Canada voted out of Zone 9 ?!?

[What'szat]

Did you hear that the Zone 9 committee voted Canada out of our Zone, starting for the show season of 2006. Starting in 2006 you will no longer be able to receive any zone 9 points in Canada. I am afraid that this is really going to hurt Thunderbird Show Park. There is a petition circulating to try to get a re-vote. If you are interested in getting Canada back in Zone 9 please contact Clare Warren to sign the petition. You must be a member of USEF.

At Wilsonville 2, Brawley Farm Summer Classic, and High Desert Classic 1 there were "Zone 9 Forums" at these forums there was discussion about the pros and cons to keeping Canada in Zone 9 or voting it out. At the end of the "forums" the group of people there took a vote, Canada in or Canada out. We were led to beleive that the votes taken at these forums would be the deciding factor. I attended two of the forums and at the two that I attended the vote went for keeping Canada in. Then, unbeknownst to me and most all members, there was a meeting held between the Zone 9 Committee members on the Monday between Bend 1 and Bend 2 and they held a vote between themselves and voted Canada out!! So it turns out that all of the voting that went on at the Zone 9 Forums was for nothing. :(

Clare Warren is circulating a petition to try to have a re-vote so that more people can have a voice. The more people that sign the petition the better.

Click Here to Email Clare Warren (cwarren@emeraldhp.com)

In your email to Clare, please mention that you heard about this through CanterCulture.com.

What is your feeling on having Canada as part of our Zone?

[sycho in the saddle]

what zone 9?

[What'szat]

Zone 9 is Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and soon to be formally Canada. It is a Zone for point tabulation through USEF. The country is divided into Zones and you accrue points in your Zone for your discipline through USEF recognized horse shows.

[ProvidenceJRhtr]

That is really sad now, because most of thunderbirds shows are filled with americans seeking points! It's going to hurt them and now us not being able to show a such a elite facility! :(

[jfleckenstein]

In all honesty, I personally don't really care about the outcome [I'm not really into the whole points thing and I usually ride jumpers where the points don't count anyway] but I was really against the way the whole thing was handled. I went to two of the forums and they each had VERY different outcomes, the one at Hood River was almost unanimously against it and at Bend it was totally opposite. My biggest problem with the whole thing was that each "forum" seemed to be dominated by one side and there wasn't any room for questioning, etc. I personally tried to speak at the Bend one and was RIPPED apart. I could care less which way people were going to vote, I just found it sad that the members of our zone were so stubborn that they weren't even willing to listen to each other, or in my position, listen to me because I am younger.

I too was under the impression that the "forum" would lead more to the committee's decision, though I was aware from Hood River that they would be the ones voting on it without our forum votes directly impacting it. I just felt like the forums were kind of lopsided without either side being fully represented. At Hood River, there was barely anyone for Canada, and then at Bend it was the opposite with even the Balisky's speaking. I personally think the Balisky's should be allowed to speak [though they're not zone 9 members] but I just wish they could have spoken at all the forums instead of one... I don't just, just to have had both sides represented better. I don't know, I guess my biggest question about the whole thing is why even bother having these forums if the votes aren't really going to sway the committee's decision and when it's just going to get the whole zone into a fight?


On another note, I know a LOT of people that will continue to go to Canada regardless of whether or not the points count... and while I agree Thunderbird may be hurt by this, it's not going to deter me from going to shows like that or Twin Oaks, I just think Thunderbird would attract more jumpers than hunters now. After all, when the Canadians come to America the points they accrue at shows down here don't count for the CEF or BCHJA. I don't know, I guess we'll just have to see what happens with the re-vote and all.

[Savanna]

That is really sad now, because most of thunderbirds shows are filled with americans seeking points! It's going to hurt them and now us not being able to show a such a elite facility! :(

I agree. I wonder if people will stop going to Thunderbird? I've never been but I heard it's a really fun show.

[gloryrider]

I agree. I wonder if people will stop going to Thunderbird? I've never been but I heard it's a really fun show.

Me too. I didn't know about this voting Canada out thing. I never show in Zone 9, but I don't see that as the best move for the USEF.

[butterflyfx]

as i recall, americans can still get points for BCHJA...right?

canadians should be allowed to stay in zone 9, but i don't see it hurting me at all as i won't be showing for points anyways. ;)

[Pinnacle]

Ashley most Americans don't do BCHJA. hehe. That's the whole point of having Canada part of zone 9

[butterflyfx]

but they CAN...that's the point i was trying to make. we haven't closed our point system to them. :)

[Fortune]

I think this is sad. It seems like having Canada as part of Zone 9 would be beneficial to USEF. Personally I don't have a problem with this, if they can already accumulate national points I don't see why they can't be a part of the zone system. It would increase the zone's competition and overall would be to their financial benefit. Does this mean that USEF will no longer recognize Thunderbird and other BC shows? Also for clarification, would all Canadian provinces join Zone 9 or would it just be BC?

[jfleckenstein]

All of Canada, not just BC.