US Equestrian, the governing body of equestrian sports in the United States, released new penalty guidelines for rule violations related to horse welfare and safety last week.
The penalty guidelines cover several concerns, including: improper use of whips, spurs, and bits; use of illegal equipment; cruelty, abuse, and neglect, which also includes some drugging cases; and death or maiming of a horse, whether intentional or unintentional.
In a statement released with the new guidelines, US Equestrian explains the impetus behind the focus on consequences for welfare violations:
In the event that a member violates any of the Rules covering welfare and safety of a horse, and this violation ends in a hearing before the Federation’s Hearing Committee, any subsequent penalty issued should be appropriately severe, as a case of a welfare or safety violation against a horse is one of the most egregious violations under the Federation’s Rules. Previously imposed penalties in cases of welfare and safety violations are no longer sufficient in today’s cases. It is important that the Federation’s penalties reflect the severity of the violation.
These new guidelines aren’t a rule change or a mandate; they have been created to provide a template for Hearing Panels when a violation has occurred. The Hearing Panel may opt for a lower or higher penalty than what the guidelines suggest depending on the specific circumstances of the violation.
The new guidelines, which take effect on September 1, 2017, are outlined below.
I. Excessive Use of Whip or Spurs and Improper Use of Bits
II. Illegal Equipment
III. Cruelty/Abuse/Neglect
IV. Death and Maiming
V. Intentional Death for Financial or Other Means
* Reciprocity of Criminal Charges – In cases of reciprocity of criminal charges, the minimum USEF penalty should at least mirror the criminal penalty with latitude given to impose more severe penalties.
Leslie Potter is a graduate of William Woods University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Equestrian Science with a concentration in saddle seat riding and a minor in Journalism/Mass Communications. She is currently a writer and photographer in Lexington, Ky.Potter worked as a barn manager and riding instructor and was a freelance reporter and photographer for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar and Saddle Horse Report before moving to Lexington to join Horse Illustrated as Web Editor from 2008 to 2019. Her current equestrian pursuits include being a grown-up lesson kid at an eventing barn and trail riding with her senior Morgan gelding, Snoopy.
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