During her career as a trainer, horse show judge and clinician, Jennifer Woodruff of Port Richey, Fla., has always offered a comforting hand to young equestrians who might not have had the ride they expected. But, she says, that does not happen much anymore. At issue is the addition of SafeSport guidelines to equestrian sports.

“If I’m judging at an event where a kid is crying because his horse just didn’t perform the way he expected or because he was scared, I would go over to the kid, put a hand on his shoulder and say ‘It’s OK—you were fine,’” Woodruff explains. “But to tell you the truth, I think twice now. I don’t do it.”

That’s because trainers like Woodruff are fearful that even the best of their intentions will be misinterpreted into allegations that they have abused a young athlete under the U.S. Center for SafeSport rules.

How We Got Here

In September 2016, more than 200 female gymnasts, many of them members of the USA Gymnastics national team, shook the sports world when they claimed that over the course of two decades, they had been sexually assaulted by gym owners, coaches and staff members working in gymnastics programs nationwide.

The scandal culminated in the 2017 conviction of former USA Gymnastics team physician Larry Nasser on multiple criminal charges, including felony child pornography and 10 counts of sexual assault in the first degree. He is currently incarcerated at the U.S. Penitentiary, Coleman.

In response to the scandal, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017, also known as the SafeSport Authorization Act.

The legislation amended the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to extend the duty to report suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, to adults who are authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes at an amateur sports organization facility or at an event sanctioned by a national governing body (NGB), such as the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF).

The measure also designates the United States Center for SafeSport to serve as the independent national safe sport organization. The Act was signed into law in February 2018.

SafeSport Suspensions and Bans in Equestrian Sports

Since then, a total of 22 equestrian trainers have been banned for life for misconduct under SafeSport or USEF rules. Another three have received interim suspensions pending the outcome of a formal investigation and final decision by SafeSport, and six have been given suspension periods by SafeSport or the USEF for violations of the SafeSport Code or Federation Rules.

SafeSport earned high-profile status in June 2019 when three-time World Cup Grand Prix champion Robert Gage died as the result of an apparent suicide shortly after he was banned from equestrian competitions for life after a SafeSport investigation found him to have engaged in sexual misconduct with minors.

The program became controversial again in August when legendary show jumping trainer and former Olympic coach George Morris, 81, was permanently banned by USEF from all competition, even as a spectator (currently pending appeal), after a recent accusation of sexual misconduct with a minor from 1968 to 1972.

Despite the controversy, some equestrian professionals believe that the effort to shed light on incidents of sexual abuse, assault and even bullying, is long overdue.

“It’s not in the dark anymore,” says international show jumper and five-time Olympian Anne Kursinski of Frenchtown, N.J., who is currently the chef d’equipe for the U.S. show jumping development program. “I know from firsthand experience. I was abused when I was 11 years old by a very well-known horseman, but I had nothing like SafeSport.”

As a result, Kursinski believes SafeSport rules put would-be abusers on notice that infractions aren’t likely to go unreported now.

“People know that they will get in trouble [if they violate the rules],” Kursinski says. “At the same time, it encourages the kids to speak up.”

Worries About Unfounded Allegations

Some believe that fear of unfounded allegations to SafeSport has fundamentally changed the way trainers and others interact with young people in equestrian settings.

“Everybody’s at risk,” says equine industry law specialist Krysia Carmel Nelson, Esq., of Charlottesville, Va.

“For example, if I’m in the barn and a kid walks in, I can’t help him lift a water bucket, because I can’t be alone in the stall with him,” she says. “I could be accused of violating the SafeSport Code or the athlete protection policies.”

The risk of an unfounded allegation discourages barn operators from allowing kids to trade barn work for horse-related experience.

“I used to have kids working for me in the past; they got experience and made some money, and I got help,” Nelson says. “Now I can’t hire a kid.”

Lawyer-turned-trainer Christine Messinger of Ocala, Fla., believes that innocent trainers and barn operators risk losing their careers when allegations against them are deemed unfounded.

“Once people see that a report has been filed, they don’t always find out if later that report is [deemed to be] ill-founded,” Messinger points out.

Still, Kursinski believes that just talking about SafeSport and its mission benefits young equestrians, as well as their parents.

“Now parents can talk to kids about what physical and verbal abuse like bullying is, and who they should tell, and that they will be believed when they tell their parents,” she says. “This kind of thing changes kids for the rest of their lives, and in the future, reporting it is just going to be the way you do things.”

Woodruff agrees. “It will change the industry.”

