USHJA Rule Change Proposals 2023

[Rel6]

The 2023 Currently Active Rule Change Proposals are posted and open for comment here: https://hjdata.ushja.org/rule-changes

Some that jumped out at me as interesting:

003 and 033 - Allowing adults to school ponies at shows (personally seems strange horses can be prepped but not ponies for literal children?)

004 - Limiting the amount of o/f classes a horse can show in, which I think has been discussed/debated here before

007 - Allowing ponies to have a second green year

014- Removing speed classes and combinations in the lower level jumpers (honestly a lot of the time I think combinations help keep rounds slower, and to me is seems dangerous to show over a combination for the very first time at a higher height, but I’m interested to see reactions to this)

028- Clarifying when video review can be used to make a decision, and what video can be relied on. It would leave “only official video footage” as able to be used.

ETA: Question answered!

[MHM]

@Rel6

It would leave “only official video footage” as able to be used. (Not sure what counts as official video?)

I would guess it means the video taken by a professional cameraman for the show’s live stream. Not somebody’s mom standing at the ingate with her phone.

[Tackpud]

@Rel6

Also if anyone knows what 012 is referring to I’m curious - I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a rule about blinkers or about losing a bridle mid-round.

This is primarily addressing race horse style blinkers and goggles that tint the glare from the sun. It is unknown if the tint changes the way a horse sees a jump making it potentially an uneven playing field if the jump is easier to see.

[Tackpud]

@MHM

I would guess it means the video taken by a professional cameraman for the show’s live stream. Not somebody’s mom standing at the ingate with her phone.

Correct. Video footage from the horse show videographer only. No “mom” videos.

[Rel6]

Makes sense! So review would then be limited to shows and/or rings where a videographer is present.

[blondewithchrome]

I find the height suggestions in JP118 to be too high - currently reads that any child or adult class at .95 or lower can only be table II or optimum time. .95 is only one hole on meter track standards lower than the 1m classes and that just feels slightly ridiculous to me to limit classes technically above 3’ to table II or IV. IMO it should be .80, or lower. I do not see crazy riding in the .90s like I do in the .65-.80s but, could be just me!

[Rel6]

Good point. At Saratoga the low ch/adults was .90/.95 and at Vermont it was 1.0m (with two combinations in some courses). So the way the height cut-off is set now, you could go to some shows and have no combinations in your courses and at other shows have multiple - all within the same division.

[outside_leg]

@Rel6

014- Removing speed classes and combinations in the lower level jumpers (honestly a lot of the time I think combinations help keep rounds slower, and to me is seems dangerous to show over a combination for the very first time at a higher height, but I’m interested to see reactions to this)

One of the challenges in lower level jumpers is that you can get a mix of kids on ponies as well as adults on everything from TBs, QHs, Morgans, and warmbloods. The stride length of a small or medium pony isn’t the same as that of a TB or a warmblood. I’ve watched some of these pairs do two in a one stride and it’s scary. Most shows don’t do combinations below .85, but I’m not sure it’s standardized, and it’s definitely caused some sketchy rounds even at .90.