United States Eventing Association

USEA Launches Online Test to Certify Eventing Safety Coordinators; Reorganizes Safety Committee

The United States Eventing Association (USEA) has officially released an online test and certification for eventing safety coordinators. In accordance with United States Equestrian's (USEF) Rules for Eventing rule EV113 (4) all competitions are required to have a safety coordinator “who shall be responsible for the establishment and coordination of medical services.” For several years members of the USEA Safety Committee have been looking for ways to ensure that designated safety coordinators fully understand the responsibilities of the job.

The development of the test has been one of the main goals of the USEA Safety Committee over the previous year. The test itself derives its questions from the USEA Safety Coordinator Manual. Test takers are asked 25 questions ranging from true and false questions to multiple choice. To receive certification, the test taker must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. Upon completion, the test takers will be able to print off a certificate of achievement certifying that they have successfully completed the USEA Test for Safety Coordinators.

While the certification is not mandatory, it is highly recommended that all safety coordinators at USEA competitions complete the test. For those that have taken the test to date, the average time from start to finish is 15 minutes. There is no limit to the number of times someone can take the test, and the results for those that pass the test will be sent to the test taker and a list of certified safety coordinators will be maintained by the USEA. The test may be taken on any internet enabled device and it is mobile device friendly.

Take the USEA Test for Safety Coordinators

Review the USEA Safety Coordinator Manual

List of certified USEA Safety Coordinators

USEA/Leslie Mintz Photo

USEA Reorganizes Safety Committee

Over the last several years USEA leadership has been evaluating the structure and function of the Safety Committee. Previously the USEA Safety and Equine Welfare Committee had consisted of eight members of varied backgrounds. Additionally, three years ago a 10-member Task Force was created to address cross-country safety. During the May meeting of the USEA Board of Governors the Board officially approved a restructure of the Safety Committee.

“When we evaluated the previous activity of the USEA’s Safety and Equine Welfare Committee and the list of important efforts we would like them to tackle moving forward it became clear that it would be beneficial to restructure” said USEA CEO Rob Burk. “We have been incredibly impressed with the Cross-Country Safety Task Force members. By its nature a Task Force is only a temporary group, but we wanted to make sure that they keep on doing their amazing work in the future. We are excited to utilize this impressive group of volunteers to push U.S. eventing safety and equine welfare to the next level.”

The USEA Safety and Equine Welfare Committee will now consist of three targeted subcommittees. Those subcommittees will be:

• Rider Safety
• Equine Safety and Welfare
• Cross-Country Safety

Sarah Broussard will continue as the Chair of the Safety and Equine Welfare Committee and she will also Chair the Rider Safety Committee. In addition to growing up competing in the sport, Broussard is a Paramedic and EMT from Kalispell, Mont. where she organizes the highly-acclaimed Event at Rebecca Farm.

The Equine Safety and Welfare Subcommittee will be chaired by Jennifer Miller, DVM. Dr. Miller joined the USEA Board of Governors in December 2016. She operates Desert Equine Services based in Gilbert, Ariz. Dr. Miller is a FEI veterinarian and has been Canadian Team Veterinarian for eventing, dressage and para dressage at multiple Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games and Pan American Games.

The Cross-Country Safety Subcommittee is being formed from the Cross-Country Safety Task Force. Jonathan Holling will serve as the Chair of the Subcommittee. In addition to currently serving as the U.S. Eventing National Safety Officer to the FEI, Holling is a well-known and respected CCI4* level rider and trainer and was a member of the 2012 Nation's Cup Team at the Boekelo CCI3*.

For more information contact USEA CEO Rob Burk at [email protected] or 703-779-0440.