RECAP: 2023 National Convention- St. Louis

Friday
After a late flight the night before, a trip to the lobby Starbucks had me feeling right at home. I quickly stopped by the registration table then jumped right into the first session. First up was the Volunteer Incentive Program Open Forum. Our very own Gail Mackie of Spokane Sport Horse Farm helped describe some of the recognition opportunities available for our amazing volunteers. (https://useventing.com/events-competitions/volunteers)

Gold Medal 2000 hours: Embroidered Jacket, Pin, Certificate
Silver Medal 1000 hours: Embroidered Vest, Pin, Certificate
Bronze Medal 500 hours: Polo Shirt, Pin, Certificate

Be sure to get an account with the eventingvolunteers.com because only your recorded hours at Recognized Events will count towards the Medal Program. We also discussed ways to incentivize volunteers to share their time at events. There was agreement that a lot falls on volunteer organizers to arrange shorter shifts that allow more competitors to volunteer around their riding schedule. (https://useventing.com/events-competitions/volunteers) Please help support eventing in Area VII this season by volunteering.

Next up was IEL Open Forum: How to Get Involved in IEL for the 2024 Inaugural Championship. IEL- Interscholastic Eventing League  is for 5th -12 graders. The program is very simple and loads of fun. All you have to do is to get your name on a team's roster. Rally friends in your barn or pony club and register a group on your own. The fee is $75/year but if your coach is ECP Certified it’s FREE! The Championship is open to anyone on a team roster. It will be held at Stable View Farm in Aiken, South Carolina May 4-5. No qualifications are needed so come join the fun! (https://useventing.com/events-competitions/competitions/interscholastic-eventing-league)

The last morning session I attended was Classic Series Open Forum: Why Everyone Should Compete in a Classic. The overwhelming answer heard by everyone on the panel was because it is such a positive educational experience that will bring you so much more in tune with your horse. These classic series are a lot of work for event organizers to put on- they take a lot of land and course preparation, extra officials and a lot more volunteers. If you have a classic series near you- sign up to compete or volunteer, you won’t regret it!

For lunch I went out to explore St. Lois. We found Salt + Smoke, the Mac and Cheese, pulled pork and brisket were amazing.  I will dream about the huge corn bread muffin and Brisket.  It was exactly what I needed to get stoked for more sitting in conference rooms. It is hard for an active gal to be cooped up for days in a hotel with no riding or barn chores!

After Lunch I learned more about SHOW Connect- A Community Focused Event Management System for event organizers. I’ve had a little hands-on experience with the program but it was nice to ask some questions and hear more about the long term vision.
Next was the Intercollegiate Open Forum. The program mirrors the Interscholastic program in many ways but there are some key differences. Teams must be associated with an institution of higher education. The program will host its championships this spring alongside the IEL Championships. For more information visit:  https://useventing.com/events-competitions/competitions/intercollegiate-eventing-program


Last of the day was my first Committee Meeting for Area Treasures and Council. Then off to a fantastic dinner with great company.

Saturday
Yes…Lobby Starbucks again. Then a 2 hour Area Affairs/Chairs Committee meeting on the 20th floor with very cool city views. What a fantastic group of hardworking volunteers- it was so fun to hear other successes and struggles of the other areas. We are SO lucky in Area VII- seriously terrific group of organizers, and members.

Lunch came quickly and Keynote Speaker Dr. Temple Grandin did not disappoint! She is hilarious and in her words “a shameless book pusher”. I highly recommend any of her books. The takeaways were how animals think in pictures not words. How we should live in the sensory and get away from verbal language. Sudden new things are scary, especially when they are shoved in your face.  She urges training with slow, systematic exposure. When you look at your barn, farm and training areas from that perspective you can avoid a lot of trouble. Objects may look new when they are rotated. Just because you exposed the horse to it from one side doesn’t mean it will translate to seeing it from another side. Think about how scary shadows could be?  Animal fears are VERY specific, and FEAR MEMORIES are very hard to get rid of. It is critical we train without stressing animals out. A calm animal is easier to control. If an animal gets stressed it takes 20-30 min for it to calm down and for cortisol levels to return to normal. .

For breeders she warned not to over-select for any singular trait. She urged us all to not be a part of “normalizing bad”, referencing bulldog and pug conformation and recent issues with meat cattle hearts failing. It is our duty to prevent suffering and ensure the animals in our lives have a life worth living.

Such a tough act to follow but next up was pretty great too…FREE MONEY! Well kind of. Tips on Applying for USEA Foundation Grants was next. A fantastic panel of ladies gave tips on finding grants that were a good fit for you and pointers on how to get chosen. There are so many opportunities for support made possible by passionate people that care about and are invested in eventing. I think the slogan says it all…Advancing Eventings Future and Helping Dreams Come True. If you have not visited the USEA Foundation Website you are missing out. https://useafoundation.org/

Last but in now way least was Horse Syndication: Best Practices for Starting & Operating Your Multi-Member Partnership. Yvonne Ocrant is the lady to call about Horse Syndication. Such a wealth of knowledge- she is the go to gal everyone is using. The very general idea is that riders start an LLC. That LLC buys or takes over ownership of that horse. Then people generally buy into the LLC (initial investment) as owners then pay an annual maintenance fee each year after. Remember  the LLC owns the horse, the people buying-in own part of the LLC. Syndication is win win. It matches the right horses with the right owners and distributes the expenses over many people. This opens doors for many that would otherwise remain shut if riders had to go it alone footing all the expenses themselves. Yvonne offers a fair flat rate for her syndication services and reminds riders it’s an expense your LLC should reimburse you for.  
https://www.hinshawlaw.com/professionals-yvonne-ocrant.html

We had a short break to get fancy for the Awards dinner. Area VII was up on stage a lot! Congratulations to the 2023 Awards and Grant Winners!

