United States Eventing Association

Rule Refresher: Planning Your 2025 Season? Time for a Refresh!

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!

Text has been taken directly from the USEF Rules for Eventing with emphasis added by the USEA.

Appendix 2 - Participation in Horse Trials

An Athlete and/or a Horse may be entered in a Horse Trial without having fulfilled the qualifications noted below, provided the qualifications are fulfilled within the following timeframes:
• At least 10 days before the Cross-Country phase of the Event for which it is needed if the Minimum
Eligibility Requirement (MER) has been achieved at a Horse Trial or CCI-S
• At least 24 days before the Cross-Country phase of the Event for which it is needed if the MER has been
achieved at a CCI-L.
• For the USEA American Eventing Championships, qualifications must be fulfilled by the closing date (See
EV110.4).

1. SECTIONS

1.1 JUNIOR (J) - For competing in national Horse Trials, Athletes may compete as Juniors through the
end of the calendar year of their 18th birthday.

1.2 YOUNG RIDER (YR) - Open to Athletes from the beginning of the calendar year of their 16th birthday
through the end of the calendar year of their 21st birthday.

1.3 AMATEUR (A) The following may participate in Events as an Amateur: Any Athlete in possession of a
valid Amateur card issued by the Federation; or any Senior USEA member who competes in the Training,
Novice, or Beginner Novice level who meets the requirements of GR1306. Individuals declaring such
status must present, upon demand, an audited financial statement in support of the claim of eligibility;
failure to do so will be deemed a violation. Misrepresentation of eligibility under this provision will subject
an individual to disciplinary action under GR1307.6, GR1307.8, and GR1308.3. Amateur certification
under this provision is valid for Events only and does not confer Amateur status for participation in any
other Breed or Discipline.

1.4 For the purposes of this rule, in differentiating eligibility for Horse and Rider sections, FEI divisions are
considered one level higher than the equivalent national division, (e.g., CCI2* is one level higher than the
Preliminary level). An Athlete who has completed an Advanced is not eligible to compete as an
Intermediate Rider.

1.5 RIDER (R) - Open to Athletes who have not completed an Event above the next highest level in the 5
years preceding the date of the Event E.g., a Novice Rider may have completed an Event at Training
level, but not Modified or higher in the 5 years preceding the date of the Event; a Training Rider may have
completed an Event at the Modified level, but not the Preliminary level or higher in the 5 years preceding
the date of the Event.

1.6 HORSE (H) - Open to Athletes of any age, the Horse must not have completed an Event above the
next highest level. E.g., a Novice Horse may have completed an Event at Training level, but not Modified
or higher; a Training Horse may have completed an Event at Modified level, but not Preliminary level or
higher.

1.7 YOUNG HORSE (YH) - Open to Athletes of any age, the Horse may not have competed above the
level and meets the following age restrictions:
a. Novice - four or five years of age.
b. Training - four or five years of age.
c. Modified - five or six years of age.
d. Preliminary - five or six years of age.
e. Intermediate - six or seven years of age.
f. Advanced - six or seven years of age.

1.8 OPEN (O) - Both Horse and Athlete may have competed at any level.

1.9 CHAMPIONSHIP (CH) - Open to all qualified Athletes on qualified Horses.

1.10 OTHER - Restricted by breed or other designation as defined by Organizing Committee, approved
by the Federation and USEA, and designated in the Omnibus listing.

2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 Completion: To complete the entire Horse Trial with a numerical score.

2.2 MININUM ELIBIBILITY REQUIREMENT (MER)
2.2.1 When achieved at a National Horse Trials an MER is achieved by completing the entire Horse Trial
and scoring.
-Not more than 45 penalty points in the Dressage Test; and
-No jumping penalties at Obstacles on the Cross-Country phase unless specified otherwise, and
-Not more than 75 seconds (30 penalty points) exceeding the Optimum Time; and
-Not more than 16 penalties at Obstacles in the Show Jumping phase.
-25 penalty points received for Dangerous Riding will not achieve a national MER. Exceptions to the
national qualification requirements noted below for the Advanced, CCI4*, and CCI5* levels may only be
approved by an Ad Hoc Committee of the ESC. Requests for exceptions should be made 14 days prior to
the closing date for the Advanced level and 14 days prior to the definite entry date for the CCI4* and
CCI5* levels.

Exceptions for MERs: The first activation of a frangible device (11 penalties) or one missed marker (15
penalties) will maintain the MER result on Cross-Country.

2.2.2 When achieved at an FEI competition an MER is achieved by completing the entire Horse Trial and
scoring (see Article 517 of the FEI Eventing Rules).
-Not more than 45 penalty points in the Dressage Test; and
-No jumping penalties at Obstacles on the Cross-Country phase unless specified otherwise, and
-Not more than 75 seconds (30 penalty points) exceeding the Optimum Time for the for CCI1*, CCI2*,
CCI3*, and CCI4* levels and 100 seconds (40 penalty points) exceeding the Optimum Time for the CCI5*
level; and
-Not more than 16 penalties at Obstacles in the Show Jumping phase.

2.2.3 All MERs obtained in previous years will be counted according to the rules in place at that time.

2.3 UNCATEGORIZED ATHLETE: Athletes who have not been categorized through proven
competence at certain levels of competition per Article 520 of the FEI Eventing Rules for the purpose of
determining Athlete eligibility for International Horse Trials and Events.

