United States Eventing Association

Rule Refresher: The Five Tenants of Schooling

You’ve made it to your event, your trailer is unloaded, your tack room is set, and your horse is settled—time for a little bit of schooling the day before the competition begins! Did you know there are rules around schooling under section EV111 of the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Rules for Eventing? Brush up on your knowledge before your next event to make sure that you are compliant before your next competition!

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

EV111 Restrictions on Schooling

1. It is prohibited, under penalty of Disqualification, for anyone other than the Athlete who will ride the Horse in the Event to ride the Horse after 3 p.m. the day prior to the start of the Horse’s Event.

2. A groom, while mounted, is permitted to walk the Horse or to trot it from one place to another. A groom may also work the Horse in hand or on the lunge.

3. Riding close to Cross-Country Obstacles or riding in the Dressage or Show Jumping arenas prior to the actual Event is prohibited, under penalty of Disqualification, unless authorized by the Ground Jury.

4. The Cross-Country course will be closed to all Athletes on the same date. The course closing date must be published in the Omnibus of the Event. The Dressage and Show Jumping arena may not be used after it has been prepared for the Event and closed by the Organizer. The Organizer must report any violation of this rule to the President of the Ground Jury.

5. The only warmup fences Athletes may jump are marked fences provided by the Organizer. No part of the fences may be held by anyone while a Horse is jumping. These fences must not be raised more than 10 cm above the maximum height permitted for the Event in progress (or about to begin). The oxer must not exceed the maximum width permitted. Ground lines may be placed directly under, or up to 1 m in front of the fence. Ground lines may not be placed on the landing side. Placement poles are not permitted at national Horse Trials. The upper ends of crossed poles must be supported by cups. If a horizontal pole is placed above crossed poles, it must be higher than the upper ends of the crossed poles. Warmup fences must be jumped in the correct direction and only jumped at times permitted by the Organizer. Violation of any of the above rules may result in Disqualification, at the discretion of the Ground Jury.

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