Overall Leaderboards Congratulations on making the World Equestrian Brands Rider of the Year Leaderboard celebrating the top 50 riders in the US
Marc Grandia (Top 50)
and
Revitavet USEA Young Rider of the Year
Congratulations to Harper Padgett 5th and Hanni Sreenan 8th

National Leader Board- Preliminary
Harper Padgett 1st Junior Preliminary
Lizzie Hoff 3rd Junior Preliminary
Hanni Sreenan 8th Junior Preliminary
Maeson Messmer 3rd Intercollegiate Preliminary
Audrey Sanborn 5th Intercollegiate Preliminary
Stephanie Goodman 8th Master Rider Preliminary
Audrey Sanborn 6th Adult Amateur Rider Preliminary
Allison Sparks 8th Adult Amateur Rider Preliminary
Evenholtz / Amy Hougen 2nd Preliminary Horse
Captivate / Leonie Padgett 6th Preliminary Horse

National Leader Board- Modified
Audrey Sanborn 9th Intercollegiate Modified

National Leader Board- Training
McLaine Mangum 7th Junior Training
Reese Blinks 5th Young Adult Rider Training
Shruti Bona 6th Young Adult Rider Training
Natalie Barlow 10th Young Adult Rider Training
Alexa Marandas 5th Intercollegiate Training
Hayden Brown 7th Intercollegiate Training
Mindy Groth-Hussey 7th Master Rider Training
Bianca Linder 10th Master Rider Training
Levino & Full Gallop Syndicate, LLC 4th Training Horse
Global Halcyon& AFG Syndicate 9th Training Horse

USEA Classic Series Awards
Marc Grandia- Training Three Day
Elizabeth Hoffman- Beginner Novice Three Day

Volunteer of the Year
Jim Moyer- 700 hours in 2023

Going Forward Grant Winners-
Sarah Sullivan for Eventing Officials “r” Training Program

Eventing Riders Association of North American Awards
Scott Weide- Above and Beyond Award
Christel & Cyra Carlson- Above and Beyond Award
Madison Packard- Above and Beyond Award

USEA Appreciation Awards
Stephanie Goodman- Cornerstone Instructor’s Award

2023 Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials

May 25, 2023 

To the membership and families of Area VII, 

The Area VII Council is aware that the owners of Lincoln Creek are involved in a legal matter that affects our community. On May 17, 2023 Pat Mahoney allegedly confessed to sexually assaulting a child under the age of 12. The case is being processed by Lewis County Superior Court; please respect Lynn Mahoney’s privacy during the investigation and court proceedings. It is vitally important that we ensure the safety of all members of our community. Therefore, the organizing team of the Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials is currently looking for an alternative venue to host their Horse Trials scheduled for August 2023. Please stay tuned for more information about the location change, which we will provide as soon as possible.

This situation has been shared with SafeSport. The Area VII council and the U.S. Eventing Association take matters of sexual abuse and misconduct extremely seriously. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is a major partner in our efforts to combat abuse. Please visit the USEF website for more information about SafeSport.  According to RAINN, “Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. And every 9 minutes, that victim is a child” (https://www.rainn.org/). RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and has many resources available if you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse please visit: Sexual Assault Hotline & Help Center

Luigi Meneghelli
Area VII Chair

2021 Area VII Championships

At this time, we have a full competition season scheduled for this year and the Area VII Championships will be held at Aspen Farms September17-19, 2021.

The qualification requirements for this year’s Championships are summarized below. For complete details/requirements, reference the Championships tab in the Competitions section of this website.::

AREA VII

(Intermediate, Preliminary, Training, Novice, and Beginner Novice)
Event: ASPEN FARMS, SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2021
Placing to Qualify: 1st thru 5th at one Area VII Event.*  
Qualifying Period: August 13, 2019 through August 31, 2021
In Area: BN, N, T, P, I *

*Additionally, each horse/rider combination that qualified with a top five placing in Area VII during 2019 or 2020 must also have completed an event at the same level in Area VII during the 2021 qualifying period in which they have met the Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER).  For a complete definition of the MER, reference the USEF Rules for Eventing, CHAPTER EV, EVENTING DIVISION,  APPENDIX 3 - PARTICIPATION IN HORSE TRIALS.

A summary of the MER for Horse Trials is as follows:  Dressage – no more than 50 penalty points; Cross-country – no jumping penalties and not more than 36 time penalties; Show jumping – no more than 16 jump penalties

Happy New Year 2021

Happy New Year!

I’m sure everyone is looking forward to 2021. At this time, we have a full competition calendar scheduled. For details, check our website at www.areavii.org and the USEA website/competitions/Area VII.

Please join me in welcoming Luigi Meneghelli as our new Area VII Chair.  Luigi has prior experience in this role and will be an excellent leader for our Area. I’ve enjoyed being Area VII Chair for the past two years and will remain on the Council for the next rotation as I am now on the USEA Board of Governors.  Area VII has strong representation at the national level and I’m honored to be a part of our strong team.  if you would like to become more involved in Area VII activities, please reach out to Luigi or any of the Area VII Council members.  Our contact information is on our website, section Resources/Area Council.

Regarding the competition calendar, there has been a bit of date shuffling which has impacted where and when we will hold our Area VII Championships in the next couple of years. In 2021, the AEC’s will be held on the same weekend as the EI Fall event.  This is a disappointment in that EI put a lot of effort into its plans to host the Championships in 2020, only to have all of their activities canceled due to the pandemic.  Now with the AEC’s being held on the same date as EI’s Fall event in 2021, it wouldn’t be fair to those who qualify to compete in both the National and Area Championships to have to choose between the two.  Therefore, after much thought and discussion among the Area VII Organizers and Council, the 2021 Area VII Championships will return to Aspen Farms in September.

In 2022, Rebecca Farm will be adding a second event to its calendar and will host the AEC’s in September.  It is very exciting that the National Eventing Championships will be held in our Area! To avoid a conflict, Aspen Farms will also host our Championships again in 2022. 

