So much for having a video break this morning.  The always outspoken Boyd Martin has blogged his disappointment about Phillip and Bobby being left off the USEF coaching short list.  Obviously Boyd has close ties to Phillip, but he makes some good points independent of his perspective.  Here is an excerpt and be sure to click the link below for the full article.  From Boyd’s blog:

“…What I must get off my chest is that I’m absolutely flabbergasted that the proposal presented by Phillip and Bobby failed to even make the second round of the selection process without consideration…

Before the final interview with the search committee I was privileged to spend an evening with a few friends of Phillip and Bobby as they had a practice run, going through their proposal, before meeting with the selection committee. Their ideas for attracting owners and sponsors to the sport and improving America’s performance on the world stage are breathtaking. I was so impressed with their thoughts and ideas for the next generation of riders, I left the proposal preview assured that the search committee would at least extend their ideas to the final round.

To me, as one of American eventing’s representatives, I think it’s an absolute disgrace that the opportunity for the riders’ voices and the riders’ opinions, on hearing out the proposal, has been squashed before it even made it to the table. From the way I see it, the search committee did not take into account the proposals made by the applicants; from an outsider looking in, they had their minds made up before the phone call was even made. Phillip and Bobby’s proposal was exceptional and that their ideas were not made public to the Active Athletes Committee is a disgrace. These are the people who will ultimately be influenced by the chosen coach, and I feel that the selection of our coach has been taken away from the riders.”  [Boyd’s blog]

Be sure to read the full article at Boyd’s blog and go eventing.

Jimmy has helped to support and guide eventing through many challenges over the years as a true statesman for our sport.  Even after receiving the news that he would not be a member of the USEF coaching short list, he remained gracious and put the sport above all else.  We can only hope that whoever becomes the next coach makes Jimmy a big part of the program in some capacity. Jimmy posted the following response on his blog Thursday night:

I was informed earlier today that I would not be included on the USEF Eventing Chef d’Equipe short list. Naturally, I am deeply disappointed. However, throughout this process, I have been touched by the encouragement and support I have received from around the country. Thank you for all your comments, letters, phone calls, emails, and blog posts. They meant more to me than I can say. [Jimmy’s blog]

Go Jimmy

In our first coaching poll, Jimmy Wofford destroyed the other candidates, by capturing 53% of the nearly 900 votes, David was second with 27%, followed by the Hoys with 12%, and Phillip/Bobby received just 8%.  As I have been saying all along, public support is critically important to sponsorship and funding for the USEF, and by leaving Jimmy off the short list today they ignored 53% of the eventing public–and that 53% is making their voices heard today, although anyone with any sense would have expected this kind of a reaction. 

I refrained from voting in the original poll because I honestly couldn’t make up my mind.  Jimmy brings old school horsemanship that we desperately need, Leslie brings a mix of independence and experience, Andrew and Bettina would have brought excellent independent coaching, David had great success with the Canadians, and Phillip and Bobby are a great team–I’d be proud to take lessons from all of them.  The first poll came out a few days before Leslie announced his candidacy so I think another poll is in order today.

I should also point out that the USEF has not officially ruled out the possibility of adding more names to the short list.  I would guess that they left that option open in case there is a contractual impasse with finalizing a deal with one of the remaining candidates.  Furthermore, if you read Samantha’s interview with Leslie you can see why he impressed the Search Committee so much.  I’d suggest looking that over before making your vote.

Go eventing.

Here are a few quick thoughts on the news that David and Leslie have been named as two candidates to make the USEF’s short list:

1) As much as I like Leslie, and as much as I think he is a great candidate to coach a team, the USEF has essentially picked their next eventing coach this morning.  The selection process will continue with equal opportunity given to each candidate, but, on paper, it’s hard to imagine that David won’t get the job.  David’s experience, riding success, and, most importantly, his success with the Canadians make him an overwhelming favorite to get the job in a two-candidate race.  In passing up on the chance to include other very qualified applicants such as Phillip/Bobby, Jimmy, and Andrew, the Search Committee seems to have taken the approach of making a big part of the decision for the Athletes Committee.  If you think that the USEF will pick someone as a first-time international coach over the Canadian WEG silver medal coach, then you must know something I don’t.  But, that’s just my opinion and there is a long way to go in the selection process.

