UNITED STATES EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION The United States Equestrian Federation®, Inc. (USEF), as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 20 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 90,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.  VISION STATEMENT --The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation® is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.

Important Rules Changes to the Drugs & Medication Rules for Competition Horses Become Effective December 1, 2011 AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: From the USEF Drugs & Medication Program                      RELEASE: November 7, 2011                 Administration of NSAIDs Motivated by its commitment to the welfare of the horse, the USEF Board of Directors voted to amend its Therapeutic Drug Rule and restrict use to a single NSAID beginning December 1, 2011. Both the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) supported the rule change, and USEF now joins other organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Equine Canada in implementing this important rule change. Beginning December 1, 2011, only ONE of the seven approved Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs listed in the USEF Rule GR 410.4 will be permitted to be present in the same plasma or urine sample. Revisions have been made regarding detection times of some of the therapeutic drugs used on competition horses. Most notably, the detection time for the seven NSAIDs currently approved for use with quantitative restrictions, has been reduced from seven (7) days to three (3) days, when administered according to the dose and time recommendations found on pages 12 – 14 of the 2012 Guidelines for Drugs & Medications. Emergency Use of Flunixin (Banamine©) Following the move to allow only one NSAID to be present in the same plasma or urine sample of a horse in competition, and acting on the USEF Veterinary Committee’s recommendation, the USEF Board of Directors approved a rule provision allowing for the emergency administration of flunixin (Banamine®) by a veterinarian to treat colic or an ophthalmic emergency. Filing a USEF Medication Report Form is required if an NSAID listed in GR410 (a) through (g), other than flunixin, has been administered to the horse within the three days prior. It will additionally require that the Medication Report Form be signed by the veterinarian who administered the flunixin (Banamine®) and the same medication report should document a 24-hour withdrawal from competition following administration. It is important to note that compliance with this rule is dependent upon the flunixin (Banamine®) being administered by a licensed veterinarian following a physical exam. Anabolic Steroids Re-Classified as Forbidden Substance Also effective December 1, 2011, anabolic steroids will be considered a Forbidden Substance under the USEF Therapeutic Rule [insert Rule Reference here]. No anabolic steroid is to be administered to a horse or pony in the time before competition such that it, or any metabolite of it, might be present in the animal, or might be detectable in its blood or urine sample at the time of competition. This means that, if anabolic steroids are administered and/or any surgical implants are removed, the administration and/or procedure occurs sufficiently in advance of competing to ensure these substances are not present in the blood or urine at the time of competition. To comply with this new change, it is important to review HOW LONG DRUGS REMAIN DETECTABLE on page 15 and 16 of the 2012 USEF Drugs & Medications Guidelines. FEI Banned Substances The FEI Clean Sport initiative inspired changes to USEF GR 409, which affect the rules governing FEI discipline competition at USEF Licensed Competitions. It is important to carefully review the FEI rules at this link and the FEI Forbidden Substance list at this link: http://www.feicleansport.org/prohibited.html.   Please pay special attention to the FEI listing of Banned Substances. While alleged violations of USEF GR 409 will still be heard by the USEF, sanctions potentially imposed for violation could result in assessment of a $15,000 fine and a two-year suspension (consistent with FEI Sanctions). Be particularly cautious with respect to the use of medicinal preparations, tonics, pastes, and products of any kind (even those labeled “natural,” “herbal,” or “holistic,” as the ingredients and their quantitative analysis are not specifically known. Many contain one or more banned substances under the FEI rules. There are therapeutic exceptions, however, which allow for the use of anti-infectious substances and the anti-ulcer medications ranitidine and omeprazole. It is important to note that these anti-ulcer medications are forbidden in endurance rides governed by AERC. The new competition year begins December 2011. With all of these important rule changes taking effect, the USEF encourages every exhibitor, trainer, coach, and owner to take the time, prior to competing, to carefully review the Guidelines for How Long Drugs Remain Detectable which can be accessed by Clicking Here or by contacting the USEF D&M Program at 859.258.2472 to request a copy of the 2012 USEF Drugs & Medications Guidelines.

USEF Passes New Safety Helmet Rules for Dressage and Eventing Riders What you need to know about Protective Headgear for Dressage Competitions Effective March 1, 2011 The following rules apply to  Dressage Competitions and Regular Competitions holding Dressage classes, at all times while riders are mounted on the competition grounds: 1 – Riders under age 18 must wear protective headgear, as defined by DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801, at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. This includes non-competing riders as well as those competing at any level. 2 – While on horses competing in national level tests (Fourth Level and below), riders must wear protective headgear as defined by DR120.5 and  in compliance with GR801, at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. This includes non-competing riders on horses competing in national level tests. 3 - While on horses competing in USEF or FEI Young Horse Tests, and FEI Junior Tests, riders must wear protective headgear as defined by DR120.5 and  in compliance with GR801, at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. 4 – All riders competing in Para-Equestrian tests must wear protective headgear at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. Riders who compete in PE tests must wear protective headgear on every horse they ride, no matter the level or test. 5 – All riders of any age while on non-competing horses must wear protective headgear at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. 6 - When a horse is competing in both national and FEI levels or tests (e.g. Fourth Level and PSG), the rider must wear protective headgear at all times when mounted on that horse on the competition grounds and during all tests. 7 - All riders under age 18 and all riders while on horses competing in national level tests, who choose to wear Armed Services or police uniform, must wear protective headgear as defined in DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801 at all times while mounted on the competition grounds. Riders age 18 and over who wear Armed Services or police uniform on horses that are competing only in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges level and above must wear either protective headgear or the appropriate military/police cap or hat for their branch of service. 8 - While on horses that are competing only in FEI levels and tests at the Prix St. Georges level and above (including FEI Young Rider Tests, the USEF Developing Prix St. Georges Test and the USEF Brentina Cup Test), riders age 18 and over are not required to wear protective headgear in warmup or during competition. 9 - In FEI-recognized (CDI, CDI-Y, CDI-J, CDI-P, etc.) classes, FEI rules take precedence and protective headgear is permitted but not required. 10 - All riders while on horses competing in national level classes such as Equitation, Materiale and DSHB Under Saddle are required to wear protective headgear at all times when mounted on the competition grounds. ** Protective headgear is defined as a riding helmet which meets or exceeds ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)/SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) standards for equestrian use and carries the SEI tag. The headgear and harness must be secured and properly fitted. Any rider violating this rule at any time must immediately be prohibited from further riding until such headgear is properly in place. *** Dressage  Additional details regarding the changes to the rules for Protective Headgear for Dressage (DR120.5) will be posted at: http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/Changes/2011.aspx ***  Eventing:   Effective immediately, Eventing protective headgear rules have also changed. All riders are required to wear ASTM/SEI approved helmets at ALL times when mounted on the competition grounds at U.S. nationally rated competitions, or those following the Eventing Division rules. Check EV 114.1 for the exact wording of the new rule.    Further specifics regarding the changes to the rule for Protective Headgear for Eventing (EV 114.1) will be posted at:   http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/RuleBook/Changes/2011.aspx.

What is USEF LIVE?  www.USEFNetwork.com   USEF LIVE is a new video platform presented by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), designed to showcase some of the very best live action equestrian sport in America.

USEF VISION STATEMENT The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation® is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes. QUICK LINKS TO:     WELCOME      TOP OF PAGE