Read the rule as written. It’s excessive, and unenforceable. As written, anyone who’s ever joined USEF is forever under their watch, and that watch defines abuse as anything that causes the horse discomfort. So, lunging in side reins? Insisting on going forward? Taken to extreme, active use of a bit in the mouth?
No, this is just Yet Another example of USEF shooting itself in the foot. Are there problems? Of course. But for $ome rea$on, the real problems aren’t being addressed.
Full disclosure: both of my current horses have lifetime registrations, but I haven’t been a USEF member for more than 5 years, and am unlikely to ever rejoin, in part because of things like this.