Red Hills Horse Trials - No More thanks to USEF

[Bensmom]

Guys, I still promise I’ll write up more info on this process so it will lay it out – I’ve been scrambling to answer questions, and believe it or not, talk to our local press. So many people in Tallahassee are just devastated. Such a loss to not be able to bring the sport to the non-horsey community going forward.

To answer a couple of questions: Kimmy Cercere wrote a beautiful comment on the RHHT post about what it meant to her to compete there every year:

I remember walking around the warm up with Monaco when a few kids ran over from the fair and
asked to pet him. He loved it, and I did too. I remember getting interviewed by the local tv
network to promote the show and what it has to offer to the community. I remember talking to a
man that was not “horsey” that had volunteered at the event every year for years. That is what Red
Hills was. It was more than just our first (wonderful!) FEl run of the year. It was a place that
included the community. The WHOLE Community.

Being there felt like being with family, and it opened up our sport to many that would have
otherwise never even heard of it. Red Hills, you are cherished by many and will be missed by all. I hope
one day you will be back.

Which was another post that just broke me. She is 100% right. There are a number of other ULR riders that have commented – it is just buried in posts and shares.

And when you wonder why someone hasn’t commented – sometimes they can’t. Jon is the current Chair of the Eventing Sport Committee and it would not be appropriate for him to speak publicly about the decisions as he is involved in making them with USEF.

And honestly, as I was quoted above – Red Hills is not blaming any other events for what happened here. We have objected to the process. From the beginning of the entire thing, the “ideal” calendar was structured to remove the 4*-S from week 10, which is where we have always run, and move create an event on Week 11, which was clearly designed for Carolina. The language said “An event in southern Area 2 or Area 3” and that is clearly written so that Carolina fits that bill.

This is a mess. And USEF won’t reverse the decision and has already rescinded our bid and cut a refund check for our licensing fee, so they were clearly ready to see us go.

I don’t know why, and frankly, I will share more later today, because I think the dues paying members of USEF should ask these questions. USEF told COTH this week that they are interested in “total transparency.” Ok, then the public should be able to ask questions and get real answers.

[Bensmom]

@TBKate

FWIW, after sending a pretty salty email to USEF, I got an email back from Amber Braun which (among the general doublespeak) indicated that communications regarding Red Hills are being forwarded to the task force. I’d encourage everyone to write, if only to force USEF to wade through our displeasure.

Perhaps the communications will be given more attention when forwarded elsewhere than our concerns were about the ethical and conflict of interest concerns we raised within our protest. Those were supposedly forwarded to the ethics committee. What have we heard? Crickets.

[Janet]

I am sorely disappointed.

If the USEF was TRYING to destroy the sport of Eventing in the US, they couldn’t do a better job.

I’ve only been to Red Hills once (the year the TD’s continuing education was there) but was very impressed with the facility, the organization, and the people.

Its cancellation is a big loss to US Eventing, and to the people of northern Florida.

[alyssaequestrian]

Having previously worked for USEF, it truly is a nasty company that has no care about the future of the sport, just the future of itself in the sport. You can see that as an outsider, how their staff turnover rate is incredibly high and no one can stay in organizational roles. But as an insider, none of these “task forces” actually make decisions they just suggest things, and most of the time their suggestions are ignored anyway

[wildlifer]

In case one had any doubts (I didn’t) that USEF cared about anything except self-enrichment-

For some unknown reason (I certainly don’t give this joke of an organization $), I was sent an opinion survey from USEF. I submitted it, making it very clear my zero confidence & respect (professionally stated).

USEF response? They sent me a dumb calendar & a request for money. I laughed pretty hard. What an embarrassment.

[skydy]

The Chronicle article;

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/amid-dispute-with-usef-red-hills-horse-trials-comes-to-a-contentious-end

[Sticky_Situation]

I just love how USEF keeps using the word “sustainable” while they’re causing many popular and long-running events to stop running. Clearly to them “sustainability” means keeping eventing afloat by having it piggyback onto the h/j industry and prioritizing well-financed venues that added eventing as an afterthought.

[Cat.J95]

I finally caught up with this beyond reading the forum. This is a huge loss to the community and people have every right to be mad. It’s a shame the response has been towards red hills rather than the membership. Red Hills has been gracious, it’s us, the members, that are mad. If I’m not mistaken Sarah Kozumplik Murphy is a Cother. If I recognize the name from somewhere else please correct me.

So to me, her response is bullshit as well.

I’ve never been to red hills but it’s sad to see another event go.

