SafeSport Initiative

In February 2018, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law. Among the provisions in the law was Congressional authorization for the U.S. Center for SafeSport to ensure athletes could report allegations of abuse to an independent entity for investigation and resolution. The Center works with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), including US Equestrian and other Olympic disciplines, to enforce the SafeSport Code as well as the federal SafeSport Act, both of which are aimed at protecting athletes from abuse. The Center ensures all NGBs follow the strictest standards for child abuse prevention and detection.

USDF supports a dressage community where participants can learn, compete, and work in an atmosphere that is free of all forms of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. In the spirit of protecting all participants in the sport, particularly youth, USDF supports the US Center for SafeSport Code and the USEF Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention and SafeSport policies. USDF encourages all those involved in dressage to become educated about SafeSport best practices.