Proposed Rule Changes

Standard rule changes submitted by September 1 will be considered by the USEF Board of Directors at their 2027 summer Mid-Year Board of Directors meeting. Standard rule changes may be proposed by USEF senior staff, committee members, Recognized Affiliate Associations, or USEF members who have been members for at least five consecutive years. 

Proposed rule changes go through an extensive review process to make sure they are enforceable, sufficiently detailed, and to gather feedback from members and stakeholders on the goal and content of the change. Most standard rule changes (those that apply to the General Rules or Breed and Discipline Chapters) have a September deadline for submission, and go through a series of revisions and comment periods that run through the following spring. 

Proposed rule changes are posted below and open for comment by USEF members, USEF committees, and affiliates during comment periods. Rule change proposals may be amended in response to these comments and reoffered for comment. The rule change review process culminated with a period of comment from USEF councils. At the completion of the process, rule changes are sent to the USEF board for approval or disapproval.  

The deadlines for the submission of rule change proposals are:

        1. Changes to General Rules for USEF Committees and USEF Affiliates - September 1, 2026
        2. Changes to General Rules and Breeds/Disciplines for Members  – September 1, 2026
        3. Changes to Breeds/Disciplines for USEF Committees and USEF Affiliates - February 15, 2027

USEF Members may submit rule change proposals by logging in to their member account and using the online form. This year will be the last year to make changes to General Rules until 2028.

View the Rule Changes approved by the Board of Directors during the 2026 US Equestrian Mid-Year Meeting.

 

Currently Active Standard Proposed Rule Changes By Category

Where applicable, linked standard rule changes are grouped together.

Tracking # Rule Reference  
071-26 GR 102.1 Age Exceptions for Hunters and Jumpers
014-26 GR 102.1 Official Birthdays of Equines
021-26 GR 315.3 Updated Timeline for Mileage Exemption Requests
020-26 GR 305.3 Cancellation of Competitions or Classes
019-26 GR 310.8 Implementation of Dressage Outreach Classes
016-26 GR 312.6 2'9" Children's Hunter Dvision and 2'9" Adult Amateur Hunter Divisions
018-26 GR 312.6 Creation of Thoroughbred Renaissance Derby
022-26 GR 312.6 Creation of USHJA Young Hunter Incentive
023-26 GR 410.1 Reclassification of Cetirizine
024-26 GR 414.1 Updating Withdrawal Period for Intrasynovial (Joint) Injections
025-26 GR 704.1 Regulations for Suspended Persons
026-26 GR 704.1 Regulations for Suspended Persons
029-26 GR 805 Use of Handheld Electronic Devices
030-26 GR 834.1 Access to Schooling Competition Rings
032-26 GR 838 Restriction of Withholding Practices
027-26 GR 839.4 Rules for Sensory Hairs
031-26 GR 845.1 Documentations of Required Vaccinations
034-26 GR 1002.1 Recognition of Federation Officials
036-26 GR 1002.1 Application Processes for Licensed Officials
037-26 GR 1004.2 Permanent Guest Cards
033-26 GR 1005.5 Vaulting Judge Guest Cards
042-26 GR 1005.8 Arabian Officiating Eligibility and Guest Cards
043-26 GR 1005.18 Guest Judges for Friesian Regional Competitions
044-26 GR 1005.24 Guest Cards for Morgan Working Western and Reining Officials
040-26 GR 1006.5 Apprentices and Conflicts of Interests
045-26 GR 1033.1 Steward/TD Modernization Project
035-26 GR 1033.5 Rotation Rules for Steward/TDs
038-26 GR 1037.1 Proponents of Recorded Warning and Yellow Warning Cards
039-26 GR 1039.1 Opportunities for President of Ground Jury
041-26 GR 1039.6 Restrictions for President of Ground Jury
047-26 GR 1109 Award Specifications
049-26 GR 1123.6 Andalusian/Lusitano adding Western Dressage and Ranch Section
046-26 GR 1134.1 Jumper Eligibility for HOTY Award
050-26 GR 1145.3 Addition of HOTY Award Categories in Western Dressage
051-26 GR 1211.3 Appointments of Officials
052-26 GR 1211.4 Arabian Division Steward/TDs Allotment
053-26 GR 1211.4 Mentorship for Officials
070-26 GR 1 USEF SafeSport Policy Requirements
054-26 GR 1301.8 Proper Handling of Horses on Competition Grounds
055-26 GR 1304.5 Governance for Judges and Stewards/TDs
057-26 DR 120.2 Changes to Dress under Extreme Weather Conditions
056-26 DR 121.1 Safety Stirrups
059-26 EQ 106 Prohibition of Cell Phones and Electronics in Schooling Areas
058-26 EQ 106.5 Use of Yokes or Neck Straps for Hunter Seat Equitation
060-26 EQ 114.1 Use of Foam Rails in Equitation Schooling Classes
072-26 EQ 114.1 Jumping Seat Equitation Schooling Requirements
074-26 EV 10.2 Dressage Testing Restrictions
012-26 GR 139.1 Expansion of Opportunity Class to Level 5
075-26 GR 414.1 Shockwave Treatment Use
008-26 HU .27App A Requirements of Yoke or Neck Straps
064-26 HU 105.1 Augmented Nosebands in Hunter Rings
063-26 HU 107.7 Amateur Owner Hunter Divisions
062-26 HU 118.2 Exceptions for Breaking Stride or Trotting While on Course
061-26 HU 124.2 Judging Young Hunter Section Requirements
066-26 JP 103.1 Cost Prohibitions for Competition Management
073-26 JP 111.8 Removal of Stirrup Use Allowed by FEI and Federation Jumper Classes
065-26 JP 119.1 Sections/Classes Restricted to Ponies
009-26 WD 102.4 Training Structure of Western Dressage
067-26 WD 130.1 Introductory Level Eligibility in Western Dressage

Currently Active Non-Standard Proposed Rule Changes

Tracking # Rule Reference  
076-26 EV 101.1 Implementation of USEF Lite Competitions
077-26 GR 114.1 Eventing Level Interactions with Lite Program
078-26 GR 205.1 Implementation of USEF Lite Competitions
079-26 GR 301.1 Implementation of USEF Lite Competitions