Lexington, Kentucky—US Equestrian announced that starting on December 1, 2025, changes will be coming to GR801.6 regarding stirrup and other saddle attachments. A recent review of US Equestrian safety data noted incidents in which riders were injured because their clothing or body got caught on a stirrup with an upward-pointing projection in the course of dismounting from their horse.
Bearing in mind that many riders prefer some style of stirrup that includes an emergency release feature, USEF staff have issued this guidelines sheet to help members understand which styles are considered compliant.
Stirrups should be examined for compliance in their non-activated state (meaning any latch or releasing portion of the stirrup has not been triggered). In this state, the stirrup should either have closed branches (meaning there are no gaps in the outside frame of the stirrup) or, if the branches are not closed and there is a gap in the outline of the stirrup, the gapping branch must sit inside the plane of the stirrup so there is no upward-facing, rigid projection. These guidelines include sketches to illustrate these two requirements.
“We understand this change is controversial,” said US Equestrian Chief of Sport David O’Connor. “Although injuries from safety stirrups are statistically uncommon according to our data, they can be significant and are preventable with the selection of certain styles. We believe this change to the rule allows members to use a breakaway style stirrup if they prefer while reducing the risk of unintended harm.”
USEF is aware that the tack and equipment market is constantly evolving, and new product designs may come on to the market in the future. The illustrations shown in these guidelines are not intended to be a representation of all possible safety stirrup designs. A USEF task force will meet twice a year (in January and June) to review any new designs. Manufacturers have the opportunity to submit their product for review to determine compliance with the new rule by completing the Stirrup Design Review Application. Completed forms should be sent to lmangan@usef.org.
Please note that this rule can apply to any type of saddle attachment, including security stirrup latches.
If you have questions about your stirrup or saddle attachments, please check in with a licensed official at your next competition. It is important to note that USEF has decided to implement a staggered approach to enforcement of the new rule to ensure awareness and understanding. From Dec. 1, 2025 to Nov. 30, 2026, officials will issue verbal or recorded warnings for non-compliant stirrups to help members recognize problematic designs. Starting December 1, 2026, officials will enforce this rule as they would any other requirement for tack and equipment.
