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USET
Executive Committee Responds to USA Equestrian
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Gladstone, NJ—November 11, 2002—The officers and executive
committee of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) issue the
following statement in response to the November 1 communication
from USA Equestrian (USAE):
USA Equestrian, under the direction of its President, Alan Balch,
has maintained a policy of continuous communications designed
to cloud the issue of governance of equestrian sport.
The funds wasted on mass mailings and overnight charges, as well
as the time and effort wasted in creating their misleading letters,
press releases and emails, are a misuse of resources at a time
when our sport can ill afford it. The USET has tried to steer
clear of waging a communications battle with USA Equestrian and
adhere to a policy of maintaining our focus on our mission of
serving our athletes, while still working with the United States
Olympic Committee (USOC), and USA Equestrian where possible, to
resolve the dispute within our sport. However, as has happened
periodically over the last couple of years, we are currently faced
with a communication from USAE so egregiously misleading that
we have no choice but to respond.
Yes,
as stated in the recent USAE communication, there is a clear path
to harmonious sport governance for equestrian. Where it lies,
however, is in the settlement plan approved by the boards of both
USA Equestrian and the United States Equestrian Team at their
respective January 2002 board meetings. That approved plan provided
for adequate protection of the national and international equestrian
programs and was the result of many thousands of man-hours and
dollars.
After
its board approved this plan, USA Equestrian negotiators demanded
entirely new terms and walked away from mediation under pretenses,
later proved false, that the USET was not financially sound. Despite
many thousands of dollars spent by USAE on forensic accountants
and examination of USET finances, the fact remains that two independent
audits, including one by the USOC, confirmed the integrity of
the USET’s financial reporting and that the USET is a financially
sound organization. Even in the face of the many false allegations
they’ve heard from Alan Balch, USET members remain committed
to the support of international equestrian sport. The USET’s
performance at this year’s World Equestrian Games is just
the latest example of the USET’s strength and expertise in
support of international competitive excellence for our American
athletes.
If
USAE truly desires to resolve this matter, the USET remains prepared
to do so along the principles approved by the boards of both organizations.
These principles are not pre-conditions, but rather are the fundamental
premises upon which a competent national governing body for equestrian
can be formed. We do not see how anyone can label as a “pre-condition”
the expectation that one should honor previously-agreed upon terms.
If USAE is willing to implement the previously board agreed upon
plan, the equestrian dispute can be resolved expeditiously. If
USAE wishes to renegotiate the whole deal and insists on dictating
new terms and conditions, there will be no settlement.
The
USET is prepared to address any and all issues concerning equestrian
governance before the USOC, before any court and/or before any
arbitration panel, and will not be intimidated by USAE’s
multi-forum litigation tactics. At the same time, the USET is
equally prepared to implement the previously agreed solution on
which so much time and money has been spent and which provides
the appropriate structure and safeguards for both the international
and national programs. The choice is up to USA Equestrian.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
.
