The Sonoma (Calif.) Horse Park will hold its six 2022 hunter/jumper shows from May to September under the auspices of the National Snaffle Bit Association, rather than the U.S. Equestrian Federation, it was announced today.
Last week, word from the park was that it would not run USEF shows until that organization’s mileage rule, which currently requires 250 miles between shows in Sonoma’s region, instead permits shows within 50 miles of each other. The circumstances brought to mind the situation between USEF and the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., where the facility couldn’t get all the USEF hunter/jumper shows it wanted last winter and went with the NSBA instead. When WEC did get USEF dates for later in the year, it turned then down and signed up with NSBA again instead, a decision that also applied to WEC’s facility in Ohio.
Howard Herman, the Sonoma CEO, stated his case about the mileage situation at a Zoom meeting last week that drew approximately 50 riders, owners, trainers and other interested parties.
“We have known about the mileage rule for 30 years, but I didn’t really understand it until I got involved in the process,” he said.
Former Sonoma manager Sally Hudson, the license holder for a number of the Sonoma shows, took her licenses to Rancho Murieta’s Murieta Equestrian Center, the state’s largest equestrian facility. It is about 100 miles from Sonoma, too close for the park to qualify for its own shows without a mileage exemption.
Sonoma had three USEF dates, including an exemption for a May show, but Herman said his decision means giving up those dates because the park needs more than three shows for its circuit. He noted it is hard to plan without knowing well in advance which shows USEF will approve.
“Sponsors and vendors want to provide an adequate season,” he commented. Sonoma previously staged the Adequan/USEF Junior National Hunter Championship West and a week of World Championship Hunter Rider competition under USEF auspices.
“At 80 years old, I’ve been given a voice,” the CEO said, explaining he could not live with himself if people in his community were shortchanged because of the mileage situation.
He feels an area that is home to 13 million people should be entitled to more in the way of USEF shows. Herman cited how expensive it is for northern California residents and people from the Pacific Northwest to go to the Thermal circuit in Southern California.The Sonoma Horse Park presents a closer alternative.
“We are committed to offering comparable prize money and special classes as we have in seasons past and a schedule that is consistent with what exhibitors and trainers have come to expect at shows that Sonoma Horse Park provides. We are looking forward to a new circuit, complete with circuit championships and prizes as per Sonoma Horse Park tradition,” stated Sonoma manager Sarah Appel.
Asked for comment, a USEF spokesperson said the organization was just made aware of the announcement and did not send a statement today.