Tauber to Take the Reins at USEF

Chrystine Tauber, a former Tewksbury resident, was selected last week to succeed David O'Connor as president of the U.S. Equestrian Federation

Dues, fees and sponsorship are a big part of the U.S. Equestrian Federation's income stream, but the organization's new president-elect, Chrystine Tauber, sees technology as a revenue generator that will be particularly welcome in tough economic times.

"We're getting into an area of technology we didn't have before," she said, noting the USEF network that offers coverage of major competitions "has great potential. We can make it slicker and more professional," she continued.

"It's a very powerful way to connect with people and provide coverage of all of our events," as well as supplementing resources when the budget is tight and a dues hike isn't in the picture.

But she also noted, "We cannot lose sight of our mission and our core services. We can do some of those things better, everything from the rulemaking process to the hearing committee and drugs and medications."

A former resident of Tewksbury who now lives in Wellington, Fla., Tauber was an equitation champion and international show jumper who went on to become a well-known horse show judge. She was elected last week by the USEF board to the post she will assume in January, when David O'Connor steps down after eight years in office.

O'Connor, the only president the 88,000-member organization has ever had, is an Olympic eventing individual gold medalist and a world championships team gold medalist. His dynamism made the USEF a going concern after a bitter turf battle between USA Equestrian, and the U.S. Equestrian Team. The two consolidated most functions in 2003, with the USET becoming a foundation that raises funds for international competition, while the federation handles governance duties and serves as the umbrella organization for 27 affiliate breeds and disiciplines.

Although someone with O'Connor's history is hard to replace, Tauber has an impressive administrative resume herself. She was an executive director of the American Horse Shows Association, USA Equestrian's predecessor, and also worked for the USET.

The energetic Tauber, 65, is personable and always impeccably turned out. She has been in the trenches as a trainer and course designer, in addition to her judging duties.

Asked why she would take on such a big job at this time in her life, she said, "There are so many things on the horizon that are very positive and very exciting. David has laid the groundwork. We've got a very solid foundation and we're financially stable. Now we're at a stage where we can start to forge some new directions as well."

U.S. Hunter Jumper Association President Bill Moroney and Armand Leone, chairman of the USET Foundation also declared their candidacy for the presidency, but they eventually bowed out and Tauber was uncontested in her bid for the four-year post.

Both have pledged their support, but are well aware of the demands Tauber faces.
"We've got some real issues ahead of us," said Leone, citing among other things the fact that " the little shows are becoming less and less. We're losing our middle-class members, which is really a tragedy."

Moroney noted, "there are a lot of hard challenges in front of the federation. It's a time where the organization has to take a good look at itself and decide what it wants to be:
Does it want to be a jack of all trades and master of none, or does it want to hone in on the functions that are really important for it; regulating the hearing process, the rulemaking process, licensing officials, fielding international teams, marketing and promotion?" asked Moroney, who also emphasized taking advantage of technology.

Tauber said officials will have the option of getting education and taking tests on-line, rather than having to attend time-consuming clinics in person. She also advised that USEF is working on a program called "Mirror," which will enable members to design their own pages on the website and determine what news, videos and notices they want to get from the organization. She wants to see the federation's website become more interactive.

On other key topics, she seeks flexibility that will enable the lower-level C-rated shows to flourish, even in areas where A-rated shows exist, but she isn't in favor of eliminating the mileage rule that avoids major schedule conflicts. Some show managers feel the mileage rule impedes development of new shows, but she noted, "I don't care what sport you're in, there is some regulation of dates and events. but I do think we can continue to modify it."

She added, "Those who can't afford to compete at the big double-A shows need to have a choice."

The medal-free performance of U.S. team at this summer's Olympics also is a big concern. She mentioned it has prompted creation of "a blue ribbon panel of coaches, trainers, owners and riders to really take a very hard look at each Olympic discipline," but pointed out that what went wrong in London varied slightly with each U.S. squad.

O'Connor wanted USEF employees and discipline directors based at the USET Foundation headquarters in Gladstone to move to his organization's offices in Lexington, Ky. His original target date for the change was after the 2010 World Equestrian Games.

However, the ramifications of putting all USEF employees under the same roof are still being examined, said Tauber. Key employees have said they won't leave New Jersey and space issues in Lexington also must be taken into consideration, so an evaluation is continuing post-Olympics.

In the meantime, the USEF is considering how best to use Gladstone as an East Coast base, including possibly utilizing it for offices that would support sponsorship endeavors, since it's important to be near New York for that purpose.

"One of the things also on table for discussion is how can we better use that facility for competition. Have we discussed specifics, no; is it a possibility? Yes," Tauber stated.

Additional goals are developing "a stronger marketing side" and working with a company on member retention and growth.

Tauber is not going to receive a salary; she will get paid for days spent working on USEF's behalf, but that stipend is capped at $75,000, plus expenses. Although it's not the kind of job that makes someone rich, that isn't the point for Tauber, who wants to use her extensive experience in the federation's cause. Her term is four years, but she said she's "willing to make a longer-term commitment," then quickly added, "I have to be worthy of that."

