by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 16, 2022
The USEF’s national advanced single horse combined driving championship for 2023 will be held at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown October 5-8 at the Garden State CDE.
All but one of the other national driving championships next year will be held in Ocala, Fla. They are the Advanced Ponies (Single, Pair, Four-in-Hand) and Advanced Pair Horses are set for the Spring Fling CDE February 23-26, along with all preliminary classes.
The Advanced Four-in-Hand for horses will be staged at the Live Oak International in Ocala, March 15-19.
All Intermediate Classes are set for the Tryon Fall CDE in Mill Spring, N.C., September 20-24.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2022
Kay Meredith, a founding member of the U.S. Dressage Federation, has died in hospice.
The president of USDF from 1977-82, the native of West Virginia was a mentor to many, and her Meredith Manor gave riders a leg up in the discipline.
Kay Meredith
She was the 1979 American Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year, and awarded the USDF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
An innovator who was instrumental in the growth of USDF, she rode internationally–becoming national Grand Prix champion in 1982–and was a USEF S judge. She also was in the USDF Hall of Fame, and an author in her spare time.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 15, 2022
The U.S. Equestrian Federation is advising competitors who intentionally under-perform in a class not to do it.
It might occur when someone is put in a class to fill it so that points count, and they need to make sure another exhibitor will place ahead of them. USEF has received reports of such behavior in the past, but recently, the frequency has increased.
The federation does not condone this behavior, and cautions members to refrain from engaging in any activity that deliberately affects the outcome of a competitive effort through Intentionally losing a class.
Actions against the basic tenets of sportsmanship and fair competition are violations of the USEF Code of Conduct, which prohibits behavior or actions detrimental to the image and reputation of the sport. The code explicitly mandates that all constituents “model fair play, respect, and the highest levels of sportsmanship.”
Deliberately under-performing in a horse show class is also considered competition manipulation, which is strictly prohibited under USEF’s recently adopted Prevention of Manipulation of Competition Policy. This has become more of an issue with the proliferation of sites where people can earn money betting on the outcome of a class.
Competition manipulation occurs anytime an athlete intentionally under-performs or loses on purpose. Even when money or another form of tangible benefit is not at stake, some form of advantage is always sought. Some may argue that manipulating an outcome by under-performing can be considered a virtuous effort in situations where a rider is instructed to “help” a barn colleague by intentionally losing a medal class so their barn mate can take home the top ribbon and qualification points.
However, intentionally losing a class and not providing your best effort in competition is unsportsmanlike; it is disrespectful of your fellow competitors and the officials, as well as supporters and fans of equestrian sport. When a competition is manipulated, there is nothing left to win for anyone; it renders sport meaningless and demoralizes those athletes who are competing with integrity and sportsmanship.
USEF competitors, as well as their support personnel, must refrain from engaging in any of these competition manipulation activities. By consciously and willingly under-performing in a class to affect the results or by instructing a competitor to do the same, you are engaging in activities that fall under the definition of competition manipulation.
Those activities are considered a violation pursuant to General Rule 702.1.d in the USEF Rule Book. These activities are clear violations of both the USEF Code of Conduct as well as the Prevention of Manipulation of Competition Policy and may be subject to action, which could result in an official warning, censure, fine, suspension, or other penalties set forth in General Rule 703.
USEF’s Code of Conduct also states that those bound by it are responsible for reporting violations. Licensed officials are obligated to report willful under-performance by a competitor or other tactics designed to “throw” a class so USEF can investigate the matter.
USEF acknowledges that willful under-performance can be difficult to definitively identify and is rare; most exhibitors invest their best effort when competing. However, if you witness an obvious, willful, and intentional manipulation of competition (i.e., blatant disregard for class conduct and specifications by never attempting to perform the required gaits or failing to follow a judge’s instructions), you should report the incident to USEF by emailing disputes@USEF.org.
By taking responsibility for their actions, fulfilling their duty to report misconduct, always providing their best effort while competing and practicing good sportsmanship, USEF members can collectively protect the integrity of equestrian sport and ensure a fair competitive experience for everyone.
by Nancy Jaffer | Oct 28, 2022
Wellington International, which took over the former Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, has reached an agreement with Wellington Equestrian Partners to run the 2023 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival at the Equestrian Village facility down the road from the Winter Equestrian Festival of jumpers and hunters.
