United States Eventing Association

Equally as important as staying brushed up on your knowledge of the USEF Rules for Eventing, it is also important to stay up to date on any rule changes coming through the pipeline. In this month's edition of Rule Refresher, we are outlining the six extraordinary rule changes that will be going into effect on April 1, 2025. For more detailed information on these extraordinary rule changes, please refer to this document provided by USEF.

You have put in the practice at home, you and your horse feel confident, and your trainer has said, “It’s time!” All that is left to do at that point is to submit your entry for the horse trial in which you want to compete. Submitting an entry is easy. Most competitions offer a way to submit your entry form digitally, but paper copies are available under the Forms + Resources page on www.useventing.com as well.

As you sit down to map out your 2025 eventing season, it's important to consider your current qualifications and what qualifications you will need to meet in order to see your plans through! Now is a great time to refresh your knowledge on the USEF Rules for Eventing. Here are some rules you might want to brush up on!

Bringing your future eventing prospect with you to a horse trial as a non-compete can be a wonderful educational opportunity for horses not used to the hustle and bustle of the show grounds. However, horses must be registered with the show office as a "non-compete" horse in order to be allowed on grounds. Bringing horses to an event to school, to provide lessons, or to campaign for sale is strictly prohibited.

With longtime Rule Change Open Forum moderator Malcolm Hook unable to attend this year’s USEA Annual Meeting & Convention, Alison Lloyd with the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) took over the forum on Saturday.

Following review of the Myler Combination bit, the USEF Eventing Sport Committee, at the recommendation of the Administrative Working Group and Eventing Athletes Working Group, approved a national exemption for the Myler Combination bit.

Following the United States Equestrian Federation's (USEF) summer meeting, 11 new rules changes for the 2025 eventing season were approved to go into effect starting Dec. 1, 2024. Now is a great time to begin familiarizing yourself with these upcoming adjustments to make sure you are in compliance come the 2025 season.

You’ve made it to your event, your trailer is unloaded, your tack room is set, and your horse is settled—time for a little bit of schooling the day before the competition begins! Did you know there are rules around schooling under section EV111 of the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Rules for Eventing? Brush up on your knowledge before your next event to make sure that you are compliant before your next competition!

To chip or not to chip? That won’t exactly be the question anymore as of Dec. 1, 2025. In order to help prepare USEA members for this upcoming rule change, which was approved in December of 2023 by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), we have dedicated this edition of Rule Refresher to the topic of microchips.

When aiming to compete in a United States Eventing Association (USEA) recognized competition (national competition or international competition), licensed or endorsed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), understanding and fulfilling the specific requirements for entry forms and liability waivers is crucial.