2023 Annual Report

US Equestrian serves as the NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR EQUESTRIAN SPORT IN THE UNITED STATES SERVING THE NEEDS OF EQUESTRIANS ACROSS MULTIPLE BREEDS & DISCIPLINES. THE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS CLOSE TO 80,000 ACTIVELY COMPETING MEMBERS, OVER 7,000 SUBSCRIBER MEMBERS & OVER 391,000 ENGAGED EQUESTRIAN FANS WHO PARTICIPATE IN 29 BREEDS & DISCIPLINES THROUGH 17 RECOGNIZED AFFILIATES.

INTRODUCTION

The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) serves as the National Governing Body for Equestrian sport in the United States serving the needs of equestrians across multiple breeds and disciplines. USEF’s mission is to “Provide access to and increase participation in equestrian sports at all levels by ensuring fairness, safety and enjoyment and our vision is to “Bring the Joy of Horse Sports to as many people as possible.”

USEF is a member organization representing close to 80,000 actively competing members, over 7,000 Subscriber members, and over 391,000 engaged equestrian fans who participate in 29 breeds and disciplines, through 17 Recognized Affiliates.

USEF has grown in importance and influence in equestrian sport. USEF became the National Governing Body for equestrian sport in the United States under the provisions of the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1978. This designation, our close relationships with Affiliates and our work with other organizations such as the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, U.S. Center for Safe Sport, the American Horse Council and the American Association of Equine Practitioners has added to the prominence of our collective voice. This has enabled USEF to lead the way in working on federal legislation to protect our horses and our athletes.

USEF has continually increased benefits for all constituencies of our membership, including Affiliates. Through sponsorships, we have been able to create discounts and special rates for our members on a strong stable of equestrian-related products including farm equipment, feed, tack, attire and services. Through strategic partnerships, USEF is able to offer its members valuable and comprehensive health and related insurance products with extremely affordable premiums. Awards and recognition are an important component of our benefits program and through our Horse of the Year program and Pegasus Awards, USEF offers an opportunity for owners, trainers/coaches, athletes, horses and youth participants to earn recognition for their amazing achievements.

USEF welcomes all enthusiasts, whether fans or competitors, to be part of a fantastic community of dedicated equestrians.

MISSION

To provide access to and increase participation in equestrian sports at all levels by ensuring fairness, safety and enjoyment.

VISION

To bring the joy of horse sports to as many people as possible.

USEF VALUES

Everything we do is guided by our values of Fairness, Safety, Welfare and Enjoyment for both our horses and members.

CEO MESSAGE

Dear Fellow Equestrians,

The past year has been an incredibly busy one for equestrian sport. Overall membership and competition numbers for 2023 remained strong and, in many cases, surpassed pre-pandemic levels. In addition to fielding teams who enjoyed competitive success at the Pan American Games and other major national and international events, US Equestrian has pushed forward on many new initiatives and programs aimed at improving member experience, enhancing horse and human well-being and safety, and growing the sport by introducing new audiences to the world of equestrian and these amazing animals we partner with.

Through the combined efforts of US Equestrian and our Affiliate organizations, staff and volunteers have been hard at work on efforts to maintain equestrian sport’s social license to operate. In these rapidly changing times, public scrutiny of all sports continues to increase, especially for those activities that involve animals. Acceptance by the public continues to be critical to the long-term sustainability of our sport, and we must continue the dialog with all constituencies and remain accountable for our training, handling, and competition practices. This past year, US Equestrian hosted interactive workshop sessions on the subject at its Annual Meeting, and we look forward to hosting a second set of workshops in January 2024 to continue the work.