Despite having less than three months before the first dressage show Jan. 11-15, the Wellington International team intends to “work diligently to provide an enhanced experience for all participants, guests, and fans.”
Michael Stone, the president of Wellington International who previously was president of Equestrian Sport Productions, announced, “We know that dressage competitors and spectators have been eagerly awaiting news of the 2023 AGDF season, and we are happy to report that our team will once again be working hard to put forth an exciting, memorable, and safe event.
“Our staff is very familiar with the competition, hospitality, and other logistics of AGDF at the Equestrian Village venue, so we expect to be able to continue the tradition of excellence this upcoming winter.”
Wellington Equestrian Partners is applying for residential rezoning of the Equestrian Village, which would involve an arrangement to move dressage adjacent to the former PBIEC property, but that project is still in the process of seeking approval from the Village of Wellington.
In the meantime, said Mark Bellissimo, managing partner of WEP, that organization “has every confidence in the team at Wellington International to effectively operate the 2023 AGDF, and we are happy to be working with such a well-established partner in the equestrian and events industry.
“Our organizations will work together to ensure the success of the 2023 show, as well as continue to discuss and plan for long-term enhancements in order to elevate AGDF to an even greater level in the future.”
The 2023 AGDF will operate through March 31. If will offer eight weeks of international dressage competition and two weeks of international para-dressage competition. There will be eight Friday Night Stars freestyles under the lights held during AGDF, including two qualifiers for the FEI World Cup Finals to be held in Omaha during April. Another will be held Dec. 8-12 2022.
Anders Bjørnstrup, commercial director of Global Equestrian Group, the parent company of Wellington International, noted, “The founder and CEO of the Global Equestrian Group, Andreas Helgstrand, is a household name in the dressage world and has a passion for the discipline, so we are thrilled to finally have an opportunity to explore and promote a world-renowned dressage event.
“The AGDF is a respected brand with a storied history, and we are pleased to be able to play a role in the development of the event.”
For the second year, CDI5* dressage competition will be held for one week, March 15-19, at the Wellington International showgrounds, a short canter down the road from the Equestrian Village. A change of venue offers the opportunity for horses and riders to experience a different atmosphere during the winter season.
Here is the schedule for the 2023 winter dressage season:
January 11-15,
CDI4* & CDI-W
Lloyd Landkamer Memorial
January 25-29
CDI4*/CDI3*/CPEDI3*
February 8-12
CDI4* & CDI-W
February 15-19
NATIONAL
February 22-26
CDIO3* & CDI3*
March 1-5
CDI-W & CDI3*
Palm Beach Derby
March 8-12
CPEDI3*
March 15-19
CDI5* & CDI3*
March 22-26
CDI4* & CDI3*
March 29-31
NATIONAL
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 4, 2022
Riders and their horses are front and center at competitions, so we all know their names. But what about the people behind the scenes? Mike Belisle is very effective at the type of organizing that has helped bring shows such as Split Rock and TerraNova to prominence. Click this link to read his story.
by Nancy Jaffer | Nov 9, 2022
How much do you know about equine nutrition? If you’d like to learn more, Cornell Univeresity is offering an online opportunity to improve your familiarity with forage, which could pay off in a bonus of a healthier, happier horse.
Nathalie Trottier, professor of animal science at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will explain the role of dietary forage on horses’ gastrointestinal functions and nutritional needs Nov. 15 from 6-7 p.m. Eastern Time.
Equids have uniquely and successfully evolved with dentition and hindgut fermentation that have allowed them to use a diet higher in fiber and lower in protein compared with other grazing herbivores.
In the lecture, emphasis will be placed on explaining the classification of carbohydrates across common feed ingredients given to horses and the horse’s evolutionary feeding strategy in relation to its physiology. Roles of the oral cavity, the stomach and the large intestine in favoring forage over grain utilization will be described.
The event is free and open to the public via Zoom, but registration is required. Click on this link.
