E-Newsletter, October 2008
2008 E-Newsletter October Issue!
Welcome to the October issue of the 2008 e-newsletter! Replacing the old print Newsletter for Competitions and Officials, this format will allow us to more rapidly distribute information to you, our membership. Use the navigational buttons to the left to browse through the different sections of the newsletter. You will find an email link to the author at the bottom of each article if you wish to contact them to ask for more information.
2009 Renewals Are Now Available!
2009 Renewals are now available online. The annual printed renewal forms for licensed officials were mailed October 6th, and renewals for the regular membership were mailed on October 10th. Those who have a valid email address in our database also received a reminder email. New for the 2009 competition year is the Quick Renewal. The Quick Renewal is available to those who were Senior Active members in the 2008 competition year and have few or no changes to their membership information.
To access the Quick Renewal, simply log into your Authorized User Account as normal and select ‘2009 USEF Membership Application.’ If you are eligible for the Quick Renewal, you will have the option to select either Quick Renewal or Regular Renewal. Once you select the Quick Renewal, you can view each section of your membership information individually, or you can simply click View All to see all of your information at once. All your pertinent information will be pre-loaded with the membership information that was in our database for the 2008 competition year. If you have no changes to make, once you click View All and review your information, clicking Continue will take you straight to the agreement and payment sections of the renewal.
The Quick Renewal saves you the step of paging through each section of membership individually before your renewal is complete. If you have major changes to make to your membership options, using the Regular Renewal may best suit your needs. The Quick Renewal is not available if you are renewing at a competition.
We have been given the go-ahead to print the Roster of Licensed Officials for 2009, so the usual November 15th deadline for membership and license renewal will apply. In addition, licensed officials, competition secretaries and competition managers will receive a hard copy of the rule book as long as the inventory lasts, unless a memory stick is requested. Those individuals who received a memory stick in 2008 will not be eligible to receive another memory stick in 2009.
If you have any questions about the Quick Renewal process, please call one of our Customer Care Agents at (859) 258-2472.
2009 USEF MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES AND CARDS
There are two new member categories for 2009 – USEF Equestrian and Club Equestrian.
Both memberships are non-competing memberships. These two member category cards are featured below and are distinguished from the USEF Competing Equestrian Membership by their BLUE color. If a member presents one of these Blue cards, they will be unable to participate as a rider, driver, handler, vaulter, longeur, owner, lessee, agent, coach, trainer, competition manager or competition secretary at a USEF licensed competition. The online cards will state “Club Equestrian” or “USEF Equestrian” and will have the words “Non-Competing” printed on them.
For all USEF Competing Equestrians, licensed officials, competition managers and competition secretaries, the membership process has been further streamlined by doing away with the breed/discipline dues. The new member fee for all Senor Active and Junior Active members is $55. All Senior Active and Junior Active members can now compete at all USEF licensed competitions. The USEF Competing Equestrian and USEF Competing Equestrian/USHJA Active Member cards are below:
If you have any questions about the new memberships, please call one of our Customer Care Agents at (859) 258-2472.
Secretary Signatures Needed
Pursuant to GR1309.1, in order for someone’s membership to be active at the time of the competition, the secretary must sign and date the application. More recently, USEF has received several unsigned and undated applications from the competitions. This can affect an exhibitors points and standings. Please try to have the legal size membership application filled out at the competition so that the correct signatures are included and if those are not available, please make sure that the secretary is properly signing and dating any membership form that is being sent to the Federation so that the member gets proper membership dates and credit.
Contact: Michele Hoskins, Account Analysis Representative
Filling Out And Signing Entries When A Minor Is Involved....
There have been some questions from exhibitors and officials about who should sign in certain areas on the entry blank when a minor is involved. Below are some guidelines to follow…
1. A parent or guardian (agent, trainer, etc.) must sign in the “Parent/Guardian” section on the entry blank.
2. If a minor has a trainer other than the parent, the trainer must sign the trainer section and if the trainer has consent from the parent, can also sign the “Parent/Guardian” section of the entry blank.