In addition to the efforts around social license, we are developing business relationships with third-party vendors and service providers that support our Strategic Plan initiatives aimed at improving and growing the sport. US Equestrian is busy expanding the USEF Network’s reach and viewership with the partnership it launched with the global media firm CMH.TV in 2023. Introducing equestrian sport to new, mainstream audiences is critical for enhancing the sport’s relevancy and helps to ensure its future and sustainability on the world stage. Additionally, we continue

to explore promising opportunities in the areas of digital sports media and enhanced technologies that will streamline operations and provide new, robust tools and products for competition organizers, horse show exhibitors, and the entire membership. We look forward to building out these opportunities in the 2024 year and beyond.

We are all so fortunate to be part of a sport that celebrates the special bond between horses and humans. It is a unique interaction that fosters trust, honesty, integrity, empathy, patience, and perseverance which are all necessary attributes to ensure our sport remains a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for people of all ages and walks of life, and for horses of all levels of training and competitive experience. However, now more than ever, it is critical that we all assume the collective responsibility to ensure that horse and human well-being and safety remains a paramount priority.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our members, volunteers, and staff, equestrian sport remains strong and better prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead. As we look to 2024 and all of the opportunities the year will present, from the Paris Games to a walk-trot rider’s first competitive experience, US Equestrian looks forward to working with our Affiliates, sponsors, partners, and members to effectively manage equestrian sport in a fair, safe and enjoyable manner.

Best Regards,

Bill Moroney USEF Chief Executive Officer

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

As another competition year draws to a close, I enjoy spending time reflecting on all of the events, accomplishments, and experiences that have occurred in 2023. From milestone accomplishments like Tami Smith and Mai Baum winning the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event where the duo’s exciting finish saw the first U.S. combination in 15 years to win the prestigious international event, to the powerful partnership between the USEF Network and ClipMyHorse.TV that has expanded the scope and reach of equestrian sport bringing it to new and diverse audiences around the world. As you can see, these are just a few of the many exhilarating things that are happening in the equestrian world, and I am pleased to be a part of it.

I have the good fortune in my role to be able to travel to many events, meeting and interacting with the broad and diverse group of people that make up our equestrian community. Although our disciplines and breed interests may vary, there remains a common thread in our respect, admiration, and love for the horse. Everywhere I go, I enjoy hearing your interesting stories and often get to witness first-hand how the horse connects us all.

Because this amazing animal is central to our community, it is imperative that we put the horse first, without exception. US Equestrian has always placed the well-being and safety of our equine athletes at the forefront but with the ever-changing social climate that places such intense public scrutiny on activities involving animals, everyone in equestrian sport must take a long hard look at our traditions, practices, and methodologies and ask ourselves, “are we passing muster in the eyes of the public?” The world has changed dramatically, especially in recent years, and we must be able to look at ourselves through modern-day society’s eyes. Are our training practices truly defendable? Do they contribute to the mental and physical benefit of our equine partners? Social license to operate will continue to be a primary thread running through our efforts, and although progress has been made in 2023, there is much more work to be done in this area in 2024 and beyond. Years ago, a mentor of mine gave me some sage advice about social responsibility when he said, “make sure whatever it is you do and/or say is something that your grandmother would be happy to read about on the front page of the Times,” and I have always remembered to take that to heart.

Human athlete safety and welfare also remain a primary priority for the Federation. In 2023, we implemented a robust data collection project to begin tracking horse and rider falls, across every breed and discipline. Data collected will prove immensely useful in developing policies and procedures to reduce the risk of injury and increase the overall safety of our sport. We are finalizing a business relationship with a third-party vendor that will allow the Federation to analyze multiple data sets and sport

performance metrics aimed at improving the sport for both horses and humans. Additionally, we have begun engaging in preliminary discussions with medical professionals and industry experts around safety vest research and we are working with a collective to help establish a set of independent standards for the future.

