United States Eventing Association

US Equestrian (USEF) has released the updated USEF Rules for Eventing for the 2021 season which will go into effect on December 1, 2020. Changes this year include relaxed dress requirements, riders will no longer be required to wear a medical armband (unless they have a relevant medical condition), activating a frangible device will now carry a penalty of 11 points, and this coming year we will see the addition of the new Modified Three-Day Event!

If you've been following our Rule Refresher series, you've seen the article on the dressage test and scoring for the dressage phase. But wouldn't it be nice if we collected all the rules you need to know for the dressage phase, including dress and equipment rules, all in one spot? We thought so too!

It was very exciting to see horse trials running again! There was, however, some confusion due to the new USEF COVID-19 Action Plan, so here are some points of clarification.

There are seven distinct levels of competition offered in USEA recognized competition starting with the lowest, Beginner Novice, and ranging all the way up to the most difficult, Advanced. The Modified level, between the Training and Preliminary levels, is the newest level, introduced in 2017 to bridge the gap between the upper and lower levels.

After the rules for the jumping test, show jumping penalties, and show jumping timing and faults, there is a summary of the different ways to be eliminated in the show jumping phase in rule EV 154 Eliminations.

Learn the dressage wrong test? Here is the established protocol. What happens if you start your dressage test and it is the wrong test? Current USEF eventing dressage test ‘A’s track left and test ‘B’s track right, so the judge knows within the first movement that you probably learned the wrong test.

In the show jumping phase, where a ribbon can be won or lost based on a fraction of a second, it is important to understand the rules that determine how time is kept. After reviewing the rules concerning time and other show jumping penalties, one should also examine the rules that outline the faults incurred for each of the different types of penalties.

The USEA Eventing Licensed Officials Committee will be writing a series of articles relating to current rules from the USEF Rules For Eventing and how they are interpreted and implemented. The committee feels that transparency is important, and want to keep everyone current on the rules and how officials are expected/required to implement them.

What are the different ways to incur penalties during a show jumping round? From knocking down a fence to refusals and run-outs and even unauthorized assistance, it is important to know the different ways you can accrue faults in the show jumping arena.

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has approved additional modifications to the USEF Rules For Eventing in accordance with a resolution approved by the Board of Directors to address issues related to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The full listing of rule modifications related to COVID-19 impacts can be viewed by clicking here.