This is the second time we’ve written this year-end column together, and as we look back on 2005, we see it as a year of many great firsts and many ups and downs for the entire equestrian community.

First, we must all congratulate George Morris and his victorious Samsung Super League teams. Basics are basics, no matter what the discipline, and George is the undisputed master of teaching the basics and the U.S. system of forward seat riding. All of us, especially our junior riders, must have something to aspire to, and when we see the hard work, discipline and determination of our riders at the top, we all can be proud that we’re a part of their support system.

What a role model Beezie Madden has been for all our juniors and adults. She’s gracious and one hell of a rider, and we’re glad to see she’s been named the Chronicle’s Overall Horseman of the Year and the USEF Equestrian of the Year. Her acceptance speech at the USEF convention, on the importance of teamwork, via cell phone from the Dubai airport, was fantastic. George Morris has certainly united Beezie and all the team members into a cohesive, spirited, magnificent riding force to be reckoned with on the international scene.

No one will forget the tragedy and suffering caused by the two hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast region last summer. News broadcasts constantly reminded us of the terrible conditions facing both humans and animals, and still today many continue to be affected in the storms’ aftermath. These people have to rebuild their entire lives. It really makes you count your blessings and appreciate all you have.

The outpouring of support for these hurricane victims has been amazing. Donations of money, food, equipment, supplies and so much more has certainly helped to ease their suffering. We should all be proud of the teamwork that’s gone into helping the Gulf Coast.

Junior Representation
Brianne Goutal rose to the top of the equitation ranks by winning four finals in her junior career. She sets an example for her peers with her sportsmanship, and, like Beezie, she’s at the top of her game. We can’t think of any other junior who has won the ASPCA Maclay Finals, the WIHS Equitation Finals, the USET Talent Search Finals, the USEF Medal Finals, and the Ronnie Mutch Finals. She’s even won two gold medals at the North American Young Riders Championships. She’s a great sport and is always complimenting her support group, her equine partners, and her team of trainers at Beacon Hill (the Chronicle’s Show Hunter Horsemen of the Year).

Those ASPCA Maclay Finals were held at the Syracuse Invitational (N.Y.) for the first time in 2005, and the management team worked hard with the National Horse Show people to make this a special event.

On Feb. 1, Animal Planet televised the first show of a series they’ve produced called “Horsepower,” which follows some of our junior riders on the road to the finals. What fantastic exposure we’ll have for our sport!

Our national championships for juniors and ponies continued to grow and improve. The Junior Hunter Finals were the best yet, and the USHJA Hunterdon Cup Equitation Class was inaugurated. Congratulations to the USHJA Equitation and Junior Hunter task forces for developing this new program to showcase our junior riders.

The USEF Pony Finals moved back to the Kentucky Horse Park. After traveling to a new site each year for more than 30 years, USEF officials have decided to keep this event at the KHP for three years to provide exhibitors with consistency and stability.

People have strong opinions for and against this plan. Susie thinks the Pony Finals should be put out for bids so that the class will go to the most worthy show managers and show facilities each year. This kind of competition makes the show managers work harder to put on a class event for these important finals.

But this championship has grown so huge that few facilities are capable of handling so many riders, ponies and their support teams. No doubt, a compromise between the two sides will surely be the best solution.

A New System?
Horse shows are continuing to grow and prosper. Our sport has evolved to a place where more owners prefer to compete themselves instead of owning horses for professional riders to compete. Perhaps we need to mimic the way the jumper prize money is awarded and use a similar system for the hunters: The higher you jump, the more you can win in prize money.

We all hear the complaints about the demise of the professional hunter divisions. Here again, teamwork is what it will take to change this.

But it’s probably a problem for the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, which had a very busy year, to solve. Many new programs created by the USHJA’s members and committees have been developed and implemented. Trainers can now advertise their services at no charge on the USHJA website, access a resource guide for business practices, and give back to the sport by mentoring an up-and-coming professional. The Owners Committee is about to publish its first owners’ guide to navigating the sport, for both the first-time and seasoned owners. It will provide them with educational information about business practices and supply details on sales, leasing, boarding, commissions, protocol in changing trainers, and a myriad of other issues.

The USHJA is just starting the development of a trainers’ certification program. The committee is currently researching materials from other countries and other disciplines to develop the basic outline for the program. This program will revolutionize our sport and bring integrity, confidence and legitimacy to our industry. It will provide a means for new instructors to further educate themselves in correct teaching methods and business practices so that the next generation of professionals will continue to have a healthy sport.

The USHJA’s clinics program is gaining momentum, with resource guides available for potential clinic organizers to help them produce their events. There’s a list of available clinicians, and to help reach the grassroots levels, the USHJA’s leaders have allocated funds for an outreach program to affiliate organizations and their members through the USEF zones.