On the sport front, 2023 saw many significant accomplishments on the part of U.S. teams and athletes both in this nation and abroad. In addition to the amazing Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event win already mentioned, the three Olympic disciplines enjoyed major success at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile this past October earning a total of six medals. Athlete and horse combinations earned a team gold and individual bronze in Dressage, a team silver and individual gold in Eventing, and team gold as well as individual silver and bronze in Jumping. In para-driving, the U.S. team brought home the silver medal from the World Championships for Singles, and Tracy Bowman successfully defended her World Championship title by winning the event for the second consecutive year. Additionally, U.S. athletes earned podium spots at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final, FEI Nations Cup Youth Final, the Future Champions CDIOY Hagan Nations Cup in Germany, and the FEI Vaulting Nations Cup Youth Final. To round out the year, I was in attendance to watch showjumper Mimi Gochman being awarded the 2023 Longines Rising Star Award in November at the FEI General Assembly held in Mexico City. On the national side, hundreds of national championships were earned by horses and their handlers, riders, and drivers across the various breeds and disciplines at numerous national championships and finals. There is certainly a great deal to be proud of and so many amazing performances to celebrate.

As we head into 2024, I look forward to meeting and spending time with many of you - our members and fans, our affiliate organizations, and our equine partners. What I’ve learned from the road these past few years is that through our horses and our sport we have a commonality that brings us together as an extended barn family of many breeds and disciplines. It is because of our connection to the horse that we are drawn together, and it is through our connection to one another that we stay together. In unity there is strength and, as I like to say, if we all Ride United, we will all Grow Together.

Thomas F.X. O’Mara, USEF President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As of December 1, 2023

Subject to change after the USEF Annual Meeting in January of 2024

OFFICERS TERM

Thomas O’Mara, President 1/2025

Judith Wener, Vice President 1/2027

Judith Sloan, Secretary/Treasurer 1/2025

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

Diane Pitts 1/2027

Jon Kreitz 1/2025

ELECTED ATHLETES

Jacob Arnold 1/2024

Eleanor Brimmer 1/2027

Matthew Brown 1/2024

Joseph Mattingley 1/2027

Lauren Nicholson 1/2025

Chester Weber 1/2026

INTERNATIONAL DISCIPLINES COUNCIL MEMBERS

Max Amaya 1/2026

Carol Kozlowski 1/2024

Lisa Gorretta 1/2024

NATIONAL BREEDS & DISCIPLINES COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mary Knowlton 1/2026

Ling Fu Wylie 1/2025

Deborah Johnson 1/2027

Melissa Moore 1/2024

USET FOUNDATION MEMBER

Philip Richter 1/2026

STAFF

There are 141 staff members who support the programs and operations of US Equestrian located in three offices. Our main headquarters is located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Our ancillary offices include Gladstone, NJ and Columbus, OH. Each of our ancillary offices is connected to the main headquarters through a shared network and phone/email servers.

The Senior Staff Team includes the following:

EXECUTIVE

Bill Moroney, Chief Executive Officer || bmoroney@usef.org

LEGAL & OPERATIONS

Sonja Keating, General Counsel & COO || skeating@usef.org

FINANCE

Mike Delahanty, Chief Financial Officer || mdelahanty@usef.org

HUMAN RESOURCES & FACILITIES

Kelly Bolton, Chief Human Resources Officer || kbolton@usef.org

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Vicki Lowell, Chief Marketing & Content Officer || vlowell@usef.org

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Justin Provost, Chief Information Officer || jprovost@usef.org

COMPLIANCE

Debbie Saliling, Director || dsaliling@usef.org

COMPETITION SERVICES

Lisa Owens, Managing Director || lowens@usef.org

SPORT

David O’Connor, Director of Sport || doconnor@usef.org

FEI SPORT

Hallye Griffin, Director of FEI Sport || hgriffin@usef.org

NATIONAL BREEDS & DISCIPLINES SPORT

Terri Dolan, Director || tdolan@usef.org

VETERINARY AND D&M

Dr. Stephen Schumacher, Chief Administrator || sschumacher@usef.org

PHOTO: DANIEL KAISER

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

US Equestrian is comprised of a Board of Directors, three Councils including Member Services, National Breeds & NonFEI Disciplines and International Disciplines, and over forty Committees and Working Groups involving administrative and sport functions. Approximately 477 Senior Competing members are representatives involved in the governance structure. The Board of Directors, President and CEO are the only entities and individuals authorized to make decisions that bind the organization. The Board is not involved in the daily operations of the organization, but it is responsible for development of the organization’s strategic direction. The President reports to the Board, and the CEO reports to the President and is empowered to make the day-today decisions for the organization.

