Watch List Reporters:
The following individuals have been designated as reporters to the USEF Watch List (“Reporters”):
- USEF Eventing Technical Delegate, Judge, or Course Designer;
- U.S. FEI Eventing Steward, Technical Delegate, Judge, or Course Designer
- U.S. Eventing National Safety Officer;
- Athletes who have represented the United States in Eventing at a World Championship, Olympic Games, or Pan American Games; and
- Instructors who currently hold a Level IV or V USEA ECP certification.
Reporters are strongly encouraged to also notify a Competition Licensed Official at the competition where the instance of dangerous or unsafe riding took place so that the Licensed Official may be able to observe the athlete’s riding and enforce any rules, as appropriate.
Competition Official Responsibilities:
Upon being notified by a Reporter of an instance of dangerous or unsafe riding, when possible, the Competition Licensed Official should watch the athlete’s subsequent rounds of competition. The Competition Licensed Official must enforce relevant safety rules, including the issuance of a Yellow Card. It is not the duty of the Licensed Official to make training recommendations to the athlete. Doing so is outside the scope of the Licensed Official’s duties.
If notified of an instance of dangerous or unsafe riding by a Reporter, the Technical Delegate must include in their Technical Delegate Report: Reporter’s name, any additional eyewitnesses and their statements, any observations made in observing the athlete, and attempts made to contact the athlete.
Filing a Watch List Report:
When a Reporter witnesses an incident that warrants an athlete being placed on the Watch List, the Reporter must submit the Watch List Report Form to [email protected]. Reporters are encouraged to make their reports to USEF as soon as possible.
Athlete Notification:
When added to the Watch List, athletes will receive written details regarding the specifics of the Watch List Program and the circumstances warranting the addition of the athlete to the Watch List.
Specifications of the Watch List:
In addition to reports received as described above, U.S. athletes who have received an FEI Eventing Recorded Warning or Yellow Card for Dangerous Riding at any FEI event, been penalized at a national competition for Dangerous Riding, or received a Yellow Warning card for Dangerous Riding at a national competition will be placed on the Watch List. An athlete who loses qualification at any level two times in a 12-month period, will be placed on the Watch List.
- An athlete will remain on the Watch List for 12 months from the initial report date.
- In the event an athlete receives a subsequent report while on the Watch List, the athlete will be contacted again by the USEF Eventing Department as described above and may be referred to USEF’s Regulation Department and be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 7 of the USEF Rulebook. The 12-month period will restart.
- Should an athlete receive three reports, at separate events, the athlete may be referred to USEF’s Regulation Department and may be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 7 of the USEF Rulebook.
Removal from the Watch List:
An athlete will be removed from the Watch List following a 12-month period without further reports, incidents, or loss of qualification(s).
Distributing and Monitoring of the of the Watch List:
The Watch List can be viewed by current USEF Licensed Officials through the Licensed Officials Dashboard on usef.org. Athletes who have been placed on the Watch List can view their status on their Athlete Dashboard.
The USEF Technical Delegate must check the Watch List prior to each competition for which they officiate.
If you have any questions regarding the Eventing Watch List, please contact Director of Eventing Sport Administration, Alison Lloyd at [email protected] or 859-225-2054.
Definitions:
EV113.1
Dangerous Riding is defined as instances when an athlete rides in such a way as to constitute a hazard to the safety or well-being of themselves, their horse, and/or other persons or horses.
FEI Eventing Article 525.1 - Dangerous Riding Definition
Any Athletes who, at any time during the Competition deliberately or unintentionally by incompetence are exposing themselves, their Horse or any third party to a higher risk than what is strictly inherent to the nature of the Competition will be considered to have acted dangerously and will be penalized accordingly to the severity of the infringement.
Such acts may include without limitation any of the following:
- Riding out of control (Horse clearly not responding to the Athletes restraining or driving aids).
- Riding fences too fast or too slow.
- Repeatedly standing off fences too far (pushing the Horse to the foot of the fence, firing the Horse to the fence).
- Repeatedly being ahead or behind the Horse movement when jumping.
- Series of dangerous jumps.
- Severe lack of responsiveness from the Horse or the Athlete.
- Continuing after three clear refusals, a fall, or any form of elimination.
- Endangering the public in any way (e.g. jumping out of the roped track).
- Jumping obstacles not part of the course.
- Willful obstruction of an overtaking Athlete and/or not following the instructions of the Officials causing danger to another Athlete.
- Pressing a tired Horse.