Blog Post 7: USEF

For this blog post, I decided to research Hunters on the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) website. I found sections from the rule book and also detailed descriptions of the sports. These will be the division types I will be showing in this summer, so these are the topics most relatable to myself.

Hunters:

• Rounds should be judged on consistent distances to jumps and an even pace.
• Judges look for jumping style, willingness, and suitability of the horse. 
• Jumps such as coops, walls, and gates are found in the hunter ring because they simulate those in an actual hunting field. 
• Handy Hunter classes are built with tight turns and creative approaches.
• Most hunter horses are Thoroughbreds, and also European Warmbloods.
• Minor faults for a rider's judging include rubbing the jump, late lead changes or changes in front of a fence or line, adding or eliminating strides in a line, spooking, or bucking.
• Major faults include knockdowns, refusals, missing a lead change, breaking stride, and trotting on course (unless specified a "trot jump"). 
• Elimination is ruled when a rider or horse falls, has 3 refusals, goes off course, 
• Martingales (piece of tack that goes around a horse's neck) are prohibited in Under Saddle (flat) classes. Only standing martingales are allowed in Over Fences (jumping) classes. 

This Website is very valid because it is the website of the country's equestrian association. These rules are all accurate because they are the first-hand rules used by judges and competition officials. There is obviously no bias because it is not opinionated and are straight from a prestigious organization. The rule book was last updated in late 2011, so it is very recent. The links of the websites are: http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2011/16-HU.pdf

http://www.usef.org/_IFrames/breedsDisciplines/discipline/allHunter.aspx