USEF RECOGNIZED AFFILIATE ASSOCIATIONS

USEF recognizes only one organization as the official USEF Recognized Affiliate Association for each breed and discipline within the USEF family. The Affiliates are categorized by FEI Discipline Associations and National & Non-FEI Breeds and Disciplines Associations. An organization can serve as a USEF Recognized Affiliate for multiple breeds and/or disciplines. Additionally, FEI Disciplines include both the international and national components of each sport. Affiliates provide a unique connection to the community in each breed or discipline and are a conduit for communication and promotion of equestrian sport to a wider audience.

FEI DISCIPLINE ASSOCIATIONS (5)

Equestrain Vaulting Association

United States Dressage Federation

United States Eventing Association, Inc.

United States Hunter Jumper Association, Inc.

United States Para-Equestrian Association

NATIONAL & NON-FEI DISCIPLINE ASSOCIATIONS (12)

American Connemara Pony Society

American Hackney Horse Society

American Morgan Horse Association, Inc.

American Road Horse & Pony Association

American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association

Arabian Horse Association

International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association

International Friesian Show Horse Association

National Show Horse Registry

Paso Fino Horse Association, Inc.

United States Hunter Jumper Association, Inc.

Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America, Inc.

Western Dressage Association of America

Recognized Affiliate Organization Benefits

PASO FINOHorseAssociation

MEMBER AND AFFILIATE BENEFITS

USEF members are able to access a robust collection of benefits and resources. These benefits include exclusive offers and cost-saving programs from some of the best retailers and services, as well as guaranteed-issue and competitively priced insurance products for individuals, families, and small businesses.

FREE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

Free, confidential, professional counseling services that are available 24/7 for personal, work-related and family concerns

HEALTH INSURANCE PRODUCTS

Individual Health Coverage - Program Highlights

à Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant

à National provider network & available in all 50 states

à Covers pre-existing conditions; no medical application needed

à $0 deductible; co-pays are applicable to Out-of-Pocket maximum

Small Business Group Health – Program

Highlights

à Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant

à Customizable plan designs to fit your small business needs

à Level-funding that provides one, predictable monthly payment

à Money back opportunities in years that claims are lower than expected

Dental, Vision, Disability, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, and Life Insurance available through MetLife and Anthem BlueCross BlueShield

à Guaranteed coverage, regardless of health status

Medical Transportation Coverage

à Covers both emergent ground ambulance and air ambulance transport in all 50 states and in Canada, whether at home or away

à USEF members receive up to a 35% discount on program membership

International Medical Insurance

à Insurance products as well as 24/7 emergency medical and travel assistance for U.S. citizens traveling or residing outside the country

Discounted Long-Term Care Coverage

TeleMedicine & TeleDentist subscriptions

à Free, 24/7 access to licensed physicians and dental experts

OTHER INSURANCE PRODUCTS

Home, Auto, Boat and RV Insurance offered through Liberty Mutual

$1M Excess Personal Liability, Death & Disability Insurance for horse-related activities

Pet Insurance & Health Sharing Plan

à Small animal insurance options from Nationwide and Figo

à Exclusive package options for USEF members that are available for pets of all ages

à Community health sharing plan through Eusoh that reimburses USEF members for a pet’s medical, wellness, illness and routine care expenses

IDENTITY, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL PROTECTION

à Available to USEF members at a 25% discount through Financial Lock®

TUITION ASSISTANCE

à Student loan refinancing options available through LendKey

à Discounted tuition for USEF members at Midway University, including online programs