We are thrilled that Aspen Farms has agreed to host the Championships again in 2021 and 2022.  We are also very excited that Rebecca Farm will be hosting the AEC’s in 2022. For those who qualify for the AEC’s, this is a wonderful opportunity to have this prestigious event in our own Area.

The future is full of exciting opportunities for Area VII.  Here’s to a healthy and successful new year!

Best wishes to everyone - Cynthia Bayles

Season's Greetings from the Area VII Council

Season’s Greetings from The Area VII Council!

The Area VII Council represents our Area at the national level.  Like you, we are volunteers and we do what we do for the love of our Area and our sport.  The Area Chair typically serves a three-year term and the Council members also rotate every few years. Although it might have seemed like not much happened this year on the competition front due to the restrictions and safety concerns presented by the pandemic, the Council was busy behind the scenes working hard to make sure we are represented well at the national level. 

This year the Area VII Council held monthly conference calls to keep us moving forward with all kinds of planning activities both regionally and nationally, from working with our organizers on our competition calendar for this year and the next few years, to activities with the Young Rider, Adult Rider and Instructor Certification Programs, to discussions about rule changes, safety and so much more.

We are thrilled that so many of our Area VII Members are being recognized by the USEA in this year’s national awards.  Area VII is very diverse, active, full of people who value and exhibit good sportsmanship and horsemanship and we are proud to be a part of such a fantastic group.  If you want to become more involved within Area VII or if you want to share anything with us, our contact information is on the Area VII website. The 2021 Calendar and other website news updates are in process.

This year, once the USEF and USEA COVID guidelines were established and some of the state regulations allowed events to be run, three of our organizers were able to provide our competitors with four events between August and October (Rebecca Farm, Caber Farm x2 and Spokane Sport Horse Farm).

We understand not everyone was in a position to be able to train and compete (or in some cases even be able to visit their horses during lockdown!), but many were and for those who were willing and able to compete in this challenging environment, it was good to see everyone respecting the COVID safety protocols. Strong compliance with the protocols proved we can safely run our events in the most difficult of times and we thank everyone who participated in these events – including but not limited to the organizers, volunteers, officials and competitors – for setting a strong example of compliance and how to get things done even during tough times.  If you were able to compete in one of these events, you owe that opportunity to these organizers who, because of the additional rules, restrictions and safety protocols implemented during the pandemic, really had to go above and beyond what they normally have to do to host an event!  A huge thank you to them for running successful and safe competitions.

Although the ongoing pandemic will prevent us from holding our annual meeting and awards celebration in person this year, we will be holding a virtual business meeting early in 2021, date and time TBD.  Also, the Council wants to recognize those competitors who were able to compete this year by recognizing the top two points earners in each of the divisions. Since we can’t gather in person, the ribbons will be mailed.  We will announce the winners in the near future, so stay tuned!

Wildfires and competitions. What’s the right thing to do? Random thoughts from your Area VII Chair. September 18, 2020

First, an important reminder for all of us in Area VII:  Area VII tends to be a gracious and supportive group of people.  Especially in today’s world, it is important to be supportive and kind. What’s right for one person may not be the best thing for another. But just because something isn’t right for you doesn’t mean it’s not ok for someone else.

The wildfires that started a week and a half ago have resulted in so much trauma for everyone. The fires – and the dangerous air quality they have generated – have impacted everyone in the PNW to some extent. Many have lost their homes, belongings, loved ones, livestock or family pets. Others evacuated and may still be evacuated along with their animals

From a health standpoint, we have all been impacted at some level by the smoke and unhealthy air - some worse than others, depending on where we live.

The air quality throughout our region is all over the board, from off the charts hazardous to not too bad or ok. It all depends on where you live. If you live in an area where your horse has been exposed to unhealthy or hazardous air, work with your vet to determine what you should and should not do. If you need to give your horse a longer rest before returning to work, follow your vet’s advice and scratch any events or clinics you’ve entered. We’ve all had to scratch at the last minute because it was the right thing to do for our horse, this may be another one of those times. And if the best choice for you is to scratch – do so. Don’t obsess about the lost entry fee. Your horse’s health is more important.  The organizer probably has significant expenses that still have to be covered. If they can afford to give you a partial refund, they usually will.

Be aware that not everyone may be in the same situation. Other people and their horses may not have been impacted to the same extent as you and they may be ready and able to compete.  Maybe their horses will only need a relatively short time off and haven’t been exposed high or dangerous levels of unhealthy air.

There are a number of competitions on the calendar in the next few weeks across many disciplines.  These organizers have worked very hard in what has already been a terribly difficult year to provide competitions with the appropriate COVID protocols for those who are willing and able to compete. They cannot change their dates. They have invested tens of thousands of dollars. They are being as generous as possible regarding late entries and scratches. But they simply may not be able to afford to provide full (if any) refunds. Believe me they are not “making” any money off of your cancelled entry! And – if they are providing you with a refund of any amount, please consider donating it – either back to the event or to one of the many worthy organizations helping horses and people during these awful wildfires.

For some people, the right decision will be to scratch and give their horses time off. For others, maybe they need to give their horses some time off but they’re not competing at such a high level that they won’t be ready to compete – maybe a little slower or at a lower level. It’s different for everyone. But for those who are willing and able to compete or clinic – please thank the organizers for providing you with these opportunities. We need them. And for those choosing to scratch because it’s the right thing to do for your horse, be thankful for what you have and what the future holds.

Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust Grants

July 24, 2020 Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust to Offer One-Time "Going Forward" USEA Members Grants

See the USEA website for details!

May your dreams and goals come true with the Going Forward USEA Members Grant!

The Broussard family, through the Broussard Charitable Foundation Trust, has announced that for 2020
only, several special educational grants will be available to USEA members. The Trust has made a very generous gift of $25,000 to the USEA Foundation to be awarded to deserving candidates 18-years-old and above who are passionate about moving their commitment to the sport forward.