2) David and Leslie share some interesting characteristics that were obviously very important to the Search Committee in putting both of them on the short list.  First, and perhaps most obviously, David and Leslie both live in the US and have knowledge of the US system–it seems the Search Committee was not interested in having another coach who lived outside of the US.  Leslie and David have also had a great deal of individual success at international competitions–both won individual Olympic gold amongst many other accomplishments. 

3) However, David and Leslie do have big differences.  They both competed for very different international programs–David under Jack and then Mark, and Leslie for the powerhouse British Team.  Leslie’s greatest strength as an applicant, in my opinion, is that he has good experience in the US without having been here long enough to make lots of friends and lots of enemies.  He would bring a well educated but also independent perspective to the program, which is what many people are asking for–perhaps from different candidates.

4) Both Leslie and David are great people and coaches.  This might be overlooked in the discussion of the candidates, but the next US coach being a good person with a strong ethical reputation is very important for me and the US program.  Both David and Leslie fit the bill there.  I’d gladly have either of them warm me up for show jumping at the biggest event of my life. 

5) If you missed it on Eventing Nation a few weeks ago, Karen has stated that she would withdraw herself from team competitions and funding if David is selected as the next coach.  That is an important detail in the conflict of interest debate.

6) If you had put a gun to my head a week ago and asked who would make the short list I would have said Phillip/Bobby, David, and a guess at one other candidate.  I think Phillip and Bobby would have been a good choice but it never seemed like the public really got behind their candidacy.  I desperately hope that Bobby and Phillip will be big parts of the US program for many years into the future–Phillip as a rider and Bobby as the High Performance Chairman.  The US program needs Phillip and Bobby to stay involved as much as possible.    

7) I think we are all wondering why Jimmy didn’t make the short list, and I think he should have obviously made the list above Leslie.  Ultimately, we will never know how the applications looked and how the interviews went.  It’s easy to sit back and take shots at the Search Committee for not picking one candidate or another, but ultimately I think the Search Committee was filled with smart people whom I respect, so I respect their decision with the understanding that they had access to a lot more information. 

8) There’s no doubt in my mind that Leslie would have a better chance if Phillip and Bobby had made the short list.  In that situation, Phillip might have split votes with David and a deadlocked Athletes Committee might have been more inclined to go for an independent option.         

9) As we have been reporting, there were 9 applicants for the position.  The USEF interviewed 6 of the candidates, so at least one of those was someone we didn’t know about.  It might never become public who the 4 non-public applicants were, but it’s safe to say that most of the others were less well known European based candidates.

10) The Chronicle has just posted a report on the short list with a quick interview with David.  He told the COTH: “I think my experience is probably a big part of it [having been named to the short list].  I have the experience of producing international riders over the last 10 or 15 years and also the experience of coaching a team and having created a successful program in Canada.” [COTH]

Stay tuned throughout the day for much more about the short list.  Go eventing.

The USEF has released the names this morning of the Chef/Technical Advisor short list–and the list is quite short.  Leslie Law and David O’Connor are the two finalists who will move on to the Athletes Committee, which will interview David and Leslie and pass their recommendation onto the High Performance Committee.  David and Leslie will be available to answer questions at Red Hills for an open forum.

Update: A USEF press release is below:

Leslie Law and David O’Connor have been named to the 2013 Eventing Chef d’Equipe/Technical Advisor Short List. USEF received nine applications from six different nations. The Search Committee interviewed six applicants over the last two weeks. The applicant group is extremely qualified with over thirty Olympic, Pan American, European Championship, and World Equestrian Games medals between them.

Law and O’Connor will be available to answer questions at an open rider meeting on Thursday, March 10, at Red Hills Horse Trials in Tallahassee, FL. We anticipate sending an Evite to the Long List athletes who will be able to join the meeting via teleconference or webinar. Details and instructions will be forthcoming. If you can’t make it to the meeting in person, and you have a question for the candidates, please feel free to email your question to Search Committee chairman, Eric Straus, at [email protected].

Mr. Straus will provide a Short List report to the USEF Eventing Eligible Athlete Committee, who will conduct a second round of interviews with Law and O’Connor. Once concluded, the Eventing Eligible Athlete Committee will make their recommendation to the Eventing High Performance Committee.

Members of the USEF Eventing Eligible Athlete Committee are:

Amy Tryon – Chairman
Jan Byyny
Stephen Bradley
Buck Davidson
Phillip Dutton
Lauren Hart-O’Brien
Becky Holder
Marcia Kulak
Bonnie Mosser
Karen O’Connor
Kim Severson

Go eventing.

