In this article, Piper Klemm highlights significant challenges faced by members and trainers within the US Equestrian Federation (USEF), focusing on bureaucratic inefficiencies, confusing membership value, and poor data management. Trainers report that barriers to participation are less about riding skills and more about intimidating costs, complicated paperwork, and unclear benefits of membership. The article criticizes USEF’s outdated and error-prone data systems, lack of transparency, and a bureaucratic culture that prioritizes control over clarity, which ultimately drives up costs and alienates participants rather than supporting horse welfare and sport growth.

Klemm argues that the current system’s complexity forces horse shows and equestrian businesses to hire extra staff just to manage compliance, increasing expenses that trickle down to competitors. She calls for leadership reform focused on trust, education, and inclusivity to make the sport more accessible and enjoyable. Emphasizing the need for accurate data and streamlined processes, Klemm envisions a USEF that fosters opportunity and meritocracy, allowing members to spend more time with their horses and less time navigating frustrating administrative hurdles.