November 22, 2009


WE THE UNDERSIGNED hereby petition the Fйdйration Equestre Internationale (FEI), the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the United States Eventing Association (USEA) to remove the current NAJYRC CCI1* maximum age restriction which will allow qualified Young Riders through age 21 to compete in the CCI1* at the North American Junior Young Riders Championship ("NAJYRC") beginning in 2010.


STATEMENT OF SAFETY RELEVANCE:
In this environment of increased emphasis on safety we believe that the age restriction sends an inappropriate message that encourages riders at ages 19-21 to rush into competing at the Intermediate and CCI2* level thereby producing riders and/or horses who may not possess the skill, the experience and the confidence needed to compete safely at the CCI2* level.

Our governing body promotes developing riders yet the CCI1* age restriction at the NAJYRC promotes developing unsafe riders at the CCI2* level. The current age restriction does not in any way promote developing our future upper level event riders at the current safety level that is expected of them by the FEI, the USEF and the USEA. Safety expectations have changed drastically since the CCI1* maximum age restriction was imposed at the NAJYRC; removing the CCI1* maximum age limit is another necessary step towards putting the safety and welfare of our horses and riders above all else.

THE UNDERSIGNED RESPECTFULLY REQUEST that the FEI, the USEF and the USEA come together regarding this matter and help us to encourage safety, experience and confidence in our Young Riders for the betterment of our sport and for the proper safe development of our future International competitors by removing the current NAJYRC CCI1* maximum age restriction which will allow qualified Young Riders through age 21 to compete in the CCI1* at the NAJYRC beginning in 2010.