‘UK Chasers’ and ‘Trail Blazers’ are two organisations that differ very little from BD and BSJA. Each hold shows featuring both dressage and show jumping."

But is that not the point here - BR is JUST reining where as the case you mentioned were representing the same disciplines. BR does not represent any other western riding where as WES represents them all.

I am a member of both BR and WES, but do not see the logic of a large organisation having to tag on to a very small one for this representation, but what do I know!

For once in my life size has nothing to do with it!!

BEF already has a western organisation....!!
It will not take another.............!!

You tell me the answer................??

The other organisations are larger, reining is the minority.

Reining is the only FEI recognised western discipline.

Cutting and Working Cow are both large in the states, they are not FEI sports.

Pleasure, Horesmanship, Trail they are all larger and they are not FEI sports.

BR like it or not is representative of the only FEI discipline and therefore needs to hold the BEF link.

David Brimson is offering an olive branch. "you can lead a horse...."

What is wrong with the other Western Disciplines affiliating to BR, what are they so afraid of?

REINMAN wrote:
For once in my life size has nothing to do with it!!

BEF already has a western organisation....!!
It will not take another.............!!

You tell me the answer................??

ABSOLUTE RUBBISH

BEF can accept another Western Organisation because BR represents the sport of Reining and nothing else. All it needs is for the BEF Council to produce a majority vote to accept the BWEA. Even Andrew Finding, BEF's C.E. has accepted that, perhaps David should as well!
David has already stated that BR will vote against but there are other BEF member bodies who will be supportive of the application.

Richard M Allan

Any organisation applying for membership must be discipline specific. There is no other discipline specific western organisation. The ghost organisation that does not yet even exist would consist of WES which is not a discipline. AQHA that has already been refused admission.

The maths is not really that complicated is it.

I have never stated that BR would vote against. I outlined the procedure of a membership application because Richard Allan’s was vague and misleading.

The proposed BWEA is quite openly a power struggle, The same few will drag the genuine and innocent western members into another war that will only damage the already fragile image of western.

British Reining members represent our country at the highest level on the world stage and I think do very well considering our size. So what is so wrong if BR give western in the UK a ‘leg-up’ and to get western riding in the UK on the map once and for all.

Never would a ‘piggy-back’ be so appropriate………….

Post edited by: REINMAN, at: 2007/12/16 03:38

REINMAN wrote:
......BEF already has a western organisation....!! It will not take another.............!!

Surely then this is contrary to their own published Mission Statement as outlined in their revised Strategic Plan to 2009 which was updated in May of this year?

The following is taken directly from said document, Section 2.4 Our Mission, Values and Vision - page 12 (this may be found under public documents if anyone would like to read more...)

2.4.1 Our Mission

With the above rationale and context in mind, the mission of the Federation is:

‘Working as a cohesive, unified, progressive and modern organisation of independent member bodies…
the Federation will work together for the collective good of horse sports in general, as well as for individual disciplines/organisations’.

In support of this Mission the Federation will:

• Speak with one voice to Government, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and riders/participants

• Maximise the potential of equestrianism by attracting, engaging and retaining participants and members, increasing participation for all age groups in all areas of equestrian sporting and recreational activity for the able bodied and disabled through enhanced partnerships

• Facilitate the financial success, stability and development, administration and regulation of equestrian sport and recreation

• Promote the values and contribution of equestrianism to our national life

• Provide leadership and vision in steering the future direction of equestrianism in the UK

• Through the development of a broadly-based and sustainable performance pathway, support elite performers to the medal podium and underpin this mission with substantially increased strength in depth by supporting talented riders and horses from grass roots (riders) and breeding (horses) to World and Olympic levels

• Host major events to underpin Great Britain’s position as one of the most successful equestrian nations and to showcase our facilities, breeding industry, coaching profession and elite performance

• Bringing more organisations, and therefore more people into BEF memberships


Don't get me wrong, I do not disagree with a great many of the points made previously, although I don't believe anyone is afraid of anything here , rather that change is always a most difficult pill for people in general to swallow, made more especially so when it is presented to them as a fait acompli.

David is correct, there is currently no other discipline specific organisation within Western Riding in this country - that in itself is beyond contestation but clearly affiliation to BR unlikely to fulfill the requirements of "cohesive, unified, progressive and modern"if the discussion on this thread is anything to go by.

So, we come back to formulating a positive and viable alternative - membership of the BEF is able to be applied for provided a number of specific criteria is met - currently none of the existing other organisations tick all the boxes, but that doesn't mean they never will........the assertion that no other western body will be accepted may be valid based on current framework and organisation but it doesn't have to always be that way.

Oh, whilst I am at it (may as well, in for a penny, in for a pound! ) Reining is currently the only discipline recognised by the FEI, but that is not to say that the other disciplines, widely practiced in other areas cannot apply for Regional recognition, which is the first step to full status - I offer tent pegging and horse ball as examples. I am most certainly not suggesting it would be easy, only that the possibility exists so the argument of FEI recognition should not be seen a major drawback.

I have chosen to highlight some of the points in the Mission Statement to accentuate the points that I felt most applied to this thread, as such, the emphasis is mine and mine alone.

See below for link to the statement, as I have quoted directly from it, I figure it should be acknowledged.

Jude.

http://www.bef.co.uk/Downloads/Strategic_Plan_Final.pdf

Post edited by: QQH, at: 2007/12/17 10:07