These are just a few examples of changes and updates to Combined Driving rules. USEF Members and Members in Combined Driving need to review the entire document.
Click here to view all rule changes approved at the 2024 Mid-Year Board meeting.

Para Driving

Currently, the Federation does not award Para-Driving Horse of the Year. Recognition of these horses and ponies will continue to bring attention to and grow the sport of Para-Driving. This rule change adds Para Driving Single Pony and Para Driving Single Horse to the Award Categories outlined in GR 1127 3.a and 3b.

GR1127 Driving, Combined

Award Categories. Awards will be given in the following award categories for the following
divisions:

• a. Open & Novice Advanced divisions: Combined Driving Single Horse, Combined Driving Pair Horses, Combined Driving Four-In-Hand Horses, Combined Driving Single Pony, Combined Driving Pair Ponies, and Combined Driving Four-In-Hand Ponies.
• b. Intermediate, Preliminary and Training divisions: Combined Driving Single Horse, Combined Driving Pair Horses, Combined Driving Four-in-hand Horses, Combined Driving Single Pony, Combined Driving Pair Ponies, Combined Driving Four-in-hand Ponies, Combined Driving Single Small Pony, Combined Driving Pair Small Ponies, Combined Driving Four-in-hand Small Ponies, Combined Driving Single Very Small Equine, Combined Driving Pair Very Small Equine, and Combined Driving Four-in-hand Very Small Equine.
• c.Para-Driving awards will be given in the Para-Driving Single Pony and Para Driving Single Horse categories. Para drivers competing in able-bodied Combined Driving divisions will earn HOTY points for the relevant Para-Driving awards in accordance with this section.
• Horses and ponies competing in combinations {Pair or Four-in-Hand) will accrue points by the driver’s entry. A unit for a pair consists of up to three horses or ponies and is still considered the same unit until at least half of the equines have changed. A unit for a four-in-hand consists of up to five horses or ponies and is still considered the same unit until at least half of the equines have changed. A new unit will constitute a new combination and will accrue points as a new entry for that driver.

GR302 License Application Policies and Procedures

1. General Provisions. ( … ) h. License Modification. Any changes to the License Agreement, including location, dates, rating, level, or prize money, will require a license modification request and payment of a fee. Any modifications resulting in a conflict will result in the loss of Priority Date Holder status. Any modification not resulting in a conflict shall comply with the provisions set forth below in order to retain Priority Date Holder status. The Federation may or may not approve the requested changes.
   Exception:
   Eventing competitions without mileage conflict requesting changes outlined in GR302.1h5 must follow the Eventing competition modification process outlined in GR302.2g.
2.  Holding a competition on a date(s) other than that approved shall constitute a violation of the rules unless a request to change the date(s) is received by the Federation’s office at least 30 calendar days before the competition and permission is duly given.
   Exception: Eventing competitions.
3. Holding a competition at a location other than as stated on the date of application shall constitute a violation of the rules unless a request to change the location is received ii> by the Federation’s office at least 60 calendar days prior to the competition date and permission is duly given. Exception: Eventing Competitions. For eventing competitions, requests for change of location must be received at least 240 calendar days prior to the first day of the competition.

GR308 National Championships

The Federation shall have the exclusive right to designate national championships in the disciplines for which the Federation is designated as the National Governing Body by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and in the disciplines for which the Federation is designated as the National Federation by the Federation Equestre Internationale (Dressage, Driving, Endurance, Reining, Show Jumping, Three-Oay Eventing, Para-Equestrian and Vaulting).  The allocation of national championships in the foregoing disciplines, including the issuance of date approvals, licensing of officials, approval of name and all copyright, trademark, trade name, television, video, and other broadcast rights, and all sponsorship matters shall be solely reserved to the CEO acting upon the advice and recommendation of the relevant Council. All persons or organizations, including affiliate organizations, organizing committees, and/ or competitions managements, wishing to receive Federation approval to hold a national championship in the foregoing divisions must apply to the Federation in writing on the appropriate form(s) provided by the Federation and received by the Federation’s office by the applicable deadline.
The CEO shall be entitled to condition the Federation’s designation and granting of approval for a national championship in any manner that they deem appropriate in their discretion.

GRSOl 0ther Measurement Rules

For all measurements, references to the measurement form implies electronic version of the form. The rules in Chapter 5 do not apply to the measurement of entries in Hunter, Jumper, and Welsh Pony Divisions; refer to rules HJ126-138.

For Combined Driving, see Appendix OC-A Measurement of Combined Driving Ponies. For Dressage, see OR135. For all other measurements, see GR502-518.

GR514 Results of Questioning or Protesting 1. The measurement card or valid measurement form of any pony required to transfer into another division or section must be surrendered to the competition steward or technical delegate, who must forward it to the Federation e#iee with their report.

These are just a few examples of changes and updates to Combined Driving rules. USEF Members and Members in Combined Driving need to review the entire document.
Click here to view all rule changes approved at the 2024 Mid-Year Board meeting.