The Going Forward USEA Members’ Grants will cover three areas:


1. Horsemanship Immersion Program

2. Instructor’s Certification Program

3. Eventing Official’s “r” Training Program


The amount of the grants will be a minimum of $5,000.

Grants will be based on merit.

What are you waiting for? Visit useafoundation.org/grant-descriptions for full details and online application.

YRBHT Cancellation

une 30, 2020

ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE CANCELLATION OF THE 2020 YOUNG RIDER BENEFIT HORSE TRIALS

We are sad and disappointed to announce the cancellation of the 2020 Area VII Young Rider Benefit Horse Trials.

After lengthy discussions, the Organizing Committee and the Area VII Council reached this decision in light of the announcement by the Washington State Governor on Saturday, June 27th, that due to the increasing levels of COVID-19 throughout the state, the phased  reopening that was progressing well in various counties (including where we run the event) would be paused immediately.  At this time, the state has not announced an estimated date by which the reopening process might be resumed.

We wanted so badly to be able to host this event for everyone this year and as you’ve seen from our photos, some fabulous new jumps have been built - thanks to some generous donors and our building budget.  We will be able to jump these new fences next year along with enjoying other exciting improvements in process!

The safety and health of our competitors, volunteers, organizers and supporters is our priority. And of course, we cannot run an event if the state government won’t allow it.

By cancelling at this time. we will be able to minimize our financial loss (so we will be able to run the event next year!) and refund everyone’s entry fees to the greatest extent possible.

For refunds, the omnibus states: Refunds: Competition cancellation - Split after expenses.

If you paid your entry by check, we will shred your check. If you paid with your credit card via xentry, we may need to withhold a small handling fee (depending on our actual costs), TBD.  Our goal is to provide as close to complete refunds as possible under the circumstances.

We are so very sorry to have to cancel, but we are thankful that the timing of the governor’s announcement provided us with just enough notice to be able to make this painful decision to cancel early enough to avoid a major loss to the event, as well as a loss of entry fees to the competitors.

Again, we hope to be able to provide full or close to full refunds to the competitors.  Although the event will sustain a small loss as a result, we feel this is the right thing to do under the circumstances and we will be able to return with a fantastic event next year.

Thank you everyone for your support. Stay safe and healthy and we look forward to seeing you next year!

June 9, 2020

To:  USEA Area VII Members and Competitors

From:  The USEA Area VII Chair

Subject:  June 2020 Newsletter – Competition Season and Area Update

Greetings to all Area VII members. I hope this finds you well, especially during this crazy year.

I am happy to be able to say the Area VII eventing season is finally getting ready to start with our first event of this year at Rebecca Farm in July.  Please see the event website and FB page for more information and details.

At this time, with the exception of EI, which has unfortunately had to cancel all of its activities this year (see their website at www.EINW.org for details), it appears the remainder of our events should be able to run as scheduled.  This is, however, dependent on numerous factors, including the progress of the various phased openings in the different states and counties within which the events are held.

After much thought, the Area VII Council has decided we will not host an Area Championships this year. There is simply too much uncertainty and it also doesn’t seem right to look to our always generous sponsors and donors for their support when so many businesses have suffered financially due to being closed during the pandemic.  Reminder – if you need anything, please support our sponsors and donors!

There are many new rules, regulations and safety protocols. It’s the responsibility of the competitors to know, understand and comply with the various rules, so don’t be caught unaware Masks are required at all times while unmounted on competition grounds when you are within 6’ of another person (for everyone, not just competitors) so ALWAYS have a mask with you and be ready to put it on.

Here are two very helpful USEF and USEA links that contain what you need to know regarding new rules and recommendations:         https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/5Qx7zDlFvXs/usef-covid-19-rule-modifications;  https://useventing.com/safety-education/safety/covid-19-resources

In addition to reading and understanding the new competition rules in this new era of COVID -19, please stay informed by seeking guidance  from appropriate State and Federal resources.  Since all of our events after Rebecca Farm are in Washington, here's the link to the Washington State requirements for the phased reopening: https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SafeStartWA_4May20_1pm.pdf

Given the ongoing developing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, please recognize that the priority of Area VII leadership and organizers is the health and well-being of our membership, competitors, volunteers and spectators. There are new requirements for all of us and it is important for us to comply with the new safety rules to better protect everyone. Non-compliance may result in elimination and/or being required to leave the grounds.

Also, please carefully read the entry forms, refund policies and waivers that you are required to sign as some of this has changed from prior years.

Whether you are competing or choosing to stay home this year, I wish you and your equine partners a safe and healthy summer!

Best Regards,

Cynthia Bayles,  Area VII Chair

Area VII Newsletter - May 5, 2020

May 5, 2020

To:  Area VII Members and Competitors

From:  The Area VII Chair

Subject:  2020 Area VII Eventing Season – Status Update

First and most importantly, during these difficult times, we hope that everyone is staying safe.

As far as our equestrian activities are concerned, some of us have been willing and able to ride, jump, train, gallop and otherwise have our horses “going and ready”, while others have been unable to even see their horses due to barn closures – with many other levels of horse activity in between these two seemingly all or nothing extremes.

Will we have an eventing season this year?  We don’t know, but as a council we have at least one conference call every month to discuss what’s going on in our region and what’s happening at the USEF and USEA levels.  Ultimately, how we as eventers will be able to get out and about for training, clinics and competitions will be governed by the rules and guidelines that flow from the USEF, USEA and our state and local governments – in addition to our individual tolerance levels for risk.

Keep things in perspective. If you are unable or unwilling to compete this year, that’s ok. For those of us who are even considering this possibility, how lucky are we right now?

To be an event organizer is always challenging – especially now.  Our events are governed by the USEF and USEA rules and regulations.  Combined with state and local guidelines regarding what types of activities can be held, how many people can gather together and public health concerns, our organizers are being presented with even greater challenges than normal. 

