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Dec 02, 2021
Important Member Updates from the November 2021 USEF Board of Directors Meeting
The USEF Board of Directors met on November 22, 2021 and approved the following Extraordinary Rule Changes that will go into effect today, December 1, 2021.
Amateur Rule Changes put forward by the USEF Amateur Task Force
| • | GR1306.1 Allows amateurs to accept remuneration for performing specified barn duties, including lunging, without affecting their amateur status. | ||||||||||||||||||
| • | GR1306.1 Increases the value of a non-monetary token or gift of appreciation an amateur can receive from less than $300 to less than $1,000 annually. | ||||||||||||||||||
| • | GR1306.2 Allows amateurs to receive renumeration as a Social Media Influencer or Social Media Brand Ambassador. The rule change also designates individuals who accept remuneration for the use of commercially logoed items while on competition grounds as Sponsored Riders, and therefore professionals. The rule change added definitions for Social Media Influencer, Social Media Brand Ambassador, and Sponsored Riders to differentiate between activities allowed and disallowed by amateur participants. | ||||||||||||||||||
| • | GR1306.2 Allows amateurs in the American Saddlebred, Saddle Seat Equitation, Morgan, Arabian, Andalusian/Lusitano, National Show Horse, Paso Fino, and Western Divisions to accept remuneration for teaching beginner riding lessons in a non-competition environment for fewer than 20 hours a week under the following conditions:
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| • | GR1306.6 Includes a one-time exception for individuals aged 18 to 25 who engage in professional activities to reapply for amateur status after a utilizing a three-month waiting period. |
The complete updated Amateur Rule is available here.
If you now qualify as an amateur under these new rules and wish to be reclassified as an Amateur, please submit a letter to the Regulation Department outlining the horse related activities which previously led you to select/hold professional status and explain, as accurately as possible why you believe you are now eligible for Amateur status. You must also verify that you are otherwise eligible for amateur status. The letter must be signed and notarized. The letter can be sent to [email protected]. The Regulation Department will review the letter and update your status accordingly. Any concerns surrounding the request will be forwarded to the Hearing Committee Co-Chairs for review. The Regulation Department may request additional information from you, as necessary. No fee will be required from individuals who are benefiting from the changes to the rule.
Safety & Welfare Rule Changes
•GR849
Any human injury occurring at a licensed competition of which competition management is made aware must also be reported to the Federation on the applicable Accident/Injury form, including injuries to non-competitors such as grooms, spectators, owners, etc.
•GR702.1
Violations of the 2021 updated USEF Code of Conduct are now included in the list of violations against which penalties may be imposed.
•EV153.4
For safety reasons an Eventing competitor who receives a Compulsory Retirement Penalty at Training level or above, will not be given permission to ride the cross-country course.
•EV108
In Eventing, placement poles are now prohibited for jumps at National Horse Trials.
A comprehensive list of the rule changes approved by the Board of Directors at the November 22, 2021 Meeting can be seen here.
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