FFE licences: participation, competition and horse-owner insurance
When joining a French riding centre, ask for the federation licence to appear as a separate item. It is distinct from club membership and lesson fees. A Licence Pratiquant is issued through an FFE-affiliated organisation; when renewing, give the club or association your existing licence number. Obtaining an FFE licence
Establish what you are requesting
Explain whether you plan regular lessons, an occasional return to riding or competition. Confirm the appropriate arrangement and its validity period before paying. Keep an itemised record separating the licence from other charges.
When comparing an online price, check the season and category. A figure published for an earlier season is not a current quotation. Start with the federation’s tariff page. Official FFE tariffs
Prepare for competition separately
The Licence Fédérale de Compétition is an extension of a current-season Licence Pratiquant, with categories relating to the level of competition. FFE information on licences and competition
Tell your instructor which class you are considering. Have the required category, applicable health formalities and other entry conditions checked. Purchasing an extension does not establish that every entry requirement has been met. Also ask who submits the entry and what other charges apply to the outing.
Read the insurance documents
Request the policy information corresponding to your licence and its coverage period. Distinguish liability for harm to others, cover relating to the rider’s own accident and any optional extensions.
The federation’s insurance information lists RCPE, horse-owner civil liability cover, as an optional extension. Do not assume that a basic licence automatically resolves cover for a horse in your care outside riding activities. FFE insurance information for 2026
That document is season-specific; request the corresponding version for another season. Ask the person responsible for the policy to explain covered activities, limits, exclusions and claim procedures. The words “civil liability” do not themselves mean that all veterinary expenses are insured.
Check the recorded details
After issue, use your rider account to check your identity, licence season and requested extensions. Report discrepancies to the issuing organisation. Keep the documents and relevant contact details with your club information. They are more useful for managing your participation than an isolated price copied from an old article.
Age category, division and riding ability are different
An age category does not describe technical ability. Club, Amateur and Pro are not age bands either. Before choosing a class, have your year of birth, intended division and discipline-specific eligibility checked together. Consult the general provisions and relevant discipline rules through the federation’s regulations page.
Use the version applicable to the particular competition. Do not rely on a birth-year table copied from an old article: even a category with the same name must be checked for the relevant season.