(Lexington, KY) - The United States Equestrian Federation is the National Governing Body for equestrian sport as designated by the United States Olympic Committee under the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act. Consistent with the mission of USEF and among its responsibilities under the Ted Stevens Act are the licensing of competitions that are in the best interest of equestrian sport and conducting a national program of athletic competition on a level of proficiency appropriate for the selection of athletes to represent the United States in international athletic competition; and finally, being responsible to the persons it represents.

The Wellington horse show season is a vital part of both the national and international annual competition calendar for the Olympic sports of show jumping and dressage. The show season in Wellington has continued to grow and gain international prominence making it an important training ground for the United States’ current and future international athletes, and in fact, it has served as the site for selection trials and qualifiers for our country’s international equestrian teams. Thousands of USEF members of all ages and skill levels have enjoyed competing in Wellington. Any interruption of the competition calendar at Wellington would be disastrous and wholly inconsistent with the USEF mission and the Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act. Since the lease for the current show grounds in Wellington expires in December, 2008 a permanent home for the Winter Equestrian Festival and the National Horse Show is essential.

The USEF will transfer the current dates held by Stadium Jumping Inc. (SJI) to the new completed showground contingent on agreed upon design and construction standards requiring final inspection and approval by the USEF. For any transfer of location to occur the new facility must include the following:

• At least 10 competition rings, including a grass grand prix field of at least 4 acres, a grass derby field of at least 4 acres and an all-weather hunter ring of comparable quality to the grand prix field;
• Not less than 9 separate schooling areas adjacent to the competition rings and 5 additional exercise rings;
• A secure FEI area with stabling and exercise spaces;
• A designated veterinarian and horse care facility;
• A food court area, vendor sales area, feed store, maintenance equipment storage area, adequate spectator seating, public restrooms and vehicle parking areas;
• Temporary structures designed to provide reasonably sufficient stall space, including wash stalls, for all entries until the permanent stalls are built and;
• Site work, drainage and utility infrastructure in place and with approval of all required government agencies.

The existing show grounds, the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club, must be maintained consistent with USEF rules. Failure to do so may result in the suspension or termination of the present license agreement and could prevent any future transfer.

The USEF owns the rights to all competition dates and licenses them to competition organizers using a license agreement which sets forth terms and certain standards for performance. In this instance if USEF, at its sole discretion, determines that the new showground has been constructed consistent with the requirements above, SJI will receive an initial 3 year license agreement. At the end of that term the license agreement could be extended.

The contingent transfer of SJI licenses is compliant with USEF rules in every other way and is “in the best interest of equestrian sport.”

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Contact: Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications, (859) 225-6941 or [email protected]









~~~For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President