Sparks flew in November when the U.S. Equestrian Federation reacted to the new World Equestrian Center’s announcement that 10 of its 12 winter 2021 shows would be governed by the National Snaffle Bit Association.
In response, USEF yanked the show licenses it had awarded the Ocala facility, which in turn announced that its entire January through March Winter Classic Spectacular hunter/jumper series would be part of the NSBA circuit, and that it was offering free stalls.
USEF warned that FEI registered riders, horses officials and horse owners might face sanctions from the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) if they competed in the series. The situation felt ugly, and it seemed a shame that FEI riders who wanted to show at the amazing new venue with its 5-star hotel, climate conditioned indoor rings and huge stadium might be penalized if they did so.
The World Equestrian Center in Ocala.
On.Dec. 9, USEF CEO Bill Moroney and incoming USEF President Tom O’Mara talked about the federation’s mileage rule and the WEC situation in a video forum for the general public, but there was no indication on how the controversy might be resolved.
And then, at 5 p.m. on the day before New Year’s Eve, word came (interestingly, via an independent public relations agency) that a provisional resolution had been reached. USEF and WEC “agreed to work together on a plan for WEC to host USEF-sanctioned competitions in the future. USEF and WEC agree that it is in the best interest of the sport for them to work collaboratively.”
Talks will continue as the shows run for the winter season under the NSBA banner. It’s expected to take some time to come up with a permanent answer “prioritizing horse and rider welfare and operating under the rules that govern all USEF organizers.”
In the spirit of good will and to facilitate negotiations, USEF has withdrawn its request to the FEI to declare the WEC series unsanctioned. That means riders, officials and horses may compete there this winter without being penalized by the FEI or USEF.
Tom Struzzieri, whose HITS winter series runs eight miles from WEC, said he thought the interim arrangement “seems like it was the right thing to do for the exhibitors at this point, and what’s good for exhibitors is good for us.”
Both he and Roby Roberts of WEC said they could see exhibitors going back and forth between HITS and WEC as they pick and choose the classes that suit them, although Tom mentioned, “We’ve got a pretty full horse show.”..
HITS is USEF-licensed, which means exhibitors will earn points there for Horse of the Year and qualification for indoor shows and Devon. Those showing at WEC will not get points, since the shows are not USEF-licensed. Although Tom didn’t see coordinating his schedules with WEC’s, he noted, “clients of mine have told me there’s a possibility to jump in some of their classes and not miss our big classes.”
The USEF mileage rules are geared to limit licenses for shows in close proximity to one another, but they have been bent this year with presidential modifications due to the cancellations and reshuffling because of Covid. In the announcement, USEF noted, “Assuming development of a mutually agreed upon plan, WEC has agreed not to host any other new competitions that are not authorized by USEF.”
Although Bill Moroney at one point cited “safety” reasons for originally deciding that USEF and NSBA shows should not mix in a series, the statement noted, “USEF recognizes WEC’s existing relationship with NSBA and that WEC will endeavor to include NSBA within such authorized competitions,” the statement said.
When WEC and USEF come up with a permanent plan for how to proceed, it will be made public, according to their statement.USEF already has licensed dressage shows and an eventing competition at WEC that are not affected by what happens with the hunter/jumper shows..
In agreeing to the interim measure, the USEF considered how important it was for its members to have a number of competition opportunities this winter, since so many 2020 events were cancelled because of Covid-19.
Working with the USEF,, the FEI will look at potential alternative plans for the U.S. leg of the 2021 FEI Jumping Nations Cup™, as the CSIO5* scheduled to run at the WEC from March 16-21 will now not take place…