ON THE RAIL -- Sinead Halpin of Pittstown, who was the first alternate for the Olympic team with Manoir de Carneville, kept her lead from dressage with a double-clear cross-country trip yesterday at the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials in England. The 4-star-rated event is rated by some as the world's hardest, but Halpin (36.3 penalties) has a rail in hand going into today's show jumping, with New Zealand's Andrew Nicholson second on Avebury (41.8).

Halpin was 15th in her 2011 Burghley debut with her Frenchbred chestnut, but she is now a far more seasoned competitor.

"Last year, I was overwhelmed both with the size of the fences and not being familiar with the track. This year, I was definitely a bit more comfortable," said Halpin, who would be the first American to win Burghley since 1993 if she can remain on top through the show jumping finale.

Halpin logged one of just four double-clears in the 84-horse field. The only other American in the top 10 is Allison Springer with Arthur. They were second after dressage, then dropped to seventh after accumulating 9.2 time penalties cross-country.

McLain Ward had a disappointing Olympics but is back on track again at the Hampton Classic Horses Show this weekend, winning his fourth class of the Long Island show today. He rode Vocas to victory in the $30,000 Pilatus Cup, his second consecutive victory.

He's looking for another win in the show's last class, the $250,000 FTI Grand Prix, tomorrow. He topped the competition last year with Antares F, but more important, he teamed with the gray gelding to take the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix of Devon
in June. It was the first leg of the new Taylor Harris Triple Crown; if he wins the Classic's Grand Prix with Antares, and then takes the $250,000 grand prix at the Alltech National Horse Show in November on the same horse, he gets a $200,000 bonus.

He also will be aiming for the $1 million Pfizer Grand Prix at HITS in Saugerties, N.Y., next Sunday at 2 p.m. It will be preceded by the $250,000 HITS Hunter Prix, and the $500,000 Diamond Mills Hunter Prix on the sport's richest day. For more information, go to HitsShows.com.

Alice Tarjan of Frenchtown took the measure of some of the biggest names in the sport last weekend at the USEF National Dressage Championships in Wayne, Ill., where her Somer Hit won the Markel Young Horse Championship for six-year-olds.

The Hanoverian son of Sandro Hit was purchased by Tarjan as a three-day-old foal after she spotted him on a Pennsylvania breeder's website.

"We've had a lot of fun," said Tarjan, who has been working with him since he was five months old, with the help of trainers Lauren Chumley and Robert Dover, as well as USEF Young Horse coach Scott Hassler.

An alum of the Somerset Hills Pony Club, Tarjan, 33, attended Drew University in Madison and continued eventing through college, working with trainer Virginia Jenkins and competing up to intermediate level. After law school at Seton Hall, she decided to focus on dressage.

"I figured I wasn't going to be able to afford the kind of horse I wanted, an upper level horse that's already made, so my best bet was to buy a foal," said Tarjan.

"I enjoy the process, that's why I'm in the game."

Tarjan, who runs a trucking and rigging business with her husband, Dennis Sargenti, is an amateur, but her record is impressive. In addition to winning with Somer Hit, she was reserve champ in the five-year-old ranks at the championships with her Oldenburg mare, Elfenfeur, by Florencio I.

"I love that mare. She's the greatest thing in the world," said Tarjan. While her gelding is quiet, the mare is hotter.

"The mare is self-motivated," said Tarjan. " She's like a ticking time bomb, but she's fun to ride."

ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Sunday: Dressage at Stone Tavern, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown; Arabian Horse Society of New Jersey All-Breed Dressage Show, Sussex County Fairgrounds, Plains Road, Augusta; Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Jumper Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville; Baymar Farm Show, 38 Harbor Road, Morganville.
Monday: Briarwood Farm Show, Pleasant Run Road, Readington.
Thursday: Woodedge Stable Show, 116A Borton Landing Road, Moorestown (through next Sunday).
Saturday: Palermo Championship Series, 1555A Burnt Mills Road, Bedminster (through next Sunday); West Milford Equestrian Center Show, 367 Union Valley Road, Newfoundland; Carousel Farm Dressage Show, 8 Linn Smith Road, Augusta; Saddlebrook Ridge Dressage Show, 10 Saddlebrook Court, Shamong;Tinicum Park Polo, Tinicum Park, 974 River Road/ Route 32, Erwinna, Pa. (one mile south of the Frenchtown, N.J. Bridge, 2-4 p.m. Check for weather cancellations, tinicumpolo.org).
Next Sunday: Spring Valley Hounds Show, Sand Spring Lane, New Vernon; Judged Ride, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown; Standardbred Pleasure Horse Association National Show, Horse Park of N.J., Route 524, Allentown (through next Sunday)Oxbow Dressage Show, Combined Test and Horse Trials, 39 Orts Road, Hamburg; Monmouth Local Series Show, East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold; Delaware Valley Horsemen's Association Hunter Show, DVHA Showgrounds, 299 Ringoes-Rosemont Road, Sergeantsville.
Nancy Jaffer may be reached at nancyjaffer@att.net.