This article on SafeSport in equestrian sports originally appeared in the January 2020 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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U.S. Equestrian is excited to unveil a new name and an updated look for its popular student athlete recognition program, the U.S. Equestrian Athlete Lettering Program. Now renamed as the U.S. Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program, it will continue to provide recognition to athletes who participate in equestrian sports through their middle and high school careers. This will be the first of several exciting announcements of the revamping process with the new U.S. Equestrian Athlete Program.

Participants can apply for the program for up to eight years total, beginning in fifth grade and continuing through their senior year of high school. In order to receive recognition for a year of participation, athletes must compete in at least three competitions (both USEF-licensed and non-licensed are accepted) or log a minimum of 100 hours of riding, driving, or training time.

Athletes will receive a patch for their first year of participation and a pin for each subsequent year for which they complete the requirements. The pins and patches feature an updated program logo, which is also available on a new range of merchandise at www.shopusef.org.

“The U.S. Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program recognizes the dedication that our young athletes demonstrate year after year,” says U.S. Equestrian CEO Bill Moroney. “Balancing school work, extracurricular activities, and training for and competing in equestrian sports is a commendable achievement. Through this program, we aim to provide recognition for our young athletes’ hard work comparable to the recognition those in other sports receive for their interscholastic athletic pursuits.”

To participate in the U.S. Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program, athletes must be current competing or fan members of U.S. Equestrian. Members can apply for the program through their member dashboard on www.USEF.org. Participants can also submit proof of completion of requirements through the member dashboard. View the full requirements and Frequently Asked Questions here.

The U.S. Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program is the first phase of an upcoming series of programs that will recognize achievement for time spent in the saddle for members of all ages. Learn more about the programs offered by US Equestrian and the benefits of membership at www.USEF.org.

Questions about the U.S. Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program? Contact equestrianathlete@usef.org.

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The United States Equestrian Federation will now hold the USEF Mid-Year Board Meeting as a virtual event to support ongoing efforts to minimize gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was approved by the Board of Directors in a meeting held Friday, April 24. The USEF Mid-Year meeting—scheduled for June 22-23, 2020—will be open to up to 1,000 people, including the media and USEF members, with further details to come regarding the schedule and how to register for the meeting.

A key agenda item for the 2020 Mid-Year Meeting is the election of the new USEF president. The Nominating Committee will present the official nomination of Tom O’Mara as the candidate for president. O’Mara has served on the USEF Board of Directors for the past four years and the past two years in the role of secretary/treasurer.

“The Nominating Committee is pleased to put Tom O’Mara forward for the role of president of the Federation,” commented Judy Sloan, the 2020 USEF Nominating Committee chairperson. “Given Tom’s diverse and deep background in finance, governance, community leadership, and equestrian sport, we feel he is the ideal candidate to guide the Federation’s Board and management team into the future.”

O’Mara led the Drugs and Medications/Lab Review Task Force, which thoroughly evaluated alternatives and made the recommendation to transfer the USEF testing lab to the University of Kentucky. O’Mara has also served on the Competitions Task Force as an active contributor. O’Mara built a successful career in the world of investment banking over a 30-year period, and has also demonstrated a passion and commitment to equestrian sport in many capacities. He spent years as an active and supportive parent and husband with five O’Mara riders: his wife, Liz; and their four children, Casey, Abby, Meg, and T.J. He also took his commitment to the next level through his volunteer board roles at USEF and the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Advisory Board, of which he was the co-chair and now remains an active member. He prepared a thorough and convincing expression of interest for the Nominating Committee, indicating that he would continue to carry forward the vision to bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible.

“I strongly support the Nominating Committee’s selection of Tom O’Mara as my successor as USEF President,” said USEF President Murray Kessler. “Tom is passionate about equestrian sport, is deeply experienced on USEF committees and the board, has unique experience with intercollegiate equestrian sports, and understands the importance of each of our 29 breeds and disciplines. He also brings real-world business experience to the position, which I found incredibly important over the past four years. I urge the board and membership to support his candidacy.”

Upon board approval, O’Mara will continue to serve in his role as secretary/treasurer until officially taking office as USEF president in January 2021. USEF President Murray Kessler will continue to serve in his current role during this same time period.

In addition to the election, this is the first year that all rule changes will be submitted to the USEF Board of Directors for approval during the 2020 Mid-Year Meeting.

Members are encouraged to join the mid-year virtual USEF board meeting. Please mark your calendars.

