The U.S. Equestrian Federation’s blood rule is designed to protect horse welfare, but it too often frustratingly has meant elimination for the presence of blood in competition that was not the fault of the rider.
The federation has just approved a change to GR 843 regarding blood on horses that acknowledges a variety of situations may result in the presence of blood on a horse. According to the updated rule, effective Dec. 1, blood caused by the rider/handler or equipment (as opposed, to, say, a fly bite) requires the horse to be eliminated from the relevant class. The new rule language also states that the presence of blood on horses will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a licensed judge or ground jury.
Noting that horses sometimes bite their tongue or lips, if minor blood is spotted in a horse’s mouth, the new rule allows the licensed judge or ground jury to rinse or wipe the horse’s mouth. It permits the horse to continue if there is no further evidence of blood. However, should the bleeding continue, the horse will be eliminated.
If a horse is eliminated during a class that is a qualifier for a championship or another class, they may compete in the championship if the bleeding issue is resolved. If a horse is eliminated in the work-off, a championship, or in a jump-off due to blood, they will be eliminated from that phase of the class and placed based on the score they had at the start of the work-off or jump-off round.
Each breed and discipline has its own chapter of USEF rules, separate from the general rules. If breed or discipline rules include stricter language regarding blood in competition, or have additional requirements and provisions beyond the general rule, the more restrictive elements of the breed or discipline’s rules will take precedence.