The USEF organization is expected to advise on efficacy and safety of products that have been commonly and freely used by their members and participants while in competition. Essentially the rules are already laid out in an effort to avoid the usage of inhibitors; however that information has not addressed the needs of its members being that individuals are still witnessed as to have continued the use of illegal products not prescribed for any medicinal purpose while at regulated events. The accounts of witness are unrelated and in differing parts of the country. The reliability of any governing body is only as good as the members that support it. The animals are and should remain a number one priority, even in the attempt to rank them within competition. They are the athletes that cannot speak for themselves, and an obvious attempt to take advantage of their natural generosity by asking for more than the average equine is able to provide has been identified as a growing problem. The members of the USEF therefore the USEF itself is failing in an attempt to protect competing horses if the vehicle for success by numerous participants is in fact inhibitors. The membership that signs this petition contends that the USEF organization should take note of this epidemic in the hunter divisions of their jurisdiction, and make moves to create actual change within the sport to more effectively deal with the growing situation. It should be noted that the horse’s health is either negatively effected or undetermined due to the lack of testing with such products as these. A recent example come to light is the drug Gamma Aminobutyric more commonly known as “Carolina Gold”. There is no way to determine the long term effects of this product immediately, and it has quickly been banned, but the speculation arises that there may be more productive ways to reverse the idea that illegal drugs are a necessity in the first place. The authenticity of our sport relies heavily upon fairness to both the competitor and the horse. It should also be noted that a rider is accepting great risk by exerting an animal while it is under the influence of an inhibitor, and that important safety issue should not be overlooked when debating this matter. The members are speaking out against this obvious and blatant disregard for the rules and regulations set forth by the United States Equestrian Federation, and it presumes that there is only one system for obtaining the traditional hunter and that is training. The members request a response to the aforementioned statement and exhort the USEF to take immediate action. Suggestions for the motion of change: New additions in the judges training and a strong review of what is encouraged in the placings as an effort to discourage the current “type” that depicts such attributes that lead to short cuts in an attempt to emulate. Rules and regulations reviewed and held more stringent in an effort to more heavily punish infractions. Investigations into companies that provide products that fall under the illegal category being sold with the knowledge of misuse. We await your reply, Member.