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Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

US Equestrian Magazine

5/7/2019

 
I have a love/hate relationship with US Equestrian, the official sanctioning body of all equine sports. And really, it's more of a hate relationship. There is so much that bugs me about the organization that it's hard to pick just one or two things. The only thing I "love" about them is that they make the rules, and I am a rule-follower through and through. 

Before you jump all over me about how great US Equestrian is for equine sports, I get it. It works much the same as Trickle-Down Economics where favoring top horse and rider teams will eventually benefit grass-roots riders like myself - in theory anyway. We need to subsidize and promote the Laura Graves and Verdades of American equestrian sports. Without them there wouldn't be a place for the Speedys and Izzys of the world to compete. Insert big eye roll. Nothing personal, Laura. You're my idol.
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Random internet photo
I recently received the "yearbook" version of US Equestrian Magazine. It's the issue that chronicles all of the Horse of the Year Awards. It also included an article wherein US Equestrian's president, Murray Kessler, described the "Strategic Plan's five-step 'virtuous circle.'"  A what circle? The plan, I refuse to call it a "virtuous circle," included:
  1. ​Improve core processes and capabilities. That sounds like big changes, but it really amounted to outsourcing and the opening of a new headquarters which somehow is going to save money.
  2. Ensure safety, fairness, and enjoyment for members. Basically, this is SafeSport which is in response to "reports of sexual misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement." That's what I thought. There was a problem in one area - probably figure skating and gymnastics, so a gigantic, one-size fits all band-aid was taped over everyone without any effort to customize the message for each audience.
  3. Provide a sufficient pathway for athletes to win at the highest levels and inspire the next generation. I am so glad the pathway is ... sufficient. What the hell does that even mean?
  4. Marketing spreads the word. Yes, it usually does.
  5. The results: growing membership. How is this actionable? There was literally no text for this step.

The "plan" was followed by a lot of yada yada yada ... heard it all before kind of stuff that initiated yet another massive eye roll. Number 1 being ...

Revenues have climbed and reserves are up. No kidding, US Equestrian. Don't you remember your ridiculously high rate increase of two years ago? Our membership rose from $55 a year to $80, a 62% increase. When was the last time you got a 62% raise?
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The "Yearbook" edition.
I guess the real reason that US Equestrian annoys me so much is that I get exactly two things for my $80 yearly fee: the privilege of showing as an adult amateur (professional riders don't have to join US Equestrian to maintain their professional status) and a magazine that I rarely read. That's it. There are no atta girl certificates, no patches or plates, nothing to earn. To US Equestrian, I am simply another $80 to add to their coffers.

To earn anything, I'd have to pay an additional $95 a year to bump up Speedy's Horse ID to an Annual Recording membership. And if I did that, I'm not quite sure what we'd be eligible for, but I am pretty sure it wouldn't be the types of awards that USDF and CDS offer when a horse earns a specified number of scores. So, no thanks.
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Finally something useful from US Equestrian.
In an effort to be fair to US Equestrian, they did finally send out something useful: the 2019 USEF Guidelines for Drugs and Medications. This little pamphlet was actually put together with the membership's needs in mind. The very first page has four QR Codes that actually work and take you right to the form you need.
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Actually quite helpful.
The next page very succinctly sums up the rules and requirements relating to Pergolide, the drug used to treat Equine Cushing's disease. Speedy was diagnosed with the disease this winter, so US Equestrian's recent decision to allow Therapeutic Use Exemptions came at the perfect time for us.

The pamphlet covers a few other drugs as well and includes a Common Prohibited Substance list along with a quick guide as to when the last dose of some common drugs can be administered and how long many drugs remain detectable.

I am sure US Equestrian makes some positive contributions to dressage that actually benefit adult amateurs, but they're not doing the best job of making me aware of what those things might actually be. Since I need AA status - who wants to show Open?, I'll continue to fork over my $80 annually, but I don't have to like it.

Before I wrap this up, I found something in the Yearbook issue that totally and completely cracked me up. See for yourself.
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Best. Pony. Names. Ever.
Laura link
5/7/2019 06:08:09 am

I hear ya on the associations that don't do much. We have a provincial (I'm in Canada) org that offers free equine liability insurance with your membership, so that is the only reason to be a member. They don't even do a magazine any more!

And, those pony names are the best!

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/17/2019 05:57:02 am

I even "have" to pay for the liability insurance. :0(

Carly
5/7/2019 11:58:22 am

You've got pay so much for your membership so they can afford to print all the shit you just throw away. Oh, wait. Is that just me? :P

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/17/2019 05:57:46 am

Exactly!!!!

AareneX link
5/7/2019 01:09:01 pm

This is the first time in twenty years that I haven't joined ANY horse organizations. I'm still kind of in shock. But the Dragon is retired from competitions now, and I'm tired enough of the political shenanigans that I don't feel like joining to "support the sport."

I took all that "membership" money and signed up for a two-week non-competitive trail ride across the state of Washington. We leave next week!

I understand joining because you have to. But, yeah.

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/17/2019 05:58:52 am

Oh, I WISH! Not yet, I am still in the "have to pay to play" stage.

Jan link
5/7/2019 02:03:50 pm

For the record, all the pros have to join USEF as well. The shows we go to are sanctioned by USEF/USDF, so we all have to join both. USEF is the one the cares a whole bunch if you're an AA.

If you opted to pay for Speedy to have a full USEF number, you'd be eligible for all breed awards and USDF championships. The more cost effective way of paying for the horse's number is to pay the lifetime fee, which pays for itself in 3 years of showing.

And yes, I'm aware I'm using USEF instead of USE, or whatever acronym they're calling themselves these days. USE can be confusing, so I use USEF.

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/17/2019 06:02:38 am

Oh, I know. I actually wrote about it again. I would like to see the pros have to pay for a "Pro" card. I would not join USEF if weren't for the AA card. I only did 4 USDF shows last season (all two day events). Non-member fees would have been about the same as a membership. This year, I probably won't make it to 4 USDF shows. And I have no interest in all breed awards.

Dana
5/9/2019 11:12:03 pm

I’m not a big fan of SafeSport, but I did want to point out that USE joined the initiative at least partly because of Jimmy A. Williams. I don’t think it had anything to do with figure skating or gymnastics. I’m not sure SafeSport is the right solution, but equestrians are not exempt from concerns about misuse of power and misconduct of various types.

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/17/2019 06:07:53 am

You are absolutely right, Dana; that guy was a real creep. And I probably shouldn't have dumped on figure skating and gymnastics. They were just an easy target. :0)

In my competing years, almost 30 (how can that be?!?!?!), the equine sports I've been involved with simply haven't had an issue with sexual predators. If there are, which of course there must be at least one, it's not been a big enough issue to warrant a massive educational program. And I say this as a teacher who goes through annual training on recognizing abuse and sexual misconduct.

But again, you are right that sexual deviants are out there.

Tracy
5/15/2019 09:55:06 am

I missed this post, but am now circling back to it. I'm a hunter/jumper, so the rules may be a bit different in that sport versus dressage, but I have to join USEF (and renew each year) and my horse has to be registered too (I did the lifetime for $200). Plus USHJA fees (horse and rider), as well as any local organizations I want to join. My trainer has to do the same.

And like you, I don't get much for my efforts... at any level. Unless I win a year-end award. Which I usually don't, because I don't attend enough shows (10+ minimum for my division in my local area). In USEF/USHJA I don't even compete at a high enough fence height to be eligible for year-end awards.

Pretty annoying, if you ask me.

Bakersfield Dressage link
5/17/2019 06:08:44 am

YES, YES, YES - exactly!


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
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    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
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    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
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