The future of the U.S. Equestrian Federation could well be summarized in “Roadmap to 2010: Outline of a Strategic Plan,” perhaps the liveliest topic at the annual meeting in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 10-14.

The document presents a number of possibilities for the organization, including adding 50 to 75 percent more members to its current roster of approximately 85,000; making the organization the “hub of information resources for the equestrian industry” and changing its image from an entity people have to join to one that they want to join.

“We’re looked at, as a federation, as being heavy on the obligation side. We’re trying to change the federation to be more proactive on the opportunity side,” said USEF President David O’Connor. The outline was compiled with an eye toward the possibilities presented by the high profile of the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky.–the first WEG ever held outside Europe–but it goes beyond that.

There’s a suggestion, for instance, that the USEF itself should stage national championships, including perhaps an all-breed show sometime after the WEG, and/or create a stronger lobbying presence for equestrian-related issues.

The plan is the result of brainstorming by the USEF Strategic Planning Task Force, which includes representatives of six affiliates ranging from the American Morgan Horse Association to the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, as well as USEF CEO John Long and O’Connor.

“This federation, in its fourth year, is the implementation of a strategic plan that took years and years to evolve,” said O’Connor, referring to the fact that USEF came about with the consolidation of USA Equestrian and all functions of the U.S. Equestrian Team except for fund-raising, after a seemingly endless trail of acrimony and negotiation.

“We now are looking into what happens in the next 10 years, what happens in the next 15 years. What is our next step…as we struggle with things like how do we support our athletes, how do we support our programs in the national affiliates…so we’re not just into a place where we’re just advertising to ourselves,” he said, calling the outline, “a starting place for a lot of conversations.”

“The federation is not here for the federation’s sake. It’s here so the members can play,” said O’Connor. “It’s a growing sport; there’s growing interest.”

The points in the plan need a great deal of fleshing out, however, before a go-ahead could be given to transform them into action, but the USEF Board of Directors did vote to endorse it in concept, permitting continued work in order to come up with specifics.

A lot of diplomacy went on behind the scenes to get approval. Prior to the vote, some directors expressed reservations about some of the points, even though they were at a bare-bones stage.

U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Chairman Armand Leone, Jr., questioned a contention that the current system of fundraising–the USEF handles corporate donors and the foundation brings in contributions from individual donor–“leaves money on the table.”

He could understand if that referred to contributions from small donors of $25 or $100 for example, but he observed that the specifics were not spelled out sufficiently in the outline.

Long said there’s “a whole part of middle America we have not touched” that falls between major donors and corporate sponsorship, adding that the “money on the table” observation was not a threat to the way the federation and foundation are handling fundraising, but rather, a suggestion to tap a new market.

Leone also said that an assumption of increased revenue through marketing and sponsorship, on which he said the plan seemed to hinge, was something to be questioned, since he felt what has happened in those areas in terms of high performance was not going as well as expected.

Alan Balch, a director who was the president of USAEquestrian, the USEF’s predecessor organization, had several comments. For one thing, he said the barriers to some of the goals were “understated” in the outline.

For another, he was concerned about the USEF putting on championship shows, noting, “I don’t think we can under-estimate the ownership affiliates feel for their competitions.”

He also pointed out there wasn’t anything in the way of specifics about inducements for people not involved in competition to become members.

Those points and many others will be addressed with further work on the plan, which will come before the Board again. The effort is coordinated by representatives of Prime Group LLC, research design and analysis consultants.

Clark Elected President
The USET Foundation’s annual meeting during the convention focused on the organization’s sound financial health, noting there’s a $600,000 cash surplus and that a loan taken out to pay for the 2002 World Equestrian Games effort has been retired. The meeting was highlighted by discussion of the scheduled public kick-off of an endowment campaign in February, now that the organization is halfway to its $20 million goal.

Although the foundation had planned to give $2 million to the USEF for 2007 high-performance programs, as it did in 2006, O’Connor made a stirring appeal for the foundation to give even more money, in order to make sure U.S. teams can compete at the Pan American Games in Brazil this summer.

A shortfall in the federation’s high-performance marketing efforts raised questions about Pan Am participation. “It was put on the table whether the Pan American Games would be part of the program,” O’Connor observed.

