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Mar 03, 2025
Rule Refresher: Extraordinary Rule Changes Effective April 1, 2025
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.
One thing to note is that five out of six of these extraordinary rule changes are GR or General Rules. General Rules apply to any of the sports that take part under the umbrella of US Equestrian/USEF. The last rule change is specific to the sport of eventing only and is labeled as EV, which stands for Eventing Division. You can view all of USEF's rules and regulations for both General and discipline specific rules here.
1) GR 414 limits the administration of Shock Wave Therapy to licensed veterinarians on competition grounds.
2) GR 414.8 prohibits the use or possession of a list of injectable substances and any injectable prescription medication without a manufacturer or compounding pharmacy label with all ingredients listed on competition grounds. It also makes it a prohibited practice to rectally administer any substances on USEF competition grounds.
3) GR 702.1 identifies failure to cooperate, and obstructing or delaying a Federation investigation as a violation.
4) GR 801.6 permits the use of equine and human biometric sensors that are minimal in design and meet specified criteria.
5) GR 839.1 prohibits the use of nosebands with abrasive interiors, except for rope and rawhide nosebands.
6) EV112.3 indicates a whip should be used to encourage the horse forward and never used to vent an athlete’s temper or as a reprimand.
Have a suggested rule change proposal? USEF Members may submit rule change proposals by logging in to their member account and using the online form.
Want to catch up on past rule refreshers? Click here.
Mar 02, 2025
Profile
The Power of Community: How Eventing Helped Alison Eastman-Lawler Through Her Hardest Year
Alison Eastman-Lawler has been an active part of the sport for 44 years—this past year was her toughest yet, as she battled breast cancer while running her two eventing facilities in Areas I and III, organizing countless schooling shows and clinics, and teaching close to a hundred students. But thanks to her close-knit barn family she’s heading into 2025 with a bright future.
Mar 01, 2025
Instructors
2025 ECP Symposium West Coast Recap: Why is Continuing Education Vital?
This January the West Coast played host to the annual USEA Eventing Coaches Program (ECP) Symposium at the beautiful Galway Downs, in Temecula, California, and despite some chilly mornings, participants were treated to three days of interactive learning and sharing of knowledge in a safe space dedicated to the continuing education of eventing coaches from around the U.S. and Canada.
Feb 28, 2025
Eventing News
Woodside's Tribute to Ride On Video
After nearly two decades of the Ravenscroft family and their team at Ride On Video focusing their cameras on horses and riders of all levels, the eventing community is putting the spotlight on all that Bob, Debi, and their daughter Tayler have meant to the sport as they close up shop.
Feb 28, 2025
Profile
Hard Work, No Regrets: 8-Time World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year Boyd Martin Reflects on Life and Career
When asked if he could go back in time and give the younger version of himself one piece of advice, eight-time World Equestrian Brands USEA Rider of the Year Boyd Martin says he wouldn’t change a thing.
