USOC
Board Approves US Equestrian As NGB For Equestrian Sport
Gladstone, New Jersey and Lexington, Kentucky—October 21,
2003—Setting the stage for a new era for equestrian sport,
the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Board of Directors gave final
approval to a new National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport
of equestrian.
The
new organization, formed through the combination of USA Equestrian
and the United States Equestrian Team (USET), is formally called
the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. and will be commonly
referred to and marketed as U.S. Equestrian. The final approval
of the new NGB came at the USOC Board meeting in Cleveland, OH
on October 18 with the USOC Board of Directors overwhelming in
their support of the plans for U.S. Equestrian that will provide
the focus and management structure for sustained competitive excellence
for our athletes and sport. U.S. Equestrian officially commences
business on December 1.
“This
is an exciting time for our sport,” said U.S. Equestrian
President David J. O’Connor, the 2000 Sydney Olympic champion.
“U.S. Equestrian incorporates the strengths of two respected
organizations who led our sport so well in the 20th century. Now,
as we start a new millennium, we do so with unprecedented unity
and vision for the future that will enable our sport to grow and
set new standards for success. Never before in the history of
our sport have we been so well positioned to provide the services
and promotion our membership deserves and that will recognize
and reward our extraordinary athletes.”
John
R. Long, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of Churchill Downs, has been hired as U.S. Equestrian’s
first Chief Executive Officer. “Equestrian sports offer something
for everyone,” Long said. “Whether it’s the excitement
of show jumping, the grace and beauty of dressage or the thrills
of cross country, there is something that is sure to appeal to
everyone. As we begin a new era for our sport, I have no doubt
that we will succeed in introducing equestrian sports to new audiences
and that our athletes will gain the recognition they deserve.”
U.S.
Equestrian is headquartered in Lexington, KY. It operates its
International High Performance Division from the former USET headquarters
in Gladstone, NJ, and its Drugs and Medications Division from
Columbus, OH, with a Drug Laboratory in Ithaca, NY.
The
first annual meeting of U.S. Equestrian will be held January 14-18,
2004 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California
which will bring together for the first time the members, committees,
boards and sponsors of equestrian sport in celebration, and to
work in concert with one another to assure the future success
of our sport.
The
vision of U.S. 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.
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