Although in past years, the Pan Ams provided a way for the U.S. teams to qualify for the Olympics in disciplines that didn’t make the cut at the WEG, the out-standing performances in the Olympic disciplines at the WEG had already secured the United States its place in Hong Kong for 2008 in dressage, show jumping and eventing.

But O’Connor maintained the Pan Ams are about more than qualifying for the Olympics. “We’re of the very strong belief the U.S. has to go. It’s our job to put athletes onto the field. We have got to put the commitment behind the Pan Am Games because we’re the United States. It’s our goal and responsibility to have a presence at a lot of different levels, from our athletes to our culture to our standing as a leader in the FEI [F�d�ration Equestre International] and in the hemisphere, outside of sports.”

Leone said that the USEF would find a way to match an extra $125,000 grant from the USET, with the rest of the funding coming from the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Howard Simpson, the USEF’s chairman of the Youth Sports Committee, noted that even though the national working group relinquished some of its money back to high performance, there was still a shortfall, and wondered why high performance marketing was not pulling in more money than national marketing. (Long said the problem was that Lexus changed direction and did not continue its sponsorship, which affected high-performance funding.)

In addition to monetary reasons, Pan Am participation will also be difficult due to logistics. Visas will be required for all involved, and there are some quarantine issues.

“I’m very optimistic that as the sponsorship discussion continues between the World Equestrian Games Foundation and some of their sponsors, we’ll be in the middle of that,” said Long.

Explaining the Pan Am shortfall, he said, “We wanted to make sure that all the working groups came forward with a balanced budget. In the process of doing that, it highlighted the fact that the Pan Am Games were under-funded.”

The foundation held elections with Jane Clark, who had been vice chairman of the organization years ago, getting elected president. She’s also a former president of the American Horse Shows Association, a predecessor organization of USEF. Leone was moved up to the chairmanship, vacated by Frank Lloyd, who has had health issues. Lawrence Tribble is the new secretary.

USEF Steps In To Aid NAJYRC
The North American Junior and Young Riders Championships have a history of financial struggle that continues to the current day. USEF Youth Sports Chairman Simpson said organizers Penny and Brian Ross had to take out a second mortgage to ensure the show would go on at the Virginia Horse Center in 2006.

Therefore, the USEF is stepping in to help, taking over marketing, sponsorship, media, FEI arrangements and handling all contracts, which means the cost of putting on the show will be cut dramatically for the organizers.

Long would like to see the 2008 and 2009 editions of the NAJYRC held at the Kentucky Horse Park to serve as a type of test event for the 2010 WEG.

“We’ll create an event management department within the federation who will shadow Penny and Brian in 2007 and actually perform a lot of the administrative work as we get ready to take it over in 2008. Hopefully, we can bring sponsors in at a level at which they have never participated for NAYRC. We think NAYRC is such an important event that is not as visible as we would like it to be,” said Long.

Young Rider competitions are part of every national federation’s charter, said Simpson. “It’s one of the things an NGB [national governing body] has to do, have youth sports programs. It’s a wonderful program, something you can believe in.”

Simpson, who put on the NAYRC at Tempel Farm in Illinois for years, helping to keep it alive, said he’d always hoped the federation would take it over someday.

Simpson said it’s too much to ask someone to raise $300,000-$400,000 for the event and organize it too. With the help of the federation, more facilities will be able to hold NAYRC, he contended, since organizers would only have to raise $50,000 to $100,000.

That’s still not easy, since no entry fees can be charged for NAYRC. Affiliates whose disciplines are involved in the event have donated $25,000 each to the enterprise. The exception is the U.S. Dressage Federation, which has a tight budget, according to its president, Sam Barish, who said his organization was still considering the matter. But it seemed likely USDF would help NAYRC in some way.

In 2007, NAJYRC will add reining to the three Olympic disciplines that it’s traditionally staged.

Straus Stunned By USEF Election
U.S. Equestrian Federation Secretary Eric Straus, who had held that post since the transition process to the federation from USAEq, was not re-elected and is off the USEF Board of Directors.