The USHJA’s many committees and task forces, who work with representatives from the USEF, are an example of how things can get done by working together.

In December, the USHJA held their second convention, and it showed how far the organization has journeyed in less than two years. Attendance was at a record high for hunter and jumper equestrians. More than 240 people showed up in Miami to get involved in governance by attending a committee meeting, forum, seminar or clinic.

But it’s only the tip of the iceberg of the 32,000 USHJA members. So how do we attract more people to our annual meeting? The show manager’s clinic, helmet safety seminar, show standards presentation, and open meetings were certainly a great start.

But the one thought that stays with both of us is that now is not the time to sit back and hope someone else will make the changes you want to make our sport better. Now is the time to be a responsible member, to get involved, and to attend the yearly convention. It’s time to be a participant in finding solutions to our problems and helping to lead our industry into the future.

You cannot sit back and criticize the USHJA if you do not participate in its growth and direction!

Helmets And Dates
Of course, one of the issues we discussed at the convention was the rule requiring all riders who are jumping at shows to wear an ASTM/SEI-certified helmet. That rule went into effect on Dec. 1, and it has not been changed.

The date-rotation situation is on its way to resolution, again, thanks to the work of a team of people. Last month the USEF Board of Directors approved a rule change to return to the Memorial Day date-rotation system, beginning with the 2009 competition year. And at the USEF mid-year board meeting, the Competition Management Committee will present their recommendation for dealing with the unresolved conflicts for the 2007 and 2008 competition years.

It’s imperative, now that relief will occur in 2009, that competition managers work together to resolve conflicts left in 2007 and 2008 so that all competitions can continue to exist. There are many ways to resolve the conflicts between competitions, and managers will be better served by doing this among themselves. If not, then the conflicted competitions can apply to the USEF for resolution.

Compromise and resolution are the mainstays of our lives. Most apparent at the USEF convention was the alliances made between the various breed and discipline affiliates. Since we’re each on the USEF board, we each serve as members of the national affiliates working group, which is comprised of representatives of various national breeds and disciplines within the USEF. [Bill Moroney is the new vice president for this group.] It’s a cohesive and dedicated group of people who, under the leadership of Bill Hughes, created an opportunity to recognize the achievements of our equestrian youth through the new USEF Youth Charter Award Program. The partnerships being created among those of us representing our members undoubtedly increases the strength of our sport as a whole.

We’re thankful to have David O’Connor as the leader of the USEF. He is dedicated, intelligent and runs a great board meeting. David has a true vision for our sport, which, combined with his involvement as a competitor and trainer, has made him a leader with ties to all levels of our sport.

A Truly National Partnership
An incredible event occurred in December with the awarding of the 2010 World Equestrian Games to Kentucky. For the first time in history, the WEG will be held outside of Europe.

We all owe thanks to John Long (the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s chief executive officer), to the leaders of the State of Kentucky, and to the people at the Kentucky Horse Park for working together over many months to secure this competition.

This event will give the USA and the U.S. Equestrian Federation an opportunity to highlight all of the many breeds and disciplines that make up our diverse equestrian community. The 2010 WEG will be the catalyst to launch equestrian sports into mainstream America. It will give us a great chance to highlight the “stars” of our sport. All breeds and disciplines have stars, and we need to identify them and help them develop into spokesmen for our sport.

This entails a partnership between the USEF, all of the affiliate organizations, the stars, and all the rest of us.

What a great opportunity we have to unite our sport from the grassroots to the Olympic level. All of us must get behind this event and do all we can to ensure its success. The future of our sport being taken seriously by the rest of America depends on the success of this competition.

Still Talking About It
In 2005, for the first time in history, hunter competition appeared at the FEI World Cup Finals. The Las Vegas Finals were an incredible event for all equestrians and an unbelievable opportunity for the hunter community to showcase our stars. This wonderful event pitted four of the best hunter riders in America against four of the top show jumpers in the world, and the foreign show jumpers were victorious.

All of us are hoping the World Cup directors will offer this event again when the World Cup returns to Las Vegas in 2007. Maybe adding an equitation phase and maybe a jumper round would make it even better–just some thoughts on making it grow. This is a great way to show the versatility of all our riders.

Of course, we hope our riders won’t get out-shown again, particularly in the handy hunter class, which highlighted the European riders’ ability to play to the crowd (and the judges). Our hunter riders need to show off their skills and rise to the demands of the class.

An incredible team effort went into organizing and producing this fabulous World Cup Finals. The best part of all is that the hunter challenge is still being talked about. Anything that can bring our hunters into a public venue like that is a plus.