USEF ENDURANCE TEAM NEWS

Dear Vonita,
Many thanks for your email and attached letter. Your comments and suggestions are, as always, helpful and clear. I would just make a couple of initial responses for your further consideration: 

1. I fully accept that 'speed' is not the perfect 'predictor of successful preparation' and that Endurance criteria must not be linked purely to speed but rather to true horsemanship. However, with the time restraints upon us to provide an adequate period for Nations to additionally qualify for Malaysia, the horses that can meet higher speeds in competition (suggested speed is not high in terms of the finishing speed of top 30 riders in 2007 WEG Aachen) are likely to have the relative fitness required to better cope with the weather conditions in Malaysia.
2. The need to differentiate between the effort and skill required for various design and climatic conditions is fully recognised. A newly designed formulae has been developed and is now being tested against a number of past events and championships. It takes into account a number of factors such as temperature, height differential, historical speeds achieved and so on so that events can be identified as qualifiers meeting minimum criteria of performance. Details will be circulated after consideration by the working groups.
3. The proposed 120% rule does look to better reflect the performance, however my own concern on this would be that it does not accommodate a situation when the ride is slow, not due to the conditions or going, rather due to the lower standard/relative fitness of those taking part.
4. The proposal to allow entry based upon qualifying Nations again is a good one and will be the subject of review by the Task Force.

As we are now into the existing 2 year standard qualification period it was felt that, to be fair to everyone, we could only bring in additional/restricted criteria (still linked to those of art 825) rather than to now introduce a completely new set of qualifications. I will circulate your details requests and comments to the Technical Committee for their reaction/comments.I will then get back to you. 

Kind Regards
Ian

Ian Williams - Director
Driving, Endurance and Para Equestrian Department
FEI World Cup™ Driving
Fédération Equestre Internationale
Avenue Mon-Repos 24
1005 Lausanne
Switzerland

www.horsesport.org

5/11/07 NATIONAL FEDERATION'S RESPONSE TO NEW COC REQUIREMENT FOR THE 2008 WEC IN MALAYSIA
 May 11, 2007
From: The United States Equestrian Federation 
To: The FEI Endurance Technical Committee  
Regarding:  Qualification requirements for Malaysia

Dear Ian and FEI Endurance Committee:

Please consider this letter in response to the FEI Endurance Committee’s proposed additional COC requirements for the 2008 WEC in Malaysia.  This letter represents the official view of the USEF, and includes input from over time and presently from the USEF Eligible Athletes’ Committee and the USEF Endurance International High Performance Committee, as well as consideration of commentary from our national discipline club, the AERC.  We do understand the problem you are seeking to address and the real concerns for horse welfare that arise in putting on the WEC in Malaysia.  The climate certainly presents challenges.  We are thankful for your efforts. 

At the same time, while we understand the logic behind choosing increased speed requirements as an additional capability standard in the immediate circumstances, we believe speed is not a consistent or universally applicable predictor of successful preparation. It fails to differentiate between different course designs and climate conditions.   

Alternatively, and as an immediate option, we respectfully suggest applying a 120% rule, meaning that in the 12 or 18 months preceding the event date for definite entries, horse and rider combinations must have completed a 3Star or better one-day 160km FEI event within 120% of the winning time of that event (8hours = 9:36hrs.; 9hours = 10:48hrs.; 10hours = 12hrs.).  Obviously, the maximum remains 13:20hrs. for 2008.

Additionally, we suggest the committee consider limiting entries by means of qualifying nations as a way to ensure a truly qualified field of competitors.  Nations who have finished Teams in the Top 5 at WECs in 1998-2006 OR finished Teams in the Top 3 at Regional Championships (NACs, PACs or ECs) in both the Regional and Open divisions in 2003-2007 have demonstrated a willingness and ability to properly prepare for world-class competition.  Additionally, allow NFs to send individuals who ranked in the Top Twenty of the WWR in 2007 and who completed a minimum of 2 one-day 160kms and who meet the 10:40 time qualification in the preceding 12 months. This would legitimately and reasonably expand the field to include emerging nations.  The result would likely be a manageable field of 70-80 riders. The Host nation should be allowed to field a team, so long as the riders meet the 13:20 requirement.

We would also welcome more FEI involvement in working with the Organizing Committee for World events in order to provide riders and horses with the highest level of safety and expectation of success that is possible.

Recognizing the FEI Endurance Task Force will continue evaluation of all of this for 2010 and beyond, we generally support the Committee’s proposal in regard to metabolic issues. 

Respectfully,
Ms. Vonita Bowers
Endurance Director
The United States Equestrian Federation 

4/24/07 2008 NORTH AMERICAN FEI RIDES
All requests for FEI events for 2008 need to be into the USEF office by May 31.  If you need 
FEI applications, templates, etc., visit the organizers page at www.usef.org/content/competitions/feiOrganizers.php .  All FEI 160km events are expected to be ranking trials for the 2008 Ranking List, and for the USEF Maggy Price Endurance Top Ten  Senior and Top Five Young Rider Awards, sponsored by Gold Medal Farms.

