A paramedic-staffed ambulance that is currently licensed and authorized by the appropriate state or county emergency medical authority must be physically present and standing by on the competition grounds. The ambulance must be exclusively dedicated to the competition (not assigned to any other duties on or offsite), must remain in service and fully available throughout the competition, including all phases of competition, warm-up, schooling, and any other officially sanctioned activities involving mounted participants.
The standby ambulance must be staffed by a minimum of two licensed emergency medical personnel:
- One individual holding a current paramedic license; and
- One individual holding a current EMT certification or paramedic license.
If the standby ambulance or its personnel become occupied with patient care or transport, or if the unit is otherwise unavailable due to mechanical failure, reassignment, or any other circumstance that renders it out of service or otherwise unavailable, the technical delegate or safety officer shall immediately suspend all competition activities. Competition may not resume until a licensed, paramedic-staffed ambulance that meets these requirements is back in service and physically present and available on the competition grounds.
If paramedic-level staffing is demonstrably unavailable within the jurisdiction where the event is to be held, the show organizer may petition USEA for a temporary waiver permitting an ambulance staffed by two EMTs only. Such petitions for waiving the paramedic staffing requirement must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the first day of competition, and must include documented evidence from the local emergency medical services authority confirming the unavailability of paramedic staffing. USEA shall establish clear criteria for reviewing and either granting or denying such petitions.
The show organizer, technical delegate, and safety officer are equally responsible for compliance with the requirements set forth in this rule.
- Violations shall result in a financial penalty of not less than $50,000 and up to $100,000 assessed against the organizing entity, as determined by USEA/USEF’s disciplinary committee.
- Additionally, any responsible party found to have willfully disregarded these rules shall be suspended for no less than three (3) years and up to five (5) years from organizing competitions or holding any position of authority or responsibility within USEA and/or USEF.
