The U.S. Equestrian Federation today announced an agreement for the World Equestrian Centers (WEC) to operate USEF licensed hunter/jumper and dressage competitions at its venues in Wilmington, Ohio and Ocala, Fla. The shows will begin next month pending execution of finalized license agreements.
USEF and WEC have been at odds over show dates since before WEC Ocala opened last year. When Roby Roberts, who runs WEC, didn’t get all the dates he wanted originally, he turned to the National Snaffle Bit Association for his shows’ governing body during the winter series.
And after finally getting USEF dates for last summer, he gave them back and went with National Snaffle Bit again. Having USEF rule against his efforts to host a show in Ohio in place of Devon–cancelled due to Covid restrictions– didn’t make for warm relations. So this is a breakthrough.
WEC weighed in on the decision this way: “After much discussion between the organizations, both parties agree that working together is in the best interest of the sport and will provide exhibitors with a safe and level playing field at both venues. In addition, the move aims to provide WEC customers with access to the best facilities and the ability to earn points for both invitational events, indoors and year-end points-based awards supported by the USEF.
“The Wilmington, Ohio, facility will begin with week XII (March 2-6) of its Winter in the Midwest hunter/jumper indoor circuit as a USEF sanctioned event, and for the remaining weeks of the shows which run through April 10, 2022.
“The World Equestrian Center Ocala will run hunter/jumper horse show dates sanctioned by the organization starting in June. The facility currently hosts national level dressage events sanctioned by the USEF as well, and plans to reintroduce CDI and FEI-level events in the near future. Announcements with more detail on specific show ratings will be forthcoming.”