Where’s the “how can I?” attitude?

[Irene2022]

https://www.chronofhorse.com/article/ushja-town-hall-numbers-civility-and-the-channel-system/

Let me start off by saying I really enjoy the town halls that Mary Knowlton/USHJA has been putting on and I hope the continue! They have provided a nice insight into a piece of our governance and other people’s perspectives and experiences.

But does anyone else feel like we (being both members and governance) have no tolerance or capability for problem solving?

For example from this town hall, there was the discussion around the certification program and inability to require professionals to do it. I think we can all agree that there are too many “professionals” running around making this already dangerous sport even scarier for both horses and riders. Though the general consensus seems that we just hope people will do it, but hope is not a plan. And those who need it the most certainly are not going to do it. So couldn’t there be other solutions? Where is the Plan B/how can I attitude? For example: requiring people who sign the trainers line on entries to be certified, creating programs to make it more accessible, working one on one with BNTs for them to get it so others are influenced to do so, having incentives like end of year prizes for certified trainers, etc. Now maybe these have been discussed. Maybe they exist and I don’t know about it. Regardless whatever is being done isn’t working otherwise it wouldn’t be a topic for discussion. And this example can be translated to so many other topics like amateur status, judging, horse welfare, accessibility/cost, etc.

Anyone else feel like this? Or am I just being jaded from my own work as a planner in government?

[OneBellBoot]

I think this is somewhere where the leadership could turn to the general membership. Amongst us rank and file, I often hear people coming up with interesting ideas for how to improve things like amateur rules, accessibility, etc., but these don’t seem to be even on the table for discussion at the leadership level.

I’m sure leadership has some loyalty to people like show managers or owners of top horses, and to some extent that’s understandable, but I wonder if making sure the needs of that small portion of membership are met means that the voices of the less influential membership is given much less weight.

[Pokerface]

I do not know what the answer is, but I agree that people, especially officials, do not seem willing to “think outside the box” or go against the popular vote. It might take 5 years to get change in place, but geez, let’s do something.

I particularly agree on the point of trainer certification. So many other places can do it, but we cannot? There is very little will, so they do not see the way.

[fivestrideline]

@Pokerface

I particularly agree on the point of trainer certification.

This part in the OP jumped out at me, but I didn’t want to derail. The OP specifically suggests “requiring people who sign the trainers line on entries to be certified”, but from my understanding I - a card carrying Amateur in every sense of the word - would then need to be certified as a trainer. Because I have care and custody of my horses at home and at shows, I would have to sign as Trainer on entries. “Trainer” doesn’t mean the person offering coaching, on an entry blank as I understand it.

I could be wrong, as I haven’t shown rated shows since getting out of a program, but it’s language like this that muddies the waters.

Maybe not on topic, per se, but maybe it’s also telling that the USEF rules are so convoluted that an amateur rider who keeps horses next door has to sign as Trainer, despite not being qualified for the title in layman’s terms.

[Pokerface]

@fivestrideline

This part in the OP jumped out at me, but I didn’t want to derail. The OP specifically suggests “requiring people who sign the trainers line on entries to be certified”, but from my understanding I - a card carrying Amateur in every sense of the word - would then need to be certified as a trainer. Because I have care and custody of my horses at home and at shows, I would have to sign as Trainer on entries. “Trainer” doesn’t mean the person offering coaching, on an entry blank as I understand it.

I could be wrong, as I haven’t shown rated shows since getting out of a program, but it’s language like this that muddies the waters.

Maybe not on topic, per se, but maybe it’s also telling that the USEF rules are so convoluted that an amateur rider who keeps horses next door has to sign as Trainer, despite not being qualified for the title in layman’s terms.

Not to further derail, but in my mind, that would be where you sign yourself as coach, or there is an exemption for ammies who show on their own. I certainly do not want to HAVE to put a trainers name if I am going it alone, but that part shouldn’t be the straw that breaks the camels back.

[fivestrideline]

@Pokerface

I certainly do not want to HAVE to put a trainers name if I am going it alone

From my understanding (and more knowledgeable people feel free to correct me) the entry HAS to have the Trainer line filled in.

Therefore, if I have to fill in Trainer (which is the person holding care and custody of the horse), and Trainer = must be certified, then I as an Amateur would have to be a Certified Trainer.

ETA: sorry for the derail. I should maybe start a new thread about this!

[Irene2022]

This is a perfect example.
We don’t shut down the whole idea and say we can’t require those signing as trainers to be certified simply because it would cause an accessibility barrier for amateurs who show independently.
But we also don’t push forward with the original idea because it would end up hurting amateur riders, and we want to make the sport more accessible not less.
We instead pivot and just workshop the language to specify that it’s required for those who sign as trainers for persons or horses other than their own selves/families. And that fits in the context because those people are taking accountability for other people’s safety and welfare (and being paid to do so).

Going back to OneBellBoot’s comment. Are these kinds of discussions and workshops going on in leadership? Are they able to effectively poll regular equestrians to understand the full picture?

[Mardi1]

@OneBellBoot

I think this is somewhere where the leadership could turn to the general membership. Amongst us rank and file, I often hear people coming up with interesting ideas for how to improve things like amateur rules, accessibility, etc., but these don’t seem to be even on the table for discussion at the leadership level.

Happens in the dressage world too. Not only is the general membership dismissed, the parents of junior and young riders are too.

[islgrl]

My question for the OP is (and I’m not being critical) is have you attended the meetings and offered possible solutions? Have you written out your ideas in a way the leadership of these organizations can understand and perhaps take under advisement? As a member of a TINY local horse council we have a few people who do all the things. Periodically, a member will say “someone should do XX and then things would be better” My question is always “will you be that someone?” and often the answer is no. So, I guess I"m asking have you gotten involved in a meaningful way to help create the “How can I”? Please understand I"m not judging, whatever the answer is… Just asking, its seems like you have good ideas…

[Irene2022]

No that’s a perfectly fine question cause so many people want to complain without actually wanting to do anything to make changes! The town hall meetings don’t happen at a time that I can attend but I do listen to the recordings. And while those meetings have great utility, town halls aren’t necessarily the most productive platform for actual discussion and instituting change. And, as a cynical aside, especially hard when an idea comes from a younger amateur in the middle-of-nowhere midwest who doesn’t have connections to big-name people.
I’m hoping to get more involved in zone or national committees and I’ve sent in an application but sounds like I have to wait until a spot opens up.
Part of my criticism is that I recently had an experience with a USHJA program that I really enjoyed but had some constructive criticism of and wanted to help improve cause it’s a fabulous program, but got dismissed when I presented it. So it’s disheartening when something like that happens.

[Rumorhasit93]

I am an amateur who signs as my own trainer to stay off the show splits since I do my own grooming/stall/etc.

My trainer coaches me throughout the show (lessons, schooling, ring).

[vxf111]

Couldn’t the rule just be that anyone who signs as trainer who is USEF registered as a pro must be certified? This doesn’t seem that hard.

[Texarkana]

I’m always endlessly frustrated by the equestrian community’s inability to think outside the box at times.

WRT the article: I got a big chuckle at the “addressing an attitude problem” section. This is a new problem?!? News to me.

[ComingAttraction]

This whole trying to get trainers certified has been going on for decades. I wish they would finally do something but make it free for trainers to do. Problem is, crap trainers will still slip past any testing but at least we could hold them to a standard. We need to start somewhere. In the past the trainers at the top of the sport have been given an easy entry. Make it free for all if they can show their skill. And I’ll say we must include those at the grass roots levels that bust their azzes to get these clients up to the trainers that take them further. All should be credited for the work that they do.