And Starter now being under the USEA umbrella? Many recognized shows have added a Starter division to increase entries and that division was always cheaper because it isn’t recognized and I guess USEA wanted in on that.
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Since many recognized shows have a Starter division already, which is not recognized by the USEA, why can’t that organizer just continue to run a “Starter” division that is NOT recognized by the USEA? There is no requirement that all divisions must be USEA recognized, correct?
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Starter being annexed to the USEA is like when a municipality decides they are going to reel your property in so they can tax you for services you probably don’t want. It is particularly interesting because I just read about the new USEA President, who is an Adult Amateur, saying that she recognizes that the lower level is the base and financial support and deserves more recognition of that. Cue first move: screw the AA base.
Nice.
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I’m not in the US, clearly, as I wrote in my post that costs were in Australian dollars.
ALL dogs and cats MUST be microchipped in Australian states QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, WA. You cannot legally sell a puppy in my state unless it is microchipped.
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Ok, meeting finally over.
The ELOC (Eventing Licensed Officials Committee) and the ERA of NA (Event Riders Association of North America) will be meeting together quarterly to improve communications between riders and officials.
Since people have also raised questions about “Starter” and microchips, here are my observations.
In some recognized horse trials, the Starter division has a lot of entries, and generates a lot of income for the HT. In others, Starter is a “loss leader” and loses money, but helps bring more riders into the sport. The USEA pays for liability insurance for the entire event (including Starter) but only receives starter fees from the USEA recognized levels. So in that sense it might be considered a “cash grab”. But, on the other hand, they want to be able to reach out to the grassroots, so having contact information for the Starter riders benefits all.
Several officials commented that, when they attempt to enforce the rules (e.g., Mandatory Retirement, Rider Fall, 3 refusals, approved helmet, safety vest) the rider pushes back, saying “It isn’t USEA recognized, so you can’t enforce it.” So making Starter a recognized level will help with keeping riders safe.
USEA has already produced a Starter dressage test, to be used at that level. It was called “Starter” instead of “Intro” to avoid confusion with the USDF Intro A, B,C tests, which are currently used at many “below Beginner Novice” levels. The specs for Starter have not yet been developed. Once they are, that will give some consistency to “below Beginner Novice” levels.
Furthermore, a number of riders competing at “below BN” have complained that there is no leaderboard below BN. Adding a formally recognized Starter level allows for a leaderboard, and provides recognition for “below BN” competitors.
Currently a Horse Trial can run unrecognized “Tests” and that is how the current “below BN” level are run. I do not think there will be a prohibition on running those Tests in the future.
With regard to microchips they are pretty cheap, and easy for the vet to install. There are very rarely any complications. When the USEF first started requiring microchips in hunter/jumper divisions, a primary motivation was to stop people competing a horse in the First and Second Year Greens, then re-register the horse under another name. But recently they have been very useful in identifying and tracking horses in connection with the EHV-1 outbreak in CA- identifying horses that had been on the site of a show with EHV-1 cases, and making sure they didn’t go to another show before the quarantine period is over,
The motivation for the current rule proposal for microchips for ALL horses competing at USEF competitions is for equine health. Many breed registries have included microchipping as part of the registration process for quite a few years. “During times of disease outbreak, natural disasters, theft, and to protect against fraud, microchipping of horses is fundamental to good horsemanship.”
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What name changes are you referring to?
I don’t know if this would still work, but I threw my plain chestnut gelding on the trailer and hauled him to a $5 microchip event at a Petsmart.
Unloaded him, they chipped him, loaded him back up and went home. I hauled him to an animal shelter 5 years after, and it was still in place and readable.
I was stupid as a teenager, but also broke and tenacious. 5 bucks and gas, some shocked people outside the pet store, but a chipped horse.
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Just going by the article, sounds like almost nobody anywhere liked the calendar changes.
"… largely negative feedback from riders and organizers alike … " … not sure what more telling statement there could be that the most critical sport participants were excluded from the decisions on calendar changes.
In a different context such as a company employment setting that leads to resignations or firings. In the USEA it leads to wait a year and see what happens.
Wonder how might things change with this lady in the irons? 
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Well, we are talking about the USEA annual meeting which affects the US and in the US there is no law that pets must be microchipped. I’m not arguing about it being cheap, I’m stating that it isn’t a law here.
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The pet comment was made to emphasis how common microchipping is here. All racehorses must be chipped here. Any horse vaccinated with HeV must be chipped here. It’s a cheap, mundane experience less costly than a tet/strangles booster so I’m not surprised that USEA is bringing mandatory chipping in. I am surprised at how prevalent microchipping is not in the US. That was interesting to note.
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I do not know about other areas but the rated events near me include a not rated starter division (we call it intro) already. It is frequently the second biggest division of the day. So I am confused how making it an actual rated division will mean the organizers have a whole bunch of extra time and need extra support.
It only let me like your post once. I 100% agree with everything in your post.
(My pony is already chipped but, having to chip for do starter level seems silly.)
@Janet, I appreciate your clear explanations that include things we might not have thought of (like the insurance, etc.) .
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Not applicable to small animals, but in some states all horses are required to be tattooed, branded, or microchipped to get a Coggins - I know Louisiana is one (maybe it’s actually the only one?), and it’s actually a thing I really like.
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hmm yes I wonder if we are requiring chips in Canada too. Have to ask about that. I will have to chip my 4 girls. ooof. I feel like TB tattoos should be accepted in lieu of chips…but maybe thats because I have all TBs hahah 
Interesting! Do you need their papers for this?
I left a clue for you 
Interesting, in Canada the event hosts are not allowed to run an unsanctioned level without permission from EC and they rarely grant that. I think that’s why they are going ahead in Canada. They want organizers to be able to hold the level, and the numbers are there to support it as they already have starter being fairly popular in the west coast.
How disappointing to read this about the riders!
In the article posted they refer to a level as EV122 and EV145. Are they also going to the EVMeter level names as Canada is?
I’ve commented on this above but just to say again, in Canada they weren’t allowing event hosts to run the Starter unrecognized level. They were very strict about those who run sanctioned events not running schooling events.
I think what Janet posted about fees etc and riders attitudes makes perfect sense.
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Yep. Louisiana has required this since the 1980s. (One of the few times we’ve been ahead of the crowd!)
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I just wanted to say I really appreciate your posts and for filling those of us in who couldn’t attend. Thank you.
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That’s such a terrifying thought actually…galloping full tilt at a showjump and the poles go flying off into the crowd hahaha
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I don’t think those are levels, I think they are sections of the USEF rulebook (the Eventing section plus page number or chapter or something similar, I forget how it’s organized.)
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I left a clue for you
Well knowing that it’s a male only narrows it down so much. LOL
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I agree.
I have never had anyone do that when I point out a rule thing for an intro level rider.
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oh wow clearly I have a one track mind hahah thank you for clarifying!
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