By MARLEY LIEN-GONZALEZ
USHJA, in accordance with USEF, released their “Know Before You Show” list of rules and rule changes effective December 1, 2024 that affect the hunter jumper community. Some we’ve already covered, like the extension of the Green Pony term, the induction of different heights into the Pony Jumpers, and the adjustment of Judge’s use of video. Among the new regulations is a rule change further restricting the use of draw reins in the Jumper division.
According to the revised section of (JP 111.4), “Draw reins and German martingale may not be used in any competition/class restricted to Ponies, Juniors, and/or Amateurs, or by age of horse. Draw reins and German martingales may only be used in a conventional manner when schooling or in classes with no prize money that are offered at 1.20 m or below. Draw reins and/or German martingales may not be used on Ponies at any time when ridden by a Junior.”
According to the proposal document, this rule was initiated by the International Disciplines Council and reflects USEF’s recent surging effort to enforce better horse welfare standards and more consistently aligning their verbiage to FEI, the organization which sets the international bar of equine ethics.
The council approached USEF and the rule change was approved in standard fashion on the basis of “limiting the use of draw reins and German Martingales to certain classes and divisions.” According to the proposal’s statement of intent, the existing rule already specified that juniors are not allowed to ride ponies in draw reins at any time and that they are also prohibited in age restricted classes. On those two topics, just the wording is now being updated, not the content.
“Draw reins in uneducated hands are definitely not a good thing for horses or ponies. That’s not to say draw reins can’t be a helpful tool–when used by qualified and educated professionals or by appropriate child, junior, or amateur riders under the supervision of a professional.
There are a lot of amateurs that are very educated and are fit to use draw reins, but they choose to be amateurs. There are also a lot of very educated junior and child riders, who, with supervision of a qualified professional, should be fine to use draw reins as a tool, but not as a daily tack necessity (should never need them to show).
I see so many professionals overuse draw reins to the detriment of the horse or pony. Again, if used properly as an aid in training, they can be productive to the conditioning and strength building of the horse or pony, however, because they’re often abused to force a horse or pony into an artificial “frame,” a rule like this comes from a place of protection over the animals.”-Top Pony Trainer Kristen Carollo of Courtyard Farm.
Know Your Rules
All TPH readers are encouraged to download the USEF Rulebook app, which is available in the appstore, to keep the rules handy wherever and whenever you need. The easy access makes it much faster to search and confirm rules, as well as stay on top of updates and changes. Click here to download the app.
Click here to read the full USEF Rulebook, and contact US Equestrian here with any questions or clarifications as needed.
