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Leesburg, Va. – April 5, 2019 – On Friday, April 26, 2019, members of the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Board of Governors in coordination with The Jockey Club Technology Services will host an open forum for parties interested in a proposed new event management system (EMS). This forum is being held at the request of the USEA Executive Committee to conduct outreach to the USEA membership and discuss the need, costs, and benefits of a new EMS. The committee has made it a stipulation of development that the cost of use by competitions must be competitively low and that the value of the EMS to the USEA membership must be high. The open forum will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park Visitor Information Center Theater from 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. before the start of the second day of dressage for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Mars Equestrian. All interested parties are invited to attend on a first come, first served basis. A video of the forum will also be made available following the session.
In 2016, numerous USEA recognized event organizers and secretaries approached the USEA Board of Governors to consider the development of a new EMS. Those parties cited concerns with rising costs, performance issues, and a lack of cross-system compatibility. The USEA Board of Governors established a task force to investigate the request and to develop options for consideration. By the spring of 2017, the EMS Task Force presented the USEA Board with several options for consideration. Following a long and thoughtful discussion, the USEA Board decided to release a request for proposals for the design and development of a new system. This request for proposals was distributed to current EMS providers and to other third-party software development companies. The Jockey Club Technology Services was selected in March 2018 to develop technical requirements documentation and project cost estimates. The Jockey Club Technology Services completed the documentation and proposal on schedule in October 2018.
As due diligence, the USEA invited several companies to evaluate the completed requirements to estimate the cost and time to produce the EMS. After a full review, the EMS Task Force, the USEA Administration and Finance Committee, and the USEA Executive Committee have recommended that the USEA Board of Governors approve the contracting of The Jockey Club Technology Services to develop the system. The USEA Board of Governors is slated to decide on whether to proceed with the EMS in May 2019, with the ultimate launch of the system for use during the 2020 competition year.
Before the final decision by the USEA Board of Governors, the USEA Executive Committee has tasked the USEA staff to develop a budget that recaptures the cost to the USEA within five years and ensures the EMS could generate new, and retain existing, revenue for the Association. The Board of Governors have required that system must not overburden the USEA staff, that the development and management costs must not adversely impact current and future USEA programs, and the system must be of benefit to competitors, competitions, and the Association. Of great importance is that the EMS should generate revenue for use towards the USEA’s educational mission.
In March of 2019, the USEA staff conducted a survey of over 300 organizers and secretaries gauging their interest in future use of the EMS. As of the date of this press release, the USEA has received survey responses from organizers and secretaries of 101 recognized events, 78 schooling shows/event tests/unrecognized events, and 76 educational activities who have stated interest in the system once developed. Over 79% of those respondents have expressed a strong intention to use the system upon the launch of the EMS. The USEA is hosting the open forum to describe the proposed structure and function of the system, to provide an explanation of the cost of the system and the proposed budget model, and to answer any lingering questions about the EMS as proposed.
A list of frequently asked questions about the project may be found on the USEA website by clicking here.
The USEA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization committed to providing eventing enthusiasts with a competitive level suited to their individual skills. By assisting and educating competitors, event organizers, and officials; maintaining responsible safety standards; and registering qualified competitions and clinics, the USEA offers a strong and continuous training opportunity for an ever-expanding field of world-class competitors. Just as importantly, the USEA provides a means for all riders, regardless of age or ability, to experience the thrill of eventing. To learn more, visit www.useventing.com.
