On June 3, the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) held a Town Hall meeting to discuss equine welfare. The three-hour meeting, available to view at usefnetwork.com, had a short, but powerful agenda. Two of the items centered around rule changes – one to institute mandatory reporting of horses that collapse at a USEF-licensed show for no apparent reason; and the other to prohibit injections within 12 hours of competition, with minor exceptions.
Now, just because cutting and reined cow horse aren’t USEF disciplines, like reining, doesn’t mean the rest of you shouldn’t pay attention, too. History has proven time and again that equestrian sports don’t operate in a bubble – what happens to one can, and will, eventually happen to us all. So listen up.