Mar 22, 2024

Rule Refresher: Rules You Should Know for Competing at the Starter Level

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff
USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo

With the Starter level now fully endorsed by the USEA, many competitors are taking advantage of competing at this level in hopes of accruing year-end points on the USEA leaderboard and securing their qualifications for the 2024 USEA American Eventing Championships (AEC) presented by Nutrena Feeds. For those who are new to competing with the USEA or new to the Starter level, we thought it would be beneficial to dedicate this month’s edition of Rule Refresher to all things Starter related!

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

What Does the Starter Level Look like?

Specifications for all three phases of the Starter level are as follows:

a. Dressage: Competitors should be prepared to do a walk, trot, and canter dressage test with 20-meter figures and a halt.

b. Cross-Country: Obstacles, solid in appearance, with ground lines, where appropriate, to enhance the fence profile. 1. There must be no jumps before or after a water crossing within 25m (78 ft) before and 16m (54 ft) after. 2. There should be an option for a ditch or water crossing if a ditch or water jump is part of the course. 3. Combinations are not allowed. 4. The track of the course must avoid turns of less than a 20-meter radius.

c. Show Jumping: The jumping course should be inviting and straightforward. 1. Recommend lines of 25m (82 ft) or more. 2. Combinations are not allowed.

In dressage, competitors will utilize one of the following tests:

Cross-country specifications are as follows:

  • Numbers and Letters: As designated by the Organizer and printed on the course map.
  • Distance: 1200 –1800 meters Speed: 300-350 mpm
  • Speed Faults: 420 mpm No. of Efforts: 12 – 16 Fixed Height: .70 m (2’3”)
  • Brush Height: .85 m (2’9”) (not to exceed 2’6” in center or spaced brushing )
  • Top Spread: .70 m (2’3”)
  • Base Spread with Height: 1.00 m (3’3”)
  • Spread w/out Height: 1.15 m (3’9”) Drops: .90 m (3”0”)
  • Water: If used, an option should be provided. Ditches: If used, an option should be provided. *Combinations are not allowed.

Show jumping specifications are as follows:

  • Distance: Maximum 600 meters
  • Speed: 300 mpm
  • No. of Jumping Efforts: 8 – 10
  • Heights: .70 m (2’3”)
  • Spread: .75 m (2’6”)
  • *Triple bars are not appropriate at the Starter level.
  • *Combinations are not allowed.

It is important to note that there are no qualifications for a rider or horse to enter the Starter level. Membership for the rider and horse is optional, however if a rider wishes to earn year-end points on the USEA Leaderboard or earn qualifications for the AEC, they must be USEA members.

What Rules Do I Follow?

All three phases at this level will be subject to the current USEA requirements for the Starter level, USEA Policies and Guidelines, and the USEF Rules for Eventing. Whenever there is no directive given for this level, governance is deferred to the USEF Rules for Eventing, Beginner Novice level and to specifications applied to all levels.

Example: What happens if I fall off?

EV123 in the USEF Rules for Eventing states that in the instance of an athlete fall, riders will be eliminated (marked “RF” for rider fall) at the following levels: BN, N, T, M, P, I, A. As noted above, whenever there is no directive given for this level, governance is deferred to the USEF Rules for Eventing, Beginner Novice level and to specifications applied to all levels. This means that this rule also applies to competitors at the Starter level as well. So if you were to part ways from your horse on course, you would be eliminated.

This guidance also applies to several other rules in the rulebook. Other examples include: Willful delay between the last fence and the finish, speed faults, and fourth penalized disobedience on the entire course; all of which can be found under EV123.

Riders can reference the rules for each phase

  • Dressage phase rules EV118
  • Cross Country Phase Rules EV121
  • Show jumping Phase Penalties EV127
May 05, 2025 Interscholastic

Thanks to the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships Supporters!

The 2025 USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships were an incredible success, ushering the programs forward as the first standalone championships knock on the door for 2026. The Intercollegiate and IEL Programs were merged for their year-end championships to ensure that the USEA’s junior and young adult members have a goal to continue to pursue their passion for eventing throughout their educational years and beyond, and the support the event has received in the last two years has been astounding.

May 05, 2025 Education

USEA Podcast #386: All About Pre-Purchase Exams

A pre-purchase examination (PPE) is big part of investing in a new eventing partner, but there are so many options and add-ons that can be done in a PPE that the process can feel a bit daunting. USEA Podcast Host Nicole Brown sat down with equine veterinarian and USEA Board of Governors member Dr. Angie Yates, DVM, to discuss all things related to the PPE, different perspectives to keep in mind, and more in this week's episode of the USEA Podcast. This episode is a great one if you anticipate you will be in the market for a new horse soon!

May 04, 2025 Interscholastic

'We Can All Celebrate Together’: Iron Bridge Hounds Pony Club Brings Home the Victory in USEA IEL Championship

Amidst the unbridled enthusiasm of the USEA Intercollegiate teams competing in this weekend’s USEA Intercollegiate & Interscholastic Eventing Championships at Stable View (Aiken, S.C.), the Interscholastic Eventing League (IEL) riders have held their own with displays of teamwork and horsemanship all weekend long. While all teams put their best foot forward, one team rose above the rest. The Iron Bridge Hounds Pony Club came into the weekend with one goal in mind—to win. They achieved that goal by such a large margin, a little more than 16 points, that they were able to claim the title of champions before their last rider, 16-year-old Claire McMillan, had even left the start box.

May 04, 2025 Intercollegiate

GOOO CATS! University of Kentucky Win USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championships for Second Time

The University of Kentucky has claimed top honors at the 2025 USEA Intercollegiate Eventing Championship, held this weekend at Stable View in Aiken, South Carolina. With 10 teams and 36 entries, they not only secured the title of “School with the Largest Presence” once again, but also rode away with their second national championship title, adding to their 2021 victory. Their winning team, the Kentucky Wildcats (made up of Callia Englund,Sarah Ertl, Macy Hale, and Emerson Padgett) dominated the championship finishing 11 points ahead of second place with a total score of 77.76.

Official Corporate Sponsors of the USEA

Official Joint Therapy Treatment of the USEA

Official Feed of the USEA

Official Saddle of the USEA

Official Forage of the USEA

Official Competition & Training Apparel of the USEA

Official Horse Boot of the USEA

Official Shock Wave of the USEA

Official Horse Wear of the USEA