United States Eventing Association

USEA Board of Governors Meeting

The agenda for the first USEA Board of Governors Meeting was packed as usual covering a variety of Association business. Diane Pitts, USEA President, started the meeting with her year-end review. Pitts reported that the USEA had a great 2015 with highlights including: no debt, the USEA Endowment is now the USEA Foundation, the YEH/FEH Champs had the highest quality horses ever, the equine medical research program was a huge success and the start of the course designers grant.

The board then moved on to approve the revised USEF Eventing calendar approval process with the removal of the language in Article 8 specifying “offers significant prize money”.

Jo Whitehouse’s final report as USEA CEO included thanking certain staff members for their long service and especially Jennifer Hardwick for her hard work in planning the meeting. She then spoke briefly about her new role working with the USEA Endowment in fundraising. Whitehouse was excited to announce her success already with the Frangible Fence Study fundraising matching challenge. She also reported on the Cardio Study which had great success this year at four Events, but in order to continue needs to raise some more money for next year’s Study. They are also working to set up a tissue bank of deceased horses’ tissue lost in competition.

Morley Thompson (VP of Admin and Finance) took the stage to go over the USEA’s 2015 financial. The USEA’s revenues were flat, but expenses were down so the organization closed the year with a surplus of approximately $56,000. Also contributing to the surplus is an increase in starters despite membership remaining flat. Thompson also reiterated that the USEA works to maintain a minimum of three months of operating cash on hand, which the organization has been successful in doing.

Cathy Weischhoff, the chair of the Nominating Committee gave her report next introducing the new Board of Governors.

• Area IV Denise Dailey-Thomas (2016-2018)
• At Large Jonathan Elliott (2016-2018)
• Area VI Eric Markell (2016-2018)
• At Large Carol Kozlowski (2016-2018)
• Area IX Robert Stevenson* (2016-2018)
• At Large Dawn Robbins (2016-2018)
• At Large Mary Coldren (2016-2018)

Nominees to USEA Foundation include: Mark Hart and Diane Snow for three year terms and Brian Sabo will be taking over as chair of the Nominating Committee

USEF President Chrystine Tauber took her turn next and updated the Board on news from the USEF office. Some of the points that Tauber touched on included:

• The USEF is going on 13 years old. Challenge to stay true to traditions, but innovating to stay relevant
• USEF Board is smaller, but more strategic. Created a new mission statement this year. They are working on building a new and dynamic team at the USEF and restructuring a lot on how they work.
• Task forces appointed to look at TD, Stewards, Mileage Rule, Horse Welfare, Horse Recording.
• By-law changes to bring USEF in compliance with New York law. Moving committees outside of the by-laws gives them more flexibility. Going to create charters for committees.
• Encouraged everyone to take the USOC’s SafeSport Program.
• Focus in 2016 is to develop collaborative partnerships with affiliates to grow and promote equestrian sports.

Mark Hart (chair of Membership Committee) presented Rule Change from Eventing Technical Committee which was sent back to the BoG with a few changes to the language for the Beginner Novice level in Appendix 1 of the Rule Book. The Board approved the language changes as followed:

• The cross-country may shall include simple, straightforward obstacles, solid in appearance, with true ground lines.
• Alternate jumps for ditches and water crossings will be included whenever possible.
• A small step up or but not down may be included
• The course may include one combination of 2 or 3 strides in a straight line.

Will Connell presented on behalf of the USEF as the new Director of Sport. He updated the Board on the plans for Rio, news from FEI and the IOC, focused on pathways and where he is going with the sport and then shared his passion for coaching systems and interoperability.

Kevin Baumgardner gave the report of the new USEA Foundation. The Endowment Trust was originally conceived as a building fund for the headquarters, and they are now pivoting to create an organization that is more robust and able to help the USEA. Purposes of the Foundation will be:

1. Rainy Day Fund
2. Administration of special grants
3. More directly assist USEA with holding, investing, and use of funds with education, horse welfare and research purposes.

