After three years of work, numerous revisions and countless hours of discussion and debate, the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association Horse Welfare Committee’s work to rewrite GR302.1, the “Cruelty and Abuse Rule” was endorsed by the USHJA Board of Directors and is one step closer to becoming a U.S. Equestrian Federation rule.

This accomplishment was one of many made at the third annual USHJA convention, held Dec. 4-7 in Dallas, Texas, which included numerous rule-change proposals dealing with horse welfare, the grassroots and fine-tuning various rules already in existence.

The rule change proposals approved by the USHJA Board of Directors will now be presented at the USEF Convention, Jan. 10-14 in Louisville, Ky., for final discussion and approval.

The four-day USHJA convention also included a Horse Welfare Seminar that featured Paul Cronin discussing safety in longeing and Dr. Shauna Spurlock who spoke about drugs and medications. Once again, the convention included informative forums and meetings that allowed and encouraged free and open lines of communication between directors, committees and members.

The USHJA now has close to 32,000 members, and about 220 attended the convention this year, an increase of about 25 over last year.

“A year ago I reviewed the accomplishments of our organization in 2005, and I said, ‘We’ve come a long way baby,'” recalled USHJA Vice-President Chrystine Tauber. “Now I’m saying it again. We’ve far exceeded our growth and expectations [in 2006].”

USEF President David O’Connor also spoke at the Year In Review Luncheon. He agreed with Tauber’s statement and noted that the USHJA has become the example of how well the umbrella of the USEF can and should work.

“The USEF is made up of you–your organization, you’re the creator� and through processes like this you run your sport,” he said. “I use you guys as an example for other affiliates–the USEF and USHJA working together. How do we make it easier for everyone? You guys are an example of how it can work.”

During the Year In Review Luncheon, a moment of silence was held in remembrance of Rosey Reed, a California-based trainer and the vice-chairman of the Special Projects Committee who died suddenly on Dec. 3.

“We appreciated her very much, and she did a marvelous job. She was very enthusiastic about this organization,” said Special Projects Chairman Diane Carney. “We have some ideas in the works to honor Rosey and the work she’s done for the sport.”

The Welfare Of The Horse
Horse Welfare Committee Chairman Glena Wirtanen and her 13-member committee began rewriting the “Cruelty and Abuse” rule for the hunter division, however, it soon grew to become a larger project.

The rule change proposal is a combination of rules that are already in the USEF Rule Book–GR302. 1-5 and EV110. 1-7. The Horse Welfare Committee combined these two rules and refined them to fit all breeds at the request of the USEF Board of Directors. The USHJA Board of Directors approved Draft 5 as the final version, which will now be presented at the USEF Convention and available there for the various breeds and disciplines to discuss.

The rule-change proposal expands the definition of cruelty and abuse with specific wording dealing with such abusive practices as excessive riding or driving, use of the whip, spurs and bit, and withholding food or water, and bans various “training aids” including explosives, electrical devices and wire or chains. Because of the many breeds and disciplines this rule encompasses, the Committee worked hard to expand the descriptions and define cruelty and abuse more specifically than was previously in the Rule Book.

During the General Rule Change Forum, the proposed rule change was discussed, with a few changes suggested dealing with spurring and broken skin and using the bit as a form of reprimand. Wirtanen agreed to the changes from the floor, and the rule change proposal was voted to move forward.

“We all owe Glena and her committee a round of applause for their hard work,” said USHJA President Bill Moroney who presided over the Forum.

A group of rule change proposals submitted by Vikki Karcher Siegel and Elizabeth J. Ireland regarding membership clarification were collectively struck down during the General Rule Change Forum. In essence, Siegel and Ireland asked that anyone who had “been convicted of a felony crime against horses (including but not limited to animal cruelty, fraud, abuse, etc.) would be automatically suspended from any existing USEF membership and no reinstatement of membership or new membership would be granted until the convicted member is found not guilty in his or her final appeal.” Through several other rule change proposals they also sought to prevent those convicted of felony crimes against horses from becoming USEF members.

The proposed changes were made in effect to prevent the reinstatement of trainer Paul Valliere, who was convicted of insurance fraud after paying a man to electrocute a show horse so he could collect the $75,000 in insurance money. In 1996 he was sentenced to four years of probation, fined and suspended from the national governing body (now the USEF) pending reinstatement in 10 years.

Valliere’s lawyer, Harold Rogers, and friend Jay Jorgensen, addressed the General Rule Change Forum in opposition to the proposed rule changes.

“We find this rule change proposal unfair to those expelled in the past. It doesn’t allow for rehabilitation,” said Rogers. “It doesn’t allow for people to change, to allow for that change and recognize it.”

Show manager Oliver Kennedy was also opposed to the proposed changes and spoke for many of the members in the audience. “We need to deal with [situations like] this on a case by case basis. We already have rules in place to deal with this,” he said.

Instead, the General Rule Change Forum approved of rule change proposal GR615.1 regarding reciprocity, which states that the USEF Hearing Committee “may deny or suspend the privilege to participate in or go upon the grounds of a Licensed Competition” to anyone who has been indicted or charged with cruelty and abuse to a horse.

