Effective January 1, 2019, all US Equestrian (USEF) members 18 years old or older with a competing membership must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s SafeSport Training to be eligible to compete. Here are five fast facts you need to know:
1. There are THREE SafeSport training modules that must be completed in order for USEF competing members to meet the training criteria including Sexual Misconduct Awareness Education, Mandatory Reporting, and Emotional and Physical Misconduct.
Upon completion, your member dashboard on MyUSEF will update within 24-48 hours to indicate “SafeSport Training Completed.”
2. USEF is providing a 30-day grace period for members who join or renew after December 1, 2018.
USEF members 18 years old or older with a competing membership who join or renew (including online or at a show) on or after December 1, 2018 and throughout 2019 will have 30 days to complete the training. Points accrued at horse shows during the 30-day grace period are good. If training is not completed within 30 days of joining, the member will be ineligible to compete and points will not count until you have completed the training. Those who joined on or before November 30, 2018 are required to complete the SafeSport training by January 1, 2019.
3. Competition management and secretaries will have access to a combined Suspension and Ineligibility List in the same manner as the current Suspension List to identify those who are ineligible to compete.
If a person appears on the Ineligibility List but completes the training on the first day of the horse show, they can present a copy of the ‘SafeSport Trained’ certificate to the show office to prove they are eligible to compete and points will count. If you present your ‘SafeSport Trained’ certificate after the first day of the horse show, you can still compete but your points will not count.
4. Federal Law plays a major role in SafeSport training and requirements.
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 has four requirements: (a) mandatory reporting of sexual misconduct involving a minor; (b) establishing reasonable procedures to limit one-on-one interactions between adults and minors; (c) provide training to all adult members with regular contact with minors; and (d) prohibiting retaliation.
5. USEF is not removing your civil rights through the SafeSport training requirement.
The jurisdiction is no broader than it’s ever been in the past and no one’s civil rights are removed. In fact, USEF adopted a non-discrimination policy a couple of years ago that’s more inclusive than what was originally provided in the bylaws.
US Equestrian is committed to creating and maintaining and educating and informing an equestrian community free of all forms of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. Protecting athletes and fostering an environment where existing participants and newcomers alike feel safe is of the utmost importance. The USEF Safe Sport Policy and U.S. Center for SafeSport Code were designed to, and aim at, protecting all participants in our sport. USEF stands behind these policies to protect the athletes of equestrian sport, not just because the law requires it, but because every member has a responsibility to protect those who have chosen horses as their passion.
USEF has created a variety of resources to assist and aid members with taking the training.
For technical assistance with completely the SafeSport training, please contact the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Technical Support Help Desk at 720.676.6417. For additional questions related to SafeSport, please contact Teresa Roper at [email protected].
The USEA is saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Dr. Timothy “Tim” Holekamp on April 19. He was 79.
While we all attend the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event for the competition, the next best thing about the event is definitely the shopping! The USEA is excited to be back on-site at the Kentucky Horse Park for the competition this year and to debut some all-new apparel items for the 2025 season. Here is a sneak preview of what you can expect to see at our booth, located just behind the Rolex Stadium next to the large Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event booth, this year.
They don't call it the "Best Weekend All Year" for no reason! If you love the sport of eventing (or just horses in general) the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is most likely a staple on your calendar or a must-see on your bucket list. This week, thousands of eventing lovers will flock to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, for one of two U.S.-based five-stars that takes place each year, as well as top-shelf CCI4*-S competition and two nights of spectacular show jumping.
Will you be at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event this year? Are you a member of the USEA Adult Rider Program? Then you will not want to miss out on this exciting opportunity to join cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia on a walk of the CCI5*-L cross-country course. The USEA-hosted event will take place at 8:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, April 24.