The USEF and USEA are in the process of developing additional safety protocols that will enhance our ability to safely return to competition during this new era of COVID-19.  Please stay up to date on the USEF and USEA guidelines by periodically referencing their respective websites.  The USEF is developing a COVID-19 Action Plan - Mandatory and Recommended Practices, that will be on the USEF website by the end of this week, along with access to the webinar presented on Monday, 5/4/20, “Planning for a Safe Return to Competition". 

This year, more than ever, we as riders and competitors need to be keenly aware of our responsibility for knowing what we and our horses are ready for. Not having competed or perhaps even trained or able to properly condition means that if we decide to compete, maybe we need to start out at a level or even two levels below where we finished last year and use our first couple of events as the training/preparation for which we otherwise would have used early season derbies or schooling events. 

Amid the threat of the coronavirus, as states give businesses and activities the right to re-open, it will be the patrons who will make their own judgment about whether they can safely show up. As competitors and spectators, we are also patrons at our events.  We need to make our own judgment about what we consider to be safe. 

Know that our Area VII organizers will be doing everything within their power to make activities and competitions as safe as possible.  There will be new requirements for all of us and it will be important for us to comply with the new safety rules to better protect everyone.

A strong message during this USEF webinar was that as we develop appropriate protocols for the return to competitions, we only have one shot at getting this right without endangering people’s health – riders, officials, grooms, spectators, volunteers, everyone.

We need to remember that as we return to our riding and competition activities, our goal is to not contribute to the spread of the virus.  It is up to each of us as individuals to be responsible in our behaviors so we do not contribute to the spread of this virus.

We are all “chomping at the bit” to get back out there with our horses and friends at our wonderful events in Area VII.  In the meantime, hang in there, be informed and stay safe!

Best Regards,

Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair


 

USEF Covid-19 March 19th, 2020 Update

TO: U.S. Eventing Stakeholders
FROM: USEF Eventing Department
DATE: March 19, 2020
RE: COVID-19 Eventing Update

Dear U.S. Eventing Stakeholders,

With eventing facing numerous competition cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our top priority remains the safety and welfare of all involved in the sport. The USEF and USEA understand the urgency to stabilize the calendar for all levels, the importance of relaunching the sport at the right time and the need to address the cancellation of Olympic selection trials. Please join me in thanking the 100+ USEF and USEA committee members who have participated in emergency meetings over the past week to develop viable solutions. We are in the process of finalizing an action plan to address areas of impact across the sport and will communicate this information publicly as soon as possible. As we continue to adapt to new developments occurring on a daily basis, we sincerely appreciate your patience.

The USEF Eventing Department will send updates via email to communicate directly to our members. Please email Taylor Rea at trea@usef.org to be added to the eventing distribution list. All COVID-19 news, updates and information relating specifically to eventing will be posted directly to the USEF Eventing Homepage. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to access links.) Please check the Eventing News & Updates page daily for updates. The USEF has also launched a USEF General COVID-19 Resource Center and High Performance COVID-19 Resource Center, which will include updates from the USOPC and FEI, as well as USEF medical staff.

Tokyo 2020: The IOC remains fully committed to holding the Olympics. Following the cancellation of the two remaining U.S. selection trials, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Selection Procedures are currently under review and will be amended. Once the updates to the Selection Procedures are approved, the updates will be posted on the Tokyo 2020 page and distributed via email and social media.

Calendar & Competitions: All competitions that cancelled will have the opportunity to request to reschedule their date. We are working closely with the USEA and USEF Competitions and Licensing Departments to develop a timeline and process to submit bids and develop an amended calendar. The timeline, deadlines and process to submit requested date changes will be announced as soon as possible. Check the U.S. FEI Eventing Competitions page for updates on FEI eventing competitions. Check the USEA Calendar for updates on National competitions. Questions about the calendar and rescheduling competitions can be directed to Shealagh Costello at scostello@usef.org.

NAYC: Following the cancellation of competitions to qualify for the North American Youth Championships, the NAYC Selection Procedures are currently under review. Any changes to the NAYC Selection Procedures will be distributed via email and social media. Area Coordinators will communicate regular updates to athletes seeking to qualify for NAYC. All questions pertaining to NAYC can be directed to Christina Vaughn at cvaughn@usef.org.

The USEF Eventing Department is working from home through Friday, March 27 and continuing to provide all usual services and support to our members. Our office phones are forwarded to our mobile phones during this time, so please continue to use the phone numbers below to reach us. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments or concerns. Our top priority remains the safety and welfare of our athletes, members, staff and their families.

Sincerely,

Jenni Autry
Managing Director of Eventing
jautry@usef.org
859-225-2052

Christina Vaughn
Director of Eventing Performance and Program Support
cvaughn@usef.org
859-225-6917

Shealagh Costello
Director of Eventing National Programs
scostello@usef.org
859-225-6923

Gemma Stobbs
Director of Eventing Programs
gstobbs@usef.org
859-225-6929

Lauren Moore
Sport Programs Assistant
lmoore@usef.org
859-225-6922

 

Questions?  Please contact Jenni Autry at jautry@usef.org
 

 


This message was sent by the US Equestrian Eventing department.
 

COVID-19 Update

March 15, 2020

To:  USEA Area VII Members and Competitors

From: The Area VII Chair

Subject:  Update on the impact of COVID-19 on Area VII Activities

On March 13th I sent an email to everyone regarding the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on our eventing calendar. If you missed it, it’s posted on the Area VII website and all of our FB pages. Please read the announcement.

Again, Area VII leadership and organizers are very concerned about the health and safety of our members and competitors and will take all necessary precautions to protect the health of our members and to prevent the spread of this new virus. We also expect you to make responsible decisions. Be informed by seeking guidance from appropriate State and Federal resources.  Here is the link to an earlier USEF statement which also includes links to various government sites: https://www.usef.org/media/coronavirus-resources

Additional announcements have since been made by USEF and USEA.  To clarify:

USEF statement 3/13/20:  Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, all USEF owned events, selection trials, training camps, clinics, and activities will be suspended for the next 30 days. Additionally, USEF strongly recommends that competition organizers suspend all USEF licensed competitions across the country for the next 30 days and that equestrians do not compete for the next 30 days.