Currently there is 1.27 million invested with the Endowment Foundation, but different portions are going to be used for different purposes so will be invested in different ways.

The Board voted to pass the updated language of 149.7 and 149.6 as presented by Malcolm Hook on behalf of the Eventing Technical Committee.

Katherine Cooper’s Equine Medical Research Committee continues to have a good relationship with Morris Animal Foundation and the feedback from studies the USEA funded that all are going well. The USEA is trying to encourage other sports to help us bridge the gap.

On behalf of the membership committee, Mark Hart reported on the work with ‘level creep’ and the focus to getting back to the educational purpose of the level. The committee is trying to promote to organizers that they are allowed to host a variety of different tests under the current rules to offer more to the members. Educating organizers on options will help them not have to reinvent the wheel and will help undersubscribed shows and places were competitors travel a long distance.

The final report from the VPs was from Sarah Broussard of the the Safety Committee. She explained the purpose of the new Cross-Country Course Design and Fence Construction Task Force. The Task Force is looking into more education for builders and designers and helping to fund the continuation of the Suzanne Smith’s study at University of Kentucky. There was also a lot of discussion of the body protector safety standards rule which was tabled until Sunday’s meeting.

Rob Burk and Robert Kellerhouse concluded the meeting with a report of the 2015 Nutrena USEA American Eventing Championships presented by VTO Saddlery. The Event finished budget neutral despite the decrease in entries. Overall everyone is looking forward to next year’s AEC in Tryon and the new model.

USEF Eventing Technical Committee

Today’s Eventing Technical Committee meeting consisted of reports from various committee chairs. The Committee started by passing the Modified Level proposal – this level will fit in between Training and Preliminary and will act as a stepping stone. Mike Huber also commented that it will help with the ongoing level creep.

Janis Linnan, from the Eventing Licensed Officals Committee shared their focus on bringing in new officials as the outlook for the next five years of officials which will age out is pretty grim. A subcommittee headed by Marilyn Payne has been formed to focus on the issue.

Tamra Smith from the Professional Horseman’s Council told of the need for more rider reps to turn in their forms and the rule change the Council is working on to allow them to work at Events where family members are competing – want to try to mirror FEI language.

Diane Pitts stood in for the Young Riders and Juniors and announced the formation of the Youth Council headed by Lizzie Snow. She also explained the proposal the USEA has put forward to the FEI changing NAJYRC CH-2* to a CICO2*. This would be run as a Nation’s Cup and would allow all countries to participate. The age limit would still be 21 and riders would be required to achieve an MER at a CIC2* to qualify.

Eventing High Performance - 2016 Planning

Before the lunch break, David O’Connor address the 2016 plan for the U.S. High Performance Riders. The calendar for High Performance will include Aachen CICO3*, the Olympic Games, Mill Street, Burghley CIC4*, Blenheim, Boekelo. Next year Pau CIC4* falls on the same weekend of Fair Hill, so O’Connor encourages riders to aim for Fair Hill predominantly. Tattersalls as a CIC3* as a selection trials back-up rather than a primary event because of its June date.

O’Connor also announced that the Under 25 riders will be making a trip across the pond next spring. After speaking with British Eventing Coach Yogi Breisner, O’Connor wants to expose these developing riders to international travel and competition. The U.S. and British Eventing Under 25 riders are slated to have an unofficial competition during their travel.

He also discussed details on the Olympic Games next summer. The team will be announced on June 20th, and the final team prep will take place at the Great Meadow International at the start of July. One difference from the last Games is that athletes will be staying in Olympic Village rather than a hotel. This situation will allow riders to have more privacy to focus. “In those 5 days it’s all about focus. Riders only have one job,” explained O’Connor.

The Future Event Horse and Young Event Horse Programs announced their Annual Symposium will take place Feburary 22-24 at Ocala Jockey Club and Longwood Farm. Contact Kate Lokey for questions.