3. If the minor is the trainer of the horse, then the name of the minor must be included in the “print owner name” section; however, the parent must sign the “Trainer” signature line on behalf of the minor including (parent) beside their signature. Since the minor is considered the trainer (but just can’t legally sign) the parent signing the “Trainer” line does not have to be a member. Please see the example below.
Sue Smith is a minor who owns, trains and rides her own horses:
Contact: Lori Nelson, Director of Regulations
EFFECTIVE 12/1/08….NO MORE USEF/USHJA AFFIDAVIT FORMS!
Effective 12/1/08, the rule regarding affidavits will be changed to require that if members do not have the proper USEF or USHJA membership documents and the show does not have the ability or opportunity to verify the membership information, the exhibitor will be assessed a $30 (or $60 if both USEF and USHJA) non-refundable non-member fee. This change does not affect any breed affidavit form that may be applicable to the Affiliate memberships and/or registration paperwork.
The non-member amateur card fee and signature line will be moved back to the membership application so please make sure if you have any non-members who want to show in amateur classes, they will need to fill out the section on the membership application and pay the on-time/year $30 non-member amateur card fee, in addition to the $30(or $60 if both USEF and USHJA) non-member fee. Please also note that foreign riders must pay the $30 non-member amateur card fee if they want to show in amateur classes. Exception: Members of Equine Canada must sign the non-member amateur card section but do not have to pay the $30 fee.
Contact: Lori Nelson, Director of Regulations
ARABIAN AND HA/AA PERFORMANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
GR809 Performance Championships.
1. A Show Committee must designate all qualifying classes and can require any or all winners in a qualifying class to compete in a Performance Championship class provided this is stated in the prize list and the gaits required are the same as in the qualifying class.
2. To be eligible to show in a Performance Championship class a horse must have been properly entered, shown and judged in one qualifying class in the same division or section.
This means that the competition must designate all qualifying classes for a Championship and can require the winners of those classes to show back or forfeit their winnings provided that the gait requirements are the same in both the qualifying classes and the championship class. The competition cannot force an entry to enter a championship class if the gaits are different, nor can it force an entry to forfeit its winnings for not entering.
However, if the horse is qualified in a class within the same section with gaits less than required for the championship, it may enter the Championship if the class is designated as a qualifying class for the Championship.
Contact: Joyce Hamblin, Director of National Affiliates
Attention USEF Members!
Remember to take advantage of the USEF MemberPerks Program. USEF MemberPerks offers substantial cost savings on products and services from John Deere, Office Max, UPS and many more!
For more information, please call (877) 576-6872 or visit USEF.org's MemberPerks page.
Competitions
Eventing Competition Management
All eventing competitions must have an Accident Preparedness Plan in place at the start of the competition and a copy of the plan must be given to the technical delegate to be submitted to the Federation with their Technical Delegate’s Report per GR1211.4. If you have any questions regarding this rule, please contact Leigh Anne Claywell at (859) 225-6959 or via email link below.
Contact: Leigh Anne Claywell, Director of Competitions
Competition Management News/Reminders
Please be aware that the Federation will not be printing a Competition Calendar for the 2009 competition year. All approved competitions are located on the USEF website and have the most current information available for each competition. To find the online calendar, please go to the USEF website at www.usef.org, click on Searches on the left side of the page, then on Competition Search, then on the applicable competition year. You can then Search by Criteria, By Competition Name or by Competition Number. If using Search By Criteria, once your criteria is entered scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on View Results.
The Competition Dates Department asks management that if your competition is already approved for 2009, to please review the data on the website. If there is any information that is not correct, please email the Competition Dates Dept. at dates@usef.org for correction. Please remember that some changes are chargeable.
