How It Works: USEF Governance

The Federation’s committees, councils, and board of directors are filled by volunteers from around the equestrian world, and they’re eager to hear members’ perspectives.

By Leslie Potter

Max Corcoran was a groom working for Olympic eventers David and Karen O’Connor in the early 2000s when she first got involved in governance for equestrian sport.

“David [O'Connor] became president of USEF while I was working for them,” said Corcoran. “Karen and David both served on boards, and they always told us that if you want to have a voice, be on a committee. I said, ‘I’m only a groom,’ and they said, ‘It doesn’t matter; we need people who are active and current in the sport to get involved.’”

Corcoran still works as a groom, now self-employed, but she also has been actively involved in governance with the United States Eventing Association, where she served as president, and at USEF as a member of the Eventing Sport Committee.

“People ask me all the time, ‘Why do you do this?’” Corcoran said. “I don’t know; I just love it. I love getting to know people and talking through different ideas. It’s really cool.”

Committees, Councils, and the Board

USEF is governed by volunteers. These are USEF members from all segments of the equestrian world who give their time to keep the organization and the sport functioning and adapting to current needs. Governance is structured in three levels: committees, councils, and the board of directors.

Committees: These are each focused on a specific area of interest within the USEF. The Federation governs 29 breeds and disciplines, most of which have dedicated committees that review rule change proposals, develop teams for international competition, and support other breed- or discipline-specific programs. There are currently 17 Governance and Administrative Committees, each with a specific focus, ranging from Licensed Officials to Human and Equine Safety and Welfare.

Councils: USEF has three councils. International Disciplines oversees sport programs for the Féderation Équestre Internationale disciplines; National Breeds and Disciplines oversees non-FEI sport programs; and Member Services oversees member-benefit functions.

Board of Directors: The board is tasked with managing USEF’s policy and strategy and reviewing initiatives to ensure that the Federation is achieving its goals. The board is composed of eligible athletes, members of the International Disciplines and National Breeds and Disciplines Councils, independent members, and a representative from the United States Equestrian Team Foundation.

The composition and duties of the Councils and the Board are outlined in the bylaws, which can be found at the Bylaws link at usef.org/rulebook. Committee charters are available at usef.org/about-us/councils-committees.

The Work of the Committees

Cindy Mugnier has served on numerous committees, including as chair of the Licensed Officials Committee and the Saddle Seat Equitation Committee. She says the work of each committee boils down to effecting positive change for the sport.

“In the Licensed Officials Committee, we’re always working on streamlining the process, being more transparent, and doing our job as ethically and professionally as we can,” Mugnier explained. “With the breed and discipline committees, we’re thinking of governance in the sense of how it can positively impact a breed or discipline. I think the goal of all the committees is to always have a positive impact on the groups they’re representing.”

“Get involved and stay involved. No contribution is too small.” - former committee chair Cindy Mugnier

Rule changes and other initiatives at USEF come from the grassroots and work their way up to the Board of Directors. Any affiliate organization or individual with a competing membership can propose a rule change, which is then taken up for discussion by the relevant committee in additiont to being open to member comment. The committee makes a recommendation to the appropriate council, which reviews the proposal and makes a recommendation to the Board. This structure is intended to get as many perspectives as possible on each proposal.

“Each recommendation is a critical part of the process, because each subsequent step is relying on the step before them to have done their due diligence, discussed and deliberated, and made a reasonable decision,” said USEF’s Chief Executive Officer Bill Moroney. “By the time a recommendation reaches the final binding decision by the board, it’s been thoroughly vetted. So the work that the first committee or task force does in making their recommendation is just as critical as the group that makes the final decision.”

Bringing discipline diversity together in governance is an asset to the organization as representatives from different segments of the industry share ideas and perspectives.

“I enjoyed being on the International Disciplines Council,” said Corcoran. “It’s interesting because you’re working with all the other international disciplines — vaulters and driving and jumping — and it’s cool to get their perspective on your myopic sport and give your opinion on theirs, and maybe you can help each other out.”

How to Get Involved

Judy Werner is a breeder and owner of American Saddlebreds and is a past president of the American Saddlebred Horse Association, which is how she got started in USEF governance. She is currently a member of several committees, as well as the board of directors. Her advice for anyone interested in becoming involved in USEF governance is to start with their affiliate organization.

“Get involved with whatever your affiliate is and be on a committee there,” Werner said. “That’s how you get on the council. All of those spots are filled from the affiliates.”

“Starting at your affiliate level is the best way to get to know people and understand how it all works,” Corcoran added. “Everybody who is on the USEF board has spent a lot of years down the road, getting to understand and respect the process.”

"We do want to hear from members." - Judy Werner

Any member can reach out to a committee through a USEF staff liaison to express their interest in participating.

“We’ll have a meeting with staff members, including the staff liaison for each committee or council,” explained USEF President Tom O’Mara. “We keep track of anyone who has contacted us with interest in serving and what their area of interest is, and we’ll pull out that file. Staff can also recommend someone who is speaking up in the field or looking to get involved.

“We want to make sure we’re looking through the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion when making appointments,” he added. “We also want to make sure that we’re bringing in newer and younger people.”

“Generally, the goal in populating a committee is to have a cross-section of people who play different roles in the sport,” said Moroney. “Everyone comes to a committee with experience in a particular discipline or breed, but they have to have the ability to listen, learn, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the sport of equestrian. Their individual experience helps them in the discussion, but it doesn’t override sound judgment.”

The time commitment involved in serving in governance varies by committee, but typically it amounts to a base level of an hour or two per committee each month, which can increase with special projects. Committees meet quarterly at a minimum and monthly at most. Meetings take about an hour, and aside from the USEF Annual Meeting, they’re held over the phone. Members will have materials to read and review and some email communication in between meetings to stay on top of current issues.

Contacting Committees

Governance in an organization like USEF depends on member participation, but you don’t have to be seated on a committee for your voice to be heard. Members can reach out through their affiliate organizations or contact a USEF staff liaison for the relevant committee. Staff liaison contact information is available at usef.org/about-us/councils-committees. Ad hoc committees and task forces also often have email portals to receive member input on specific topics.

“When somebody does have a comment or feedback, it amplifies their comment dramatically if they include the ‘why’ behind their suggestion,” said Moroney. “Why do you think it should be this way? That is so critical, because then the people looking at it have an understanding of the person’s reasoning. It makes the process more efficient.”

Corcoran also recommends that when members approach a committee about a problem, they also offer a solution.

“Finding a solution is hard,” she said. “But remember that these people are volunteers. They’re giving their time and they’re trying to do what they truly believe is correct for the sport. If you want to change things, be a part of it. Everybody has something that they can share.”

“Get involved and stay involved,” said Mugnier. “No contribution is too small. I think that all of us who love the horse have a responsibility to serve in some capacity as best we can to make sure that we are protecting and promoting our equestrian activities.”

“I want the members to know that they do have a say,” Werner concluded. “They have to express themselves in a way that we can understand. Our goal is to have welfare for the horse and a fair playing field for the competitors, and we really do want to hear from the members.”

Have feedback for USEF? Visit usef.org/compete/feedback. We want to hear from you!