USEF Horse Welfare Guidelines start with a mutual understanding of the distinction between what is horse friendly, what might require attention, and what may be unacceptable or not okay. The stoplight signpost – green, yellow, and red - helps us define three zones. David O’Connor, Dr. Finn and Sammy explain the guidelines in this video series.
Know the Signs: Overview
Protecting the mental and physical well-being of horses is critical to every equestrian. O’Connor introduces the USEF Welfare Guidelines, which align human and horse interactions with the concept of a stoplight -- green, yellow, and red - to help create a mutual understanding of horse-friendly vs. cautionary vs. unacceptable actions for all breeds and disciplines.
Know the Roles: Trainers and Coaches
No matter what breeds or disciplines they work with, the love for the horse is at the center of every professional’s life. With that love comes the desire to make horses’ lives as physically and mentally healthy as possible. Beezie Madden, George Williams, and Melissa Moore provide their perspective on the trainer’s role in ensuring horse welfare, and tell us what welfare means to them. This video is brought to you by Ariat.
Know The Roles: How Licensed Officials & Competition Organizers Address Horse Welfare
Steward Dan Reed and competition manager David Distler explain how the work of licensed officials and competition organizers prioritizes horse welfare, and how they can help if a red zone situation occurs.
Know the Rules: How USEF Protects Horse Welfare
Carly Weilminster, US Equestrian Senior Director Sport Communication and Social, asks David and General Counsel and COO Sonja Keating to break down the organization’s horse welfare rules, the reporting process, and potential penalties for horse welfare rule violations.
Know the Rules: Investigations and Resolution
Sonja and Integrity Unit Investigator John Lathrop answer your questions about what makes an actionable horse welfare report, what the investigation process is when a report is received, and how reports are resolved. Carly Weilminster leads this interactive and informative dialogue helping to providing transparency on timing and the steps taken to ensure a thorough and fair approach.
Know the Signs: Horse Movement and Appearance
Happy horses have a naturally free way of moving and an alert or relaxed, content expression. O’Connor and Dr. Finn explain how horses’ appearance and movement can vary across the green, yellow, and red zones, and the signs to look for that indicate a need to proceed with caution or take action to address potential concerns.
Know the Signs: Way of Training
Learn how the ways of training and riding can impact horses mentally and physically and their ability to move forward. When communication breaks down between horse and rider, actions can move into the red zone. Find out which actions we need to be aware of and stop.
Know the Signs: Head, Neck, and Mouth
How a horse’s head, neck, and mouth are positioned in training can have a direct impact on the horse’s mind, body, and how they move. It can be easy to misinterpret acceptable movement across breeds and disciplines. Learn which positions are ok and the signs of hyperflexion and restrictive actions which are in the red zone and need to stop.
Know the Signs: Use of Equipment
Dr. Finn and David O’Connor share when equipment used on horses can be effective and when overly tight tack can be too restrictive and have a negative effect on the horse. When a noseband, girth, or boots are too tight, a horse may feel trapped and resist even more. Everyone needs to be aware of the actions that move into the red zone and need to be stopped such the misuse of tack, spurs, and whips.