The USEF strongly recommends that Organizers cancel all competitions running within the next 30 days, and the FEI strongly recommends that Organizers should cancel all events for the next four weeks. However, all USEF Licensed Competitions and U.S. FEI competitions can still run during the next 30 days if the Organizers still choose to run.  Please be advised that the USEF strongly recommends that athletes do not compete for the next 30 days.

USEA statement 3/14/20:  The USEA Board of Governors voted to suspend recognizing any competitions under its direct jurisdiction held in the U.S. at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels for a period of at least two weeks (14 days) starting on Monday, March 16. The suspension extends also to USEA recognized educational activities, Young Event Horse, Future Event Horse, and New Event Horse competitions.

The USEA Board of Governors will continue to closely follow recommendations from the CDC, as well as state and federal government, and will monitor the increase in numbers of diagnosed cases, deaths, and geographical spread of the virus to reassess its position before the conclusion of the suspension period on March 30.

Translation:  No USEA sponsored activities (events, clinics, any education activity sponsored/endorsed by USEA) for AT LEAST two weeks, but the situation will be monitored and an additional announcement from USEA will be made on or before March 30th.

Our Young Riders have spring clinics scheduled in late April and the Adult Rider Camp is scheduled in May.  Many have asked what this means for us.  We don’t know yet but we are monitoring the situation and will make responsible decisions based on the information available, the conditions in our region and any local/regional public health advisories in effect.  We will continue to assess the situation and will update our position as circumstances warrant.

Barb Jensen, our Young Rider Coordinator, will make an announcement by April 1 regarding the status of the April YR Clinics.

Maggie Rikard, our Adult Rider Coordinator, will make an announcement regarding the Adult Rider Camp well in advance of camp.

As your regional eventing leadership, the Area VII Council will continue to monitor the situation and will continue to update our membership by sharing announcements from our governing bodies on our website and our FB pages.  Please visit our website at www.areavii.org frequently for any updates.

We also concur with the following USEF statement:  Please be advised that the USEF strongly recommends that athletes do not compete for the next 30 days. If you do choose to compete, it is your responsibility to monitor each competition’s current status. USEF recommends that you take immediate steps to limit your exposure to COVID-19 and practice social distancing. Click here to read recommendations to limit exposure.

Everyone please be informed, be safe and make good decisions for your health and the health of others.

Best Regards,

Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair

COVID-19 Impact on Area VII Activities

 

To:  USEA Area VII Members and Competitors

From:  The USEA Area VII Chair

Given the developing situation with the COVID-19 Pandemic, please recognize that the priority of Area VII leadership is the health and well-being of our membership, competitors and spectators.

At this time we are not announcing the cancellation of any events or this year’s competitive season, but this may change.  For example, the Governors of both Washington and Oregon have implemented bans on public gatherings of more than 250 people.  As long as this ban remains in effect, our events in WA and OR will be unable to run as they are currently structured.

Additionally, this morning the USEF published the following statement: :  https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/a-letter-from-president-ceo-regarding.

Area VII leadership and organizers are very concerned about the health and safety of our members and competitors and will take all necessary precautions to protect the health of our members and to prevent the spread of this new virus.

We also expect you to make responsible decisions. Be informed by seeking guidance from appropriate State and Federal resources.  Here is the link to an earlier USEF statement which also includes links to various government sites:   https://www.usef.org/media/coronavirus-resources

 Additional announcements regarding the impacts of this Pandemic on the Area VII Competition Calendar will
be made as the situation develops.  Please check our website at www.areavii.org for updates. Announcements will be posted to our website, FB pages and emailed to all current USEA Area VII members.

Best Regards,

Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair





 







 










February 2020 Newsletter

Happy New Year to everyone!

This newsletter is a little long, but it contains some important information.

It’s the time of year when many of us are getting started on our goals for the new year. This is especially challenging with horses, as we often end up taking a few steps back or sideways before we can go forward again.  Eventing is a tough sport.  Right about the time we think we’ve got it all together and everything is clicking perfectly, something goes wrong – sometimes terribly wrong.

As with many other sports and activities, eventing has an element of risk that sometimes results in catastrophic injuries to horses and riders.  Unfortunately, we’ve experienced some of these situations in our area. But when we have, our area has come together to support our members who have been affected. 

The safety of the horse and rider and rider responsibility are and have been center stage topics for some time.  From frangible pin technology to helmets, safety vests and more, there is a lot that has been and continues to be done to mitigate the risks and increase the safety for horses and riders.  But the risks cannot be completely eradicated.

Be informed – read articles from reliable and scientific sources.  The USEA and USEF websites are good about providing updated information on scientific studies and rules. I encourage everyone to be aware and informed.  As riders, owners, organizers and parents, it is our responsibility to be informed about the rules, safety and so much more.

Please be sure that if you are required to complete the on-line Safe Sport training that you do so sooner rather than later. Even if you are not required to take the training, everyone should be aware of this very important program because it does affect all of us.  There are a number of videos and educational resources on the USEF website about Safe Sport that are designed for parents, owners, youth and others who may not be formally required to take the online training, but who should be aware of Safe Sport and how it impacts everyone. This is the link to the USEF Safe Sport resources page that contains extensive information and links to everything you need to know about Safe Sport:  https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/rules-regulations/safe-sport

Rider responsibility was a focus topic at the USEA Convention in December, 2019.  Rider responsibility is a broad subject.  I want to take this opportunity to talk about rider responsibility as it relates to behavior and the image that we convey to others about us and our sport.

Every one of us – riders of all ages, coaches, trainers, owners – each of us is a representative of the sport of eventing to our fellow competitors, organizers, spectators and the general public.  How we behave and how we treat our horses, whether we are competing, watching, in the barn or out and about in any way, is noticed by people and can have a positive or negative impact on the public’s perception of us and our sport. 

