IntNewsGroup: USOC INTERVENES TO CONTINUE USET PROGRAMS

["Lori & Rick Stewart" <rk-ld.stewart@usa.net>]

FROM: 	United States Equestrian Team
		Pottersville Road, Gladstone, NJ 07934

Contact: Alex Samuelson, Rubenstein Associates, 212-843-8286,
asamuelson@rubenstein.com
or Marty Bauman, Classic Communications, Inc., 508-698-6810,
uset.pr@verizon.net



USOC INTERVENES TO CONTINUE USET PROGRAMS

USOC Executive Committee Resolution writes AHSA "Cannot effectively govern
the sport of Equestrian"

Gladstone, NJ, March 7, 2001 - Presented with an Article VIII Challenge for
official designation as the National Governing Body for Equestrian sport in
the United States, the USOC has intervened to preserve the status quo as it
existed prior to expiration of the USET/AHSA operating agreement. The news
came in a USOC Executive Committee Resolution passed February 23, 2001
following a USOC hearing in San Antonio with both the AHSA and the USET.

The USOC Executive Committee Resolution makes clear that the AHSA "cannot
effectively govern the sport of Equestrian... Without the active
participation of the USET, the AHSA cannot immediately implement an
effective program that will protect and provide opportunity of athletes,
coaches, trainers, managers and administrators to prepare for and
participate in [international competitions]."

Sandra Baldwin, USOC President and Chairman who is authorized to act on
behalf of the USOC and Executive Committee to implement any necessary
action, sent a letter to both organizations setting forth the conditions
under which the sport of Equestrian will be governed pending the resolution
of the Article VIII Challenge.

The USET filed the Challenge in light of a decision by the AHSA threatening
to strip the USET of the authority to continue its efforts for international
equestrian athletes upon the expiration of the Operating Agreement. The AHSA
planned to take over the functions performed by the USET for the past 50
years on February 25, 2001.

The USET will not join the American Horse Shows Association in creating an
all-encompassing organization with the NGB inside it, as the AHSA has
proposed in its merger proposal.  "The AHSA model is not an effective
solution for a successful NGB in equestrian," said USET vice chairman Armand
Leone, Jr.  "Nor is it the type of organizational structure that the USOC
desires for an NGB.  Large umbrella-type organizations have previously
failed as NGBs in other sports.  The focus of the AHSA should be on its
association members and their multiple needs rather than on the
international equestrian athlete effort."

The USOC has made clear that it desires smaller, more focused NGB
organizations that can achieve success in the international disciplines
while coordinating affiliate organizations that address varied and diverse
grass roots programs. The USOC has also recommended that NGB boards be
smaller and more active in the athletic effort.

The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects,
trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to
represent our country in major international competition, including the
Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this the USET seeks
out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and
horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain
their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.

###


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