Each of US Equestrian’s 41 committees have vital roles in shaping the sport, and while some pertain to specific breeds and disciplines, others, like the Veterinary Committee, work to benefit the entire federation.
The Veterinary Committee is currently comprised of 16 individuals, primarily veterinarians, though there are six riders and trainers serving. While the USOPC requires most national governing body (NGB) committees to be comprised of a certain percentage of athletes, the Veterinary Committee was granted an exception, though having non-veterinarian perspectives is beneficial for discussion purposes. The committee members come from varied backgrounds and work on horses across USEF-recognized breeds and disciplines. That diversity is particularly important given that their work affects all US Equestrian members.
“You need to understand why a rule is going to be a problem for one breed but not for another, because we are doing regulations that affect all of them,” said Dr. Kent Allen, Chair of the Veterinary Committee. “You need to listen to those different perspectives and see if we can modify it to work better for all breeds and disciplines.”
One of the Veterinary Committee’s primary tasks is to make suggestions to the USEF Board of Directors for improving the sport when it comes to veterinary matters. This includes providing a veterinary perspective on rule changes regarding horse welfare and vaccination requirements. They also discuss U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) import regulations, actions taken by the FEI Veterinary Committee, and biosecurity protocols.
One major project the Veterinary Committee spearheaded was researching how horses could compete safely in the heat and humidity ahead of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Much of that research is still being used to guide equestrian sport 30 years later, and the committee continues to evaluate heat concerns in relation to competition.
“We did a mock three-day event in Georgia in the summertime, and then we did a lot of research,” said Allen. “Some of that is still around today on how to properly cool the horses, and the manner to do it.”
The science behind misting fans and their effectiveness was another outcome of their research, which not only benefits equestrian athletes or their horses, but is also utilized by other sports.
“That’s a concrete example where USEF led the charge, funded the work, and the recipients of that work were competition horses, and frankly, horses worldwide,” Allen said.
Another big piece of their work includes studying the use of forbidden substances in horses, overseeing the Drugs & Medications program, and recommending testing policies. For many years there was a separate Drugs and Medications Committee, but in 2017 the Veterinary Committee absorbed those responsibilities.
With any rule or policy changes involving drugs and medications, there’s also an educational component, first with other USEF committees to answer questions and help committee members understand the intent and science behind those changes. This extends to leadership, the Legal Department, Hearing Committee, the board of directors, and membership.
“A good example of that is the recent change of cetirizine — a very common antihistamine used for allergies and hives — from a restricted drug to a drug that can be used with no restrictions,” said Allen. “We’re hoping that members will reach for that first instead of other medications, which can be effective but have more side effects, such as corticosteroids like dexamethasone.” (You can read about the cetirizine change here.)
Allen said he was proud of the work the committee has done to stay on top of veterinary advancements and new research, which has allowed them to be leaders in the field. The goal, he said, isn’t to make rules that makes things difficult for competitors, but to advocate for the horse and keep sport fair.
“We’re trying to keep the playing field level, and we’re trying to make sure that it’s safe for the horse,” he said.
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Committee positions at USEF are unpaid, volunteer roles. The Veterinary Committee is one of the committees that will be repopulated in January 2027 for two-year terms. It meets about four times a year, primarily by phone. If you’re a veterinarian, eligible athlete, or USEF senior member, who is interested in joining the Veterinary Committee, please fill out a committee interest form here.