Week in Review - U.S. Equestrian

With the change of seasons, USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians, reminds those who travel with horses to be careful when traveling and to invest time doing routine preventive trailer maintenance to enhance their travel safety.

The 2008 FEI General Assembly week got underway on Monday, November 17, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is set to run through Saturday, November 22. An impressive number of meetings are scheduled for the week, including the General Assembly on Thursday, November 21, as well as informative sessions and forums with guest speakers on the current issues facing the sport today.

Creation of a Commission on Medication and Doping Supported by the International Olympic Committee

On behalf of all those who contribute to the equestrian family, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), governing body of international equestrian sport, announced on November 20 the creation of a commission on medication and doping chaired by Dr. Arne Ljungqvist, Chairman of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission and Vice President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Executive Committee approved the specifications for the Eventing Watch List on November 17, 2008. Born out of discussions at the USEF/USEA Safety Summit in June, the goal of the Watch List is to notify riders at USEF licensed and USEF endorsed Eventing competitions that their riding is potentially dangerous.

Basse Normandie, France, Becomes Official Candidate to Host the 2014 FEI World Equestrian

Representatives of the French Equestrian Federation formally presented to the FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the Candidacy Book outlining the bid of the French region of Basse Normandie, Northern France, to host the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games.

Good news awaits when you renew your membership online for 2009! If you were an amateur, professional or junior member in 2007 or 2008, you will be able to renew online using our new Quick Renewal. Just log in to your My USEF Account and select the Quick Renew option. All of your membership information will be there. All you have to do is review it; edit it, if necessary; submit payment; and print out a copy of your 2009 card.

In addition, the membership process has been further streamlined by doing away with the breed/discipline dues. The new USEF Competing Equestrian Membership due for all Senior Active and Junior Active members is $55. With that, you will be able to participate at all USEF Licensed Competitions, as well as receive automatic insurance and MemberPerks.

There are also two new member categories for individuals not participating in USEF Licensed Competitions. The USEF Equestrian ($35) includes the automatic insurance and access to the MemberPerks program, while the Club Equestrian ($15) includes access to MemberPerks.

If you have any questions about the new memberships, please call one of our Customer Care Agents at (859) 258-2472.

Once your membership has been processed you will be sent a membership card as well as key fobs. You are required to present proof of current USEF membership in order to compete in USEF Licensed Competitions. If you do not have your membership card, a key fob, or a copy of your membership card, you will be required to pay a $30 non-refundable non-member fee. You can print a copy of your card from www.usef.org. Please note, effective 12/01/08 you will no longer be able to sign a membership affidavit in lieu of paying the non-member fee.

Your USEF membership also verifies your amateur status. If you wish to compete in amateur classes and you have not presented proof of USEF membership with Amateur Certification, you will also be charged the non-member amateur fee of $30.

Competitions that are also recognized by an Affiliate organization may require membership in the Affiliate organization to be eligible to compete. You may be required to show proof of membership in the Affiliate organization, e.g. USHJA, USDF, USEA, AHA, AMHA, ASHA, IALHA, AHHS, IFSHA and others.

USEF Membership information can be verified online, however, should the competition office not have the opportunity to verify your membership information online, you will be assessed the relevant non-member fees.

Check Your Points in the Farnam®/Platform™ USEF Horse of the Year Program

Do not wait until the end of the year! Your points are already online.

Please check your points and standings in your respective division(s) by:

Calling the Horse Report Hotline at (859) 258-2472, or
Ordering a copy of your horse’s point report via e-mail or mail (faxed copies will incur an additional charge), or
Checking your standings online.