The nominating committee chose Chrystine Tauber for the office. Subsequently, Tucker Johnson nominated Straus from the floor, but Tauber got the majority vote she needed to take the post. Then the nominating committee met to fill Tauber’s spot and selected Howard Simpson. Johnson again nominated Straus from the floor, but the effort was in vain.

Shell-shocked, Straus was mystified at the sudden turn of events, noting that he had found out only at 10 a.m. the day of the election that he wasn’t being nominated and had no time to lobby or do anything about it. The situation prompted U.S. Dressage Federation President Sam Barish to comment during the final Board meeting that the election procedures should be changed.

“I don’t understand why I was not successful in being nominated,” said Straus. “I wish Chrystine good luck, but I felt I made a significant contribution. It still remains a mystery to me.”

Some wondered whether the situation was a reaction to Straus’ lobbying last year that brought David O’Connor’s conflict of interest in coaching the Canadian eventing team to the attention of Board members. O’Connor raised the matter at a board session during last year’s meeting and got a vote of confidence to continue as president. Had he lost the vote, Straus would have become president, because the secretary is next in the line of succession.

“David himself admitted a conflict of interest. I felt it was my responsibility as a Board member to put the issue on the table,” said Straus.

Although he had been mentioned as a possibility to succeed O’Connor in the presidency when the latter’s term expires in 2008, that seems less likely now. However, there was speculation that if former USET Foundation Chairman Frank Lloyd resigns from the USEF, Straus might be tapped to fill his seat once the waters are calmer.

Straus, a former executive director of the American Horse Shows Association, a USEF predecessor, is employed as senior vice president of the Clark Estates, of which USET Foundation President Jane Clark is chairman.Among the rules the USEF Board of Directors passed were:

Rules And More Rules
– GR1014.7b,c, housecleaning rule changes that allow for the creation and implementation of the Judges Mentor Program. This program, a modification of the Fast Track Hunter/Hunter Seat Equitation Judge Program, allows qualified horsemen to acquire a judge’s card more quickly and easily than in the standard program. Applicants must meet the requirements set forth by the National Hunter Committee and/or the USHJA Officials Education Committee and be approved by the USEF Licensed Officials Committee (see the Commentary for more information).

– GR208.8, that establishes the definition of a Heritage Competition, which is a competition that has been established for a long period of time (minimum of 25 years) and has made a substantial contribution toward development and promotion of the sport. The benefits of a heritage competition include licensing every seven years, inclusion in USEF promotional programs and entitlement to use Heritage designation for promotional purposes.

– GR802.6, which mandates that all U.S. competitors competing in their own country in an FEI-sanctioned event, not requiring an FEI Passport, must present a valid USA National Passport or a valid FEI Passport. This rule provides the FEI Vet Delegate at the lower level events with descriptions and diagrams of the horse for positive identification and proof of vaccinations, which makes it easier for the veterinarian to ascertain the correct horse is being presented and competing. In addition to the cost for the passport, this new rule requires the horse have life recording with the USEF.

– GR804.10, which reduces from 90 days to 30 days the time a person may not show in the hunter/jumper discipline in front of a judge from whom he has leased a horse.

– GR1004.1, changes the minimum learner judge age from 18 to 21.

Among the rules the USEF Board of Directors disapproved or postponed:
– GR1009.6, which allowed for a Guest Judge to preside over the USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals. Members of the Licensed Officials Committee disapproved of the change because they believe there are enough qualified R-rated judges in the system who could judge the Federation’s final. With the approval of the Judges Mentor Program for fast-tracking new judges, USHJA President Bill Moroney said he believes the new program will alleviate the need for this change.

– GR302, which is a new draft to the Cruelty to and Abuse of a Horse rule. This proposal–on its eighth draft–was developed by the USHJA Horse Welfare Committee. After significant discussions the past several years with many breeds and discipline organizations, many people believed revisions were still in order. Therefore, Bill Moroney proposed the rule be deferred to next year and perhaps moved from the General Rules section to the Hunter section for further development.

– GR103.2, which would delete the definition that “persons born on Dec. 1 will assume the greater age on that date.” A Board member noted that this change has unknown ramifications. “This rule has been this way forever; I see no reason to change it,” he said.

