NEWS&VIEWS You Can Use


USPC Launches Updated Safety Standards


T e U.S. Pony Club (USPC) Board of Gov-


ernors met in October to discuss, among other things, advancements and improvement to its safety standards. On November 19, the USPC announced the following Safety Policy Up- dates, eff ective as of January 1, 2025.


Body Protection Vests USPC already had a policy that equestrian


body protection vests were required to be worn any time riders were jumping cross-country and jumping solid obstacles. Now, however, USPC is requiring that those vests meet safety crite- ria standards established by ASTM F1937-04 and/or EN 13158:2018 BETA Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.


Riding Helmets In addition to its rule that approved rid- ing helmets must be worn at all times when mounted (except vaulting) and during some unmounted activities, USPC has added to its helmet policy that helmets must now in- clude dates and marks from the following helmet safety organizations: • STM F1163-15 or ASTM F1163-23 with SEI Mark (North America) (required for USEF competitions) • SNELL Memorial Foundation E2021 • PAS 015-2011 with BSI Kitemark (United Kingdom)


• AS/NZS 3838 with SAI Global Mark (Australia and New Zealand) • VG1 01.040 2014-12 BSI Kitemark and/ or IC Mark (European) • EN 1384 BSI Kitemark and/or IC Mark (European)


No Peacock Stirrups USPC has long endorsed the use of Pea-


cock Stirrups for all USPC activities. Due to media attention and new studies about related injuries, however, USPC feels these stirrups are no longer safe and is banning the use of them at all USPC activities. T is will be refl ected in the 2025 USPC Safety Handbook and Horse Management Rule- book, which will be available in January.


Racing Returning to Fair Hill?


On October 30, the Cecil Whig reported that the Maryland Racing Commission has approved two days of live racing at Fair Hill


Lily Bisson, breast cancer survivor and Gallop for Life President with Mary Kruger, breast can- cer survivor and Gallop for Life Chairman


Loudoun Fairfax Hunt Members Kate Dendinger, Russell Shiffl ett, Andrew Camp, MFH Carroll Galvin and Rita Kaseman


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for 2025. T e Fair Hill Steeplechase Races have been on a fi ve-year hiatus due to ongo- ing construction at the Fair Hill Special Events Zone. It was the only steeplechase race in the country that was permitted to also have pari- mutuel betting. T e newest request came from Cecil County


Breeders’ Fair, Inc., which organizes the race meet. It should be noted that MRC has ap- proved racing dates for Fair Hill every year during the hiatus. However, organizers of the races have not be able to hold the races due to concerns about the condition of the turf track. T e 2025 approved dates are for Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends. T e race meets raise funds for the Fair Hill Nature Center and the Environmental Foundation. According to the Cecil Whig, Cecil County


Breeders' Fair is working with a local trainer from the Fair Hill Training Center, which is located across the street, as well as a track specialist to get the turf track certifi ed. T is is to assure horsemen that the track is safe for


GALLOP FOR LIFE RAISES $15,000 On October 20, during Breast Cancer


Awareness Month, the Howard County- Iron Bridge Hounds hosted a charity vix- en chase to raise money for MHC Indus- try Professional Member Gallop for Life, which is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofi t that supports equestrian women battling cancer. Over 150 participants decked out in pink raised $15,000 for Gallop for Life. Founder, and breast cancer survivor, Lily Bisson said, “all proceeds went directly to the charity to help women fi ght this all-too-prevalent disease and to raise awareness regarding prevention and health.”


horses to race on. Specifi cally, there are con- cerns about the area between the grandstand and show jump ring.


Joint Statement on HISA Announce- ment Regarding Provisional Sus- pensions


Eleven T oroughbred racing organizations


across the country, including the Maryland T oroughbred Horsemen’s Association, issued the following statement on November 4. "For more than a year, our organizations have been working collaboratively with HISA to seek modifi cations to the Anti-Doping rules that inhibit a horseman’s rights to fair due pro- cess, reclassify drugs and medications that are considered Banned but do not present a sub- stantial risk to the health, safety and welfare of the horse or the integrity of racing, and modify penalties for violations that are appropriate as a deterrent but not irreparably harmful. We un- derstand the need for vigilance and uniformity,


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