.
Equestrian Tourism creates jobs and is a source of social and economic opportunity.
It reinstates the nobility of equestrian professions: liveries, catering, farriery, animal feeds, makers of tack, carriages, equestrian clothing and equipment, etc.
It helps protect the environment. Focusing on a reasonable adventure in the company of an animal whose history has been intimately linked with mankind for thousands of years.
Equestrian Tourism fosters human relationships, social mixing, exchanges between riders and the populations that they meet on their travels. Whilst respecting other equestrian spheres, such as traditional equestrian sports, it offers riders an alternative, a different vision and a different relationship between man and animals
Without any doubt, Equestrian Tourism has now become the future of riding.
The FITE is its international spokesperson.

Hervé DELAMBRE, President.

" FITE: In continuous training"
From the outset, training has been a fundamental part of the practice and development of the "Equestrian Tourism activity.
Primarily, it concerns those in charge, in other words the people with responsibility for guiding and accompanying their customers on trail rides, but it also involves the riders themselves on an individual level.
Naturally, the freedom to travel is closely linked to the ability to be independent and responsible in a natural environment.
This ability requires knowledge that goes well beyond that of riding. This has been a constant focus of those in charge of the NETO's. Encouraged and assisted by the FITE, over the past 15 years a certain number of NETO's have compared what they teach and the content of their training courses. Having observed the points of convergence, they have signed a convention of equivalence between their respective qualifications.
Professionalism and quality are the key words in a world that is increasingly demanding in terms of safety, dependability and comfort.
However, things are constantly changing. Technical comparisons are made on an ongoing basis and qualifications are updated to move towards even better standards.
It is also the FITE's role to lead this quest for excellence that underpins the credibility of equestrian tourism. It must do this with national, international and European institutions as well with the public at large.

Luigi TRIOSSI, Secretary General.

" TREC: a great source of pride "
TREC (Equestrian Trail Riding Techniques Competition) was developed through the desire to enable outdoor riders to compete with one another on their own terms, in the place that they know best: the natural environment. The three phases: POR (Optimum Speed and Orienteering Course), PTV (Cross Country Trials Course) and MA (Control of Paces) simply express what outdoor riders do every day. Without knowing it, all trail riders do TREC. Besides its increasing popularity and respect, TREC is the best way of training riders and horses in all the subtle aspects of trail riding.
For the FITE, TREC brings together riders in a friendly competition with a strong focus on sport.
It is a chance to meet, exchange and get to know one another.
These competitions help competitors and their horses to improve, preparing them for major meetings and encouraging other riders to emulate them.
The importance now given to junior riders emphasizes that value has nothing to do with your age.
TREC has become remarkably popular in the past twenty years. Today it is a premier event, a real showcase in which the FITE is justly proud.

Pierre LEFEBVRE, Treasurer.

Executive Board

FITE: many flags, one single country.

An international organization and the sharing of tasks and services are a reality for the FITE. Our bureau mirrors the excellent relations between people and between countries.
No borders, many flags, one single banner to defend the interests and the future of outdoor riding and equestrian travelers.

• Hervé Delambre (France) - Président (2007 -2011)
• Luigi Triossi (Italie) - Secrétaire Général (2008 - 2012)
• Jacques Aguétant (France) - 1er vice-Président (2006 - 2010)
• Pierre Lefebvre (Canada) - Trésorier - (2007 -2011)
• Coryne Corminboeuf (Suisse) - Secrétaire Générale adjointe (2007 - 2011)
• Antonio Camacho Soares (Portugal) - membre (2006 - 2010)
• Graham Cory (Grande-Bretagne) - membre (2008 - 2012)
• Mary Harcourt (USA) - membre - (2008 - 2012)
• Gerlinde Hoffmann (Allemagne) - membre - (2006 - 2010)
• Francis Lenchant (Belgique) - membre (2006 - 2010)
• Francesc Martinez Rius (Espagne) - membre (2008 - 2012)
• Stefano Ricci (Italie) - membre (2007 - 2011)
• Heinz Rieger (Autriche) - membre - (2006 - 2010)
• Gilbert Hermans (Belgique) - membre honoraire

FITE: world ambition

The FITE currently has 16 national organization members. Its objectives are clear:
Organizing, developing and promoting equestrian tourism throughout the world.
Becoming a member of the FITE is not only about a country satisfying a need or trying out a new experience. It is about actively participating in today's reality and in an ambitious project for the future.