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Eventing Rules

Rule Reference Summary Effective date  Pg number (packets below)
EV119 and EV SUBCHAPTER 9 DRESS Performing the Dressage test in incorrect dress will result in a two point deduction per error but will not result in an Elimination. September 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 1-2
GR314.1

FEI and Advanced levels removed from the

mileage charts in GR3 as they are dictated by the Policies and Procedures.		 December 1, 2024 GR packet Pgs. 1-2
GR838 Expansion of Horse Welfare rules clarify examples of what constitutes abuse in our sport and expand the scope of USEF’s jurisdiction to include horse abuse that occurs outside of competition, including at home facilities. December 1, 2024 GR packet Pgs. 3-7
GR870 All riders, drivers, handlers, owners, trainers, coaches, grooms, agents, and lessors must abide by and comply with biosecurity measures and equine health requirements imposed by the Federation, Competition Management, and local, state, and federal animal health officials. December 1, 2024 GR packet Pgs. 8-14
GR1219 and GR150

At Federation licensed competitions, Judges are barred from reviewing video footage or other electronic media when making field of play decisions, unless stated otherwise in the breed or discipline division rules. If Judges are permitted to review video footage under breed or discipline division rules, only original unaltered Official Video footage is permitted to be reviewed. See GR150

 

GR150: Official Video is footage captured by the videographer or production company approved by the Federation or licensed competition.		 December 1, 2024 GR packet Pgs. 15-16
EV115.5 As an exception to GR1219, and in addition to Official Video as defined in GR150, unaltered video or still photography is permitted for consideration by the Ground Jury and Technical Delegate for a Cross-Country field of play decision.      December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 3-4
EV109.2 Alignment of the requalification period for horses and athletes so both can requalify by achieving two MERs at the next lower height level within any 6-month period and no sooner than 10 days following the loss of qualification. December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 5-6
EV113

Adoption of the FEI Dangerous Riding definition.

 December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 7-8
EV122. 2.b and 5

Addition of the missed marker penalty (15 penalties) in national divisions and updated runout definition.

 December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 9-10
EV123 and 128 Eliminations during the Cross-Country and Show Jumping Phases at Modified aligned with the CCI1* and Preliminary level. The third penalized Disobedience on Cross- Country and second Disobedience in Show Jumping will result in an Elimination for the Modified level. December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 11-12
EV135 2.d and 2.e

Changes to Warm up Areas for Show Jumping and Cross-Country including altering show jumping warmup fence markers and types of Obstacles.

 December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 13-16
EV SUBCHAPTER 9 DRESS 5.b and 7.b

Alignment of jacket requirements for Dressage and Show Jumping phases. Jackets are only required in Intermediate and Advanced for both phases.

 December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 17-18

EV SUBCHAPTER 10 SADDLERY

 Saddle pads may be any single color. Contrast trim and piping are permitted. Striped or multi-colored pads are prohibited. December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 19-20
EV APPENDIX 2 1.5 and 1.6 To align with all levels, Athletes and Horses in Training Rider and Horse divisions may not compete at Preliminary 5 years preceding the date of the Event. December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 21-22
EV APPENDIX 2 2.2.1 The first activation of a frangible device (11 penalties) or one missed marker (15 penalties) will maintain the MER result on Cross-Country for national levels. December 1, 2024 EV packet Pgs. 23-24
EV APPENDIX 2 3.5 Beginning December 1, 2025, the Athlete must have obtained an MER at five Horse Trials at the Training level or higher and an MER at one Horse Trials at the Modified level or higher.

December 1, 2025

 EV packet Pgs. 25-27

 

USEF Rulebooks

Have questions on the status of a Proposed Rule Change? Contact Amber Braun at [email protected] for more information. 

Forms and Publications

EV Rule Change Packet

Eventing rule changes effective 9/1/24 and 12/1/24.

GR Rule Change Packet

General rule changes effective 9/1/24 and 12/1/24.