USDF soliciting input on proposed rule changes to be effective 12/1/25

[pluvinel]

@Bonnie2

USEF wants to be able to control who is on showgrounds. If vets and farriers are members they will need background checks and safe sport training.

Ok…if this passes, then watch the smaller shows become unrecognized. Based on the little business at a show, there is NO incentive for vets or farriers to become members. Maybe a new vet or farrier wants to get known in the area, and would attend a show…but why put yourself thru the pain for little return.

There is NO incentive for me to renew my memberships. I would rather spend my moneys in clinics and lessons with great clinicians to improve my riding, training and horsemanship skills.

It would be interesting to see USEF membership trends over time. If any of you with access, it might be interesting to see what the annual reports show. According to Google, “As of January 2024, the United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian) has over 480,000 members and fans.”

[Jump314]

@pluvinel

So is there an epidemic of horse doping at USEF competitions?

Yes, especially hunter/jumper competitions. See here or the back of the US Equestrian magazine.

[DMK]

Would you have the same response if there was no membership cost?

I see no downside to having bad vets be held accountable for bad actions. Yes, competitors and trainers can and should be held accountable, but what’s the problem with weeding out all the bad actors?

The way I see it, the only problem with this rule is adding one more ticky tack cost for vets. Not the accountability aspect.

[trubandloki]

@DMK

Would you have the same response if there was no membership cost?

I see no downside to having bad vets be held accountable for bad actions. Yes, competitors and trainers can and should be held accountable, but what’s the problem with weeding out all the bad actors?

The way I see it, the only problem with this rule is adding one more ticky tack cost for vets. Not the accountability aspect.

Why do we need to add a rule here too hold bad vets accountable when there are already other ways to hold bad vets accountable that do not make extra work for the good vets?

[DMK]

Well those other methods haven’t been working in top form as best as I can tell, and not just in horse showing. I don’t think HISA expanded its reach because things were going so bang up splendid with those exact same other avenues.

And not for nothing, the human medicine world has similar issues, if you’ve ever been lucky enough to sit in on provider credentialing meetings.

I personally am ok with this proposed layer.

[trubandloki]

I don’t show rated anything anymore, but I prefer to make things less hard for our amazing vets, not more hard.

And heck, it is only money. Why not make more expenses for the good vets, which the average horse owner has to pay, because there are some bad horse owners and vets out there.

[pluvinel]

@DMK

I see no downside to having bad vets be held accountable for bad actions.

I agree that bad vets should be held accountable. That is what the Board of Veterinary Licensure is for. The process is already there.

If the vet gets banned by USEF, then so what? Vet will take care of horses that don’t compete.

[pluvinel]

@trubandloki

I don’t show rated anything anymore, but I prefer to make things less hard for our amazing vets, not more hard.

Exactly.

[pluvinel]

@Jump314

Yes, especially hunter/jumper competitions. See here or the back of the US Equestrian magazine.

Ok…then let the HJ people patrol their competitions and put sanctions in place that have some teeth. The link didn’t provide any useful info.

According to Google,

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is the largest organization under the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and represents approximately 43,000 members who participate in hunter and/or jumper equestrian sports.

Based on my prior Google inquiry, there are about 480,000 USEF members. So why inflict pain on +90% of the membership when less than 10% are the bad actors?

Here is where the H/J numbers come from

Historical_Overview.pdf

The United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) is the largest single organization under the umbrella of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and represents the interests of approximately 43,000 members participating in the hunter and/or jumper aspects of equestrian sport.

And here is where Google gives the USEF membership numbers

Our Future Is Now for US Equestrian and Its Stakeholders

O’Mara shared that member and fan numbers grew significantly in 2023, reaching 480,000. … The number of horses participating in competitions reached a new level with 83,689 horses and 367,000 horse competition entries.

Let Hunter/Jumper land clean up their own house.

[SillyHorse]

@pluvinel

Let Hunter/Jumper land clean up their own house.

Hear hear!

[Bogey2]

"Based on my prior Google inquiry, there are about 480,000 USEF members. So why inflict pain on +90% of the membership when less than 10% are the bad actors?

Let Hunter/Jumper land clean up their own house."

YES!!! Thanks Pluvinel!