4/19/07 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
I am pleased to announce the call for nominations for the European Championship to be held in Barroca D’ Alva, Portugal on September 8 2007.  There is a website for the Championship at  www.fep.pt/open2007 .  Forms are attached here, and can also be found on the USEF website under IHP/Endurance/Selection 2007.  If you have questions please contact me at vbowers@usef.org or at (908)326-1154.-Vonita Bowers

4/20/07 ADDITIONS TO RANKING TRIALS  
The Endurance International High Performance Committee wishes to announce the following rides as Ranking Trials for 2007 and beyond (Pending Approval of new Procedures for Rider Ranking, Team Selection and Endurance Selection Trials by the USEF Executive Committee).  Points may be earned at the events listed below toward placement on the Endurance Rider Ranking List.  Additional events may be added at a later date.  This memo will be posted on the USEF Web site. For more information please see the Press Release on the proposed procedures dated December 6^th, 2006 or contact: Vonita Bowers, Endurance Director, vbowers@usef.org,or by phone at (908) 326-1154 
Cell # (903)563-0732

Event Name                                Date               Location                   Organizer  

2.  FITS CEI3*                                 Mar. 9-11      Morriston,Fl            Jan Stevens

3.  Git-R-Done II CEI3*                   Apr. 14          Inyokern, Ca           Carolyn Hock

4.  Biltmore Challenge CEI3*          May 5-6        Ashville, NC             Cheryl Newman

5.  Ft. Howes CEI3*                        June 10        Ashland, MT             Jan Stevens

6.  Spirit of Excellence 100 CEI 3* July 22          Ontario, Canada      Fred Buchanan

7.  Arabian Nights CEI3*                Aug. 25         Oreana,ID            John and Steph Teeter

8.   Zones Team Endurance Chal.    Sept. 22        Ashland, MT          Bill and Jan Stevens                    Challenge CEI3*

In addition, the following National Rides have been added to the list

 1.  Vermont 100                         July 21         West Windsor,VT       John Greenall 

2.  WSTR 100 “Tevis Cup”            July 28             Truckee, Ca            Bill Pieper 

3.  Armadillo 100                          October 27       Kennard, Tx            Bo and Linda Parrish 

4.  Git R Done 100                       October 27       Inyokern, Ca           Tammy Robinson 

5.  Carolina 100                            November 27   Bethume. SC          J D Fountain

2/13/07 2007/08 SELECTORS WANTED
This memo serves as a call for those interested in serving as Selectors for the 2007-2008 ride years to contact me in writing (email is ok), on or before 30 April 2007. Qualifications: Selectors will be members of the Endurance community who are knowledgeable and experienced in Endurance at the International level. Selectors must be senior members of USEF in good standing, and should also be members in good standing of AERC. Selectors must be able to make decisions that are in the best interest of our sport and to the Team effort of the USA at the international High Performance level. In that regard, Selectors will be subject to the Code of Conduct, the Code of Ethics and Conflict if Interest Policy of USEF. There will be five (5) Selectors named plus a chairperson. Of these, at least two (2) must be Active Athletes. One Alternate Selector will also be named. The Alternate Selector will take the place of a Selector who has a conflict of interest, or a substantial appearance of a conflict of interest. Athletes or owners who may apply for Selection to a Team in 2007 or 2008 should not serve as Selectors. Once obtained, the list of Selector nominees will be considered by the USEF Eligible Athletes Committee, which will recommend 12 names to the USEF IHP Committee as potential Selectors. The IHP Committee will then nominate 5 Selectors, an Alternate and a Selection Chair from that list to the USEF Executive committee for approval. Duties Our expectations are that you will not be required to attend Selection (Ranking) Trials for 2007. You will be expected to conduct a paper review and to take part in Conference Calls as required by the my office or the Selection Chair. In 2008, you will be required to attend approximately 2 Long List Training Events or Ranking Trials. The Team Staff will be making recommendations to the IHP Committee regarding your further duties during your term as Selectors. The above is our initial expectation, and is subject to change.
 For further information, or to place your name into consideration contact: Vonita Bowers United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. USEF Endurance Director (908) 326-1154 Direct Dial (908) 234-9417 Fax (908) 234-0848 Main Number

2/7/07 2007-08 RIDER RANKING APPLICATION NOW AVAILABLE
The new application form for the 2007 Endurance Rider Ranking List is now available on the USEF website. 

1/4/07 2007 SELECTION TRIALS NAMED
The Endurance International High Performance Committee wishes to announce the following rides as Selection Trials for 2007 and beyond (Pending Approval of new Procedures for Rider Ranking, Team Selection and Endurance Selection Trials by the USEF Executive Committee). Points may be earned at the events listed below toward placement on the Endurance Rider Ranking List. Additional events may be added at a later date. This memo will be posted on the USEF Web site.

For more information contact: Vonita Bowers, USEF Endurance Director email: vbowers@usef.org or by phone after Jan.17: (908) 326-1154Lexington, KY) 

12/13/06  VONITA BOWERS NAMED USEF DIRECTOR OF ENDURANCE
 Vonita Bowers of Spring, Texas, will become the Director of Endurance for the USEF effective immediately. Ms. Bowers will be based in the Gladstone, New Jersey High-Performance office until mid-summer and then will be permanently based at the USEF National Headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. For 24 years she had a career in the medical services sector in administration and business management. For the past 16 years she has served in leadership roles for the American Endurance Ride Conference as a member of the Board of Directors, as a Vice President, and served as President for 2 years. Ms. Bowers has accumulated over 9,000 miles in endurance competition. Additionally, she is an FEI licensed official, a member of the Endurance Technical Committee, and has been an organizer of endurance events. "Endurance has been my primary focus for many years. Working with USEF, I have the opportunity to use that experience to help the Federation provide a platform for selecting, developing and fielding successful teams on the world endurance stage. I look forward to assisting USEF in attaining this goal," said Ms. Bowers. "We are very fortunate to have Vonita join our staff due to her extensive participation and expertise in the sport. We are quite confident she will make a substantial contribution to the furtherance of the USEF Endurance program and the success of our international teams," said John Long, Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation.