"USEA Competition Participation" Survey

[Beam_Me_Up]

I thought the survey was poorly structured too. I much prefer 1-day events, but I don’t think the 1-day/2-day priority wording makes it easy to express that. I also think schedule (like, which weekend) and level are crucial.

With young horses, I think you can get a lot done at unrecognized shows. I normally get well into novice before adding in recognized shows. I don’t care that much about the dressage judging, though I agree with those saying that it’s rare to find a max unrecognized course. Around me, most venues soften some from their recognized version, while a few smaller venues (that aren’t max courses to begin with) just keep it the same.

In fact, I think I rode the course mounted referenced on Sat. My horse did 1 novice and 3 rec trainings in the spring, then had a break, so I intentionally chose to pay half the price for unrec T over rec N (offered at the same venue the weekend before, or a different one the weekend after).

Once you are eyeing M/P you need the MERs from recognized anyway.

[beowulf]

The judging is probably venue/area specific too. In Area 1 most unrecognized events are still using licensed judges, and the judges share significant overlap between Recognized and unrecognized.

I pay attention to which judge is at which show. As a competitor, I wouldn’t be interested in attending a schooling show that didn’t have a licensed judge in the booth.

[Pennywell_Bay]

@beowulf

I pay attention to which judge is at which show. As a competitor, I wouldn’t be interested in attending a schooling show that didn’t have a licensed judge in the booth.

A dressage judge won’t stop me from a schooling show, a crappy judge may annoy me but not gonna get me killed. I am purely there for miles. I am much more concerned about their xc and their show jump (footing/ jumps/). There are a few notorious schooling shows in this area that “eye ball” the related distances and I just won’t participate.

[Highflyer1]

They are not running the unrecognized this year and it’s unclear whether it will be back in the future. But I thin there are some other factors (non-eventing) involved as well. Still it’s very sad, it had been running for a long time.

[EastBayAmmy]

I also got that survey. Only I chose to leave a short essay in the comment box for #8 on factors influencing my showing schedule.

I listed lack of adult rider appreciation, as we make up most entries and at least 70% of entries are Lower Level (for area VI). Why is there a huge campaign for Young Riders EA21 to donate money. These kids typically come from very well off families, are mounted on highly qualified step down horses, in full programs with pro rides. And I never see the YRs volunteering, even though they’re supposed to be the future. But yes, let’s ask the adult amateur that works mult jobs to fund this hobby, has to balance family and kids, hauls out to lessons.

I have an issue with judge discrepancy - we have one well known judge that always scores 10 points better across the board, usually garnering USEA write ups for an ‘amazing 15 dressage!’ And judge bias the other direction against TBs (again proven when you look up the horse record and this one judge consistently scores worse).

I have an issue with RF/E/R/MR being recorded inaccurately, as USEA is using this data to set rules.

We don’t need more rules, we need the same rules applied to all competitors. If they don’t want to check rider qualifications, then delete the rule. But a fall 2024 prelim rider cannot compete in BN Rider spring 2025 and I shouldn’t be the one identifying this oversight.

I agree it was a very poorly designed survey, but I’m not sure USEA actually wants to hear from us. I’ve been completing Event Evaluations after every show and they are never followed up with (most recently I was concerned about the lack of competitor notification surrounding an active SafeSport offender. And when they didn’t follow up on my event Eval, I emailed directly and Burke and Hannah both deferred any response to USEF, and when I spoke with USEF Legal it became very clear the organizer had neglected their legal duties).

I would encourage everyone to use the comment section to more accurately capture the issues USEA seems ignorant of.

[Baybear]

IMO the survey could have had some more or better questions.