– GR113.1, which would change competition terminology from the current designations of “local” through “AA” to “Level 1” through “Level 6.” The rule change was withdrawn for further development. (see In The Country).

– GR137.1-7, that adds Opportunity Classes to USEF-recognized competitions to encourage grassroots competitors to compete at a USEF-licensed competition. Classes would be at a reduced rate with no non-member fee and no drug fee. After the rule was passed, Dr. Kent Allen, chairman of the Equine Drugs And Medications Committee, motioned to reconsider the rule-change proposal. After lengthy discussion regarding possible loopholes these changes might open, it was deferred to the Executive Committee for consideration at the February Board of Directors meeting.

Bits And Pieces
* Youth Council
The new USEF Youth Council, which includes representation from a wide range of affiliates, met for the first time during the convention. The panel’s mission is to develop programs that will attract and help young people.

“It’s an avenue to give the kids what is going to be interesting to them, instead of us telling them what is interesting to them,” said USEF President David O’Connor.

* Budget Passed
Within the USEF budget are additional initiatives to better service members including a website redesign, a new phone system and an outreach program.

The enhanced website, now in development (www.usef.org/ dev/newsite/main.aspx), will be easier to navigate and allow for blogs, videos, custom homepages and RSS feeds.

The USEF budgeted $175,000 for a new phone system at the Lexington, Ky., headquarters that will establish a main call center and provide members with more efficient communication when they seek assistance from the USEF staff.

In addition, the budget includes funding for a marketing program that will “communicate the passion of equestrian sports” to the general public. USEF Treasurer Kathy Meyer presented to the Board the various options available for booths and a tractor-trailer that USEF staff could use for marketing purposes. These state-of-the-art “theme shows” would include interactive areas and technology that members would find useful when on the road.

* USHJA Headquarters
The U.S. Hunter Jumper Association, which currently uses space in the USEF headquarters at the Kentucky Horse Park, will be constructing its own building at the park. Although the structure will have an 1,800-square-foot “footprint,” according to USHJA President Bill Moroney, he noted a floor plan hasn’t been finalized. For that reason, there’s no firm cost structure for the building, though he estimated it will be in the neighborhood of $1 million.

* Pegasus Dinner
George Morris, “the true class sportsman” of this era in the words of USEF President David O’Connor, received the federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award–even though he’s still working as the U.S. show jumping coach.

“He stamped the industry with his style and his work ethic. `Try’ is a word that’s almost not in George’s vocabulary. It’s `do or go away,’ ” said O’Connor.

Morris proudly wore the silver cowboy hat trophy emblematic of the award’s first recipient, Jimmy Williams.

“I always wanted to win an Academy Award,” quipped Morris, who dabbled in acting before making horses a career. A Chronicle Between Rounds columnist and author of Hunter Seat Equitation, the classic book in the field, Morris is respected around the world, and his accomplishments are legion.

He won the AHSA Medal and ASPCA Maclay finals at 14, earned a gold medal at the Pan American Games in 1959 and a silver at the Olympics (Rome) the following year before concentrating on teaching. His students include a host of Olympians–Conrad Homfeld, Melanie Smith Taylor and Leslie Howard, to name only a few.

After receiving a standing ovation, Morris thanked his family, friends, and many instructors, including Gordon Wright and Bertalan de Nemethy, noting he couldn’t have done it without them.

* It’s Authentic
Beezie Madden, who was named the 2006 USEF Equestrian of the Year, stood at the podium again on Saturday night during the Horse of the Year Awards dinner to receive the Farnam/Platform USEF Horse of the Year honors for her Olympic and FEI World Equestrian Games partner, Authentic.

“I want to thank everyone for voting for him. He’s very special to me, and I’m glad he’s special to you too. He’s touched the lives of so many people who have been great supporters of mine,” said Madden. “I want to say thank you on behalf of Authentic’s owner, Abigail Wexner.”

In her acceptance speech, Madden reminisced about her career with Authentic, from the time she first saw him as a 4-year-old to the two silver medals they won together in Germany last summer. “He’s been a winning horse all of his life. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and more,” she said.

The USEF acknowledged nearly 6,000 winners in 2006 from nearly 200 divisions across all of the various breeds and disciplines that are under the federation’s umbrella.