US Equestrian’s 41 committees are broken up into three categories: governance and administrative, breeds/disciplines and FEI sport, and each play a unique role in shaping equestrian sport. As one of the 17 governance and administrative committees, the Licensed Officials Committee (LOC) serves the needs and interests of each of the Federation’s 29 breeds and disciplines.
The LOC is currently comprised of 11 members, most of whom hold at least one license with USEF, though that is not a requirement for participation. The members participate in a variety of breeds and disciplines, and those who are licensed hold different types of licenses from judges and course designers to stewards, technical delegates, and certified schooling supervisors. The USOPC has granted this committee an exception to the usual requirement that a committee have 33.3 percent athlete representation, however many of the members have a history of competing, and some still actively compete.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the committee,” said Jan Enneking Welch, a committee member who is also a Level 1 FEI dressage steward, Level 3 FEI vaulting steward, ‘r’ C2 steward, ‘R’ dressage technical delegate, and ‘R’ vaulting technical delegate. “Those of us who are on the committee understand the responsibility and take it seriously. Everything is thoughtfully discussed, and Alina Brazzil [USEF Director of Licensed Officials] and her department do any excellent job of providing information and answering questions. It’s a really good group.
“I’ve learned a lot from it. I’ve been licensed for 40 years, but it’s nice to hear things from the judges’ perspective and from other groups. The fact that everybody listens to each other’s viewpoints is really nice and makes for productive conversation.
One of the tasks the Licensed Officials Committee does is review all the completed license applications. The USEF Licensed Officials department provides the committee with a summary of work completed by the applicants, including clinic information, final examination scores, and apprentice evaluations. Once the committee completes their review, the applications are sent to the US Equestrian Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, who does a final review before the applicant is notified by email whether they will receive a license. (Interested in becoming a licensed official? Learn more in this Insider article.)
The Licensed Officials Committee takes conflict of interest very seriously, said Welch, and members are sure to mention any conflicts before discussion begins.
“The committee members are very supportive of those who apply for USEF licenses,” Welch said. “If someone receives a negative evaluation, the committee tries to find ways to educate the applicant and to help them overcome any issues there may be so they can move on and become licensed. We aim to be constructive and helpful.”
The committee also reviews all proposed changes to requirements for obtaining a license and maintenance requirements for USEF licenses. For those with FEI licenses, the committee also reviews any additional requirements USEF may impose beyond what the FEI requires. They also review criteria for, and approve of, individuals in special roles, such as the examiners for certified schooling supervisor applicant final exams, which are practical examinations which take place in the field.
As with most committees, the Licensed Officials Committee is also tasked with proposing rule changes related to officials, and the committee comments on all rule changes that affect officials. This is where having members from varied backgrounds helps tremendously, as rules can impact our breeds and disciplines differently.
Education is at the forefront of many LOC discussions as well. The committee recently approved of requiring all licensed Officials to complete an online Horse Welfare course prior to renewing their licenses for the 2027 competition year. This was an important initiative the committee supported, and their involvement also included reviewing the content and providing feedback prior to launch.
“The welfare of the horse is a high priority for us, no matter what discipline you’re in,” said Welch. “We all know it’s a high priority to make sure the horses are always number one.”
The course aims to provide consistent education and awareness to all types of licensed officials and reinforces USEF’s Know The Signs initiative.
Committee positions at USEF are unpaid, volunteer roles. The Licensed Officials Committee is one of the committees that will be repopulated in January 2027 for three-year terms. If you’re a USEF senior member and interested in joining the Licensed Officials Committee, please fill out a committee interest form here.