The second rule change; • Anyone acting as a coach, trainer or legal guardians signing entry blanks as coaches or trainers on the behalf of a minor must be a USEF senior active member in good standing.
4 Likes
Not being in the show world any more, I don’t know how much these changes will affect people, especially the rule that changes the membership status requirement of those who sign as coach/trainer/guardian for a minor.
Will someone please enlighten me?
1 Like
Well, I used to have some kids who kept the horses at home so I wouldn’t sign as trainer, the parent would need to. This is likely a pretty common situation. Now the (non-horsey) parent would need an expensive membership and to spend hours on Safesport training if I understand this change correctly.
9 Likes
USEF “showpass” non-member fee (Any Rider, Owner, Trainer, or Coach that is listed on the entry form that is NOT a member must pay this fee).
Now you can only get by once as a non member.
4 Likes
I see. Thanks for the explanation. I don’t see Safe Sport as that big a hurdle, but the active USEF membership is certainly an additional expense.
6 Likes
It’s a huge hurdle. I had one of those parents refuse to sign until I clarified whether or not she had to do the training. At the time she did not. No busy parent or non horsey workplace professional has the time or the inclination to sit through that process.
3 Likes
I just dont think in a sport like horse showing that a USEF membership is a huge $ hardship. Thats imply defies logic Parents DO need to , and should want to, understand safe sport and parents need to understand the rules of showing if they are taking their kids to shows without a professional coach. Trainer is defined as the person responsible for the horses care on the showgrounds, so if the kid is doing the care, the parents have to assume the liability
15 Likes
That’s unfortunate.
7 Likes
Well busy professionals in non-horsey workplaces have to do them regularly for work. I just got an email this morning about another IT/phishing training and quiz.
But they can’t do one, once a year for their kid? Oof.
21 Likes
Honestly the whole thing is unfortunate. Of course the money is negligible if you are showing a bunch of rated shows anyway, but it’s not exactly inconsequential if you and your kid are doing like two. Hey mom, I really want to show at Keswick and Upperville for my last junior year, it’ll cost us $300 before we enter anything and here’s four hours of homework for you.
18 Likes
I am of the opinion that this is a positive change. Parents should have to understand SS and the potential dangers to their children to look out for. I grew up in the 90s to early 00s showing with an absentee single dad who maybe attended one or two shows a year and gladly sent me all over the state, out of state and to Spruce without him. Nothing terrible befell me, but he probably could have used the mandatory training to even ask the right questions.
18 Likes
If you’re showing rated shows that require SS, then I am sorry, another $300 is really a drop in the bucket. And if you’re only doing a few and it’s a hardship, then maybe show unrated. My opinion only, of course… but the finances are the least of it.
5 Likes
They won’t do it. They will pressure the trainer to sign instead even if technically it’s a risk for the trainer to sign without full time care of the horse. The trainer will either cave or rightly, balk, and get blamed when the kid doesn’t get to go.
Parents in general if they don’t show rated shows regularly do not understand the difference in fees. The kids understand the difference in shows, because of social media, and they all want to go. Convincing parents to spend money on rated shows, particularly when the likelihood of a ribbon is slim, isn’t easy even without another layer of expense and inconvenience. Sure, they should just show unrated, and yes, it’s a drop in the bucket. But there is something to be said for the experience, and every drop in that bucket that removes one kid from that level of the sport narrows the sport further. USEF needs the money because they’ve narrowed the sport with fees. So they narrow the sport further. That cycle doesn’t end well for anyone, even if you can afford to play the game.
12 Likes
I can see that it could be an issue for USEF if the trainer doesn’t want to take responsibility for a horse stabled at home and a non-member parent signs. If the horse tests, how can USEF impose a penalty if the responsible adult who signs as trainer/coach is not a member?
I’m sorry, but explain to me how $300 annually, even when applied to one or two shows, is a significant expense when compared to the myriad fees and expenses required to show rated? It’s, what? $800 for a single day versus $500, if you show a single day in a class or two? That’s just my off the cuff math, and I am probably being conservative. You can’t convince me that it is a major deterrent when the deterrent to even show a single day rated for me is the cost. $500 vs let’s say even more generously, $1000, isn’t a huge difference. Amortized if you show more, it is even less so.
6 Likes
You’re buying a pair of shoes. Your usual shoes cost $125. I’m trying to sell you a better pair. They cost $500. How inclined are you to buy the shoes? How inclined are you to buy them if I say they are $800? How about $1000 and you have to complete a four hour survey to purchase them? You’ve never worn these shoes, you’re taking my word for them being better, and you can still wear your $125 shoes instead.
20 Likes
Shoes aren’t horse sport. Even unrated shows are crazy expensive. I am just not buying your argument. And I am not buying that the implementation of this rule’s potential downsides outweigh the benefits. I am sorry if you or your clients feel otherwise.
Edited: I misspoke - I meant that the downsides don’t clearly outweigh the benefits IMO.
5 Likes
The benefit of giving USEF more money so fewer people will show? Clearly there were enough people using the show passes that USEF felt like they were losing money on them. There’s a reason for the rule change.
Sorry, yes, I feel otherwise. It really makes not a great deal of difference to me personally at this point, but I don’t think it does any service to the sport to keep widening that gulf between the local and the rated shows. A couple hundred dollars absolutely does make a difference in the perception of a non-horsey parent, whether it does to you or not.
14 Likes
You’re right, we don’t agree. I don’t think that $300 for the benefit of our youth is egregious. And I don’t see how it is a huge barrier when you factor in all the other expenses…
Hauling
Training
Grooming
Entry fees
Drug fees
Nomination fees
Braiders
Show clothes
Etc
The list goes on.
If your clientele feels it is a barrier, then don’t show rated.
If you want to do rated, then expect more of your clientele (parents included).
The cost compared to all the other costs of showing rated isn’t the issue. And if parents don’t want to take the time to do the training, you have bigger problems on your hands.
9 Likes