Over the past few weeks, the USEF Eventing Chef/Technical Advisor search has been progressing behind the closed and silent walls of the USEF.  The Search Committee’s phone interviews with the candidates have wrapped up this week and we are in a holding pattern as they work to create a short list.  As a quick review the Search Committee is comprised of the following members (this is public, so no secret info here):  

Chairman Eric Straus
Amy Tryon
Kim Severson
Katie Prudent
Mike Huber
George Morris
Kevin Freeman

We all know most of these names, but as a quick note on Eric, he has been the CEO of the Washington International Horse Show and he is a a really well respected member of the equestrian community.   Kevin Freeman represented the US in three Olympics and won team gold and individual silver at 1963 Pan American Games.  Mr. Freeman was inducted into the USEA Hall of Fame in 2009 and gave one of the best speeches that evening.

There are of course two show jumpers on the Search Committee with Katie and George, and I can’t think of two better members to have on a search committee.  The committee is rounded out with three very well respected eventers.  Kim and Amy are both as straightforward and unbiased as I think you could find considering the candidates, and I am really glad that they are on the committee.  While I don’t know Mike as well as Kim and Amy, he has a great reputation from all the Texans I know.

Since the interviews are now over, the Seach Committee will now work to winnow the list of applicants down to a short list, which will be announced to the public.  No one knows exactly when the final short list will be announced, but I would expect it within the next two weeks.  The USEF’s Active Athletes Committee will then interview the short list and make a recommendation in turn to the High Performance Committee, which will make a recommendation to USEF CEO John Long.  The final authority to make the hire rests with Mr. Long because the coach will ultimately be a USEF staffer.  The successful candidate will negotiate a contract, with compensation being in relation to their qualification and the amount of work they will be doing in the job.  The hope is that the new coach will be able to shadow Mark in 2012 and build the necessary connections and experience to make the transition smooth, although that will not be as necessary if the selected coach has extensive experience with the US system.     

Go eventing.

No doubt about it–we have all been there.  A cross-country fall early in the weekend makes for a long afternoon of phone calls and walking your other courses.  Doug Payne dismounted prematurely in the Pine Top advanced first water on Friday.  Continuing our tradition from yesterday or reader submitted photos, Pine Top fence judge Devan Conttrell took this photo of Doug walking his intermediate course Friday afternoon and sent the following explanation: 

EN Crew,
 
I’m not sure anyone will find this as entertaining as we-fence judges did Friday.  Shortly after Doug’s fall in the water (which I fully suspect was planned to have photos in another add campaign, for possibly something like waterproof/balance boosting tall boots ;] ) he walked by our our car out on course, and I was able to snap a couple of photos.  Needless to say, with the previous joke already stated, we went a little crazy about his odd hand placement and abused puppy dog face.  We imagine his, for what I’m guessing was a phone call, went to his mother…saying something along the lines of. “Mom, I know you heard it on the radio…but I have got to start falling off in places besides the water complex; people are starting to get suspicious, because I’m so awesome all the rest of the time!”
 
We love Doug, but thought the rest of the eventing community might enjoy a little laugh…or at least whoever reads this email, in case they decide its not NSFEN (not safe for EN).

Thanks Devan, and, by the way, here is a photo of the premature dismount developing, as taken by resident Eventing Nation photographer Kate Samuels.  Fortunately Doug is a good friend and has a good sense of humor, so I don’t think he will mind the photo:

Go eventing.

Now you can color swap

As the eventing winter turns to spring around Eventing Nation, our good friends at Point Two have released their spring event schedule where they will be hosting Point Two booths.  At the booths you can check out and demo the vests in person, stock up on cannisters if you already have a vest, check out the new hybrid vest, as well as color swap your airjacket for just $100.  I can’t tell you how many people have a black Point Two and ask me to get them one that matches their XC colors–as if part of Point Two’s EN sponsorship involves some sort of colored airjacket tree that grows in my back yard.  But, now all of your color problems can be solved for $100.   Point Two will have booths at the following events:

March 4-6  Sporting Days Farm, Aiken
March 11-13  Red Hills, Tallahassee
March 19-20  Three Day Ranch, Temecula, California
March 31-April 3  Galway Downs, Temecula
April 28-May 1 Rolex

As if that all isn’t enough, Point Two will also be giving $200 prize vouchers to division winners.  As always, thanks to you and Point Two for your continued support of Eventing Nation.  Go eventing.

