Jun 09, 2024

Rule Refresher: The Five Tenants of Schooling

By Meagan DeLisle - USEA Staff
USEA/Meagan DeLisle photo

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.

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

Dec 21, 2024 Education

3 Ways to Help Eventing Thrive in 2025

With the start of the New Year just days away, now is the time to consider how your actions can have a positive impact on the sport of eventing in 2025. Each and every member of the eventing community has an important role to play in ensuring the sport continues to grow and thrive. From fostering educational opportunities to supporting grassroots initiatives and participating at all levels of the sport, there are so many ways to get involved.

Dec 20, 2024 Sponsor

“Happy Horse Equals Happy Judge”: Ask An Expert with Dressage Judge Peter Gray, Brought to You by Ride iQ

Ride iQ’s popular “Ask An Expert” series features professional advice and tips from all areas of the horse industry. One of the most-downloaded episodes is an expert session with Peter Gray, an accomplished dressage judge and Olympic eventer. He has recently judged at events like the five-star at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and he served on the ground jury at the 2022 FEI World Eventing Championships in Pratoni, Italy. His background as a competitor in the Olympic Games riding for Bermuda and as a coach and selector for the Canadian eventing team adds depth to his understanding of the sport.

Dec 19, 2024 Volunteers

The VIP Volunteer: Cathy Hale Has A Thirst for Adventure and a Love for Volunteering

With a total of 382 volunteer hours in 2024, Catherine “Cathy” Hale not only topped the USEA Area III VIP Volunteer leaderboard, but she also ranked fourth out of all eventing volunteers across the country. Hale (The Villages, Florida) has worked as a travel agent for over 30 years, a career that suits her love of travel nicely. At the time of being interviewed for this article, Hale was passing the equator on a cruise to Tahiti, New Zealand, and Australia.

Dec 18, 2024 Association News

USEA Office Closed for Holidays

The USEA office will close at 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, and will reopen again on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025. The USEA staff will return emails and phone calls when the office re-opens on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 or at their earliest convenience.

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