Tauber New USEF President

By Staff Report September 13, 2012

The United States Equestrian Federation Board has named Chrystine J. Tauber president, effective Jan. 1 when current president David O’Connor’s commitment expires.

O’Connor, an Olympic Gold Medalist in eventing, served two four-year terms starting in 2004, when he became the first person to be named president under the organization as it is currently configured. Tauber was voted in at a USEF Board of Directors mid-year meeting that took place Aug. 27 in Lexington, Kentucky.

“Looking back over my career in the horse industry, spanning some 50 years, I realize how fortunate I am to have had so many great opportunities to work with talented horses, trainers, and fellow leaders in the equestrian world who provided me with invaluable knowledge and experiences,” Tauber said in announcing her appointment. “Through working together and our shared love of horse sports, I have come to know and appreciate all the wonderful breeds and different disciplines that make up the special tapestry of the U. S. Equestrian Federation. This varied group dynamic is what is so unique to the USEF.”

Tauber, 65, has for the past several years served as a member of the board of directors of the USEF, and is vice president of the United States Hunter Jumper Association.

In 1981 she succeeded Bertalan de Nemethy as head of the United States Equestrian Team’s show jumping program, based at the organization’s Gladstone, NJ, headquarters at Hamilton Farm. Her primary residence is in Wellington, FL, and is an FEI judge. Earlier in her career, she was a top  international show jumping rider and equitation champion.

The former Tewkesbury, NJ, resident includes among her accomplishments victory laps at the 1966 Grand Prix of Cologne and at the Washington International Horse Show, for the President’s Cup. Also during that period she was named International Open Jumper Champion and Green Hunter Champion, and Leading Lady Rider at Cologne. As a young rider, she won both the Maclay and Medal finals. Tauber became a professional in 1971, and in addition to training and coaching began judging and designing courses.

The USEF is the governance arm for 88,000 U.S. equestrians competing in sport involving 27 different breeds and disciplines. Its president presides over the group’s volunteer leadership structure and is a pivotal advisor to the board on policy matters. Since its origin in 1917 as the American Horse Shows Association, only 12 individuals have served in the presidential role and the process for election of a new president had been carefully developed by the USEF Planning Committee in anticipation of such historic changing of the guards.

O’Connor won Individual Gold and Team Bronze medals in eventing at the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney.  He is credited with a major role in laying the groundwork for the modern USEF, which emerged after USA Equestrian and the U.S. Equestrian Team consolidated in 2003, when the USET spun off as the group’s fundraising arm for international competition, including the Olympics.

Looking to the future Tauber said she envisions increased emphasis on technology, with members learning and taking tests online, as well as taking better advantage of the organization’s website as an information hub.

At the same time, she is mindful of the organization’s rich past. “It is important to also have knowledge of [the Federation’s] history and purpose,” she said, quoting past president Adrian Van Sinderen’s book, Our Highest Purpose: “‘Our great organization has been built upon the public’s confidence in us. Its sole effort is to improve the sport; its purpose is to maintain the highest ideals in the show ring. May those ideals never be compromised, may unquestioned fairness and justice forever mark its progress.’ These words were written in 1960 and still resonate in today’s show world. Over the years, the guiding principles for all our breeds and disciplines remain that of putting the love of the sport and the welfare of the horse at the fore. We must never lose sight of that.”

In recent months the USEF Nominating Committee received nominations and conducted interviews with candidates for the office. USHJA president Bill Moroney and USET Foundation chairman Armand Leone were early contenders for the post but eventually withdrew, and Tauber was appointed to a four-year post uncontested.

Georgie Green, chairman of the USEF Nominating Committee presented the Committee’s report naming Tauber as the Committee’s recommendation for the office.

 

 

 

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