The power of orange

My good friend Rebecca Polan, who is a Virginia eventer now focusing on dressage with her former upper level horse, just sent me this quick email about Sharon White.  Sharon, of course, broke her hip in a fall at Fair Hill last October and it’s great to hear that she is back to competing.  I spoke with Sharon a few weeks ago and she told me that her recovery is going well and she is excited for her doctors to let her return to eventing.  Bur for now, it’s all circles for Sharon:

From Rebecca:

I am down in sunny southern Florida (Wellington) getting my dressage on. I just arrived this past Friday and was helping my coach, Pati Pierucci, out at a show yesterday and today. I was maybe a little too excited when I looked up and saw none other than the amazing Sharon White pulling into the show grounds. A friendly and familiar face! I say amazing because even though we don’t really know each other, she always recognizes me and says hello, she is really one of the friendliest professionals I’ve ever met.

I also say amazing because she is down here practicing her dressage while she waits for her body to heal enough to start jumping. She reminded me that she fractured her hip and pelvis just this past fall… I’m not sure how many horses she was riding but it was a bunch, and as far as I could tell she had memorized all of her tests! She told me that she’s been riding with Linda Zang and just soaking it all up while she heals. I just love it when horse people aren’t afraid to branch out into other horse worlds, for whatever reason. I wish more riders would give it a try.    

In all honesty, I am sick of the PRO debate because talking about PRO destroys the positive and constructive dialogue on Eventing Nation.  A good portion of eventing is frustrated with PRO because PRO has done a bad job of defining their goals and principles and presenting them to the rest of us, and so people justifiably leave frustrated comments in PRO discussions.  Members of PRO read those comments and either 1) mistakenly think that these comments are a product of Eventing Nation rather than a reflection of public opinion about PRO, 2) take them personally rather than as directed at PRO as an organization, 3) forget that the reality check has led to a very positive transformation and unification within PRO to refocus on core values rather than publicity charades, or 4) think that the EN Chinchillas are a conspiracy to invade Idaho. 

As a result, PRO’s own publicity mess leaves us with a bunch of negativity on Eventing Nation and with professional riders who forget the 99.9% of positive fun content on Eventing Nation that is 10 times better at promoting them and eventing as a whole than PRO has ever been.  Look at the last 24 hours on Eventing Nation–Samantha interviewed Phillip and Bobby about their application to coach the team, I mentioned at least 20 positive things about Pine Top and the competitors in my Pine Top report, in the Saturday links post Annie promoted today at Pine Top and then linked to a memorial press release, a rider blog, a Red Hills preview, and an article about intercollegiate eventing.  Then at lunchtime we had a report from Tiana Coudray about the California training sessions this week.  But please someone send me another text complaining about an anti-PRO comment or an email complaining we are being too kind to PRO.

Now you know why we go for 3 month stretches on Eventing Nation without ever mentioning PRO.  But, before we embark on our next 3 month EN PRO-vacation, I couldn’t resist this fantastic article that event organizer and EN guest writer Katie Lindsay sent us about the importance of looking at the challenges eventing faces from all perspectives.  My apologies to Katie for prefacing her article with such a lengthy rant, and, as always, thanks to Katie for bringing her refreshing perspective to Eventing Nation.
—-

From event organizer Katie Lindsay:

I’ve just now been able to poke my nose out of the snowdrifts and start thinking about the upcoming season, and unhappily, I’m already hearing vague rumblings of discontent from “the ranks” – and it’s only the end of February! At this rate, by July, the world of eventing will look like Cairo’s main square during the demise of Mubarak.  

I’m not going to spend much time thinking about the PRO “controversy” prompted by the poll conducted on EN because I don’t think it much matters. I don’t actually have a lot of use for PRO mostly because of its self-serving “let’s raise sponsorship so we can award ourselves prize money” mantra. I’m just not convinced this is the best way to promote the sport, and I sure as Hell don’t buy the “trickle down” theory. What does a financially well endowed PRO endorsed FEI/Advanced event on the east coast have to do with the fate of a struggling lower level effort on the great plains? 

One of the “selling points” PRO put forward when its program was launched was that events would be enhanced by its presence, both in numbers and quality. To quote an early press release : “PRO is also devoted to elevating the level of competition, contributing to ongoing rider education, improving the standards of competition and promoting safety while working to attract new fans, sponsors and participants.” Has this happened? Really? Have PRO supported events shown an increase in entries that can be directly traced to its involvement? Again, I don’t think so. An example. In 2008, Jersey Fresh started 80 horses. In 2009, 86.  Last year the Jersey organizers made every effort to listen to the negative comments from the sport’s leadership and rerouted and greatly improved their courses. It were included as a PRO tour event, but nonetheless a relatively dismal 52 horses started. Is PRO going to help or hinder Jersey’s efforts this year in keeping with its mission’s “promise?” I guess that remains to be seen. 

