By NINA THORNTON
At a recent horse show, I watched a horse compete in 21 classes in 5 days. At the following show, it competed in 17 classes. Another horse did 19 classes. And they weren’t alone.
It wasn’t illegal. And it wasn’t against USEF rules. But it was sickening.
I helplessly watched this horse stand in the baking hot sun between classes, eyes closed in exhaustion at the in-gate. His landings got heavier, his pace got slower, and a subtle lameness became more noticeable the more classes he went in.
At hunter/jumper shows in the United States, horses can enter and compete in an unlimited number of jumping classes, with only a few section-specific limitations. That means a horse can compete in the USHJA 3’ Hunters, the 3’ Children’s Hunters, the 3’3” Age Eq, the 0.90 m Jumpers, and a few medals… all in one day. Add a jumper classic and a hunter derby on Sunday, and that’s over 200 jumping efforts at one show, not including warm-up jumps.
This isn’t an exaggeration or a what-if scenario. This is happening at countless horse shows, even at the hands of many esteemed trainers, often slipping below the radar as exhausted horses compete in all three rings. Despite horse welfare statements from USEF, my submitted horse welfare reports, and compassionate stewards and horse show staff, this abuse cannot be prevented without a jumping class limit from USEF.
I’m not the only one horrified by this. I’ve received messages from USEF licensed judges and stewards, all with haunting stories of watching horses compete beyond their physical limits. One steward watched a horse break its leg and be euthanized after competing in 16 classes the week prior. Years later, nothing has changed to prevent this.
We love to talk about horsemanship and yearn for the good ol’ days when people really put the horses first, but when we turn a blind eye to a system that allows horses to jump 200 efforts in a single show, we aren’t practicing good horsemanship. We’re supporting a system that monetizes exhaustion.
This abuse is most common in divisions under 1.10 m where there are more classes to enter, and horses are often used as catch rides or have trainers doing entire divisions before a junior or amateur gets on to show. While these horses aren’t jumping the biggest fences, they’re jumping a lot. And injuries don’t discriminate.
A Common-Sense Solution
After posting a viral TikTok about what I’d witnessed at the last horse show, I was flooded with messages and comments from riders all over the world, all asking the same question: Why is there no rule for jumping class limits?
So I proposed one.
I logged into my USEF member portal and filled out the extensive rule change proposal form, and also submitted my welfare reports as evidence for needing this rule. My rule proposed the following:
Maximum Class Participation for Jumping Classes (Hunter, Jumper, Equitation)
Horses may not compete in more than four (4) jumping classes per competition day and no more than ten (10) jumping classes per competition week (Monday through Sunday), regardless of height, section, or division.
This rule applies to all over-fences classes in the Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation divisions held at USEF-licensed competitions. It is intended to protect the welfare of horses from overuse due to excessive jumping efforts in a short period of time.
This isn’t about limiting access; it’s about setting a humane ceiling on jumping classes, like other countries do, to protect horses that can’t advocate for themselves. Most horses don’t exceed these limits. But for the ones that do, week after week, this rule could be the difference between a sound season and an excruciating injury.
I am not suggesting everyone should aim to enter 10 jumping classes per week – in my opinion, that is still far too many for most heights and divisions. But this rule isn’t about perfection or suggesting what every horse should enter in, it’s about urgently protecting the horses competing in outrageous and unethical amounts of jumping classes right now, while we work together as a community to come up with height and division-specific class limits.
Welfare First
A recent op-ed published by The Plaid Horse cautioned against class limits, arguing that a jumping class limit could hurt riders trying to qualify one horse in multiple divisions, or could limit a fresh green pony who “needs” to jump more than four classes in a day. I understand those concerns and the pressure of keeping clients happy, but I’ve yet to hear a scenario that would justify competing in more than four jumping classes in one day.
This isn’t about crushing dreams or creating a perfect rule; it’s about putting an upper limit on what’s fair, ethical, and sustainable for a horse’s body.
Other disciplines do this:
- Eventing limits jumping efforts
- Dressage limits total rides per horse per day
- FEI limits the number of jumping classes to four per week
But in the U.S. hunter jumper world? A horse can show 6, 7, or even 8 times in one day across multiple divisions with no limit. Finished every class in a division? Just enter another one. The rulebook doesn’t care. But the horses do.
Limits aren’t punishment, they’re protection. Jumping class limits are the bare minimum we owe the animals carrying this sport. And while silence may keep the peace, it won’t keep horses safe.
If we truly believe in horsemanship, let’s prove it with action and urge USEF to implement rules that put horses first, starting with jumping class limits.
Want to Help?
- Share this article
- Support proposed rule GR8XX – Maximum Class Participation for Jumping Classes (Hunter, Jumper, Equitation) by contacting safety@usef.org, memberservices@usef.org and other representatives.
About the Author
Nina Thornton is a professional rider, Barn Manager at Sorella Farm, and a vocal advocate for horse welfare. She regularly shares industry commentary on her TikTok @ninathornton3.