Complete COVID-19 Coverage

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USEF Preliminary Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship

Raymond Helmuth, of Cambridge, Iowa, and Kendro earned the USEF Preliminary Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship with an overall score of 108.89 penalties. Helmuth guided the young, but sensible, five-year-old KWPN stallion owned by Helmuth Equine to a solid dressage score of 54.22 penalties for third place in the dressage phase. They went on to win the cones phase and add no penalties to their score. They closed out the competition by winning the marathon phase and adding 54.67 penalties to their overall score.

“He was just an absolutely rock star,” said Helmuth of Kendro’s marathon performance. “He is a small horse, and he is so handy and quick in the hazards that it is work to stay with him. He gave me absolutely every ounce that he had in the marathon, and he wasn’t even out of gas when we were done. It was fantastic; it was just unbelievable!”

Jan Hamilton, of Alva, Fla. and Icen, her seven-year-old KWPN gelding, earned the reserve champion title with an overall score of 112.28 penalties. Ellen Epstein, of Ocala, Fla., and Uncle Leo, her 11-year-old KWPN gelding, finished in third with an overall score of 115.61 penalties.

USEF Preliminary Single Pony Combined Driving National Championship

Leslie Berndl, of Lexington, Ky., added a USEF Preliminary Single Pony Combined Driving National Championship to her resume with the help of Sweetwater’s Maraduke and an overall score of 107.17 penalties. Berndl and Teressa Kandianis’s five-year-old Norwegian Fjord gelding scored 51.11 penalties to place second in the dressage phase. They won the cones phase and added no penalties to their score. Berndl and Sweetwater’s Maraduke finished Sunday’s marathon phase with 56.06 penalties to win the phase and the national championship title.

“For the marathon, I really had no expectations of how he would do because we had only done training level at Grand Oaks [CDE earlier this month],” said Berndl. “I tried to move a little more forward in the hazards, and he picked it up like he had been doing it for 100 years. I kind of let him pick his pace in the obstacles, and he stayed forward and light and answered everything I asked of him with 110%.”

Denice Klinger, of Alpharetta, Ga., and Ironwood Xander, her eight-year-old Norwegian Fjord gelding, were the reserve champions with an overall score of 114.98 penalties. Janet Crumpton, of Alachua, Fla., and FRF Donnar, her 12-year-old Norwegian Fjord gelding, finished in third place with an overall score of 122.51 penalties, making it a podium sweep for Norwegian Fjords in the national championship division.

Roberta Greeno, of Ocala, Fla., and her American Shetland ponies took home the USEF Preliminary Pair Pony Combined Driving National Championship title with an overall score of 124.57 penalties. They began the competition by earning a dressage score of 52.22 penalties, then tallying 3.00 penalties in the cones phase. Greeno and her ponies finished the competition by tallying 69.35 penalties in the marathon phase.

“Marathon was a blast,” said Greeno. “[The courses] are all challenging at prelim level, but it wasn’t too much of a challenge. It was a beautiful course. I live right here by the park, and I have nothing but admiration and respect for how it is being run these days.”

USEF Preliminary Four-in-Hand Pony Division

Louise Blankinship, of Live Oak, Fla., and her Welsh and Dartmoor team claimed the USEF Preliminary Four-in-Hand Pony Combined Driving National Championship title with an overall score of 150.17 penalties. They scored 58.20 penalties in the dressage phase, driving in the rain on Friday for an added challenge. Blankinship and her ponies had no penalties in the cones phase for a stellar performance. The ponies tallied 91.97 penalties in the marathon to close out the competition.

“When we did cones, it was the best phase that I have ever driven,” said a thrilled Blankinship. “My goal was to go in and be as fast as I could and as accurate as I could, because I would like to move up to Intermediate soon. We came in, and it was going well, and it was just like floating. We came in 51 seconds under time. It was just amazing!”

Blankinship believed that her success at the show was due in part to being a member of the Developing Athlete Program for Combined Driving. “Since I got into the program and started doing the clinics just last month, I have gotten so much better, especially with my cones,” said Blankinship. “It is amazing how much I have learned. I hope more people join the program because look how much it has helped me already.”

View the results from the Florida Spring Fling CDE.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF sponsors and members.

Stay up to date with combined driving coverage by following USA Driving on Facebook and US Equestrian on Instagram and Twitter. Use #USADriving.