If you need to make a change to a competition, such as, date, location, name, competition contact, competition secretary, competition manager, rating or division, these changes must be submitted in writing to the Competition Dates Department. Please be sure to indicate what year(s) the change is for! You can send the change by email or by fax. Email address is dates@usef.org or the fax number is (859) 231-6662. Changes in dates, location and name are billable changes; see GR309 for change fees. Changes to a competition will be reflected on the USEF website within 24 hours of updating. For any questions, contact the Competition Dates Department at (859) 258-2472.
Signed license or revised license agreements must be returned to the Federation. A competition is not valid until a signed agreement has been received by the Federation. For your convenience, you can send the agreement attention of the Competition Dates Department by email or by fax. Email address is dates@usef.org or the fax number is (859) 231-6662. For any questions, contact the Competition Dates Department at (859) 258-2472.
Contact: Leigh Anne Claywell, Director of Competitions
Officials
Licensed Officials Portal!
Announcing the launch of an exiting new feature of the USEF website specifically for licensed officials: the USEF Licensed Officials Portal. Contained inside the Authorized Users Area, licensed officials can use their online username and password to sign into an entirely new section of the site. Inside the LO Portal, you will find access to detailed discussion forums for hot topics pertaining to licensed officials, a searchable FAQ section, the ability to run detailed reports, download forms, access a calendar of events, and much more. We eventually hope to have educational modules available online for continuing education purposes, and features will continue to expand as we receive feedback from our users.
This section is only available to licensed officials, and will be moderated by USEF staff. Use your regular user name and password, and click the sign-in link from the bottom right corner of our homepage, www.usef.org. Sign-in as you normally do and look for the Licensed Officials Portal link, underneath the heading Licensed Officials Reports. If you have difficulties logging in, please contact a member of USEF staff.
Contact: Abigail Cook, Legislative Coordinator
Equitation Training for Dressage Judges
In 2008, for the first time ever, an optional full day of specialized training in how to judge Dressage Seat Equitation was available to those judges who attended the USEF Judges Continuing Education Clinics for the Dressage Division in Apopka, FL and Rancho Murieta, CA in February. Interest in participating in dressage equitation classes has grown in recent years and with the growth the need for judges with knowledge of Equitation skills. Most dressage judges are used to seeing only one horse and rider at a time in the show ring, so the find it challenging judge more than one entry in the ring. To keep up with the growth this optional day of training was held in conjunction with the required dressage clinic and gave those with a special interest in equitation a chance to hone their skills.
Discussion of Equitation rules, procedures for judging Equitation, utilization of the numerical scoring system, and rider biomechanics was ably led by dressage S-rated judge Jayne Ayers, who has judged the Dressage Seat Equitation National Finals four times. The use of DVDs enhanced the learning experience as well as classes of riders and horses in live demonstrations gave all judges a chance to test their skills. Those in attendance included “S” judges, Charlotte Trentelman, Melissa Creswick, Johanna Gwinn, Ida Anderson and Paula Lacy; “R” judges Janice Conlon, Joan Darnell, Tina Drake, Peggy Klump, Donna Longacre, and Janine Malone; “r” judges Alison Head, Cheryl Holekamp, Karen Hunchberger, Jodi Jones Lees, Karen Petty, Jean Thornton, and Nancy Steineke. Each will receive special recognition in the next USEF Roster of Licensed Officials. Shows holding equitation classes are urged to use these officials who have shown extra interest in this specialized part of the Dressage Division.
The Dressage Seat Equitation Medal National Finals were first held in 2003 and have shown steady growth ever since. Riders qualify from each of the nine US Dressage Federation regions at Regional Finals to gain eligibility for the National Finals. The 2008 National Finals will be held at Lamplight Equestrian Center in Wayne, Illinois, August 30th.
Contact: Mary Smith, Director of Licensed Officials
Eventing Technical Delegate’s Information/Reminders
All eventing competitions must have an accident preparedness plan in place at the start of the competition and a copy of the plan must be provided by competition management to the technical delegate for inclusion with the Technical Delegate’s Report to the Federation as per GR1211.4.
