USA Equestrian and U.S. Equestrian Team Move Toward Consolidation

Gladstone, NJ and Lexington, KY-January 17, 2002-USA Equestrian and the
United States Equestrian Team (USET) took a major step toward resolving the
sport's governance issue when, in separate meetings on January 10, both
organizations approved the general structure of consolidation into a new
non-profit organization that would serve as the new National Governing Body
(NGB) for equestrian sport.
The USET Board of Trustees and the Federation Board of Directors approved
the framework of the new NGB, which would comprise three operating divisions
- International, National and Administrative. The plan also calls for the
establishment of a Foundation whose exclusive purpose would be to raise
funds to support the international high performance activities of the NGB.
The Boards of the two organizations authorized their officers and the two
negotiating teams to proceed with the process of working out details and
drafting by-laws for the new NGB. It is hoped that a final plan will be
presented to the Boards and voting memberships for final approval sometime
in the spring.
"I am extremely pleased with the votes to move forward," said the Federation
President Alan F. Balch. "The negotiating teams from both organizations
worked extremely hard to put aside selfish interests and develop a plan that
is in the sport's best interest and they are to be commended for their
success in doing that."
"This is a great step forward for our sport," said USET President Dr. Armand
Leone, Jr. "While there is still much work to do, we have now reached a
position where animosity has been removed from the equation, allowing us to
focus our attention on our main job, namely working on behalf of all those
involved in equestrian sports and preparing our athletes for international
competition."

USA Equestrian Inc., as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.

The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to represent our country in major international competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org