More transparency in the selection process is long overdue, good on you for launching the appeal.

In other news, we are planning to be constructing a reining arena in early 2007 at our centre in South Devon. Watch this space or our website for updates.

What would be a fair selection policy?

Why all the splinter groups when their are so few western riders at present? I know it is a growing sport, but it is sad to see so much infighting. One of the reasons I took up riding western was the friendly way people chatted to each other and were so supportive. How sad that seems to be changing as people get more competetive.

Competition is good, but so is fair play. How do people get selected for representing the UK in major events? I have never seen any selection requirements - and I have looked. Maybe someone could let me know the process so I know who to keep an eye on to support and cheer on to qualify for these events!

After reading some of the comments regarding reining/BR, there is definitely good reason for a more informative response.
When BR underwent change it was not only because change was required and indeed imminent, but the members where asking for change. It is patently obvious that the general western riding community are totally unaware of the massive amounts of work that is currently being done by BR since the change of governance. A great deal of which, is work which formally was either not being done or had slipped by BR through lack of time due to some of the then councils other commitments.

This is a personal response from myself and myself only and not a formal BR response. Let me make the readers here a little more aware of what they are now receiving for their membership fee.

Considering BEF matters, (which is crucial for the growth of BR/Western in the UK)
I have now re-negotiated the payment of ?6000 Lottery Funding for BR, which will increase over the next three years. (this was withheld due to all the bad image related back to BEF board)

I have increased the BR?s grant from the ?Worshipful Company of Saddlers? for our Rookie clinics by almost a third.

My Wife Pauline and I have been working all week-end preparing and submitting a bid to the BEF for BR?s share of ?46 Million pounds (yes ?46 Million). This cash has recently been announced for ALL equine sport at short notice and probably due to the government panicking and trying to generate better results at the London 2012 Olympics.

I am actively promoting through the BEF, individual Reining facilities in the UK that are seen to be backing their commitment by developing their facilities with their own money. This support will be (hopefully and eventually) for Grants/cash support, BEF backing and assistance with planning issues at both Local/Regional/National level. This is to the extent that I have organised that the relevant BEF officer would even attend ?your? planning meetings relating to your facility to give more formal support for your planning application. This will hopefully provide a network across the UK of ? Western Centres of Excellence? and be formally recognised as such.

I am now in the process of preparing a ?BR Roadshow trailer? which was donated by Arizona?s. The whole outfit will be covered with BR logo?s and reining pictures. I have developed a complete new range of BR literature which will be available from the trailer. The trailer will attend a host of Demo?s and Shows across the UK during 2007. I have submitted a application for further lottery funding for a Flat screen TV and DVD player To enable us to play reining DVD?s at all the demo?s and shows. I am sure you realise by now that BR received lottery funding for this work??

As far as promoting Reining, Pauline and I have already done major demos this year and have more booked for??? ?Endurance GB? the ?Riding for the Disabled?, ?Plumpton College Equine Centre? ?Canterbury Riding Club? ?Hadlow College Equestrian Centre? And many more are planned. Many of these demo?s have been arranged at BEF meetings I attend ?thumping the table? to get people aware of Western. This never happened before!!

Pauline has taken the reins (pun) with the UK Coaching Certificate which is a MASSIVE amount of work. Western will now have a Coaching System exactly the same and equal to all other equine disciplines in the UK. (i.e. Dressage, Show Jumping Eventing, Endurance etc).

We have negotiated Lottery funding for BR to produce two professional DVD?s for the whole UK coaching system, (these will be used by all UK disciplines for the new UKCC qualification) and I think that?s a major feather in BR?s cap.

I am now also involved with another BR member producing a ?BR E-Zine? which we hope will be 12-16 pages, bi-monthly delivered by email to anybody in the equine world that wants it, and believe me we are going to send it everywhere to help get the recognition Western deserves.

Whilst digesting the above, just take a moment to appreciate that this work involves either or both of us travelling to the BEF sometimes three times in a week for these meetings and presentations. From our location this is a 300 mile round trip, a 5 a/m start and just over ?70 in Diesel. None of which we get expenses or payment for.
We are doing this to push Reining forwards, and it gets stuck in my throat to hear comments like ?well BR are a bit in the doldrums? ?BR are a divided society?.
That is all BS and only propagated by those who want to see BR sink, just so they can say ?I told you so?.

This is not the only work that is going on. There are massive new initiatives on the table and some very exciting new projects which will emerge as they are finalised. We now have a very pro-active council ALL of which are having similar input to the above for BR

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS GET ON BOARD AND SUPPORT US!!

Thanks for the posting David.

I know how much both you and Pauline put into our sport not only in terms of hours on the road and private money but also the huge amount of time planning and mapping out a path along which the sport can grow and blossom.

Thanks from us and what can we do to help ?

Well David, you have to be commended for all the effort you are committing to our sport.

Its a shame that this is not flagged up enough to the general reining community.

I do hope that all members take note of your efforts and offer as much assistance as possible to aid your endeavours. If there is anything I can do to help then please give me a shout?