Guess what? That time has rolled around again. No, I’m not talking about tax time–although it can be about as tedious and can sometimes feel as painful. No, I’m talking about rule-change time for the U.S. Equestrian Federation.

Given the comparison I’ve just made, it’s not surprising that so few people take part in the process. But it’s too bad that more don’t weigh in on these matters since they’re so vital to our sport. Almost every participant has strong opinions on various rules, but very few voice them–at least until they’re directly and personally affected by one!

It’s a rather poor reflection on the “professionalism” of our “professionals” when such a minute percentage take the time to stay current on the rules governing the sport in which they make their living. And, just as sad, it’s so rare for a trainer to pass on knowledge of the rules or to even suggest that a student do some self-study.

In my experience, the average C-rated Pony Clubber knows more about the USEF rules for jumping than the average competitor who shows for thousands of dollars in prize money each week. Far too many learn the rules the hard way, when a costly penalty wrecks an otherwise good day.

Even more importantly, rules have a great bearing on the direction the sport is heading. The jumping discipline is never static, and I believe that rules, together with course design, play the biggest role in its evolution.

Rules also en-deavor to keep our sport the safest possible. Of course, no sport involving speed and 1,200-pound animals can ever be 100 percent safe, but the people in our federation are always looking to reduce risks through standards and rules.

And, given our “objectively scored” discipline, rules are particularly essential. The USEF’s National Jumping Committee is always working to clarify those meant to be totally objective and to improve consistency in application of those that must retain some element of subjectivity. Try as we might, a few of the latter can’t be avoided due to the wide variety of circumstances that can occur in a jumping arena.

Some changes in the rules will have an impact on how competitors train and ride in competition, and those changes might occur gradually or suddenly, consciously or sub-consciously.

Here are a few quick examples: When zone committees change the specifications for qualifying for such major events as the USEF Pony Finals, the Prix des States or the North American Young Riders Champion-ships, some shows will change their specifications for these sections to comply.

Raised specifications bring up the level of all the area’s competitors, not just those trying out for a team. This isn’t a bad thing, for I firmly believe that riders (and their trainers) only discover what they’re capable of doing by being challenged to do it.

Another example is the optimum-time scoring format that’s always up for plenty of discussion. Prior to its appearance in this country (it was around for decades in South America but first introduced here by Robert Ridland at his Southern California shows), our riders seemed to have but two speeds: super slow (wherever the time allowed wasn’t taken seriously) and “as fast you can go.” Only experienced international-level riders could demonstrate a uniform pace at the required speed, utilizing the track effectively. But once some classes were placed according to optimum time, more and more riders at every level honed their skills.

Now, whenever the course designer takes determining the optimum time as seriously as the riders do in reaching it (sadly, not a given at many shows), it makes the results legitimate and the number of well-executed rounds swells. We’ve all witnessed the level of training and quality of 5-year-old horses dramatically improve since this table has been utilized on the West Coast.

A final example of rules affecting riding and training was the elimination of Table III for junior, amateur, children’s, adults and ponies a few years ago. Managers and secretaries (along with many trainers) aren’t likely to differentiate between a Table II, Section 1 class and one held under Table III, because they both involve one round–no jump-off–and are considered “speed” classes. But Table III is “pure” speed (go fast enough and a rail down beats a more conservative clear round), while Table II always counts faults first, even when held under Section 1.

What difference does this make? It affects who wins and how the course is best ridden. In Table II, if you go too crazy for your horse or the course you’re jumping, you’ll have rails down and winning goes out the window. But in Table III luck might carry you through, as long as you just run faster.

Table II teaches good riding, not just fast riding, which is why FEI rules don’t permit Table C (III) until the young rider level in their championships. Our committee saw fit to reintroduce Table III at the junior and amateur-owner level a year or two ago. As you can guess, I didn’t vote for that change!

The National Jumper Committee is putting forward quite a few rule changes this year.

Some proposed changes that might interest the membership involve JP117, to add definitions of low for juniors and amateur-owners and to remove restrictions on having recently competed at the international grand prix level; JP120, to tighten up the level of difficulty requirements (hopefully without tying the hands of our best course designers to build appropriate courses within each level/height); GR1120, to relax or eliminate the number of shows that a steward may work for the same management group and to reduce the number of stewards required at some shows; JP122, modifications to the number of efforts required for various classes/jump-offs; JP133, to change the rule concerning natural obstacles in the arena; and JP145 and 149, changing the table numbers for the former Tables I, IV, and V.

There are other changes in the works, but these, I believe, are those of greatest interest to competitors.

I urge all active participants to peruse the rule change proposals that most involve them. If you have thoughts and comments, now is the time to register them, either with a member of the relevant committee or with the staff liaison in Kentucky. Good lists of all the “players” can be found on the website www.usef.org or in Equestrian Magazine each month.

Even better, make the trip to Dallas in December for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association convention, where an open forum on jumping rule changes is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 5. This is the time to get involved, to get some of your friends involved too, or best yet to mobilize the voice of your local USHJA affiliate organization. It’s in everyone’s best interest to have the best rules possible.

And, when you’re tempted in the future to bemoan some rule, remember, “Decisions are made by those who showed up.”


Linda Allen