Note that word – perception. Perception is reality. How others perceive us is how they think of us and the sport we represent.

One of the good things about eventing is that we tend to police ourselves.  If someone behaves badly or exhibits poor sportsmanship or horsemanship, or cheats in any way,typically someone who has seen or heard about or knows about this behavior is going to say something about it – usually directly to our faces.  If we’ve behaved inappropriately, we should be called out for it and then we need to apologize and/or take appropriate corrective action. We need to take responsibility for our own actions. We are accountable not only to our federation, our area and our team, but to ourselves.

Sometimes inappropriate behavior is bad enough that an event official gets involved, and/or a concern may go directly to the USEA or the USEF. When this happens, the repercussions can be quite serious. “The United States Equestrian Federation is a member driven organization based on the interests of fair play, horse welfare, and the enjoyment of equestrian sport.As the National Governing Body of equestrian sport, the Federation is tasked with maintaining fair play and horse welfare throughout its community of members.”

Appropriate behavior is especially important if we are on a team – any team – be it an Adult Rider Team, a Young Rider Team or a National Team – such as a team at the AEC’s or at the NAYC.

Simply being a good athlete may not be enough to be selected to be on a team. How we conduct ourselves and thus how we represent our team and our sport – i.e. how we behave and whether or not we are “team players” are very important and can be the final deciding factor in whether or not we are selected for, or perhaps kicked off, a team.

From the 2020 Olympic Selection Procedures: “Behavior of athlete and people associated with the athlete (including without limitation, owners, coaches and grooms) that may have an impact on creating a positive team environment. Athletes will be informed of any concerns regarding behavior prior to the Selectors making their selection decision.”

Sometimes when we are on a team, we may also be required to sign a code of conduct.  When we do this, we acknowledge our obligation to uphold and adhere to the highest standards of horsemanship, sportsmanship, and citizenship whenever we are representing our team, area or country, whether as a team member, individual competitor, or horse owner, and whether during actual competition or not. Failure to comply
could be grounds for suspension from a team or other appropriate disciplinary action. 

It is a privilege to be named to a team, and it is expected that every individual serving on a team will be a positive representative of themselves, the Federation and the sport.

That said, we in Area VII can and should be very proud of our reputation within the organization as a whole.  Our culture is one of  inclusiveness and support.  When one of us falls down –literally or figuratively – someone else in our community is always there to help us to our feet and get us back on the correct path.  Our culture is not just one of the things that makes our sport so rewarding, but it is perhaps the single strongest aspect of our sport and why we see such a variety of people and horses competing and participating in eventing throughout their lives.

As members – adults, youth, professionals, amateurs, organizers, riders and owners - we shouldn't be afraid to speak up or be shamed by others for speaking up. If someone calls you out on your behavior with or without your horse, think for a minute and ask yourself what you can do differently so the wrong message isn't being conveyed or perceived. Just by taking some ownership and being accountable, a lot can be resolved and an uncomfortable or problematic situation then may not escalate into something worse.  This includes everything from excessive whipping, yanking on a horse’s mouth or over-aggressive treatment of a horse that could be perceived as abuse, to smack-talk about another rider to abuse of drugs (human or equine) or alcohol or any other inappropriate or even illegal behavior.

If you see something, say something.  If you’re afraid or uncomfortable to approach the person directly or the person treats you in an abusive manner, even if that person is a coach, trainer or an official, take your concern to another official or a person you trust. How would you feel if you didn’t say something and then later something worse happens that might have been prevented had you only said something to someone
about your experience or what you heard or saw?

If you want to remain anonymous in reporting something you have heard or observed, that is ok and your anonymity will be respected.  Some things that are seen and reported need to be kept confidential pending further investigation.  Officials throughout the organization respect the need for confidentiality. Additionally, depending on the age of the person(s) involved, confidentiality may be required and names never released.

Our Area VII community is strong thanks to the generosity and support of our volunteers, donors, sponsors, organizers, owners and riders who in many cases are the same person or people just wearing different hats.  We are generally courteous, thankful, supportive of each other and our sport and we play by the rules. We in Area VII are all fortunate to be and should be proud of being a part of this community and it is our responsibility to continue to do everything we can to keep it this way.

So please – be aware, be informed, be accountable, be responsible.  If you see something, say something.

Wishing everyone and their equine partners a safe and healthy New Year and a fun and successful 2020 eventing season!

Best Regards,

Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair


 



Annual Meeting updates

December 22, 2019

Greetings from the Area VII Chair

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

We are very excited about our upcoming annual meeting and awards celebration, which is in just a fa month away, on January 25,
2020, at the Shilo Inn, Portland Airport. This is our opportunity to gather once a year in a warm indoor setting to join in educational seminars, socialize and get all dressed up to celebrate our achievements and successes of the prior competition year.

In the evening we will enjoy a nice dinner and celebrate and recognize those among us who had the most successful competitive results in
2019.  But even for those of us who won’t be on the winner’s podium this year, we need to take this opportunity to congratulate ourselves and our peers for all of the good experiences we had last year – or maybe just surviving it.

We’re planning on some type of social gathering following the awards celebration that will be fun for youth and adults alike. Details TBD.

Winning isn’t everything – although it sure is nice to be in the ribbons! Competing with horses is not always easy as they too have good
days and bad days.  Sometimes just showing up or merely completing is winning. One of the best things about our competitive season is the time we get to spend with our friends. Our fun pot-lucks and parties, camping together, walking courses together, cheering each other on and even grooming for each other. We are fortunate to have such a supportive community in our area.

