A Necessary Evil: USEF Board of Directors Meeting is Long, Tiring, But Rewarding

Photos and Article by Diana DeRosa

Debated Rule Change Proposals

One topic that commanded a lot of attention was that proposal to have two EMTs shows with 250 horses or more (not competitors).  Now there is only one EMT.   While there was resistance at first to this, after Andrew Ellis gave statistics, including the fact that there were 6 fatalities last year (4 at show jumping events and 2 at eventing)t this and the other statistical facts encouraged those on the Board to implement this rule change.

Jay Hickey of the American Horse Council discussed the many issues that they have fought for in Washington DC noting, “What Congress and the agencies do affect all of us.  We are constantly watching what is being done to clarify language and ensure we prevent the negative and reinforce the positive.”  Hickey explained that one of the things they worked on was ensuring that horses are eligible for disaster assistance the same way other livestock are.”

In addition, the heated arguments of immigration was discussed because of the fact that the horse community depends on foreign workers.  The AHC is focusing on helping to legalize the status of immigrants and in addition they are working on a comprehensive immigration amnesty reform. 

Another presentation was given by an Equestrian Land Conservation Resource representative and focused on the loss of land.  It wasn’t hard to understand the value of this presentation when it was explained that in the past 20 years we’ve lost  40 million acres of rural land.  While it’s obvious that donating to the cause is one thing we can do there is more we can do.  Efforts should be put into supporting the landowners already in existence by taking the time to care for the land we use.  Simple things like picking up trash and encouraging others to do the same are simple ways we can help.

The controversial dressage qualification I covered in my Friday report was not passed as expected but it’s still going to happen.  The Board opted to table the proposal and wait for an actual qualification proposal to look at.    And so it was tabled with the understanding that the Board of Directors supports the development by the Dressage Committee of pursuing certification at Third Level and above.

I spoke with Janine Malone following the Board meeting who was a little disappointed that it was tabled rather than passed.  Janine feels that the Dressage Committee will go to the summer Board Meeting with some type of proposal but it may not be the entire one because of all the research needed to finalize an outline.

“We may do it in increments,” she explained, “put the top end in before the bottom.”  This is because the proposal in order to be voted on has to be submitted by September 1 and that’s not much time considering the work that will be involved to finalize this.  And so I end my USEF Convention Report on the same but updated note of where I started it.  The plan is that from Third or Fourth Level on up there will one day be a qualification process put into place and it is expected that this will happen for the 2011 competition year.

Well, my eyes, like so many others at this meeting, are wanting to close but I’ve still got a plane to catch and a few more hours to go.  Until my next report – enjoy your love of the horse!