Letter to the Membership: We Encourage Your Feedback

Lexington, Ky.—Feb. 16, 2021

Dear Fellow USHJA Members,

With 2020 behind us, we are over one month into 2021 and looking forward to a safer world. As we enter the new year, The USHJA Board of Directors is keenly aware that our sport has many challenges. We are faced with a high level of expense, a sport calendaring system that needs revision and a lack of diversity throughout the horse world. As a board, we have read and reflected on the recent news stories and opinions, online conversations, and questions from our membership. The characterization of governance as a closed society does not reflect our intent or our values. We are committed to engaging our membership and finding ways to create positive change.

The good thing about challenges is that they bring opportunity. Whether we are engaged in finding solutions to the expense of competition, examining our calendaring system or beginning our journey to a more diverse sport, our volunteers and members are our deepest resource. Through the use of member feedback and board and committee transparency, we hope to create a positive impact on the horse world. As we continue to evolve, it is my hope that our critics will listen openly and engage in productive conversation. At times we will agree and at times we will not. The one thing we all have in common is that we care passionately about our sport. Send us your feedback to feedback@ushja.org, share your thoughts and concerns, and let’s work together toward a better future.

Stay well,

Mary Knowlton (formerly Babick)
USHJA President