ELCR’s Conservation Partners Program, sponsored by Bayer, is a national membership program of organizations whose leaders and members play a critical role in ELCR’s mission to advance the conservation of land for horse-related activity. The ELCR Conservation Partners Program has developed into a national network of more than 120 leading equestrian organizations reaching over 1.2 million horsemen across the country.
These diverse organizations share a collective commitment to saving local land for equine use through advocacy, networking and sharing of expert information.
“At ELCR, we are actively involved in helping preserve over 100,000 acres of land a year for direct horse activities, pastures, farms, and trails,” said Deb Balliet, ELCR CEO. “This would not be possible without the involvement of our Partners. We are truly honored to have USEF, equestrian sports’ national federation, join this group who are the heart and soul of a growing movement that recognizes the time has come to act to protect land for equine use for all time. We commend USEF for their commitment and welcome them as a partner.”
“The threat of diminishing availability of land for use by horses is huge,” said USEF President David O’Connor, individual Gold Medalist in Eventing at the 2000 Olympic Games. “It’s incumbent upon all of us in the horse community to work together and do what we can to combat this threat and preserve lands for riding and other horse use. We at USEF feel that partnering with the Equine Land Conservation Resource is an important step in that direction.”
The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. (USEF), as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, para-equestrian, reining, show jumping and vaulting, as well as 20 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation recognizes more than 2,800 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.
The Equine Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) is the only national not-for-profit organization advancing the conservation of land for horse-related activity. ELCR serves as an information resource and clearinghouse for land and horse owners on issues related to equine land conservation, land use planning, land stewardship/best management practices, trails, liability and equine economic development. Further information about the Equine Land Conservation Resource is available on line at www.elcr.org or by calling 859-455-8383.