USOC Concludes First Public Hearing On Equestrian NGB Application

Gladstone, New Jersey and Lexington, Kentucky—May 5, 2003—As required under United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Bylaws, the first of two public hearings regarding the proposed new National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of equestrian was held on Saturday, May 3, 2003. Attending the meeting were Armand Leone, Jr., U.S. Equestrian Team (USET) President; Bonnie B. Jenkins, USET Executive Director; Kathy K. Meyer, USA Equestrian Treasurer; Lori Rawls, USA Equestrian Executive Director; and John Collins, Counsel.

The meeting was held to consider the joint application of USET and USA Equestrian for

the creation of a new NGB, to be formally named U.S. Equestrian Federation, Inc. and to be publicly known as U.S. Equestrian. The joint application was discussed with members of the USOC Membership & Credentials Committee.

The meeting concluded favorably and both USET and USA Equestrian feel that everything remains on track for final approval by the USOC. The two organizations expect to receive a letter

from the Committee in the near future regarding any suggestions or changes the Committee might like made to the application.

The Boards of both USET and USA Equestrian will meet in May and June to review plans and to discuss formation of the new NGB. The first organizational meeting of U.S. Equestrian Federation, Inc. will be on July 7-8.

The second and final public hearing on the joint NGB application is scheduled for September

13. Following this hearing, the Membership & Credentials Committee will give its recommendation to the USOC Board of Directors who will meet on October 18-19 to give final approval of the new NGB.

USA Equestrian Inc., 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, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As
the country's largest multi-breed organization, the Federation has over 80,000 members and 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.
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of USA Equestrian is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grass roots to the Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best national equestrian federation in the world.

www.equestrian.org