Current Standings of a Few National Champion Divisions (as of November 13, 2008)

Division	Horse	Owner
Andalusian/Lusitano Driving	Fandango Del Sol	Rothrock Andalusians
Arabian English Pleasure/Pleasure Driving Open	Wisely Keepn Time	Georgia Hodge
Combined Driving-Four-in-Hand Horses	Boy W, Jamaica, Para, Rolex W	Chester Weber
Friesian Specialty	Pegasus	Friesian Quest, LLC
Hackney Pony Pleasure Driving	Mastercraft's Namesake LF	Stephany Monteleone
Half-/Anglo-Arabian Country Pleasure/ Country Pleasure Driving-Open	Sparkssafire	Janice Scott
Amateur Owner Hunter Over 35 Years	Vancouver	Margot Sutherland
$25,000+ Grand Prix Jumper	Up Chiqui	William Dobbs
Morgan English Pleasure Junior Exhibitor	HVK Flash Back	Equilateral Enterprise, Inc.
National Show Horse Hunter Pleasure	NTC Remmington Bey	Shelly Lehman
Roadster Pony Junior Exhibitor	Baby Cakes	Andie Lloyd
American Saddlebred Five-Gaited Open	CCV Casey's Final Countdown	A.M. Macfarlane
Welsh Pony Adult	Glynhafan Hermione	Kaitlin Hofer
Trail Open	Roxy Music	Peggy Weems

Joining the program is as easy as filling out an application, which may be found on the USEF website here, or may be obtained at any recognized horse show, or by contacting the USEF office at (859) 258-2472.

Take a holiday from interest payments!

Leave the interest payments behind this holiday season, with the United States Equestrian Federation Visa ® Platinum Card, now offering 0% APR for 12 billing cycles*! Wrap up great holiday memories with this unique card, knowing you’ll pay no interest until next winter. The United States Equestrian Federation Visa is perfect for holiday shopping, but you need to switch now to save. Plus, you’ll benefit our organization and earn great rewards with every purchase!

0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles*

The United States Equestrian Federation Visa ® Platinum Card alsoprovides great benefits, including:

No annual fee
Your choice of benefits and rewards
A percentage of every purchase goes directly to the United States Equestrian Federation

This Visa Platinum card issued by U.S. Bank is now the only card that supports the United States Equestrian Federation. Upon receiving your new card, we receives a payment from U.S. Bank and then we will continue to receive a percentage of each net purchase you make on your card. This helps us continue to fund important programs and activities.

Click here to apply today or call 1-800-853-5576, x9244.

Hurry, offer ends December 31, 2008.

*Click product name for terms and conditions: Signature, Platinum, Cash Rewards, Select Rewards. The 0% introductory APR does not apply to Cash Advances or the College Rewards Visa Card and is valid for the first twelve billing cycles on Purchases and Balance Transfers. Thereafter, the APR may vary, and as of 9/30/08, the undiscounted variable APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers is 9.24%-20.24% (depending on your credit history).The variable APR for Purchases and Balance Transfers or any Delinquency Rate then in effect will apply to any outstanding balances after the promotional period ends. For updated rate information, call 1-866-322-7989.The variable APR for Cash Advances is 21.24%-26.24%. We apply your payments to balances with lower APRs first. There is a variable Delinquency Rate APR of 29.24% if your payment is late or you are over the limit. Cash Advance Fee: 4%, $10 minimum. Convenience Check Advance Fee: 3%, $5 minimum. Overdraft Protection: Advances posting as Overdraft Protection are subject to a fee of $10 per occurrence. Cash Equivalent Fee: 4%, $20 minimum. No Balance Transfer Fees for balances transferred with this application. Thereafter 3%, $5 minimum. There is a $2 minimum finance charge where interest is due and a $2.50 Closed Account Management Fee if you voluntarily close your account with a balance. Foreign Transaction Fee: less than or equal to 3% of the amount of your transaction in U.S. dollars. The Late Payment Fee is $19 for balances less than $100, $29 for balances of $100–$250, and $39 for balances of $250 and higher.

The creditor and issuer of the Visa Platinum card is the U.S. Bank National Association ND.

The vision of the United States Equestrian Federation® is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America by promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its human and equine athletes.

Upcoming USEF National Championships