This year 45 rule change proposals—up from 33 last year—are up for discussion at the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Annual Meeting, which will take place Dec. 9-12 in Tucson, Arizona.

Rule change proposals go through a lengthy process to getting approved or disapproved and are currently in the member comment period. USHJA members can weigh in on any of the proposals online through Oct. 31 as well as during an online town hall with USHJA President Britt McCormick and USHJA Jumper Vice President Charlotte Skinner-Robson on Monday, Oct. 21. (You can register for that here.) There’s one more opportunity for members to share their views during the Annual Meeting, on Monday, Dec. 9 from 12-3 p.m.

Meanwhile, the relevant USHJA committees and task forces will be reviewing the proposals and making amendments. Those committees and task forces will send their recommendations to the USHJA board of directors, who will have the final say on which proposals move forward to the U.S. Equestrian Federation. That organization’s board of directors will vote on the rules during the USEF mid-year board meeting in 2025.

All of the rule change proposals are available on the USHJA website numerically by a three-digit tracking number and include links to view or comment. Use the tracking number, listed in parentheses at the end of each description below, to find details of a specific proposal on the website.

Horse Welfare

• A series of rule change proposals seek to govern whip and spur use in all rings. The first change outlines actions that constitute excessive use of whip in the jumpers and is copied from the Fédération Equestre Internationale rulebook. Under the rule change proposal, a whip may not be used to vent a rider’s anger, the use of a whip on a horse’s head is always considered excessive, the whip cannot be used more than three times in a row, and the whip cannot be used after elimination. (001)

The proposals for hunters and equitation are quite similar to the jumper rules, however it includes one additional provision: If a horse’s skin is broken due to use of the whip, it shall be deemed excessive. (032 and 034)

Another change to the jumper rules give parameters for which spurs can be used and is modeled after the FEI rule. The proposal reads: “Spurs must be made of smooth metal. Rowel spurs with serrated edges are not permitted. Hammer spurs are allowed. Metal or plastic ‘impulse’ spurs with round hard plastic or metal knobs and ‘dummy’ spurs with no shank are allowed. The contact surface with the horse and all edges must be smooth and rounded. Athletes when mounted may wear only one spur on each boot.” (002)

There is a similar change proposed to equitation and hunters regarding spurs. (035 and 036)

• A pair of changes to the equitation and hunter rules that address horse welfare would prohibit spurring resulting in broken or bleeding skin. The current rule’s wording says “spurring resulting in broken and bleeding skin,” and proponent Janet Fall pointed out that horses have shown with open sores that are not bleeding, saying that any open sore should be unacceptable. (031 and 032)

• A rule change proposal would introduce a soundness check for equitation horses. For regular equitation classes, competitors will trot a circle on a loose rein at the end of an equitation round, which is already a regular practice in rated hunter competition. For championships or finals, an in-hand jog will take place before the class. (009)

• Adding the following language to the USEF jumper schooling rules: “Any tack used in an unconventional manner or considered against the welfare of the horse will incur possible elimination from the class (upcoming or class in progress) or disqualification from the show. Items such as cables, wire, exposed chains or unconventional materials are not permitted (curb chains used in the conventional manner are excluded).” The intent explains that this rule change proposal is being presented for discussion purposes so that the membership can come to a consensus on proposed wording. (030)

Around The Horse Show

• A proposal would make several changes to the current yellow warning card warning system: (045)

– A judge, steward or technical delegate may issue a recorded warning for minor offenses, including behavior that should not be repeated, but does not warrant a more severe penalty. For example, instances of blood in the mouth always results in a recording warning and may end in elimination.

– Judges have been added to the list of officials (which also includes stewards and technical delegates) permitted to issue a yellow warning card.

– Like yellow warning cards, recorded warnings must be signed by the official issuing it, and a copy is provided to the affected person and the federation. The federation will also notify the affected person.

– The issuance of a recorded warning or yellow warning card is final and not appealable.

– Individuals who receive three or more recorded warnings or two or more yellow cards in a 12-month period will receive a fine and a suspension of at least two months.

– Issuing a recorded warning or yellow warning card does not prevent the federation from seeking further penalties

–  All recorded warnings or yellow warning cards issued within the preceding 12 months will be published to membership.

• Requiring the latest version of the concussion recognition tool be posted outside the show office and recommending it be posted at all rings. (013)

• Requiring that any individual acting as a trainer or coach at local competitions must be an active, senior USEF member in good standing and complete the SafeSport training. Further changes would make competition managers, secretaries and licensed officials at local competitions take SafeSport training. (043)

• A proposal would change the current rules for when a horse must wear a number. Currently the rule requires horses to have a number when being ridden or longed in designated schooling areas, warm-up rings, longing spaces or exercise areas. Many barns have started using changeable bridle tags to make sure their horses always have a number. The proposed change would require that the competition-assigned back number be worn at all times the horse is out of a stall or trailer. (027)

• A series of changes address the Channel 2 format for horse shows, which includes regional-rated shows. (046)

            – One change would prevent a more-than-one-day or multi-day regional show to be held at the same venue or run by the same licensee during the same calendar week.

            – Changes have been made to points earned at regional shows, which are currently the same as those earned at national-rated shows.

            – Regional shows now count towards the Channel I year-end points. Regional shows also count toward Channel 2 year-end points.

