Horses - AHSA PUBLISHES DOCUMENTS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, FORMAL ANSWER TO USET CHALLENGE - June 2001 - equiworld.net

AHSA PUBLISHES DOCUMENTS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, FORMAL ANSWER TO USET CHALLENGE

The American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) announced today that the following documents relating to Constitutional Amendments are available on its web site at http://www.ahsa.org/EquestrianGovernance/index.html:

* Notice of Proposed Constitutional Amendments
* Summary of Constitutional Amendments
* Amendments to AHSA Constitution

Also now available is the AHSA's Answer to the United States Equestrian Team's "Amended Challenge" Pursuant to Article VIII of the USOC Constitution.

The AHSA Board of Directors will meet on July 10, 2001, 12 noon at the Marriott Griffin Gate Resort, Lexington, KY.

AHSA President, Alan F. Balch commented, "This is the only meeting of the Board of Directors scheduled prior to the tentative dates of the United States Olympic Committee's formal evidentiary hearing about the United States Equestrian Team's Challenge of the AHSA's historic role as National Governing Body for equestrian sport. So we felt this was the time to propose changes in keeping with our mission and vision for the sport's governance, which are also fully in keeping with our role as NGB, and which clarify how the AHSA will specifically oversee International High Performance functions in the future, and improve its existing governance. I want to emphasize that every proposal remains entirely consistent with our long-standing suggestion that the USET leadership agree to mediate a solution to the litigation it commenced, and, working with us, find a way to consolidate functions. Our proposed name change, to United States Equestrian Federation, is also consistent with our proposal to consolidate. It is easy to see how the sport's overall equestrian federation in the country (which is the current AHSA) ought to work with its international high performance team, synergistically, in all matters of international sport, including fund-raising and membership, team selection, and training. Working together, we can overcome any obstacle the sport might face in the future, and put our resources to their best possible uses."

The American Horse Shows Association, as the National Equestrian Federation of the U.S., is the regulatory body for the Olympic and World Championship sports of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, reining, show jumping, and vaulting, as well as 19 other breeds and disciplines of equestrian competition. As the country's largest multi-breed organization, the AHSA has over 70,000 members and recognizes more than 2,600 competitions nationwide each year. It governs all aspects of competition, including educating and licensing all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate at these shows.