President’s Letter

By: Leslie Martien

Dear USAWE Members,

For many of us the show season is beginning to wind down. But what a season it’s been! We’ve had over 100 shows with nearly 1,300 rides, including 134 youth rides! I’d say that’s a success by any standard and even more so for a new organization. We couldn’t have done this without our amazing show managers, our licensed officials, and most of all without you!

You are the heart and soul of this sport, and the excitement, enthusiasm, and encouragement you bring to the shows and share with each other is what makes all the hard work worth it. Let’s continue to grow this sport in the US, encourage more youth riders, and bring in more riders from other disciplines. After all, those of us who participate in Working Equitation know what great cross-training it provides for us and for our horses.

We also can’t do this without our dedicated and hard-working board. IT’S ALMOST TIME TO VOTE!! It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since the formation of USAWE. Shortly after you read this newsletter you will be receiving your ballot and it will be time to vote for new members of the Board of Directors. We have a wonderful slate of candidates who have expressed a commitment to helping this organization grow and who will bring fresh ideas and a different perspective to the board. PLEASE take the time to read their bios at https://usawe.org/election-information/#candidates. Reach out to the individual candidates and ask question; ask them about their goals for USAWE, their plans for developing the sport, and anything else that is important to you. These will be YOUR representatives but the only way they can represent you is if they hear from you and know what you consider important.