USEF MemberPerks

Just a few of the exclusive offerings and discounts available to USEF members include:

• 10% discount on ClipMyHorse.TV subscriptions

• 10% discount at Dover Saddlery, both in-store and online

• 5% discount on SmartPak purchases

• 15% discount on Toklat products

• 20% discount on online Goodyear tire purchases

• Up to 28% discount on John Deere equipment

• Up to 40% discount on Sherwin Williams purchases

• Up to 25% discount on Big Ass Fans® purchase

• 10% discount on PIXEM and PIXIO cameras and free 6-month Live Session subscription packages through Move ‘N See Sport Video Tools

• 30% discount on the Ridely PRO training app

• 15% discount on new or existing BarnManager subscriptions

• 50% discount on EQLiving magazine subscription

• 20% discount on Sidelines magazine subscription

• 15% tuition discount for online degree programs at Southern New Hampshire University

• Additional valuable discounts offered from Choice Hotels, Office Depot, USRider ® Equestrian Motor Plan, Haygain, GumBits, Flexi Equine Tack Lockers, Neue Schule, Ultra Shield, MD Hearing Aid ® , USEF Visa Signature Card, Horseshoe Greetings, and more

Click on the following link to learn more about USEF Member Benefits

MEMBERSHIP & PROGRAMS

USEF offers Competing memberships on an annual or lifetime basis, and it offers Subscriber membership on an annual basis. Additionally, equestrian enthusiasts can engage with USEF for free as USEF Fans. Member benefits are dependent on the category of membership with the greatest difference being the ability to compete in USEF-licensed competitions without incurring a Show Pass fees. USEF also offers a farm/business level of membership on either an annual or lifetime basis.

TOTAL MEMBERSHIP & FANS

2022 = 2,123 2023 = 2,621 Farms/Businesses

2022 = 446,915 2023 = 479,664 Individuals

HORSE RECORDING

USEF offers an owner the ability to record their horse with the association for the purpose of tracking results, eligibility for certain events, and for awards and recognition. USEF processes over 20,000 horse recordings annually. Awards are presented annually by USEF in over 850 categories across the many programs offered.

TOTAL NUMBER OF HORSES RECORDED

2022 = 20,474 2023 = 21,334

EQUINE & HUMAN ANTI-DOPING

USEF maintains a robust equine and human anti-doping program. USEF utilizes the services of the University of Kentucky’s Equine Analytical Laboratory. Affiliates will still be able to access additional testing and collection services through USEF at our group rate. USEF conducts the regulatory function for confirmed positive cases that are in violation of our rules.

TOTAL COMPETITIONS TESTED

2021-22 – 437 2022-23 – 502

TOTAL DAYS TESTING OCCURRED

2021-22 – 530 2022-23 – 617

TOTAL SAMPLES COLLECTED

2021-22 – 7,466 2022-23 – 10,510

ANTI-DOPING INFORMATION

USEF Clean Sport

FEI Clean Sport

In a traditional year, USEF licenses well over 2,000 competitions annually. Competition organizers can apply and renew competition licenses by accessing their competition dashboard online through their USEF member account.

TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPETITIONS LICENSED

2022 = 2,124 2023 = 2,132

UNIQUE NUMBER OF HORSES WITH COMPETITION RESULTS

2023 = 83.689

UNIQUE NUMBER OF RIDERS, DRIVERS AND AND HANDLERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN COMPETITIONS

2023 = 63,003

COMPETITIONS COMPLIANCE

The USEF Compliance Department evaluates competitions for compliance with USEF rules and standards to safeguard horse and human safety and welfare. The Compliance team members work collaboratively with members, licensed officials, and competition managers to ensure competitions meet and/or exceed USEF requirements and provide a positive experience for both horses and humans.

