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USA
Equestrian Leadership Reviews National Governing Body Issue
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The
Executive Committee of USA Equestrian, the National Equestrian
Federation of the United States, held a regularly scheduled meeting
today by telephone conference. The lengthy agenda included a discussion
of the National Governing Body matter, and the recommendations
to be submitted by a hearing panel to the United States Olympic
Committee.
Executive
Committee members took note of statements issued by the United
States Equestrian Team, as well as the fact that the hearing panel
report has not as yet been submitted to the USOC Board of Directors
for consideration.
The
recommendations of the hearing panel include:
*
that USA Equestrian and USET either merge or re-form to bring
all interests under the governance of one organization with each
existing organization an "equal partner in the new venture,"
to have "equal voice," and "equal representation,"
* that the new organization provide the international disciplines
"with equivalent or greater resources and support,"
presumably financial support, than they have previously received
from the USET,
* that the new organization "establish a Board/Executive
Committee voting structure that sufficiently protects the International
Operating Division" but only provides for "input and
representation by the National Operating Division," and
* that "the current officers of each [existing] organization
step aside," and that 3 specific officers "not be permitted
to take part in the governance of the sport" for at least
6 years. USA Equestrian's leadership includes 6 officers; USET
leadership includes 14 officers.
Following
discussion, the Executive Committee directed the Federation's
officers and legal counsel to study the matter carefully and confer
with representatives of the Federation's major international and
national affiliates, and report their findings to the Board of
Directors at the meeting to be held Tuesday, July 9, in Lexington,
KY. The meeting is open to the public and audio will be available
by Internet webcast via the USA Equestrian website, at www.equestrian.org.
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.
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian
sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of
excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on
a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its
horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian
federation in the world.
www.equestrian.org
.