• Clarifying that in the hunters and equitation, a competitor or trainer may only meet with a judge at a competition when accompanied by the steward, and that the meeting must take place after the competitor or trainer is done competing. (017)

• Requiring a horse or pony have its microchip scanned prior to being measured. (015)

• Rearranging language regarding the non-member Show Pass payments in the rulebook. (044)

Jumpers

• A series of changes have been proposed for young jumper classes. There will now be five sections of age-restricted jumper classes ranging from .90-meters to 1.30-meters. While the higher sections are restricted to horses at the upper age of the range, any horse aged 4-7 can compete in the lower height classes, which will allow competitors to pick a height that best suits their young horse and allows a horse to move across the heights throughout the week. This more closely mirrors the young hunter divisions, where there is an upper age limit for each height. (008)

• A series of changes would radically alter the pony jumper division, separating it into three heights: small, medium and large, similar to the pony hunter divisions. The proposed age limits for each height vary from hunters, with small ponies restricted to riders age 12 and under, medium ponies restricted to 15 and under, and large ponies to 17 and under. (038)

• Prohibiting a rider who competes in a CSI5* class from jumping in a junior and/or amateur jumper class at the same show. Currently a rider jumping a CSI5* class can jump in a junior/amateur class provided it’s set at 1.40-meters or higher. (003)

• Clarifying that only the knocking of material inside the flags in a jumper class is penalized. If the rider disrupts material outside the boundaries of the flags, that is not a fault. (005)

Hunters

• Allowing a horse or pony to wear a nose net in hunter classes. (016)

• Clarifying what constitutes outside assistance. If passed, the change would prohibit competitors from receiving physical assistance from outside the ring, including the use of longe whips or leading into the ring. (018)

• A proposed change would eliminate any competitor who does not return for the model portion of any conformation class in the pony, green pony and conformation hunter classes. (022)

• Prohibiting stallions from being shown in a junior/amateur handler hunter breeding class. Juniors are currently prohibited from riding stallions in hunter or equitation classes, however amateurs may ride stallions. (023)

• Removing the option to enter individual classes in the adult, low adult, children’s and low children’s hunter divisions. Riders in these divisions would have to enter the entire section to compete. (029)

• Requiring a competitor who did not do a trot circle for soundness to return to the ring immediately, rather than immediate elimination if they forgot. If the competitor does not return, then they are eliminated. (019)

• A proposal would alter how classes are split in the hunters. As it stands now, classes in a division where individual classes may be entered are split once 30 horses compete in the first over fences class; however, since the first class might not be the largest, the change would allow splits in any class in the division at 30 entries, and it would mandate splits at 50. (024)

• A competitor will be eliminated after two refusals in all classes except young hunter classes, in which exhibitors are eliminated following three refusals. The two-refusal rule would also apply to equitation classes. (020)

• Clarifying that riders must wear a number on their back in hunter classes, which is not currently in the hunter chapter. (021)

Equitation

• Aligning pony equitation rules with pony hunter rules, which stipulates that the first jump of all courses must be a vertical. (010)

• Demonstrating a two-point or half seat at the walk or trot will be an optional test in equitation classes. This is intended to simplify testing for short stirrup riders. (012)

Officiating
• Outlining the procedure for addressing judging errors that affect the result of a jumper class. The judge that officiated can change the results with irrefutable proof of an error within 24 hours of the awards. If the officiating judge is not available, another ‘R’ judge may be called in to review the evidence. All affected competitors must be notified within 24 hours. (006)

• Allowing an ‘r’ C1 steward to receive a special card to officiate at a level 3 or 4 jumper competition. Stewards are already allowed to receive a special card to officiate at national rated hunter shows. (039)

• Aligning officiating and licensing restrictions when it comes to exceptions to the mileage rule, allowing a judge to officiate two concurrent weeks at two different venues when licensed competitions happen within the current mileage restriction. (014)

• A series of changes would apply the conflict-of-interest rules to anyone who apprentices or shadows an official at a horse show. (040)

Schooling Rules

• Prohibiting any use of electronic devices in the schooling ring or while longeing. Currently, the rules only prohibit the “unsafe use” while mounted. (037)

• Outlining the materials allowed in the schooling ring for jumper classes. Liverpools or materials simulating a liverpool will be permitted, only if provided by show management. The only additions competitors may add to a fence is a blanket, cooler or tarp laid on the front rail of an oxer or on a vertical. (007)

• There is a similar proposal for hunter rules, which would prohibit the use of lattices in the schooling ring. (028)

Housekeeping

• Streamlining how USEF Horse of the Year points are awarded from a USHJA Pony Hunter Derby. Competitors only have to declare in the show office if they wish their points to be applied to the green pony division. It also standardizes the number of points earned, regardless of class size. (025)

• Removing defunct classes from the rulebook and updating point information for zone handy hunter challenge classes. (026)

Veterinary

• Requiring any veterinarian providing care on competition grounds must become a USEF member. (041)

• Allowing the administration of detomidine or xylazine up to three times a year with submission of a USEF Equine Drugs and Medication Report Form on a horse that requires sudden and unexpected routine farrier care that poses a risk to the farrier, handler or itself. Horses would not be allowed to compete within 24 hours of administration of the drug. (042)