Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP), management company of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), has established a successful new Developing Jumper Series this year in response to exhibitor requests for lower cost, age-appropriate divisions for young jumpers. In coordination with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), ESP will be requiring that all horses wishing to compete in the classics held during WEF 12 must be age verified with USEF according to JP 100.3.3 and have full registration for their horses completed with the horse show office.
ESP is working with USHJA Young Jumper and Breeding Committee Member Lisa Lourie to support the age verification process for the series. Horses cannot jump in any Developing Jumper division without age verification through breed registration papers. While the new requirements specify that all competitors must submit horse registry data to USEF, the WEF horse show office is willing to assist their exhibitors to comply with this mandate if they have questions.
ESP and Lourie formed a horse show committee, gained feedback, and saw an excellent response to the developmentally targeted series. Classes are based solely on new JP 100.3.3 and JP 116 USEF jumper rules. There are no nomination fees for five and six-year-olds, while the seven-year-olds run the same as previously, with the same nomination fee and cost structure.
“The reason that so many American riders and owners go to Europe is because of the low cost programs to bring along young horses,” said ESP President Michael Stone. “We are making steps for the industry by cutting fees significantly to enable that to happen in the U.S. as well. We hope that other shows in the U.S. will follow suit and make plans to help.”
The 2018 competition year is the first year that microchip numbers will have to be recorded with USEF in order to receive competition points. In the 2019 competition year, all horses will need to be microchipped in order to compete. Anyone on the property at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center who wants to bring in papers and receive office help with the submission of these papers for age verification is welcome.
For all WEF competitors, any horse not officially age verified by week 12 will not be permitted to show in the classics. The $10,000 Five-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic, sponsored by Gut Einhaus, and the $15,000 Six-Year-old Developing Jumper Classic and $20,000 Seven-Year-Old Developing Jumper Classic, both sponsored by Spy Coast Farm, will all be held on Friday, March 31, during week 12.
Important Information:
What are Registration Papers?
Registration Papers are the equivalent to your driver’s license or passport. It is the only true form of positive ID for a horse. In most cases, registration papers will include a universal registration number (readable by any registry or country), proof of age, owner and breeder name, pedigree, etc. The organization that provides these papers may also have more information in their database such as; addresses, microchip numbers, DNA profiles, etc.
Why do I need Registration Papers?
– Any USEF age designated classes require proof of age through a USEF recognized organization.
– Having registration papers combined with a microchip number will facilitate USEF tracking of your horse’s competition record and make it more accurate for prospective buyers.
– Due to the USEF rule change, more and more prospective buyers will not want to buy a horse without registration papers.
– For the long-term life of the horse, a stallion or a mare, reproduction has some commercial value and breeders will not want to buy or breed a non-registered horse.
How do I know if my horse is registered or not?
– Depending on the information you already have, you can contact the relevant people or organizations directly. i.e.: You have a KWPN horse, call the KWPN office in the U.S.
– Look up your horse information on a database: USEF, Horsetelex.com, etc.
If a certain affiliation is mentioned, contact them.
– Contact Saret Tola at www.sporthorsepapers.com.
This is a very affordable and professional service that will allow you to find out more about your horses and what the possibilities are. This service can provide you from basic info to helping you throughout the full registration process regardless of registry preferences.
Does a FEI passport count as proof of age?
- Not in the USA without registration papers.
Does PHR, Continental Studbook or other terminated organization count?
YES. As long as these organizations are or were recognized by USEF and you have proof of registration through papers or numbers, in which case your horse is eligible to compete in age rated classes.
Can I register my horse with more than one registry?
It is against USEF rules to have two USEF numbers for the same horse and World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (or WBFSH) rules to “double” register horses. The WBFSH is an international organization governing sporthorse stud-books or registries throughout the world. www.wbfsh.org
Why can’t I just microchip my horse?
The true value of the microchip is the documentation that is attached to it. Breed registries around the world serve as horse identification experts for sport, and the information recorded in the breed registration papers when attached to the microchip number provides positive identification for each horse.
How do I know if my horse has a microchip and what does it tell me?
Most imported horses will have a microchip. It is usually located in the top third of the neck about two inches from the crest. A vet with a universal reader should easily find it. The number will help you find out about your horse ID if you know about its original registration affiliation.
For more information regarding the Developing Jumper Series at the Winter Equestrian Festival, please call 561-793-JUMP and speak with the horse show office.