Fall Reports must be completed for any human or equine fall that happens on the cross country course only (not needed for falls on the Stadium Jumping course). Please use the FEI fence code to categorize the jumps at which the fall occurred and if the fall resulted in an injury to horse or rider an accident/injury report must also be completed and submitted with the Technical Delegate’s Report to the Federation (fatalities or serious injuries must be called into the Federation immediately as well as faxed). The Fall Reports are to be faxed in to the Federation to the attention of Leigh Anne Claywell at (859) 231-6662 at the end of the competition or may be attached to an email to Leigh Anne Claywell.
For Question #62 on the Technical Delegate’s Report regarding competitor representative, please list the names of the representatives.
Contact: Leigh Anne Claywell, Director of Competitions
Steward and TD Reminders
Any human or equine fatality or serious injury must be called into the Federation’s emergency number, (859) 312-5186. Please be sure to note on the Accident/Injury report the date, time and who you spoke with at the Federation. The form must then be faxed to Leigh Anne Claywell at (859) 231-6662.
As a reminder, the Federation is to receive a copy of all FEI Officials Reports for our records as per GR1032.j(1).
Per GR1032.3k and GR1207, Stewards and Technical Delegates (not show secretaries or managers) are responsible for sending all completed Medication Report Forms to the Equine Drugs & Medications office in Ohio. It is further the responsibility of the Steward or TD to keep copies of Medication Report Forms, along with your other reports for a period of three years per GR1032.4. Please do not include Medication Report Forms with your reports that are sent to our Lexington office. The address for our Ohio office can be found on the bottom of the Medication Report Form.
Please be sure you are using the most up-to-date USEF Forms, this includes the Steward/TD Reports and Competition Evaluation and Competition Footing forms. Out of date Steward/TD Reports will be returned to the Steward or TD for resubmission on the current form. Current Steward/TD forms can be found on the USEF website at www.usef.org, Forms/Publications, Licensed Officials. Evaluation forms under Forms/Publications, Competitions, Evaluation Forms or the forms may be ordered through the USEF Orders Department.
Contact: Leigh Anne Claywell, Director of Competitions
FEI Stewards
The Licensed Officials Committee approved the following requirements for all FEI Stewards on April 21, 2008. For current FEI stewards, the next year due for a course will be listed on your 2009 renewal form. Course schedules will be posted on the USEF website when they are finalized. Check the Continuing Education Calendar on the Licensed Officials page.
Requirements for all FEI Stewards
• All applicants must be current Senior members in good standing of USEF.
• All applicants must speak at least one of the official languages of the FEI.
• FEI Steward Course for examination is to be attended after approval by the Licensed Officials Committee with additional attendance at an introductory course recommended.
• Apprenticeships are to be completed within 3 years prior to application to the Licensed Officials Committee. Evaluation forms must be returned to the USEF Licensed Officials Department from the FEI Chief Steward at the FEI competition.
• Under extraordinary circumstances, a person who has unique experience and competence may be accepted by the Licensed Officials Committee as a candidate upon the recommendation of the relevant discipline committee and the Steward General.
| Requirements for enrollment – in addition to the requirements stated above. |
| Dressage |
1. National license as a “R” DTD for a minimum of five years with experience as “R” DTD at major national competitions, such as Regional Championships or other championship.
2. Apprentice steward at a minimum of 3 CDI’s, such as Festival of Champions, or comparable competition.
3. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Dressage Stewards.
4. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 2 FEI competitions every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| Driving |
1. All around experience with driving horses and/or ponies.
2. Apprentice steward at a minimum of 3 CAI-A or B, or CAIO competitions.
3. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Driving Stewards.
4. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 1 FEI competition every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| Endurance |
1. All around experience with endurance rides.
2. Apprentice steward or member of the OC at 2 CEI 3* or higher events. One (1) event must be out of the applicant’s Zone (defined in AERC International Procedures). Apprenticeships must be with different FEI Officials.
