To maintain steady momentum, USEF continues to seek support for team efforts. The USA Equestrian Trust committed $25,000 to support the 2012 Team. This grant money allows USEF to cut the athlete participation fee in half from $5,000 in previous years to $2,500 for the 2012 Team members.
In addition, the United Professional Horseman's Association (UPHA), a staple in the foundation of the Saddle Seat World Cup program and in years since, has confirmed a generous $10,000 donation in support of the 2012 Team.
Learn more about contributing to and supporting the 2012 Team efforts, by downloading this brochure: http://www.usef.org/documents/disciplines/SSE/SS_Team_Sponsorship.pdf, or contact Lori Nelson, USEF Assistant Executive Director, National Affiliates, at [email protected].
The 2012 U.S. Saddle Seat Equitation Team Selection Trials will be held at William Woods University in Fulton, MO, on March 31, 2012. A riders' meeting/draw will be held the evening of Friday, March 30, 2012, and the Selection Trials will take place on Saturday, March 31, with team member announcements that evening. The shortened schedule allows athletes to travel earlier on Sunday.
While the USEF World Cup Committee kept much of the selection process and Team requirements the same for 2012, a few changes to previous years' procedures have been mandated. The first change affects the application process. Athletes are encouraged to use an online application portal they can access through their My USEF Account. This is an effort to save on shipping costs and shorten the paper trail. Hard copy applications will still be accepted.
To support team preparation, two mandatory practices will be conducted in 2012. This is a change from previous years when only one mandatory practice took place. These and other details may be found at the "How to Participate" tab on the USEF website through the following link: http://saddleseatworldcup.usef.org. Applications for consideration to participate in the Trials are due to USEF by December 15, 2011.
The World Cup is a bi-annual competition that originated in the early 1980s with an informal exchange of Saddle Seat riders in the United States and South Africa, and was named the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup in 1992. Originally a three-gaited Saddle Seat Equitation showcase, it has expanded to include a five-gaited component as well. Teams from as many as five nations now compete for the coveted World Cup titles.
The Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup page can be found online at: http://saddleseatworldcup.usef.org. If you have questions or comments, please contact Lori Nelson, USEF Assistant Executive Director, National Affiliates, at [email protected].