Bits And Pieces
The Hunter Seat Equitation Task Force presented several rule change proposals to fine-tune and improve the USEF Medal Finals and other major championships.

EQ106.10 is a rule change previously proposed but revamped in 2006. The Task Force would like for a technical coordinator who will be available to the trainers should any issues arise to be appointed for all hunter seat regional and final championships. This would be a separate job from the show steward, and the person would act as a liaison between the exhibitors, judges and show management.

This proposal was voted to move forward in the Hunter Rule Change Forum as was EQ109.2, which allows for bits to be changed from one phase to another.

Most of those in the Hunter Rule Change Forum were in favor of EQ110.1, a proposed rule change by the National Hunter Commit-tee regarding the number of refusals allowed in the USEF Medal Final, USEF Pony Medal Finals and Maclay Finals. Currently exhibitors are allowed three refusals, but this new proposal would reduce that number to two.

“It’s really a safety issue,” said Karen Healey, chairman of the Hunter Seat Equitation Task Force. “These classes also run way too long, and it’s one more time the poor horse gets hit in the mouth [and] one more time the horse slides through the fence and it has to be rebuilt.”

Judge and course designer Kenny Krome posed the other side of the coin: “It’s confusing that [the number of refusals] is different for different competitions,” he said.

Opponents also believed that if a rider has worked hard to qualify that he or she should have the opportunity to get around the course with the same number of chances allowed in the qualifying competitions.

Strong debate also ensued in the Hunter Rule Change Forum regarding the Hunter Seat Equitation Task Force’s EQ112.7, which adds “The USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals will be judged by at least one judge who holds an ‘R’ Registered status in the Hunter Seat Equitation Division. Additional judges are eligible to judge if they have ‘r’ recorded status or are issued a guest card. For those issued a guest card, this will not count toward their two guest cards in a lifetime limit.”

The Equitation Task Force would like to expand the pool of judges available to judge the USEF Finals as is currently allowed in the USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals. For example, international grand prix rider Alison Firestone, who doesn’t hold a judge’s card, collaborated with George Morris, an R-rated judge, to judge the 2006 USEF Talent Search Finals-East.

“The pool of judges we have to choose from for the USEF Medal Finals is very small because of the many large R judges who participate in the finals,” said Healey. “We would like to have people who have done what we have done or more–such as Olympic gold medalists–to be able to judge the finals.”

Opponents to this proposed change believe that no matter how esteemed the person’s horsemanship background may be, if he or she isn’t a practicing judge the matter of the bookkeeping involved for judging more than 250 riders could be overly daunting.

The Board of Directors approved the rule change proposal with the stipulation that to obtain the guest card the applicant must be recommended by the Equitation Task Force and approved by the Education Committee. Final approval will then be made by the USEF, which oversees the final.

Amateur-owner jumper riders may now compete for national awards divided by jump height. The Jumper Committee, in conjunction with the Amateur Committee, proposed a rule change to JP117.1c to divide the low and high sections for USEF Horse of the Year honors. Currently, low (level 4-6) and high (level 7 or above) compete for one award.

In addition, the Jumper Committee proposed a rule change for JP117.1 to strike out the “60-day rule.” This section of the rule restricts junior and amateur-owner jumper horse/rider combinations from competing in their respective divisions for 60 days if they compete in international-level classes–open jumper classes offering $25,000 or more in prize money, World Cup qualifiers, Nations Cup, Grand Prix or other 1.50-meter classes or higher.

Lively discussion on this proposal ensued in the Amateur Committee meeting, with both sides providing reasons for and against the rule change. Those for the change believe the USEF is restricting talented riders from moving up the levels, while those who like the rule as written believe it prevents certain individuals from moving back and forth from the open to the amateur and junior ranks, for example, to collect prize money in the classics.

Both of these proposals were approved in the Jumper Rule Change Forum.

Given The Opportunity
The National Affiliates Working Group proposed GR137, Opportunity Classes, which collectively are classes for the grassroots. These classes are basically provided as an introduction to USEF-recognized competition but without the stipulations of USEF membership. They include hunter seat, saddle seat, western, equitation and in-hand classes.

While many people in the General Rule Change Forum endorsed the idea, a discussion of the exact terminology of the rule and the waiving of the drugs and medications fees were questioned. The Forum voted against the rule change as worded, but the concept of Opportunity Classes was positive.

The Affiliate Awards Program made its debut this year, with the goal being to recognize outstanding juniors, amateurs and professional riders who exemplify good horsemanship, sportsmanship and integrity. Show managers, show secretaries, trainers, parents or any member of the affiliate could nominate an individual for the award.

This year more than 45 USHJA affiliate organizations participated in the awards program, with 51 recipients receiving awards and 12 receiving overall regional recognition (see sidebar).

In its second year, the Rider Recognition Program continued to track the overall, lifetime money earnings for professionals, with Aaron Vale and Hunt Tosh leading the way in the jumper and hunter divisions, respectively.