2.4 CATEGORIZED ATHLETE: Athletes who have been categorized through proven competence at
certain levels of competition (i.e., A Athletes, B Athletes, etc.) by the FEI per Article 520 of the FEI
Eventing Rules for the purpose of determining Athlete eligibility for International Horse Trials and Events.

2.5 ESTABLISHMENT OF QUALIFICATION. When a Horse and/or Athlete obtains a MER at a level, they
are “established” (i.e., qualified to compete) at that level. This establishment does not expire; however, a
Horse and/or Athlete who are established at a level but who have not obtained an MER for over 12-
months must achieve an MER at the next lowest height level to renew their establishment at a level.

3. LEVELS OF HORSE TRIALS AND EVENTS

All Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER), must be obtained within a 4-year period. One MER must be
obtained within 12 weeks of the Event for which it is needed when moving from one level to the next.
Athletes with 20 or more MERs in the previous 4-year-period, at the level they are moving up to, are
exempt from having to obtain one MER within 12 weeks.

Classic Three-Day Events qualifying competitions must be completed within a 24-month period prior to
the start of the Event.

All MER requirements for Modified, Preliminary, Intermediate, and Advanced levels are required for
Horses and Athletes to move from one level to the next. After obtaining an MER at the level or above
Horses and Athletes are established at the level. Horses and Athletes having achieved an MER at the
level and have not obtained an MER at the level in over 12-months must achieve a MER at the next
lowest height level.

3.1 BEGINNER NOVICE (BN) - Open to Athletes of any age, on Horses four years of age and older.

3.2 NOVICE (N) - Open to Athletes of any age, on Horses four years of age or older.

3.3 TRAINING (T) - Open to Athletes of any age, on Horses four years of age or older.

3.3.1 TRAINING CLASSIC THREE-DAY EVENT- Open to Athletes of any age, on Horses four years of
age or older. Both the Athlete and the Horse as a combination must achieve one or more MERs at Horse
Trials at the Training level or higher. An Athlete established at the Preliminary level may compete on a
Horse which has obtained two MERs at the Training level or higher. Qualifying Events must be completed
within a 24-month period prior to the start of the Classic Three-Day Event.

3.4 MODIFIED (M) – Open to Athletes of any age, on Horses four years of age or older. The Athlete must
have obtained an MER at two Horse Trials at the Training level or higher.

3.4.1 MODIFIED CLASSIC THREE-DAY EVENT- Open to Athletes of any age, on Horses five years of
age or older. Both the Athlete and the Horse as a combination must achieve one or more MERs at Horse
Trials at the Training level or higher or one at the Modified level or higher. An Athlete established at the
Preliminary level may compete on a Horse which has obtained two MERs at the Training level or higher.
Qualifying Events must be completed within a 24-month period prior to the start of the Classic Three-Day
Event.

3.5 PRELIMINARY (P) - Open to Athletes from the beginning of the calendar year of their 14th birthday,
on Horses five years of age or older. The Athlete must have obtained an MER at six Horse Trials at the
Training level or higher. Beginning December 1, 2025, the Athlete must have obtained an MER at five
Horse Trials at the Training level or higher and an MER at one Horse Trial at the Modified level or higher.
The Horse must have obtained an MER at four Horse Trials at the Training level or higher: One of the
four MERs must be as a combination. Athletes with more than 10 MERs at the Preliminary level or higher
are exempt from one MER in combination. Athletes with 20 or more MERs at the Preliminary level or
higher: The Horse must have obtained an MER at two Horse Trials at the Training level or higher or one
MER at a Horse Trial at the Training level or higher in combination with the Athlete.

3.5.1 PRELIMINARY CLASSIC THREE-DAY EVENT- Open to Athletes beginning the calendar year of
their 14th birthday, on Horses five years of age or older. Both the Athlete and the Horse as a combination,
must achieve one or more MERs at the Preliminary level or higher. Qualifying Events must be completed
within a 24 month period prior to the start of the Classic Three-Day Event.

3.6 INTERMEDIATE (I) - Open to Athletes from the beginning of the calendar year of their 16th birthday,
on Horses six years of age or older. The Athlete must have obtained an MER at six Horse Trials at the
Preliminary level or higher. The Horse must have obtained an MER at four Horse Trials at the Preliminary
level or higher: One of the four MERs must be as a combination. Athletes with more than 10 MERs at the
Intermediate level or higher are exempt from one MER in combination.

3.7 ADVANCED (A) - Open to Athletes from the beginning of the calendar year of their 18th birthday, on
Horses six years of age or older. The Athlete must have obtained an MER at six Horse Trials at the
Intermediate level or higher. The Horse must have obtained an MER at four Horse Trials at the
Intermediate level or higher: One of the four MERs must be as a combination. Athletes with more than 10
MERs at the Advanced level or higher are exempt from one MER in combination.

Worried you might have lost a previous qualification? We put together this Rule Refresher last year on the topic!

Considering participating in an eventing showcase or arena eventing competition in 2025? Be sure to check out Annex 2!

Want to catch up on past rule refreshers? Click here.