Further Reading

• Jennifer Thompson Captures USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Championship

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U.S. Equestrian International Horse of the Year

Darry Lou has become a stalwart in the talented lineup of mounts for five-time USEF Equestrian of the Year and Olympic gold medalist Beezie Madden, as the pair have captured numerous international wins since their partnership began in 2017. The 2019 competition year was highlighted by several historic finishes for Madden and Darry Lou as they capped an exceptionally strong seasonal campaign with back-to-back wins at the prestigious Spruce Meadows Masters CSIO5*. Following a win in the Tourmaline Oil Cup 1.60m, Madden and Darry Lou went on to secure top honors in the world’s largest grand prix, the $3 Million CP International Grand Prix presented by Rolex, besting a field of 49 renowned competitors.

Madden and Darry Lou earned two additional wins during the National Tournament at Spruce Meadows in June and produced a double-clear effort for the NetJets U.S. Jumping Team during the Nations Cup Aachen CSIO5* competition prior to earning a top-10 finish in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen in July. Their 2019 campaign began at the Winter Equestrian Festival, where they secured top honors in the $209,000 Marshall & Sterling Grand Prix CSI4* before going on to top the AIG $1 Million Grand Prix in Thermal, Calif., in April.

“The [Pegasus Awards] was a really fun night because you get to meet a lot of interesting people and hear about their stories, but tonight is honoring the horse. And that’s why we’re all here and why this entire organization exists. It’s reallt special to be able to honor the horse, and I feel really lucky to have such a talented horse like Darry Lou,” said Madden.

U.S. Equestrian National Horse of the Year

El Primero made his mark on the 2019 Platinum Performance/United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) International Hunter Derby Championship, guided by Victoria Colvin, as the duo went on to earn top honors and best a field of 35 entries. For Colvin, it was her third personal win, but a first for El Primero. The pair received scores of 92, 94, and 95 and finished nearly 25 points ahead of the second-place finisher. Together, they finished with an overall total score of 603 in the year’s most prestigious derby competition. El Primero has captured numerous derby titles throughout his impressive tenure, but his first Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship win was one to remember, as the pair collected 26 of 30 handy points and earned an additional 12 points for their successful navigation of the four high options on course.

El Primero and Colvin splashed onto the scene in 2019 after a strong performance in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Deeridge Derby in Wellington, Fla., where they topped the competition, before collecting another prestigious win in the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby at the Winter Equestrian Festival only a few weeks later. El Primero is trained by Peggy Gehman and has competed with Sandy Ferrell, Louise Serio, and Colvin throughout his career in the United States. Purchased and imported from Stal Hendrix in 2014, El Primero is a workmanlike and consistent competitor, who enjoys living outdoors in his five-acre pasture at night and has become a beloved member of the Baldwin and Meralex Farm family.

“El Primero has always lived up to his name. His talent and easy way of going made him successful right away,” said Serio. “When you have an extraordinary horse and an extraordinary rider [like Victoria Colvin], the magic happens. They’re beautiful to watch together.”

The U.S. Equestrian Horse of the Year awards were presented on January 11, 2020, during the Horse of the Year Banquet at the U.S. Equestrian Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla.

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The U.S. Equestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year, who will be acknowledged at the 2020 U.S. Equestrian Annual Meeting at the Hilton West Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Fla., is Julia Stone. Stone will receive her award during the U.S. Equestrian Pegasus Awards presented by Adequan on Friday, January 10, 2020, along with other prestigious award winners.

Seventeen-year-old Julia Stone of Santa Barbara, Calif., has ridden hunter, jumper and equitation horses throughout her life. Trained by Jim Hagman at Elvenstar Farm in Huntington Beach, Calif., Stone has spent the last two years focused on the big equitation classes and year-end finals.

She developed a special relationship with the equitation horse she has been riding, Let’s Go, and the combination won several key awards throughout the season, such as winning the ASPCA Maclay Region 8 Final. In 2019, Stone and Let’s Go showed at prestigious competitions across the country, including the Winter Equestrian Festival, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and the Del Mar International Horse Show.

Stone was a finalist in the United States Hunter Jumper Association Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Nationals, is a member of the U.S. Equestrian Lettering Program, and participated in Interscholastic Equestrian Association competitions throughout high school. A well-rounded young horsewoman, Stone also enjoys competing in western events, such as cutting and barrel racing, and participates in weekend backpacking trips on horseback.

Stone is described as gracious, well-spoken and extremely intelligent. She is now a freshman at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., majoring in international political economy. Stone started her career at Georgetown with a $10,000 scholarship from the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association after winning their Horse Mastership Scholarship Competition.

To learn more about U.S. Equestrian’s 2020 Annual Meeting and registration, how to purchase tickets to the 2019 Pegasus Awards presented by Adequan, as well access to a full schedule, visit www.usef.org/annual-meeting.

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