USA Equestrian (Formerly AHSA)


Effective 12/1/2003: The United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. is now the National Governing Body for Equestrian Sport. Please visit the United States Equestrian Federation, Inc. page at http://www.usef.org (Your browser will be re-directed to USEF in 10 seconds. If you are not forwarded to USEF, please CLICK HERE).

USA Equestrian Statement Of Principles, Ethical Behavior & Conflict Of Interest

Those who choose to serve the USA Equestrian, Inc. whether as volunteers or senior staff personnel are held to the highest standards of conduct. As guardians of the National Governing Body of equestrian sports in the United States, whose mission is to inspire, encourage interest in and regulate equestrian competition, they assume an obligation to subordinate individual interests and interests of other entities to the interests of USA Equestrian, Inc. What may be considered acceptable conduct in some businesses, may be inappropriate to USA Equestrian service.

Those who serve USA Equestrian must do so without personal gain to avoid any embarrassment to or reflection upon the integrity of the Federation and to behave in such a way that USA Equestrian’s trust and public confidence are enhanced. It is important to avoid any real conflict of interest as well as to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

While no set of guidelines can guarantee acceptable behavior, the principles which guide behavior in this area are full and complete disclosure, and non-participation in any vote wherever any personal or family gain is a possibility, or in the instance where a business or personal relationship with another member of the Board could create an embarrassing or financially-costly situation. Further, members of the Board and senior staff personnel recognize and commit to honor the obligation to hold the interests of USA Equestrian above any other organization of which said Director or Staff Member is a member and to honor the confidentiality of information regarding sensitive matters received as a member of the Board or Staff. All conduct is founded on the individual’s own sense of integrity. Any individual accepting a position as a member of the Board of USA Equestrian or senior staff member must also accept the burdens of public disclosure and public scrutiny.

In our complex society, the intermix of volunteer work, business interests, governmental activity and family relationships often create potentially conflicting interests. What is required is prompt disclosure of conflicting interests when they arise at the beginning of any evaluation process relating to the matter in question, and non-participation in any vote on said matter.

The following guidelines are not a precise roadmap to acceptable conduct. They are signposts. Each individual must find his or her own way.

1. The business of USA Equestrian is to be conducted in observance of both the spirit and letter of applicable federal and state laws.

2. USA Equestrian properties, services, opportunities, authority and influence are not to be used for private benefit.

3. All individuals who participate as members of the Board or senior staff of USA Equestrian will be required to complete a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement. All such individuals will make full disclosure of the nature and extent of any actual or potential conflict of interest. This includes, but is not limited to, the award of contracts, the purchase of goods and services, changes in the constitution, rules of conduct and allocation of USA Equestrian resources and doing business with the Federation.

4. The relationship of owner, trainer, steward, judge, technical delegate or rider with USA Equestrian does not constitute doing business with the Federation. However, the relationship of stockholder, officer, trustee, director, part or full-time employee (contractual or otherwise), partner (limited or general) of an entity, or person which owns more than a 5% interest in a horse competition management entity which manages horse competitions, is doing business with USA Equestrian; the relationship of stockholder, officer, director, trustee, partner (limited or general) part or full-time employee (contractual or otherwise) of an entity, or person which has a contractual relationship with USA Equestrian, is doing business with the Federation.

5. Gifts, cash, travel, hotel accommodations, entertainment or favors are neither to be given nor received except those of nominal value exchanged in the normal course of business. Acceptance of said favors or other assets or gifts of value may be accepted if they are part of open and generally-accepted practices and serve to promote the best interest of USA Equestrian and would not embarrass the individual or the Federation if publicly disclosed and do not compromise the objectivity and integrity of the recipient or donor.

6. Expenses incurred in the furtherance of USA Equestrian business are to be reasonable, necessary and substantiated.

7. All are expected to exhibit honesty, loyalty, candor, civility and professional competence in their relationship with USA Equestrian and with each other.

8. Each individual has the responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of the organization. This includes both proprietary and sensitive information.

