The top story story lines at this year's USEF convention:
1) The domination of Steffen Peters and Ravel, winning both 2009 Rider of the Year and Horse of the Year. USEF Ravel Press Release, DN Ravel, DN Peters, DD: Ravel, DD Peters, COTH Ravel, COTH Peters
COTH: "In a nutshell, the two new changes to GR 410 Equine Drugs and Medications will work in concert to allow an interim time to collect data and educate the membership. But effective Dec. 1, 2011, only one NSAID will be permitted.
Other details include:
- From April 1, 2010, to Nov. 30, 2011, two NSAIDs will be permitted. If a horse receives two NSAIDs, a USEF NSAID disclosure form must be filled out and filed for data collection.
- A first offence in not filling out the form will result in a warning. Thereafter, failures to fill out the form will result in an administrative penalty..."
Quick Take: This brings the USEF rules closer into compliance with both the current FEI zero-tolerance policy, and the proposed progressive list which allowed 3 NSAIDs but only one to be present in the horses system at a time, I believe. Good decision.
3) Jessica Ransehousen received a lifetime achievement award. DN coverage, DD
"Jamie Link, the CEO of the World Games 2010 Foundation Staff, provided an Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games update. As of today, 251 days until the WEG begins on Sept. 25, the figures include:
- WEG has reached 57 percent of overall revenue goals.
- 86 percent of sponsorship goals.
- 46 percent of hospitality goals.
- 52 percent of tradeshow goals.
- 45 percent of ticket sales goals."
5) In other news, the FEI Launches News Eventing Risk Management Program:
"There have been six rider fatalities at 2.3 million fences jumped in international Eventing competitions since 2004." "The Action Plan includes:
- Statistical database, to include medical and veterinary data on falls
- A standardised template to achieve consistency in the collection of international data (this will be produced twice a year)
- Compulsory appointment of a National Safety Officer (NSO) by all countries organising international Eventing fixtures to collate statistics and gather information for the FEI in the event of a serious accident
- FEI guidelines on cross-country course design aimed at minimizing risk
- Continuing work on frangible pins and deformable structures for cross-country fences
- Education of everyone involved in the sport of eventing - riders, officials and course designers; risk management will become an integral part of all national seminars
- Increased focus and education about the definition of dangerous riding."
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I hope that as they attack their risk management program they remember the dollar cost involved as well. As the EC and USEF and the FEI make more things mandatory the costs to host an event are going to sky rocket and kill the sport as well. If there are no events being held there is no sport. It is not just about the big level events. Everyone starts at the little events and if they are not there then well .... find a new sport. sigh
Personally -IMO - education is a huge factor and the whole understanding of - just because you are qualified to move up a level does not mean that you are ready to move up a level.