[Janet]

@Cat.J95

If I’m not mistaken Sarah Kozumplik Murphy is a Cother. If I recognize the name from somewhere else please correct me.

So to me, her response is bullshit as well.

I knew Sarah K when she was a junior, and all I can say is that I am not surprised.

[Cat.J95]

I really recognize the name but I’m not sure from where. Not as a junior but I feel like she’s very prolific in Virginia eventing Facebook pages?

ETA: this sucks regardless. The response was stupid and the USEF is being stupid. We’ve lost Groton House (my childhood) Jersey Fresh, Copper House and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. Damn.

[Texarkana]

@Sticky_Situation

I just love how USEF keeps using the word “sustainable” while they’re causing many popular and long-running events to stop running. Clearly to them “sustainability” means keeping eventing afloat by having it piggyback onto the h/j industry and prioritizing well-financed venues that added eventing as an afterthought.

Total tangent, but this is interesting to me.

In 2015, my alma mater blindsided the community by abruptly announcing they were closing the college. The alumnae fought back and saved the college. However, the only reason I mention this is when we all looked back on what signs, if any, there were to indicate the college was in financial crisis, there was a sudden emphasis on “sustainability” in communications.

So if USEF is slashing everything left and right in the name of sustainability, that makes me think either all of USEF or just eventing is operating in the red and we are probably now in “desperate times” mode.

As someone who has lost touch with recognized shows, I don’t really know what it would mean for horse sports if USEF folded. I mean, I can look to our northern neighbor to get an idea of what would happen on an international level, but I don’t know how it would affect shows and events in general.

[Cat.J95]

To your point, with the history of volunteering, I mean I remember when AA shows were run with volunteers.

Anyway don’t you think something would have been said? The USEF says sustainability, Red Hills says the process and then we have a snarky reply to members.

[Texarkana]

@Cat.J95

To your point, with the history of volunteering, I mean I remember when AA shows were run with volunteers.

Anyway don’t you think something would have been said? The USEF says sustainability, Red Hills says the process and then we have a snarky reply to members.

No, I don’t think USEF or USEA would outright say “we are in financial crisis” if that were the case only because no organization ever does that.

I think like most organizations, they would scramble and try to find ways to maintain status quo. Then usually one of two things happen: the organization goes belly up, or someone steps in and makes drastic changes.

[Cat.J95]

Sorry, I meant the organization would say something. I’m out of the loop with the east coast but it seems red hills blind sided everyone.

[Texarkana]

@Cat.J95

Sorry, I meant the organization would say something. I’m out of the loop with the east coast but it seems red hills blind sided everyone.

I don’t think I understand what you mean.

What I’m saying is if USEF is having dire financial problems, particularly when it comes to eventing, I don’t think they would tell anyone at this point in time. Not internal staff, not venue owners, and definitely not members. This would probably only be known by board members and people in executive roles at this time. People within the organization would still be operating as normal, maybe with some weird requests from the top down that they don’t know the origin of (like “move the calendar around so these venues have these dates”).

But I don’t mean to stir up speculation and gossip. I’m just sharing my thoughts and experiences about what may be happening when an organization such as USEF starts harping about sustainability.

[Cat.J95]

Okay we are just not understanding each other. If Red hills was really in straights I feel they would have reached out and the new venue and USEF would be hiding behind money regardless so they aren’t the bad guy.

[Texarkana]

@Cat.J95

Okay we are just not understanding each other. If Red hills was really in straights I feel they would have reached out and the new venue and USEF would be hiding behind money regardless so they aren’t the bad guy.

I don’t think Red Hills is “in straights.”

I think USEF is “in straights.”

I think if you are an overarching equestrian organization “in straights,” it makes more sense to throw your limited financial resources into multi-use facilities, especially those that are well funded by their owners, and walk away from the smaller, specific use venues.

[Cat.J95]

Okay we are talking about two different things. I don’t buy the reason given by the USEF and the new venue is all.

[Turntable]

The events have to pay for themselves. USEF is not going to fold if one event keeps running.

With these big new venues pastures bought for very little can be sold for $20-50k/acre just 5 or 10 years later. That is a hell of a return. And some of that return goes to the trainers, owners and riders who buy in early. No money to be made at venues in areas that are already developed though. And exhibitors get nothing but higher prices and soulless venues with not even a good restaurant nearby, no spectators and nothing to do at night.

[Texarkana]

@Turntable

The events have to pay for themselves. USEF is not going to fold if one event keeps running.

I certainly was not implying USEF will fold if Red Hills persists. I’m sorry if that’s how it was construed.