USEA Board of Governors Approves Accommodations for Western PA Members

The new USEA area borders. Illustration by EN. The new USEA area borders. Illustration by EN.

The USEA Board of Governors published a fact sheet this afternoon outlining some modifications to the redrawing of the Area VIII borders approved at the USEA Annual Meeting in December. Accommodations have been made for members who were scrambling to figure out which area (Area VIII or Area II) to compete in based on their location.

The Board of Governors has discussed the redraw with concerned members to ensure that their member benefits and privileges will not be reduced. The Board will review the new borders again in August. Here’s a breakdown of what has been clarified and/or decided, according to the USEA release:

Competitions

  • Members living in the affected portion of Pennsylvania, like all other USEA members, may continue to compete in any event in any area they wish to.  There is not, and never has been, any restriction on where USEA members may compete.
  • The two competitions in this portion of Pennsylvania will be listed in the Omnibus in the sections for both Area II and Area VIII.  Area II and Area VIII will coordinate on any calendaring issues involving these competitions, should the need arise.
  • Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania may compete in either Area Championship (but only one championship) provided they obtain the required qualifications, and limits on out-of-Area qualifications will be waived for results obtained in either of the respective Areas.

Programming

  • Riders living in the affected portion of Pennsylvania may choose to join the Young Riders, YRAP, or Adult Rider programs in either Area II or Area VIII, with all the privileges of other members of those programs.
  • Young Riders and Adult Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania may declare their intention to compete for either Area II or Area VIII teams or Championships, including NAJYRC and should contact the Adult Rider Coordinator or Young Rider Coordinator in their chosen Area as soon as possible. Young Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania electing to qualify and compete for Area VIII must also file a Declaration of Area with the USEF and with the Area VIII Young Rider Coordinator by March 1.

YearEnd Awards

  • Riders and horse owners may declare their eligibility and sign up for year-end award programs in either Area.
  • The Area II year-end awards program is open to any member who submits a completed Area II year-end awards registration form to the Area’s Points Coordinator by the required deadline. Area II will remove the three-to-one out of Area exception rule for qualifying results.
  • Riders in the affected portion of Pennsylvania will be considered eligible for Area VIII year-end awards even if they live in the affected part of Pennsylvania if they declare as Area VIII by Mar. 1.

For more information, or to download a PDF fact sheet, please visit the USEA.