Officials

Eventing officials include judges, technical delegates (TD), and course designers (CD). They are licensed by the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) at the 'r', 'R', and 'S' levels and by the FEI at the FEI levels.

The USEA Training Programs for Eventing Officials (TPEO) is for members who wish to become licensed officials or those who wish to further their education but not necessarily pursue licensure with the Federation. The USEA also conducts Continuing Education Clinics (CEC) for members who are already licensed officials. Anyone may attend the ‘r’, ‘R’, or ‘S’ dressage, cross-country/jumping, or course designer TPEO or CEC.

Attendance at a Continuing Education Clinic is part of the requirement to maintain an active license status as an eventing official. Clinics must be attended at least once every three years from the date the license is granted, but officials may attend more frequently if they wish.

Licensing and Promotion of Eventing Officials

The USEF is responsible for the licensing and promotion of Eventing Officials.

• Information on the requirements for ‘r’, ‘R’, and ‘S’ can be found on the USEF website by clicking here.
• Training Program requirements must be completed in the three years prior to application.
• Questions about the licensing process should be directed to [email protected].

For information on the USEA Training Program for Eventing Officials or Continuing Education Clinics, please contact Nancy Knight at [email protected] or (703) 669-9997.

Eventing Officials Apprenticing Forms

• Eventing Apprentice Evaluation – Cross Country
• Eventing Apprentice Evaluation – Dressage
• Eventing Apprentice Evaluation – Show Jumping
• Eventing Course Designer Apprentice Evaluation Form
• Eventing Course Evaluation – ‘R’ and ‘S’ Form
• Eventing Independent Study – Dressage
• Eventing Jumping Course Designer (JCD) Apprentice Evaluation Form
  
• Eventing Tabulation Form
  
  
  EV 153 Rule Change: June 1st, 2021
  There has been much discussion about the EV 153 that went into effect June 1. Below is clarification on the interpretation of the rule and also the intent of the rule. In talking with the Safety Committee and the Licensed Officials Committee here is the clarification:

  EV153 Faults 4. Faults are penalized in penalty points or by elimination as set out in this section (EV153).
  

  20 or more (jump) penalties Compulsory Retirement enforced at end of round, at Training, Modified, Preliminary, Intermediate, or Advanced level, unless competitor retires or is eliminated

  First off please remember that this is for Training and above competitors, also please remember that this rule was formulated out of the ERQI data and the statistics showed that bad outcomes were happening if the rider had 20 or more penalties/faults in Show Jumping.

  In reading the rule you will see it clearly says faults. With this said it means refusals, and/or poles that are knocked down. There has been confusion that it is only poles and that is incorrect. The safety committee's intent was to include all faults not just poles being dislodged. So when you are counting up the faults during a show jumping round once it adds up to 20 penalties it will be compulsory retirement.

  When this occurs the correct Acronym is CR for Compulsory Retirement.

  If a rider chooses to not complete the round then retires on course before crossing the finish line then that would be an R for retired on course.

  The President of the Ground Jury/Organizer may not grant permission for a rider to go cross country if show jumping is prior to cross country. Once a rider receives the CR, for 20 penalties during a show jumping round then they are not allowed to continue in the competition.

  I hope this provides clarification for the rule and the implementation of this rule.

  Cindy Deporter and Tim Murray

  Chairman and Assistant Chairman USEA Eventing Licensed Officials Committee