Admittedly, PRO does have its place, but it hasn’t started out very well in the eyes of the American eventing masses. Perhaps it’d profit more from a concentrated effort to promote a better connection between the top and bottom levels of the sport. The following just announced program seems to be a step in the right direction.

“The PRO Junior/Young Rider Training Level Scholarship focuses on the education and mentorship of juniors and young riders participating in competitions at the training level. The objective is to offer deserving riders, the opportunity to train with a PRO professional based on their merit within these scholarship guidelines. The program will take place at designated events associated with PRO on both the east and west coasts.” I sincerely hope this program comes about.  

What is actually worrying me way more than the future effect of PRO on eventing  is the continuation and maybe even escalation of the disconnect between the various entities involved in the sport. There are, in fact, four different ways of looking at an event through four different sets of eyes – the competitors’ way, the officials’ way and the organizers’ way. The fourth side is probably the most accurate way – one that combines all the three others in an intelligent sort of give and take.

 I think it can safely be said that all sides agree that there should be more money available in the sport to boost event budgets from mere sustenance to profitability, to offer meaningful prize money, and to ensure that making a living in the sport is possible and sustainable. The question isn’t what. It’s how. Sponsorship is the first answer that comes to mind – but sponsorship is ephemeral at best, hard to get, and securing it takes a special talent not shared by everyone. Believe me, I’ve been there and done that, and it aint easy especially now when corporate entities are themselves trying to stay afloat. So riders, instead of loudly demanding prize money and extra services, why not help events find the extra funds to provide them? In a roundabout way, PRO claims to do just that, but so far the funds it raises seem not to go beyond prize money for winners of selected upper level divisions.  

And organizers – what is being done at your end to raise extra funds? There are some very clever methods that some organizers have devised in order to stay afloat, but what about securing the major money required to make the improvements that are being demanded? Does the average competitor have a clue what it costs to build new arenas with state of the art footing? To aera-vate, agra-vate, irri-gate and all the other “ates” being demanded on galloping tracks? To build great stabling? To pay all the extra officials needed to put on an FEI event? To update courses? To pay association fees? Many events are good at securing sponsorship, but many more aren’t. 

And demands on organizers aren’t just coming from the riders, but also from officials and from the governing associations. In the past five years alone, breakaway cups, frangible pins, increased safety personnel have been mandated, These things must be provided before any capital improvements can take place. It’s a never ending battle. Does an event raise entry fees and risk losing entries? Does an organizer opt to eliminate the more costly upper level divisions? Does an event go unrecognized? Does an organizer tiring of the pressure and constant carping just say to Hell with it and pull the plug? 

Officials are also feeling more than their fair share of pressure in the carrying out of their jobs. There’s enough paperwork to choke an elephant. People seem to be testier and testier in their interactions during the course of an event. The constant cloud of a litigious society looms overhead. Hours are long. Accommodations are often marginal, and the pay sucks.  

And on the other side of the coin, do organizers and officials think about the added demands being put on riders – the need to qualify, the added costs of registering, joining and renewing associations, the travel costs and the cost of something as essential as keeping a horse sound? 

I feel that eventing right at this moment resembles one of those cartoon animals that goes in circles and eats its own tail. Riders make demands and now even go loudly viral through blogs and various well-meaning, but basically uninformed websites instead of resorting to more civilized methods of discourse. Organizers are afraid to defend themselves because they need the entries so instead they just grumble. Shyer riders fear that their entries will not be accepted if they speak out. Some officials fail to act because they don’t want to make waves and risk losing jobs or losing favor. Riders avoid bringing problems face to face to officials because they fear being punished in the future with bad scores, and instead they resort to complaints made behind screen names in various chat rooms. This whole thing is escalating, and it’s not pretty. 

I would love to see various movers and shakers in the sport at all levels and in all aspects come together and rationally discuss possible solutions face to face without fear of retribution and leaving firearms, drama and self-serving interest at the door. We have a bunch of really smart people involved in eventing who come from all walks of life. It’s time to call upon their expertise and experience. 

Thoughts?