Update:  National level competitions have now been accepted, although we are still waiting an update on International and eventing.  This post will be updated accordingly this afternoon

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As a member of USEF we all pay a good amount yearly to participate in sanctioned Dressage, Eventing and Hunter/Jumper competitions. While there are several venues in the Florida area the World Equestrian Center Ocala is by far the best stalling, footing, and location that exists for all three sports within North America... and arguably the world as a 1 billion dollar facility. 

Due to an argument between WEC and USEF over dates for the hunter/jumper competitions there is currently a total ban on all sanctioned competitions at their venue. Despite having  some very well run events in 2021 including several CDI's that many competitors said "were held in the best facility there is in Florida". FEI - when approached- was not wanting to interfere in the politics either... preferring to potentially lose US based competitors than support us riders against a national organization's political argument. 

As competitors we have a right to demand that the politics are set aside for the best of our sport. We want to continue to support our local venues for lower level competitions but also to have access to CDI and National level competitions outside of Wellington and Tryon. Multiple other breed organizations and sports have elected to use WEC as their national level venue and we feel we should be allowed access to these facilities as well. 

Allowing Ocala to continue to host national and international competitions would open up access to so many more riders in the US & Canada as the costs to show out of Wellington are astronomical and out of the budget of the majority. Ocala, however, is in range of several other locations boasting high end trainers and facilities and is hours closer to the northern states for those looking to compete without winter migrations. 

This petition is to request that USEF and WEC set aside their squabbles and allow the sport to continue - it is unfair to punish competitors just because USEF feels that they should have a unanimous right to all hunter/jumper competitions at a venue. This is not requested or forced at 90% of the venues in Florida and it should not be so at WEC. None of us riders are confused as to what events would be sanctioned and what would not, as we have to pay fees and sign waivers to permit competition at USEF events - as this is part of the reason they claim to have denied the competition dates I think it is important to let them know that we are all smarter than they think. 

Please sign this petition, submit letters and refuse renewal with USEF until they reevaluate the competition schedule for 2022 and beyond. 

More information here: https://dressage-news.com/2021/10/04/world-equestrian-center-ocala-dressage-eventing-competitions-sought-for-2022-rejected-by-us-equestrian-federation/