As you’ve noticed, the theme for this year’s meeting is “horsemanship” – from veterinary and nutritional perspectives to our relationships
and partnerships with our horses.  his year we are fortunate to have three highly qualified professionals join us to share their knowledge and experience from these perspectives:

Dr. Rachel Gottlieb specializes in equine lameness and musculoskeletal problems in horses and will be talking to us from the veterinarian’s point of view,  https://www.equinepi.com/

Dr. Tania Cubitt, of Performance Horse Nutrition, will be with us all day and talk to us about the nutritional needs of event horses.  Bring your
questions as she will be available all day. http://performancehorsenutrition.com/

Tik Maynard, our keynote speaker this year, is an upper level eventer who is known for his clinics on horsemanship and recently wrote the book, “In the Middle are the Horsemen”. www.copperlineequestrian.com/tikmaynard

Tik will also be presenting an unmounted one-day seminar on Sunday. Registration for the seminar is separate from the meeting. And –
attending this classroom seminar will be an excellent way to prepare for the mounted seminar with Tik at Bauernhof Equestrian Center,  February 1-2, 2020.. https://www.facebook.com/Bauernhof-Equestrian-Center-643502785751503/posts/

Please join us for what is sure to be a very fun and educational weekend in Portland, January 25-26, 2020.  Registration information for Saturday’s meeting and Sunday’s seminar is on this website in the “Resources” tab under “Annual Meeting”.  If you call the hotel to make a room reservation be sure to tell them you’re with USEA Area VII for the rate of $125, which includes breakfast in the restaurant.

Be sure and check the Leaderboard for 2019.  There were a couple of placings that were corrected after the first release. Note the Horse of the Year and the Rider of the Year are a surprise and will be announced during our awards ceremony.

Don’t forget about our always wonderful silent auction. Please let us know in advance what you will be donating so we can prepare the
bid sheets and prepare accordingly. Thank you to everyone who supports this important fundraiser that supports various Area VII educational programs and our annual awards celebration.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in January!

Best Regards,

Cynthia Bayles, Area VII Chair




ICP Workshop in Area VII December 18-17, 2019

The following ICP Workshop has been added to the ICP Calendar.  

Levels I/II Teaching of Dressage Workshop – Area VII

December 16-17, 2019

Wasatch Sport Horses

4522 W Beacon Light Road

Eagle, ID 83616

Contact:  Stephanie Goodman wshorses@gmail.com  208-315-2086

 ICP Workshops are open to auditors as well as prospective ICP Certified Instructors.  Certified Instructors receive continuing education credit for attending workshops.

 

Area VII Fall 2019 Newsletter

Mark your calendars for the USEA Area VII Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, January 25, 2020, at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel - Portland Airport, 11707 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR.  (503))-252-7500. 

Please join our regional eventing family for our annual celebration to recognize and congratulate those whose performances this season earned them spots on the Leaderboard (and the rest of us too!).  Check out the Leaderboard, most recently updated through September 1st.

Pricing, details and a schedule will be announced in the near future and posted to our website.

To reserve a room at the Shilo, please contact the hotel directly. They are holding a block of rooms for us – King Suites or Queen Suites for a discounted rate of $125.90 per room per night, plus applicable taxes.  Each hotel registered guest with our group also receives a complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast each morning in the restaurant. The rooms are held under the name, “USEA Area VII”.

We are excited to have successful upper level rider and natural horseman Tik Maynard join us as our keynote speaker.  Tik has earned a reputation as an outstanding horseman, trainer and instructor and I encourage you to reference a few articles about him.  Check out the on-line article on the USEA website about Tik at https://useventing.com/news-media/news/featured-clinician-tik-maynard

Another article I really like was printed in Practical Horseman and can be found at this link:  https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/lifestyle/tik-maynard-earning-trust-thoroughbred-30949

The educational theme this year for our presentations is “horsemanship”, with a focus on how to develop a better partnership with your horse and how to provide the best veterinary and nutritional care for your special equine partner.  In addition to advice from Tik about developing a partnership in working with our horses on the ground and under saddle, there is also much we can learn about veterinary health care, nutrition and the latest research. We are thus very pleased to have our own Dr. Rachel Gottlieb, DVM, from Northwest Equine Performance be joining us and are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Tania Cubitt, of Performance Horse Nutrition.

To further enhance our knowledge, we are offering a classroom seminar with Tik on Sunday January 26, 2020, at the hotel. Course outline below:

How Horses Think, Learn, Feel and Play: A One Day classroom Course with Tik Maynard 

9-12am; Lunch break (lunch is included); and 1-4pm

Topics

Tik will address things like:

What is the difference between control and communication?

What is Natural Horsemanship?

What motivates horses?

What is reinforcement and what is punishment?

Introducing horses to new things.

Dealing with a distracted horse.

The difference between friendship and leadership.


Case studies

A look at some videos and some Stories of horses Tik and Sinead have trained

Questions

A chance to ask any horse behavior questions of your own.

Simulations

Some indoor simulations for you to feel how the horse might feel.

Includes:  6 hours of classroom time, a signed copy of Tik’s Book, a chance to ask questions, discounts on The Horseman’s University

Registration for the seminar is separate from the annual meeting and awards banquet.

Registration cost per person for the seminar, including lunch, is $150 for USEA members, $175 for non-members.  Pre-registration closes January 10, 2020. Depending on space availability, late registration may be accepted at a cost of $175 for USEA members and $200 for non-members.

Don’t forget about our important fundraiser that is also held during our annual meeting – the silent auction. Funds generated by our silent auction support many of our educational activities and our championships. USEA is a non-profit so in-kind donations may also be tax deductible.

Barb Barke and Tally Docken are our auction organizers this year. Please contact Barb at b.barke@yahoo.com if you would like to donate an item to the auction.

Calling all barns – who can put together the most popular gift basket for the auction? So many imaginative theme baskets and other really nice items show up at our auctions. I’m looking forward to seeing what appears this year!

Do you have a store or make something you sell to eventers? We’d love to have you offer your product at our annual meeting. Donate an auction item to secure your vendor space!  Vendor space is limited so please contact Cynthia Bayles at cbayles@wavecable.com for details if you are interested in being a vendor.

Congratulations to everyone on another good year of eventing in Area VII, and wishing those heading south to complete their seasons the best of luck!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at our Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet in January 2020.