The Federation is excited to add this division to encourage and reward yet another venue of equestrian sport. The English Pleasure division has three sections—saddle seat, hunter seat, and driving. Exhibitors will now have the opportunity to earn points and be nationally recognized through the USEF Horse of the Year Program. Many USEF-licensed competitions have been holding English Pleasure classes as unrecognized, opportunity, or exhibition classes, which required the competition to print the class specifications in the prize list. If your competition (beginning December 1, 2009) follows the class specifications EXACTLY as written in the newly approved English Pleasure division, your competition can just list the class names as you do with the other USEF recognized classes. When the class specifications match the rules, your class will be "rated" with the Federation. If your horse show requires a class in the division that is not currently listed or requires different class specifications, your class would be "unrated" but still recognized by USEF (See GR902.2) and you would need to include your class specifications in the prize list if they differ from the exact class specifications for this new division.
There will not be an "English Pleasure" judging license. Per GR1004.14, “Judges licensed in any breed that includes a Saddle Seat or English Pleasure section are eligible to officiate English Pleasure Saddle Seat classes. Judges licensed in Hunter or any breed that includes a Hunter Pleasure section are eligible to officiate English Pleasure Hunter Seat classes. Judges licensed in any breed that includes a Pleasure Driving section are eligible to officiate English Pleasure Driving classes.” (See chart below) GR1011.11r allows guest judges to officiate alone at A, B, C, or Local competitions within the English Pleasure division. C1 and C2 Stewards will be allowed to officiate any of the English Pleasure classes without additional licensing requirements.
| Official Holds This License | Can Officiate EP Saddle Seat | Can Officiate EP Hunter Seat | Can Officiate EP Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connemara | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Friesian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hackney | Yes | No | Yes |
| Hunter | No | Yes | No |
| Morgan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| National Show Horse | Yes | Yes | Yes |