Lexington, Ky. - Two highly engaging workshops were the focus of the programming on Jan. 13 during the 2024 US Equestrian Annual Meeting. The morning and afternoon sessions on “Creating A Good Life for Horses,” graciously sponsored by MARS Equestrian™, were led by two of the leading equine academics in the United States: Dr. Camie Heleski, Senior Lecturer at the University of Kentucky, and Dr. Jim Heird, Executive Professor at Texas A&M University. Creating a Good Life for...

During the USEF Annual Meeting, the Safety Committee voted to provide Driving Competition Accident Guidelines to all competitions with driving classes, affiliates, and any other interested parties. The USEF Legal Counsel has reviewed the guidelines and approved them for distribution. The Driving Competition Accident Guidelines represent a recommended approach to the special safety considerations inherent in driving activities and do not represent new procedural requirements or rule change...

The 2009 winners of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Members Choice Awards Program were announced, Wednesday, December 9, 2009, at the USHJA Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, FL. Lynn Walsh, Chair of the Show Standards Committee, gave a brief overview of the program and announced the winners. Winners were selected in two categories; AA- and A-rated competitions, as well as B- and C-rated competitions. Winners will receive a banner, which can be displayed at their competition,...

Lexington, KY – At the 2009 United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Annual Meeting, the USEF Board of Directors passed the ‘Return to Play’ rule. This rule (GR 1317) mandates that any competitor at a USEF licensed competition that is deemed concussed or unconscious (by qualified medical personnel) cannot return to competition until they have been cleared by a medical professional, who will sign and submit a letter to the USEF stating the rider is fit to compete. This rule became effective on...

Nearly 500 American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) members, youth, and guests poured into the ballroom at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort in Lexington, KY, on Saturday night (February 14) to enjoy the Fifth Annual Saddlebred Ball, topped by a series of emotional acceptances delivered by individual award winners. Standing ovations greeted several, including Earl Teater, Jr., and Ed Teater (representing Earl Teater and Sons, who were inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame in a surprise...

Federation members may submit rule changes if they feel an aspect of the USEF Rulebook needs revision. According to the process set forth in GR150, the deadline for individual members to submit a rule change for consideration at the January 2009 Annual Meeting is June 1st . Proposed rule changes may be submitted through our automated online submission system, located under “Rules & Governance,” then “Rule Book,” then “Rule Change Proposal Form,” or via paper on the Official Rule Change Form,...

The Dressage Committee proposed a change to the “R” and “S” Dressage Judges Training Program requirements and the Licensed Officials Committee approved this change at the USEF Annual Meeting. The change made to each of these two programs was to allow an ‘r’ (recorded) judge to start the application process for the “R” program after holding the ‘r’ license for two years (24 months) instead of the three years (36 months) previously required. The same change was approved for the “S” program....

USEF Rule GR342 outlines the procedure for submitting proposed rule changes for consideration at the January 2007 Annual Meeting. All proposals from the general membership must be submitted to the office of the Federation in writing on the official form for proposed rule changes by June 1. Proposed rule changes can be submitted online at www.usef.org/content/rules/RulesDisplay.php?page=3 . As an alternative, the form can be downloaded from this same online location, printed, and either faxed or...

The annual mid-year meeting of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) ended in near-record time July 12th, owing to the cooperative spirit of more than 40 members of the USEF Board of Directors. The meeting, which has become a traditional mid-year “State of the Federation” report, played host to some 70 attendees in all at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Lexington, KY. The Board of Directors worked diligently to pass a number of rule changes presented to them, including one in...

The Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America held its 2012 Annual General Meeting over the weekend of February 24-26, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Society members from across the United States enjoyed wonderful accommodations and excellent service at the Embassy Suites in this beautiful area. A packed-full agenda began on Thursday of that week and included such events as Society Board, business and committee meetings, informative clinics for all ages, award banquets and presentations, a field...