New York Not-For-Profit Corporation Law

Sec. 715. Interested directors and officers

(a) No contract or other transaction between a corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between a corporation and any other corporation, firm, association or other entity in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a substantial financial interest, shall be either void or voidable for this reason alone or by reason alone that such director or directors or officer or officers are present at the meeting of the board, or of a committee thereof, which authorizes such contract or transaction, or that his or their votes are counted for such purpose:

(1) If the material facts as to such director’s or officer’s interest in such contract or transaction and as to any such common directorship, officership or financial interest are disclosed in good faith or known to the board or committee, and the board or committee authorizes such contract or transaction by a vote sufficient for such purpose without counting the vote or votes of such interested director or officer; or

(2) If the material facts as to such director’s or officer’s interest in such contract or transaction and as to any such common directorship, officership or financial interest are disclosed in good faith or known to the members entitled to vote thereon, if any, and such contract or transaction is authorized by vote of such members.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT AND UNDERSTANDING

The Board of Directors of USA Equestrian, Inc. is subject to the conflict of interest policy as provided for by statute and set forth in Section 715(a) of the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law ("N-PCL Sec. 715(a)") of the State of New York, a copy of which is annexed.

The undersigned Director of USA Equestrian hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of N-PCL Sec. 715(a), confirms that he or she has read it, agrees to adhere to said conflict of interest policy in all respects and agrees to make all relevant disclosures to fellow directors and committee persons of all material facts as to common directorship, officership, or financial or other interest that he or she may have in any contract, matter or transaction affecting USA Equestrian at and in connection with all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the USA Equestrian Committees at which the undersigned participates.

The undersigned Director of the USA Equestrian also hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of USA Equestrian’s Statement of Principles, Ethical Behavior and Conflict of Interest, confirms that he or she has read it, understands it, and agrees to adhere to said conflict of interest policy in all respects, and pledges his or her full support of the spirit and letter of the requirements therein. Said Director has completed the attached Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement completely and to the best of his or her knowledge.

Certain Directors, perhaps including the undersigned, may have been elected as members of particular constituencies, which aids in ensuring that the views of differing interests are heard and considered; the undersigned acknowledges, however, that all Directors owe the duty of loyalty to USA Equestrian’s overall interests and not to any constituency as a separate source of obligation.

Print Name

Signature

Date

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

This statement must be filled out by every USA Equestrian Officer, Executive Committee Member, Board Member, Executive Staff. This Disclosure Statement shall be submitted annually and updated as often as necessary to USA Equestrian. Providing the information requested herein is prerequisite to participation by Directors and Staff. Refusal to provide the requested information or providing incomplete or inaccurate information may result in removal from office, Board membership, or employment.

1. If you or any member of your immediate family are an officer, partner, director, trustee, owner or employee of any person or any entity which does business with USA Equestrian, please list the name and address of the entity(ies), the nature of your relationship with said person or entity(ies) and describe the dealings. If none, please state "none."

2. If you or any member of your immediate family holds an ownership interest in a closely-held company or other business entity, or at least a 5% ownership interest in any public company which does business with USA Equestrian, please list the name and address of the entity(ies), the nature of your relationship with said person or entity(ies) and describe the dealings. If none, please state "none."

3. If you have reason to believe that any of the persons or entities with which you or immediate members of your family are affiliated may have business dealings with USA Equestrian in the future, please list those entities and the nature of such dealings. If none, please state "none".

4. Are you an employee or employer of another USA Equestrian Director or do you have any other business dealings or financial dealings with another USA Equestrian Director or any company or concern that Director is involved in?

_____ Yes _____ No

If you have answered yes to the above, please provide the details as follows.

If you or any member of your immediate family are an officer, partner, trustee, owner, or part or full-time employee (contractual or otherwise) of a Director of USA Equestrian or the entity, owned or in which said Director has at least a 5% ownership interest, please list the name and address of the Director, the nature of your relationship with said Director(s) and describe the dealings. If none, please state "none".

5. If there is any relationship or matter not disclosed above which might be perceived to compromise your obligations to USA Equestrian, Inc. under its Statement of Principles or which may raise questions of a conflict between your duty and loyalty to USA Equestrian, your loyalty to any other entity and/or your economic self-interest, please indicate here what that relationship or matter is. If none, please state "none".

Print Name

Signature

Date