There are some new rules that have already gone into effect (black stirrups are now allowed in the equitation!), and others that are coming up soon. Details are available here:
Thank you!
Thank you for the link.
[QUOTE=MHM;8862978]
(black stirrups are now allowed in the equitation!)[/QUOTE]
I read that to say that yes they are allowed and you can not be eliminated but you certainly can be penalized because it clearly lists the preferred stirrup.
I feel this just clarifies that you CAN use black stirrups, but judges WANT silver ones to clearly show foot positioning. Can’t be eliminated, but can sure be docked which can affect placing… just my 2 cents on it 
of course they have to start messing with the green hunters the year I have a first year horse.
will the young hunters be a division at indoors? that division makes sense for “real” first year horses (i.e. those that didn’t do a 1.20m in Europe already) of which mine is one, but I want him to go to indoors. . .and no conformation equivalent for the young hunters. . .
And will all the shows have to offer them? Inquiring minds want to know.
Did so many complain that they took the ban off the black stirrups?
I know as a judge I will still very much not like black stirrups in equitation.
[QUOTE=MintHillFarm;8864788]
Did so many complain that they took the ban off the black stirrups?[/QUOTE]
I wonder if someone who attended the relevant meeting can chime in. My first thought is that there have been enough mutterings about “my stirrups are CLEARLY GRAY and I was disqualified regardless” that the USEF threw up its hands about it. I know there have been cases where the gray Royal Riders stirrups have been seen as black and the judge eliminated the rider, only for the rider to complain to the steward, who got to see the stirrup in different lighting than the judge did. Meanwhile enforcement at least in my zone has been spotty- I recall a rider placing in the top 3 of a state-sanctioned medal final run under USEF rules with black stirrups (darn good trip though)- and I wonder if this one just didn’t play out well enough in the real world to justify keeping on the books.
[QUOTE=MintHillFarm;8864788]
Did so many complain that they took the ban off the black stirrups?[/QUOTE]
I don’t know but why, just why, why don’t they just ban them? It just adds to the confusion and some poor kid losing points for no reason:(
It’s much easier to judge with regular stainless steel stirrups, but I can see why they might have wanted to add a little leeway to the rule.
If you need an extra person to fill an equitation class, do you want to omit people who are willing to do the class, but have black stirrups? Or eliminate the clear winner because s/he forgot to switch stirrups?
Love the new hunter rules. It will be interesting to see how they are all implemented. Indoors? Pre Green Incentive?
[QUOTE=MHM;8865557]
It’s much easier to judge with regular stainless steel stirrups, but I can see why they might have wanted to add a little leeway to the rule.
If you need an extra person to fill an equitation class, do you want to omit people who are willing to do the class, but have black stirrups? Or eliminate the clear winner because s/he forgot to switch stirrups?[/QUOTE]
I preferred the old rule. Saying that " stainless steel is preferred" and the reasons why are absolute bullsh*t. If riding in old fashioned stirrups causes you knee or ankle pain, they are clearly not “promoting a correct position” for that particular rider. The new rule allows an eq judge to penalize someone in light coloured modern non-stainless stirrups, which is just wrong. I do get that the judge needs to see position, which is why the old rule actually made sense.