Compliance staff travel to USEF-licensed competitions across all breeds and disciplines throughout the United States to conduct onsite evaluations, and to hear member feedback about their competition experiences. Additionally, the department provides digital outreach to even more competitions annually and engages with competition management as well as stewards and technical delegates to gain a better understanding of any reported concerns and ensure that USEF competition standards are being met and to provide feedback if standards are not being met.

TOTAL NUMBER OF COMPETITIONS DIRECTLY REACHED

2022 Onsite visits = 57 2023 Onsite visits = 57*

2022 Digital Outreach = 78 2023 Digital Outreach = 141

*31 of these were facilities never previously visited by USEF

GREATER IMPACT: Total number of competitions hosted by managers with whom we have communicated through compliance visits, inquiries to managers, or pre-competition outreache to stewards and technical delegates.

2022: 1,057 competitions 2023: 984 competitions*

*decreased number of venues visited that host multiple competitions and increased contact with managers that host fewer competitions annually. Still, 46% of all competitions on the calendar were either directly or indirectly impacted by the compliance team in 2023.

OFFICIALS

USEF offers over 76 different licenses and certifications for 2,200 competition officials through its Licensed Officials program. USEF partners with several Affiliates to provide education and training, and is responsible for issuing licenses for applicants upon successful completion of the education and evaluation programs. Candidates can apply for licensure and promotion, and officials can renew their licenses online by accessing their USEF member account.

TOTAL NUMBER OF USEF LICENSED OFFICIALS

2022 = 4,189 2023 = 3,687* *year to date through Oct. 31

TOTAL NUMBER OF U.S. FEI OFFICIALS: 509

TOTAL NUMBER OF FEI COURSES HOSTED IN THE U.S. IN 2023: 6

TOTAL NUMBER OF ACTIVE APPLICATIONS

OPEN AS OF 12/01/23: 1,635

• Current active National applications: 1,416 (17% increase over 2022)

• Current active FEI applications: 219 (38% increase over 2022)

TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS

APPROVED IN 2023 AS OF 10/31/23: 260

• 179 initial licenses (first level of licensure)

• 81 promotions

USEF DISPERSED A TOTAL OF $16,000 IN GRANT FUNDING IN 2023 FOR NATIONAL AND FEI OFFICIALS DEVELOPMENT. (33% INCREASE OVER 2022)

SPORT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

USEF prepares athletes and fields and supports teams for international competition. Additionally, USEF administers and supports several competitive, educational, and recognition-based programs and opportunities for its members and its Recognized Affiliates.

2023 KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Jumping earned Paris 2024 qualification to join Dressage, Eventing, and Para-Dressage at the Games

• Pan-American Games Medals in Dressage (team gold and individual bronze), Eventing (team silver and individual gold), and Jumping (team gold and individual silver & bronze) in Santiago, Chile

• For the first time in 15 years, a U.S. Eventing combination (Tami Smith & Mai Baum) win the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event

• U.S. Jumping combination (Hunter Holloway and Pepita Con Spita) earn third-pace finish at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final

• Showjumper Mimi Gochman wins 2023 Longines FEI Rising Star Award

• FEI Para Driving World Championship for Singles individual gold (second consecutive year) and team silver

• U.S. Junior Jumping Team earns third-place finish at the FEI Nations Cup Youth Final in Opglabbeek, Belgium

• U.S. Junior Squad earns a bronze medal at the FEI Vaulting World Championship for Young Vaulters and Juniors in Flyinge, Sweden

• U.S. Dressage Young Rider Team earns bronze at Future Champions CDIOY Hagan Nations Cup in Hagen, Germany

• Strong Nations Cup finishes for U.S Dressage, Jumping, and Eventing teams throughout 2023

• Increased participation in the Junior Hunter National Championships East & West with 394 entries combined

• USEF Pony Finals entries came in slightly lower than 2022 with 860 entries which provided a more manageable schedule and a better experience for participants

• Entries for both the Saddle Seat Adult and Saddle Seat Medal Finals remained steady in 2023 with efforts extended to increase participation from other breeds to grow the classes in 2024 and beyond.

