I agree with MyssMyst on a lot of her points. Obviously, no one time/location is going to please everyone. And keeping a location for at least several years helps everyone know what to expect (hotels, restaurants, travel, etc.), the facility and show management are more likely to make it profitable and well run.
Given that our country is huge, people are going to have to travel. A lot. I really feel for Californians - I think the Festival of Champions, given the smaller number of horses involved and the high number of elite riders in CA - should absolutely be held in California on occasion. But something like US Finals - which is more for the regionally competitive members than the elite level competitors (the mid-level trainers and riders are a very important group to give support to IMO), it makes sense to maximize the number of members who can attend.
Consider the number of USDF members who are within a 1 day drive to Lexington. I picked 800mi (around 12-15h) as a long, but doable, day’s drive. Here is an 800 mile radius around Lexington:
http://www.freemaptools.com/radius-around-point.htm?clat=38.040584&clng=-84.503716&r=1287.4752004917536&lc=FFFFFF&lw=1&fc=00FF00&mt=r
An 800 mile radius covers all of regions 1 and 2, all but the tip of region 3 (admittedly that tip includes Wellington). Regions 1, 2, 3 and 7 (California) are the 4 biggest regions (source: http://www.dressagedetective.com/reports/2013-us-dressage-show-activity). The 800 mile radius also covers the major population centers of region 4, and much of region 8 and 9. That’s 6 of the 9 USDF regions all or partially within an 800 mile drive. The 3 western regions are left out - 5, 6 and 7. (USDF region map: http://www.usdf.org/clubs/region_map.asp ).
By contrast, if you held it at the National Western in Denver:
http://www.freemaptools.com/radius-around-point.htm?clat=39.739236&clng=-104.990251&r=1287.4752004917536&lc=FFFFFF&lw=1&fc=00FF00&mt=r
You would be closer to California, but still not hit the west coast population centers within 800mi. You would have all of region 4 and 5, two of the least busy regions (I’ve lived in and loved both, but dressage epicenters they are not!), the less populated areas of 6 and 7 and 9.
And if you went all the way and held it in California,
If you held it in Rancho Murietta, CA: http://www.freemaptools.com/radius-around-point.htm?clat=38.501853&clng=-121.094667&r=1287.4752004917536&lc=FFFFFF&lw=1&fc=00FF00&mt=r
You have all of Region 6 and 7, and about half of region 5. You are also a very long way from the 3 other busiest regions outside of CA: 1, 2 and 3.
I’d love to see USDF level scholarships (paid for by ALL regions) for people from the west to help defray travel costs. Or maybe a derby type class on borrowed horses for people who are reserve or champ but can’t come for whatever reason? Brainstorming here…I know it’s not the same as competing head to head on your own horse, but is there some way we can include people who aren’t able to travel the distance?
