Photo by Eventing Nation.
US Equestrian has issued an update regarding the 2021 licensing status for the eventing venue in Unionville, Pennsylvania in the wake of controversy regarding its name last year. Bill Moroney, US Equestrian’s Chief Executive Officer, shared the following statement with EN on Monday, Feb. 15. The venue is confirmed to host national horse trials on April 17-19, May 8 and June 5; its international event on Sept. 15-19 is listed as “Pending USEF Approval” as of Feb. 16, 2021.
“The USEF Board is committed to our comprehensive US Equestrian Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Plan, which focuses on the expansion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in our sport and the implementation of new strategies to bring the joy of horse sports to everyone. Given the focus and commitment to our DEI plan, we strongly encourage all involved in equestrian sport to remain aware and sensitive to the fact that words matter. We encourage all USEF competition organizers and members to review the purpose and accompanying strategies outlined in the US Equestrian Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan and the impact of the use of offensive words and phrases, but decisions regarding venue and competition names are ultimately at the discretion and the responsibility of individual organizers.”
US Equestrian will offer a new Community Conversations series dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), beginning on Monday, February 22, from 5-6:30 p.m with a session on “Horses in Black Communities.” Anyone interested is invited to register and submit questions in advance for the panelists.
