When Judy Berkley learned the U.S. Equestrian Federation was implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and mandating DEI training, the detour from its core mission as a rules and regulations organization spoke to her unique set of interests.

As a former daily newspaper columnist at the Tribune newspaper in the racially-charged city of Oakland, Calif., Berkley witnessed the interplay of political and race-based agendas in the struggle for power and control of the troubled city.

As a horse-lover and owner, she never expected to see such forces permeate equine sports.

However, she found layers of jurisdictions at USEF that threaten participants, and even the future of equestrian sports.

Amazingly, DEI proponents, termed External Thought Leaders, were allowed to make policy decisions, while USEF was already being decimated by SafeSport, the well-meaning but poorly-crafted legislation that attempts to eradicate sexual misconduct from Olympic sports.

The dubious, some say unconstitutional, tactics of SafeSport identified several prominent equestrians, who were ousted from USEF activities, but also produced misfires that ruined reputations and lives.

The climate of fear created by SafeSport was then amplified by the agenda of DEI, which presumed the membership of USEF was festering with racism and bigotry and needed reprogramming.

An undercurrent for all that policy upheaval was the ever more aggressive agenda of animal rights’ extremists which seeks to eliminate horse sports altogether.

Sadly, horse ownership is imperiled, not just by social issues, but also mitigating factors like loss of land for recreational riding and essential agricultural products, and declining numbers of large animal veterinarians.

Berkley alleges USEF seems oblivious to the looming disasters, focusing instead on growing the financial rewards of equine sports.

The gluttonous pursuit of more wealth in the increasingly elite world of equestrian sports, which puts participation out of reach for many people, is completely at odds with DEI’s position that more marginal groups can be added if only unfair prejudices are removed.

Despite the chaos and incompatible policies, USEF seems willing to be led by External Thought Leaders into an uncharted future, while foregoing, what should be its missions: the preservation of practices and traditions of equine sports, and more importantly, the role of the horse in America.

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