3. Act as an apprentice member of a GJ or AC at one (1) CEI 3* or higher event. (This is in addition to and separate from apprentice stewarding.)
4. Attend, in any capacity, a CEI4* event.
5. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Endurance Stewards.
6. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 1 FEI 3* or higher competition every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| Eventing |
1. USEF Eventing Technical Delegate or Eventing Judge or an experienced organizer of FEI Eventing competitions.
2. Apprentice steward at 5 competitions 4 of which should be CCIs; 1 a CIC*** competition. FEI**** events to have higher value, along with Pam Am Games, Olympics & World Championships.
3. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Eventing Stewards.
4. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 2 FEI competitions every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| Jumping |
1. All around experience with jumping.
2. Assisted as a schooling supervisor under a FEI Steward at five (5) CSIO’s, CSI’s, CSI-W’s, Selection Trials for the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, and/or the World Championship AND/OR Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Championship and/or World Cup Finals. Documentation required.
3. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Jumping Stewards.
4. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 2 FEI competitions every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| ParaEquestrian |
1. Current ParaEquestrian official or a person well-versed in the PE discipline.
2. Apprentice steward a minimum of 1 FEI ParaEquestrian competition; current USEF or FEI ParaEquestrian officials are exempt from the apprentice requirement.
3. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for ParaEquestrian Stewards.
4. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 1 FEI competition every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| Reining |
1. Allow “r” C2 or CC steward to serve as an Assistant FEI Steward at any CRI 1* or higher.
2. “R” C2 or CC steward or NRHA judge.
3. Assistant/apprentice FEI steward at a minimum of 3 CRI, CSI, CDI, or CAI.
4. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Reining Stewards.
5. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 1 FEI competition every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
| Vaulting |
1. Current AVA or USEF Vaulting official or a person well-versed in the discipline of Vaulting.
2. Apprentice steward a minimum of 1 FEI Vaulting competition; current AVA or USEF Vaulting officials are exempt from the apprentice requirement.
3. Satisfactorily complete examination at an FEI course for Vaulting Stewards.
4. Minimum requirements to maintain status: officiate 1 FEI competition every 4 years; successfully attend an FEI Stewards’ course once every 4 years. |
Contact: Mary Smith, Director of Licensed Officials
Staff Directory
Competition Dates Department
Leigh Anne Claywell, Director, lclaywell@usef.org (859)225-6959
Diana Campbell, Assistant Director, dcampbell@usef.org (859)225-6914
Becky Francis, Competition Services Coordinator, bfrancis@usef.org (859)225-6980
Amy Alley, Competition Evaluation Representative, aalley@usef.org (859)225-2047
Licensed Officials / Continuing Education Department
Mary Smith, Director, msmith@usef.org (859)225-6948
Diane Shawback, Assistant Director, Licensing, dshawback@usef.org (859)225-6971
Chuck Walker, Assistant Director, Continuing Education, cwalker@usef.org (859)225-6970
Jan McKinney, Continuing Education Coordinator, jmckinney@usef.org (859)225-6988
Amanda Bassett, Licensed Officials Representative, abassett@usef.org (859)225-2044
Abigail Cook, Legislative Coordinator, acook@usef.org (859)225-2057
Regulation Department
Lori Nelson, Director, lnelson@usef.org (859)225-6957
Julie Bernier, Assistant Director, jbernier@usef.org (859)225-6953
Emily Patrick, Assistant Director, epatrick@usef.org (859)225-6956
Adrienne Dumke, Regulation Representative, adumke@usef.org (859)225-2048
Terri Grothpietz, Regulation Representative, tgrothpietz@usef.org (859)225-6917
Kristen Brett, Regulation Representative, kbrett@usef.org (859)225-6945
Ashley Barnes, Regulation Services Representative, abarnes@usef.org (859)225-6962
Weekend Emergency Hotline
(859) 312-5186
Drugs and Medications Hotline
(800) 633-2472