Articles: Horse News
Progressive Changes in the Morgan Division:
Protective Headgear Now Required in Leadline Classes
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2011
From the USEF Communications Department
Lexington, KY - The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Executive
Committee approved an Extraordinary Rule Change in the Morgan Division of
the USEF Rule Book on March 21, 2011, requiring exhibitors in leadline
classes to wear protective headgear at all times while mounted, effective
immediately.
"We applaud the American Morgan Horse Association for this bold,
forward-thinking move," said USEF President David O'Connor.
The rule change was put forward by the board of the American Morgan Horse
Association (AMHA) to ensure the safety of exhibitors in leadline classes,
who are between the ages of two and six. This comes just weeks after the
USEF Board of Directors approved a series of new protective headgear rules
in eventing and dressage, following a presentation on safety and protective
headgear at the 2011 USEF Annual Meeting in Lexington.
"When the medical profession, the sports world and the insurance world all
started getting involved, it became clear that the equine world needed to
get involved as well," said Georgie Green, USEF Morgan Horse Committee
Chair. "I felt we needed to be aware and ultimately, a part of this
conversation. As equestrians, we need to educate ourselves and get in front
of this, rather than waiting for those outside of our sport to make these
decisions for us. That's one of the reasons why I felt strongly about taking
this to the AMHA board when I did."
Green said after the safety presentation at the 2011 USEF Annual Meeting,
she reported back to AMHA board members, who then proposed the rule for
protective headgear in leadline classes. An additional rule proposal for
protective headgear in walk-trot classes is also being considered by the
AMHA, however is still being discussed within the Morgan community.
"I know the immediate reaction because I had it myself," Green
continued. "It is, 'What do you mean you're going to tell me and my children
how to dress?' But the bottom line here is safety and we need to work
together to come up with solutions. We need constructive opinions about how
to make this work going forward - not negative reactions - but positive
responses and dialogue about how we're going to address it."
To view the updated Morgan Division Rules in the USEF Rule Book online,
visit: http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2011/18-MO.pdf. The changes
can be viewed in sections MO106 and MO197.
For additional information, please contact Joyce Hamblin, Director, National
Breed/Discipline Affiliates at USEF, via email at jhamblin@usef.org.
ENDS
The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation is to provide
leadership
for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the
pursuit
of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a
foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare
of its human and equine athletes.
|