Louise Serio, the chairman of the Open Hunter Task Force, looks forward to a time when the program can be expanded. “It’s time to stop being ashamed of winning money,” she said. “We need to embrace it.”

A special retreat is planned for the future where members will discuss the program’s next step.

“I think it would be very healthy to expand this,” said Lynn Walsh of Texas. “As an owner and a rider this would give me more incentive to show in classics. Right now people don’t want [to show] in the money classics, they just want the points.”

Serio also noted that the Open Hunter Task Force is planning to rewrite the Rule Book and address outdated rules. “If there’s anything you know that needs to be revised, please let us know,” she said.

The Zone Conundrum
Many trainers and owners from throughout the country discovered in the past few weeks that U.S. Equestrian Federation Zone 4 revamped their specifications for the children’s and adult hunter divisions. Now, horsemen traveling south for the winter circuits may have to reconsider which horses they’ll be taking.

In an effort to prevent junior hunter riders from also showing a children’s hunter at the same show–which many believed was unfair–Zone 4 mandated restrictions across the board for the children’s and adult hunter divisions. The specs, now in effect, say a children’s hunter rider and an adult hunter rider may not show in any 3’6″ or higher hunter divisions at the same show.

Vocal opponents of the new rule note that the children’s and adult hunter divisions have differing roles. The children’s hunter division is a place for young riders to prepare to move up to the 3’6″ division, while many amateurs move back and forth in the adult and amateur-owner hunter divisions and rely on the 3-foot division as a place to start a green horse or move an aging veteran down while also showing their 3’6″ horse.

“The children’s and adult divisions are very different,” said trainer Heather Irvine of Michigan. “This Zone 4 change really hurts many of my amateur riders who travel to Florida for the winter. It will restrict their showing and, in the end, not encourage them to bring along green horses. I understand wanting to keep the junior jumper riders out of the children’s division, but blanketing the two divisions together is a mistake.”

The Zone 4 situation is one example of the continuing confusion many trainers and riders face when traveling for the C-rated 3-foot divisions, where the rules may be quite different from zone to zone. During the Amateur Committee’s meeting, a vocal group of attendees discussed the problem in an open forum with the committee. While Chairman Tracey Weinberg noted that on the zone level the Amateur Committee has little influence, the committee is working on several projects to address this situation.

“There’s no question that the Zone 4 issue has an immediate and dramatic effect for those amateur and adult amateur exhibitors, as well as their respective trainers, who are accustomed to having the flexibility to show in both the 3-foot and 3’6″ hunter divisions at the same show during the winter circuits,” said Weinberg. “What this issue does do, however, is illuminate several key concerns that have resonated throughout the industry for some time.”

Creating a nationally recognized 3-foot low amateur-owner hunter division, accomplishes several key objectives: first, it enables the zones to keep their independence to best suit their constituents; second, it creates opportunity for all amateur-owner hunter exhibitors to compete in both 3-foot ‘low’ and 3’6″ ‘high’ divisions on different horses predicated on ownership; and it creates a 3-foot hunter division that uniformly qualifies for national horse of the year awards while providing exhibitors the choice of showing over two days versus just one.

“Change is always difficult, but in this case, the Zone 4 change just may have been the catalyst for amateurs, and professionals alike, to voice their opinion about what they feel is best for the industry as a whole,” Weinberg concluded.

The 2006 USHJA In Numbers
650—Number of trainers now listed in the Trainer Directory on the USHJA website (www.ushja.org).
54—Number of breeders now listed in the Breeders Directory on the USHJA website.
3—Number of additional issues of the USHJA In Stride magazine to be published in 2007. The association publication will now be bi-monthly.
24—Number of additional USHJA Clinics hosted this year. In 2006 the USHJA hosted 52 clinics, up from 28 in 2005.
190—Number of attendees at the USHJA Trainers Symposium, Nov. 27-29, that featured jumper specialist Norman Dello Joio, equitation specialis Karen Healey and hunter specialist Danny Robertshaw.
8—Number of full-time employees of the USHJA.
47—Number of affiliates that participated in the inaugural Affiliate Award Program.
$65,405—Amount of money earned by Hunt Tosh, the winner of the Hunter Division in the Rider Recognition Program.
$368,775—Amount of money earned by Aaron Vale, the winner of the Jumper Division in the Rider Recognition Program.

Special USHJA Awards
Amateur Sportsmanship Award
Patricia Van Housen

Youth Sportsman Charter
Henry Pfieffer

Volunteer of the Year
Geoff Teall

Presidents Distinguished Service
Chrystine Tauber
Diane Carney
Shelby French
Karen Healey
Betty Oare
Page Tredennick
Mindy Darst
Glena Wirtanen
Debbie Bass
Peggy O’Meara
Ron Danta

Affiliate Regional Winners
Southeast Region
Kim Schmidt
Mike Rowe
Sarah Spencer

Northeast Region
Danielle Buchheit
Paul Cronin
Molly Arnsfeld

Central Region
Elizabeth “Betsy” Kieffer
John Korenak
Hadley Graham

Western Region
Raizy Goffman
Michael Mahan
Lisa Petersen