• The Saddle Seat World Cup Trails took place in late November to field a team of three-gaited and five-gaited members to compete in South Africa in 2024.

• Worked with several breed Affiliates to develop refinements to the USEF Lite licensing process to enhance benefits for participants and competition organizers

MARKETING & PROMOTION

USEF provides an extensive marketing function that encompasses advertising, education, USEF Network, merchandise, member marketing, PR and communications, TV and broadcasting, grants, publications, awards, sponsorship and sales, promotion and events and the annual meeting.

USEF offers marketing and promotion resources and assistance to our family of Recognized Breeds and Discipline Affiliates. A summary of available services can be found in the USEF Affiliate Playbook – A Guide to Marketing Opportunities

PRESS RELEASES ISSUED

2022 – 23 – 409

2023 – 23 – 364

• Competitions covered: 80

• Event newsletters released: 88

ADDITIONAL 2023 PRESS RELEASE/WRITTEN COVERAGE BREAKDOWN

Breed/Affiliate-Focused Press Releases: 36 Sport/Championship/Event-Focused: 262

Industry News: 102

Equestrian Weekly Pieces/Original Content: 67

KEY 2023 STATISTICS

SOCIAL MEDIA

Total Social Following: 1,445,274

Total US Equestrian Pages/Accounts: 19

• 10 Facebook pages

• 5 Instagram pages

• 2 Twitter accounts

• 1 TikTok

• 1 YouTube channel

Total Impressions (all accounts & pages): 97.6+ million

Total Engagement: 10.8+ million

Total Video Views: 22.4+ million

Discipline & Coverage

From Learning Center Videos to competition coverage, US Equestrian gave love to its disciplines throughout 2023 with on-site and remote coverage and support, including:

• NCEA National Championship

• Upperville Colt & Horse Show

• The Devon Horse Show

• Paso Fino Grand National

• IFSHA Grand National/IALHA Regional

• USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final

• Saddle Seat World Cup Team Trials

• ...and more!

DEI Community Expanded Resources and Coverage

• Developed DEI Guide for Competition Organizers

• DEI Community Conversation: Urban Horse Keeping

• Native American Heritage Month: 2023 World Cup Final theme incorporating Native American Culture

• Community Outreach Spotlight added to Equestrian Weekly Newsletter

Opportunity Week

USEF hosted its first Opportunity Week Nov. 5-11 in efforts to raise awareness of the Community Outreach Program and Opportunity Fund. Opportunity Week is an annual celebration of the organizations that are transforming lives through the joy of horses. Each day included features of Community Outreach Programs from around the country. Social channels highlighted seven Community Outreach Organizations over seven days through a series of video features and photo galleries that resulted in 118,000+ impressions and 37,846 video views.

Safety for Members

• The US Equestrian Safety Awareness Week took place in September. This weeklong annual campaign highlights the importance of helmets and safety equipment utilized by riders from across the sport. The 2023 campaign included 44 social media posts reaching 150,000+, 37k video views, and 170,000+ impressions and Equestrian Weekly newsletter featured personal storytelling and educational resources, and more reached more than 212,000 members. US Equestrian partners including Charles Owen, Dover Saddlery, SmartPak participating by offering educational content and resources and promoting a 20% discount of safety equipment.

• We Ride Together- US Equestrian worked with “We Ride Together” to take a stance against sexual abuse in our and all sports. This six-month series highlighted guidelines to safeguard against sexual abuse as well as what to look for and how to report it.

• Text2USEF was introduced a new texting system to make reporting of equine safety issues and USEF Safe Sport violations easier for members. The announcement a promotion has been supported with a series of social graphics/posts/press releases.

