Know Before You Show
New Rules for a New Competition Year
Rules affecting Hunter/Jumper competition effective Dec. 1, 2018
The USHJA is helping members Know Before You Show with a simple guide of rule changes taking effect for the new competition year. Most importantly, the 2019 competition year brings new requirements for competing members and horses with the implementation of the Safe Sport training requirement for all USEF members 18-years-old and older with a Competing Membership, and microchipping for all horses competing in USEF-licensed and/or USHJA sanctioned competitions with Hunter, Hunter Breeding, Jumper and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation classes not restricted by breed. Click here for a comprehensive list of rule changes that were approved in early 2018 and will take effect for the 2019 competition year. View the entire 2019 USEF Rulebook here.
The following are important rule changes that will be effective Dec. 1, 2018, for the 2019 competition year and affect Hunter/Jumper competition.
| Summary of Rule Change | Rule Number |
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Safe Sport Training Requirement for Adults with USEF Active Competing Memberships: This rule change, approved by the USEF Board of Directors in August of 2018, requires that effective Jan. 1, 2019, all USEF adult members with a Competing Membership must complete USEF’s Safe Sport Training in order to be eligible to participate in USEF activities, including competitions. A 30-day grace period to complete the awareness training will be provided to all members who renew or join on or after Dec. 1, 2018. Click here to learn more about this requirement for the 2019 competition year. For frequently asked questions about SafeSport Training, click here. |
GR1303.c |
| Microchipping: As part of Phase II of the Microchipping Rule, originally approved in 2016, beginning Dec. 1, 2018, ALL horses competing in USEF-licensed and/or USHJA sanctioned competitions with Hunter, Hunter Breeding, Jumper and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation classes not restricted by breed will be required to be microchipped to compete. Exception: Horses competing exclusively in USHJA Outreach classes, USEF Opportunity classes, leadline, walk-trot, or other activities as outlined in GR901.9 do not have to be microchipped to be eligible to compete per HU101.3 (Tracking No. 172-17).
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JP100 EQ103 HU104 |
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Fall Reporting: In the event of a fall of a horse or pony within the competition ring at a Federation-licensed Hunter, Jumper or Hunter/Jumper competition, the judge shall notify a steward, regardless of whether an EMT is called, and the steward must include the details of the incident on his report to the Federation. |
GR842 (Tracking No. 338-17) |
| Horse/Pony Collapse: Any horse/pony that collapses is prohibited from competing for 72 hours after said collapse. Exception: Upon examination by a veterinarian and submission of a statement by the veterinarian certifying the horse/pony’s fitness to compete, a horse/pony that collapses is permitted to return to competition 24 hours after said collapse. | |
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Hunter Rule Book Chapter Reorganization: The HU and HJ chapters have undergone a significant re-organization that will be reflected in the 2019 rulebook. This rule change contains no new rule language, but rather reflects reorganization of existing language. Many of the rules related to scheduling and prize list requirements have been moved from the HU chapter to the HJ chapter. |
GR 1132.5 (Tracking No.259-17) |
| Definition and Classification of Small Hunters: in an effort to expand the competitor base, this rule change defines the new height of a Small Hunter to include horses 16 hands and under with a valid measurement card. | |
| Use of FEI Approved Safety Cups in Warm-Up Areas: FEI Approved Safety Cups will now be required in Hunter schooling rings at Premier competitions, and are mandatory in all Jumper schooling rings. The use of FEI Approved Safety Cups is strongly encouraged in Hunter schooling rings at National and Regional I and II Hunter competitions, as well as in Equitation schooling rings. The use of these safety cups will be mandatory in all schooling rings beginning in the 2020 competition year. |
HU157.2 (Tracking No.174-17) |
| Combining of Hunter Sections: This rule change allows for a combined High Performance Hunter/Performance Hunter 3’6” section to be further combined with the Performance Hunter 3’3” section. The rule also further clarifies already existing rule language regarding the combining of other hunter sections including Green Hunter, Conformation Hunter, Amateur Owner Hunter, and Pony Hunter. | HU112.4 (Tracking No. 261-17) |
| Dividing Jumper Classes and Sections: This rule defines the specific number of entries (80 entries) at which a class in the Children’s, Adult Amateur, Pony, Junior, Amateur, Amateur/Owner or Young Rider Jumper sections must be divided. | JP117.1 (Tracking No. 167-17) JP117 (Tracking No. 354-18) |
| Adult Equitation Minimum Entry Number: This rule changes the minimum number of entries required in a USEF Adult Equitation class (from six to three) for the class to count. This rule change will allow for more Adult Medal classes to fill. | EQ110.7 (Tracking No. 222-17) |
| Ladies Side Saddle Tack and Equipment: This rule change allows for the use of a numnah or saddle cloth under a side saddle in competition. | HU131.5 (Tracking No. 029-17) |
| Declaring a point section in a Hunter Classic: This rule change requires that exhibitors in a Hunter Classic declare their point section at the time of entry into the Classic by use of a declaration form. | |
| Rework of the Jumper Schooling Rules: This rule change reworks Appendix A of the Jumper Schooling rules and further clarifies schooling rules for Jumpers. No new rule language is included in this rule change. | JP103.7 (Tracking No. 171-17) |
| Young Jumper Boot Restrictions: This rule change aligns the USEF rules with the FEI rules concerning acceptable types of front and hind boots allowed for use on Young Jumpers. | JP116.2 (Tracking No. 168-17) |
| Cross-Entry Restrictions for Jumpers in FEI Classes: With this rule change, any competitor that competes in a CSI5*, CSI4*, CSI-W, or CSIO is ineligible to compete in a Junior, Amateur, or Amateur/Owner class held below 1.40m class at the same competition. Please be reminded that each FEI Event is composed of all the classes within that event. For example, a CSI3*-W is the whole event of FEI classes as listed in the FEI Schedule and not just the World Cup Qualifier class. | JP117 (Tracking No. 132-17) |
Beyond rule changes, members competing in Hunter and Equitation divisions should keep in mind that they may not use magnetic stirrups in those divisions. This not a new rule but one that has been a topic of discussion among committees and of note for 2019. The applicable rules regarding magnetic stirrups for Hunters and Hunter/Jumping Seat Equitation can be found in the 2019 USEF Rulebook here: EQ101.4, HU106.3.
Please note this listing is not a comprehensive list of all rule changes effective Dec. 1, 2018. All rule changes can be viewed here.
For more information about rules, visit the Rules and Proposals Overview page.
