There’s a common adage that you should get back on the horse if you fall, but US Equestrian recognizes that immediately remounting might not to be the safest course of action. As part of ongoing efforts to improve human and equine safety, the USEF board approved a change to GR848.1, which will go into effect December 1, 2026.
The change stipulates that participants “who have fallen from a horse or horse-drawn vehicle at a competition, must be examined by the competition Qualified Medical Personnel, a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner before returning to competition or re-mounting any horse or horse-drawn vehicle,” if they meet the qualifying criteria.
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The participant is under the age of 18
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Adult participants who have fallen, except when the participant lands on their feet
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Adult participants who have fallen more than once during a competition, including when the participant lands on their feet
“We know it’s a shift in culture, but we want to make sure before someone gets back on a horse that they are physically capable and safe to do so,” said Katlynn Wilbers, USEF Director of Competition Operations and staff liaison to the USEF Human and Equine Safety & Welfare Committee, which is comprised of individuals in the medical and veterinary fields and who are involved in the equine industry. (Read more about the committee in this Insider article.)
To standardize the evaluation of participants after a fall, the Human and Equine Safety & Welfare Committee is developing a Remount Assessment, with feedback from USEF recognized affiliates. This assessment is a one-page checklist that identifies red flag symptoms that would prohibit a participant from remounting at a competition. Symptoms on the checklist include concussion symptoms, evidence of injuries such as a fracture, sprain, or joint dislocation, which would inhibit a competitor’s ability to ride safely, or injuries that could lead to increased injury should the participant fall again quickly.
There will be an electronic and paper version of the Remount Assessment, which will be available prior to the rule’s effective date of December 1, 2026.
“We know that after a fall people experience a rush of adrenaline, which can mitigate pain, and lead to poor decision making,” said Wilbers. “The idea behind the assessment is that it gives everyone a minute to pause and go through a checklist to see if that person is actually well enough to get back on a horse safely.”
In accordance with the rule currently in place, if the participant presents with concussion symptoms, they will be placed on the Federation’s Medical Ineligibility List. That individual will be unable to compete until they are examined by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner and the Federation receives a properly completed Return to Competition Medical Release Form.
If the participant has any red flag symptoms related to potential injuries beyond a concussion, they’re encouraged to seek further evaluation, but are not placed on the Medical Ineligibility List.
We recognize that having participants evaluated after falls is a new procedure for some breeds and disciplines, and implementation across venues and organizers may differ, and we encourage feedback on what’s working well and what isn’t. Feedback or questions can be emailed to [email protected].