Video and Content Coverage

From Learning Center Videos to competition coverage, US Equestrian gave love to its disciplines throughout 2023. The Learning Center launched Saddle Seat 101, The Connemara Pony, and Curb vs. Snaffle Bits. USEF provided on-site and remote coverage and support for the following events:

• USEF Saddle Seat Medal Final

• Paso Fino Grand National Championship Show

• St. Louis National Charity Horse Show

• World’s Championship Horse Show from the Kentucky State Fair

• USA Saddle Seat Amateur Medal Final

• Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

• ..and more!

LEARNING CENTER

• 28,774 unique users (138% increase from 2022)

• 44,674 unique video views (70% increase from 2022)

• 2,458 hours of video on demand viewed (63% increase from 2022)

• Viewed in 102 countries

• The ClipMyHorse.tv mobile app provided 19% of the unique users and 26% of the unique video views.

USEF NETWORK

• 245,654 unique users (254% increase from 2022)

• 1,280,653 unique video views (183% increase from 2022)

• 1,704,455 hours watched live and on demand (224% increase from 2022)

• Viewed in 110 countries

• The ClipMyHorse.tv mobile app provided 18% of the unique users and 37% of the unique video views.

•

USEF COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM

• The USEF Community Outreach Program welcomed six new organizations in 2023. These organizations all share the mission to improve access to horses and increase opportunities to experience equestrian sport, targeting traditionally underrepresented and under-served groups within the community. Additionally, Community Outreach Organizations are eligible to apply for funding available through the USEF Opportunity Grant to assist them in supporting their programs.

• • Total organizations recognized in 2023: 28

• • Number of Community Outreach Organizations receiving grant funding in 2023: 13

• • Total amount USEF Opportunity Grant funding awarded in 2023: $128,600

• MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

INITIATIVES

Spring

Sweepstakes

• Launched during 2023 World Cup Finals (Omaha, Ne) and Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event (Lexington, KY). The sweepstakes brought in 2071 new USEF Fans from 6924 entries.

KY Horse Park Partnership

• USEF initiated a partnership with the Kentucky Horse Park in June 2023. Horse Park Visitors are sent a survey after their visit with an option to become a Free Fan of USEF. To date this initiative has added 1,132 New USEF Fans.

Kids Club Stable Stars

• The Kids Club Stable Stars program was launched in July 2023 for horse lovers aged 12 and under. The program sends quarterly emails including activity pages and educational materials about horses. There are currently 439 Kids Club members.

USEF on the Road

• USEF added a few destinations to continue networking and membership promotion efforts. Events included, Hats Off Kentucky , Women in Business Spectacular, Equine Affaire, and 14 Community Outreach Organization Visits

USEF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

USEF maintains numerous properties involving seven national championships in the national breeds and non-FEI disciplines, and 73 FEI discipline championships associated with the organization. This year, many of our championships experienced tremendous growth which is a trend reflected by increased competition numbers across the board. USEF partners with several of our Affiliates on various aspects of these championships and values the expertise and contributions provided by these organizations.

USET FOUNDATION

The partnership between the USET Foundation (Foundation) and USEF is strong and growing. In the past two years, We have experienced continue to experience greater collaboration in promoting and creating awareness of equestrian sport while delivering the message of unity and clarifying the uniqueness of the roles and responsibilities of both organizations. The Foundation exists to raise funding to support USEF high performance and developing programs and the Foundation provides approximately 40% of the total funding annually for these programs. We greatly appreciate the Foundation’s ongoing support, especially as we prepare for and head into the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

USET Foundation

FINAL NOTE

Administering and managing equestrian sport is a rewarding and challenging experience. It takes a community of dedicated USEF and Affiliate volunteers and staff members working collectively to achieve our combined mission and vision. We are so fortunate to have such a diverse, passionate and engaged community. The horse and human connection is what ultimately unites all of us, and it plays an integral role in our success. It is our dedication to the horse that provides our unified voice and keeps us moving forward. Thank you for your membership, your support and your contributions to our amazing sport.

PHOTO: ANDREA EVANS/US EQUESTRIAN