Have you ever found yourself wondering how USEF cases are resolved? Ever pondered whether you’d be a good judge of the facts in a drugs and medications case?
Consider applying to join the USEF Hearing Committee.
The Hearing Committee is a key part of regulations enforcement at US Equestrian. When USEF has concluded its investigation of a drugs and medications case, horse welfare complaint, or other type of rule violation and decides to pursue disciplinary action, the member involved will be offered an opportunity for a hearing by the Hearing Committee before any sanction is imposed.
The Hearing Committee is a pool from which three-person panels are appointed to hear cases in need of review. A different panel is appointed to each case that is heard. The Hearing Committee is comprised of athlete representatives, USEF board members, and USEF members to provide each case with as many different viewpoints as possible. In these situations, the Hearing Committee represents an independent arbiter, similar to a jury in a court of law. Similar to a prosecutor, USEF Senior Counsel presents evidence of the rule violation, and the member presents their side of the story, similar to a defendant. The Hearing Committee must look at Federation bylaws, rules, policies, and procedures and make a determination about the situation before them.
Competing or lifetime USEF members are eligible and encouraged to apply to join the Hearing Committee for the upcoming 2026-28 term.
Strong applicants will have:
-
Appropriate knowledge of and experience in equestrian sport
-
Ability to attend hearings and one in-person committee meeting at USEF Annual Meeting
-
Strong analytical and evaluation skills
-
Strong reasoning and problem-solving skills
-
Ability to be fair and impartial
-
Understand goals of the Federation
-
Willingness to work toward promotion of transparency and accountability
-
No personal agenda
-
Commitment to ethics, fair play and honesty
-
Commitment to and exercise of discretion and confidentiality
Most hearings before the Hearing Committee take place virtually, so you do not have to be based near our main office in Lexington, Ky., to participate.
If that describes you, find out more about the application process and how to apply here and here. Required documents should be submitted to [email protected] no later than Oct. 30, 2025.