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Reporting the Unethical Treatment of Horses

USEF contributes to the greater good of horses by assisting with their protection and welfare in daily competition and ensuring fairness, safety, and enjoyment of the sport. People like you support this important work by reporting violations and abuse.

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  5. Reporting the Unethical Treatment of Horses


How To Make a Report

  • At Federation Licensed Competitions: Unethical treatment of a horse must immediately be reported to a Licensed Official at the competition.
  • Outside of a competition: Unethical treatment of a horse should be reported to the local authorities and the Federation as soon as possible.

You can anonymously submit a report by texting 28733 (2USEF), or by completing the form in the button below.

Filing a Report of Unethical Treatment of a Horse

The Federation does not have government authority in its investigation and pursuit of rule violations. Therefore, we rely on the willingness of our licensed officials and witnesses to file reports with the Federation and to participate in the investigation and disciplinary process. When reporting an alleged violation of the Unethical Treatment of the Horse rule, the following information will be useful in the Federation's investigation:

Unaltered photos/videos
Names and contact information of any individuals involved
Name and information on each horse involved
Location where misconduct occurred
Detailed description of what occurred

Reporting in Good Faith

Anyone reporting a violation or suspected violation must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and that prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense and will be considered a rule violation, subjecting the reporting party to disciplinary action.

Submit A Report Online

Enforcement at Competitions

Licensed Officials, Competition Management, and Competition Veterinarians at Federation Licensed Competitions may issue immediate penalties against any Participant they deem to have engaged in Unethical Treatment of a Horse on competition grounds or directly related to the competition. Potential penalties include an official written warning, elimination, disqualification, and/or removal from the grounds. In addition, penalties apply to anyone found to have instructed another to engage in Unethical Treatment of a Horse.

Resolution Process for Reports of
Unethical Treatment of a Horse and Horse Abuse

Report

The Federation will acknowledge receipt of a report of unethical treatment of a horse within 3 to 5 business days of submission by one of the reporting methods discussed above.

Intake

The Federation will undertake a review of the information received, pull records, and determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter and over the person reported. This step can take up to 14 business days.

Investigation

The Federation will initiate a fact-gathering investigation to obtain as much information as possible. The Federation will interview witnesses, gather any digital or documentary evidence, and, if appropriate, consult with relevant experts. Depending on the complexity of the matter and availability of witnesses, the investigation can take between 30 and 120 days.

Action

The Federation may pursue any of a range of actions from closure of the matter to an informal agreed resolution to formal disciplinary action. If a matter proceeds to disciplinary action, a hearing will be scheduled within 90 days from the issuance of a Disciplinary Action Complaint.

Forms and Publications

GR838 - Unethical Treatment of the Horse Implementation Guide

A guide to the implementation of the Federation's revised General Rule 838, effective December 1, 2024.

Evidence Gathering Guidelines

These guidelines were established to assist USEF Licensed Officials with ensuring the information and evidence collated at a competition will be of value not only throughout an investigation but also within any formal proceedings.

Process for Reported Violation(s) of Federation Rules

Each report of an alleged rule violation received by the Regulation Department is subject to a four-step process.

Cruelty, Abuse, Or Unethical Treatment Of A Horse Penalty Guidelines

The Cruelty, Abuse, or Unethical Treatment of a Horse Penalty Guidelines (“Guidelines”) have been prepared to inform the Federation membership of the types and ranges of penalties that may be imposed for rule violations based on the categories included therein. These Guidelines assist the Hearing Committee Panels in the imposition of consistent and efficient penalties.