| Editor's
Note: This letter was written to Horse & Hound by Kevin Baumgardner
and DC McBroom. The original article by Nancy Jaffer is re-printed below the letter. February
2, 2005 
Editor
Horse & Hound Online
22nd Floor
Kings
Reach Tower
Stamford
London SE1 9LS
United Kingdom Sir/Madam:
In response to Nancy Jaffer’s article entitled “US Accepts Short
Format Here to Stay” which appeared in Horse and Hound on 27 January 2005,
we wish to clarify the position of the American Eventing community with respect
to the long vs. short format controversy. While Ms. Jaffer’s article is accurate
as far as it goes, its one-sided title and primary emphasis on the opinions and
comments of Captain Mark Phillips creates a misconception that American Eventers
are resigned to the marginalization, if not the outright elimination, of classic
Three-Day Events. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In
a recent online poll conducted by the United States Eventing Association (USEA),
over 92% of respondents favored the classic format over the short format. Ms.
Jaffer’s tepid statement that a grass-roots movement “caused a stir
in the US last autumn” grossly understates both the impact and the staying
power of the Save-The-Three-Day movement. This movement, largely fueled by the
outrage of rank and file American Eventers who are aghast at seeing their sport
mortgaged to FEI politics, has become nothing short of a whirlwind in this country
and is expected to continue growing until a politically unbiased resolution that
is consistent with the wishes of the great majority of our Eventing community
is found. To facilitate this effort, the USEA instituted the Classic Three-Day
Event Task Force whose main goal is to secure the future existence of classic
Three-Day Events in the US. This Task Force is currently taking positive steps
to ensure that the classic format remains alive at all levels, with specific focus
on the One and Two Star levels, as well as at The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event.
Jane Atkinson, the longtime organizer of the Kentucky Four-Star fixture, is an
active member of this Task Force along with American eventing legends Jim Wofford
and Denny Emerson, several current or recent “Team” riders including
Atlanta Olympic individual bronze medalist Kerry Millikin and Athens Olympic team
bronze medalist John Williams, USEA president Kyra King Stuart, and a number of
other riders, owners, organizers, licensed officials, and grass-roots members
of the USEA. As Jim Wofford and Jane Atkinson have noted, the current acquiescence
in the move toward the short format in some circles does not preclude the retention
of the classic format on a parallel track--including at the Four Star level at
the Kentucky Horse Park. In short, the classic format remains alive and
kicking in the United States. The USEA Classic Three-Day Event Task Force welcomes
comments from interested Eventers in the United Kingdom and other countries. Inquiries
may be directed to kbaumgardner@corrcronin.com. Regards, Kevin
Baumgardner
Chair, USEA Classic Three-Day Event Task Force
Member,
USEA Board of Governors and USEF Eventing Technical Committee
DC McBroom
Co-Chair, USEA Classic Three-Day Event Task Force
Member, USEA Board
of Governors and USEF Eventing Technical Committee
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2002-2003 US Eventing Association. All Rights Reserved.
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Rd. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: (703) 779-0440 | Email Address: info@useventing.com Editor's
Note: The Article written by Nancy Jaffer, which appeared in the January 27th,
2005, issue of Horse & Hound is re-printed below.
Nancy Jaffer
regularly writes a column in the Star Ledger, a general interest daily
newspaper in New Jersey. Ms. Jaffer is considered the dean of the American equestrian
press corps. US
Accepts Short Format Here To Stay By
Nancy Jaffer
Horse & Hound columnist
and US eventing chef d'equipe Capt Mark Phillips has told prominent figures in
American eventing that saving the classic "with steeplechase" format
at international level is not an option, writes Nancy Jaffer.
Phillips,
a vociferous defender of the long format, said at the US Equestrian Federation's
(USEF) annual meeting in Kentucky this month, "This train has left the station.
This short format is here to stay. If you want to win, You have to learn how to
do it."
He
explained that the FEI had left national eventing committees no option but to
commit to the Olympic format.
It
was far too late to argue for saving the classic event on an international level,
he added. More
than 30 prominent figures from US eventing - including eight current and former
Olympic riders - gathered to offer their views on what should be done for the
sport, both nationally and internationally, to increase its popularity and foster
American success in competition.
A grass roots movement caused a stir
in
the US last autumn by producing a 2,500 signature petition to "save"
the long format. But the USEF delegates concluded that emphasis
must
be put on improving American performance in the short format.
Nationally,
the group determined that all one star events should retain the steeplechase,
while giving giving two- three - and four stars a choice. But
Jane Atkinson, who organizes the Rolex Kentucky four-star fixture, wants to find
a way to keep the classic format there. One solution involves staging an individual
international
classic format championship every other year. "There
is no reason why we can't have parallel horse trials
and
develop two types of horse and rider - one does
not
preclude the other," argued former Canadian coach Jimmy Wofford, a US Olympian. The
group also discussed working with like-minded countries to have greater influence
within the FEI, with the FEI general assembly in April in mind. In this context,
the group wished to urge research on how horses are affected by the Olympic format
and request that there be a vet check in the Olynpic format before horses go across
country.
Delegates also agreed to consider changing to modern style of
dress - in dressage and show jumping phases - to appeal to the public and television.
they also favored a change of name to "equestrian triathlon".
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