By MARLEY LIEN-GONZALEZ
The USHJA Board of Directors will elect new members in the 2024 Board of Directors election taking place December 9-12 at the Annual Meeting in Tucson, AZ (click here to register and have your voice heard). A National Vice President and Four At-Large Director Positions are being filled. All of the final candidates have impressive backgrounds and experience on paper, but at The Plaid Horse, we also believe in purposeful action. In addition to their facts from USHJA, we asked the candidates filing for leadership positions within our community this year, “How would you hope to serve in your chosen role?”
The Plaid Horse reached out to all of the following nominees:
National Vice President
- Cheryl Rubenstein (Hunter)
- Sissy Wickes (Hunter)
Director-At-Large – Amateur Seat
- Lori Bidwell (Jumper)
- Dominique Mungin (Hunter)
Director-At-Large – Competition Manager Seat
- Shelley Campf (Hunter)
- Glenn Petty (Hunter)
Director-At-Large – General Seat
- James Hagman (Hunter)
- Terri Young (Jumper)
Director-At-Large – General Seat
- Jay Sims (Jumper)
- Sissy Wickes (Hunter)
Here are the responses we received:
Cheryl Rubenstein: Candidate for National Vice President
- Zone 4 & 7 / Amateur
- Committee work has included:
- USHJA Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- Hunter Working Group
- Audit Committee (Chair)
- Awards Committee (Chair)
- Planning & Governance Committee
- Safety Committee
- Owners Task Force
- Horse and Riders Advocates Committee
- USHJA Foundation (Past Officer)
- USEF National Breeds & Disciplines Council and Awards Committee • Adult Amateur competitor and owner
- Past Board of Directors member for the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, and Board of Directors member for multiple social services agencies in the greater Houston area and nationwide
- Corporate finance background/Senior Vice President global banking institution • MBA in Finance/Marketing
(Information provided by USHJA)
“You asked how I hope to serve in the role should I be elected. We have a well-defined job description for the USHJA Vice President, Policy Statement BOD 105, outlined on USHJA’s website. Click here for review. I was a part of the small group that drafted this job description and those for other officers and directors.
The tasks and requirements have long since been a part of my regular board and committee service for USHJA, thus not representing any material difference from how I have addressed my responsibilities for many years. The critical distinction is described in accountability. The Vice President works closely with the President and reports to the Board of Directors. I am fully prepared to support the President and take as much of the workload off of him as he deems fit, ensuring a solid and united leadership team.
With my extensive board experience across multiple committees, as an owner and rider, with over 20 years of corporate business experience, involvement with family-owned businesses, and leadership positions in other volunteer organizations on a regional and national level, I am well-equipped to handle almost any situation that may come before our organization. My qualifications are a testament to my readiness to serve as Vice President.
I am deeply committed to continuing the trajectory started by this leadership team to modernize our business methodology. As we look to grow organically, I am dedicated to serving the best interests of USHJA’s members and the sport, ensuring a bright future for our organization.”
Lori Bidwell: Candidate for Director-At-Large – Amateur Seat
Zone 5 / Amateur
- Committee work has included:
- Hunter/Jumper Commission on Horse Welfare
- H/J Commission’s Veterinary Subcommittee (Chair)
- Amateur competitor in Hunter, Equitation, & Jumper
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine; FEI Permitted Treating Veterinarian and Veterinary Services Manager (Level 1 Licensed Official)
- American Association of Equine Practitioners Performance Horse Committee & 2022- 2023 Chair of Record Keeping Subcommittee
- Past Board member of Kentucky Equine Humane Center and Central Kentucky Riding for Hope
(Information provided by USHJA)
“I am Lori Bidwell, a veterinarian, boarded veterinary anesthesiologist, sport horse veterinary practice owner, farm owner, breeder, and USEF/USHJA competitor. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, I grew up on a farm and participated in 4-H and open shows with my family; riding western, saddle seat and hunt seat. I became a member of the AHSA (now USEF) as a teenager in the 80’s, starting at Arabian shows as a groom and competitor.
After a short stint as a professional rider in my early 20’s during my undergraduate education, I was accepted into veterinary school at Michigan State University. I used the part of my student loans that I was meant to live off of to pay my horse’s board first, my rent second, and I lived off of the remaining $200. I intended to become an equine practitioner but I also enjoyed anesthesia and pain management and chose to pursue specialty training. My residency introduced me to research and resulted in a career that has produced many published research projects, veterinary textbook chapters, and lay articles regarding equine anesthesia and pain management.
My husband (Duncan Peters, MS, DVM, DACVSMR) and I own a four doctor equine veterinary practice that covers the summer Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and the Winter Desert International Horse Park hunter/jumper circuits as the official show veterinarians. We take three to five horses with us to compete in the young jumper and amateur jumper divisions and have had the privilege of competing at the USHJA National Championship show in Las Vegas on two occasions.
My experience as a board member has included The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (Board Member, Vice President, President, Immediate Past President), Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (Board Member) and The Kentucky Equine Humane Center (Board Member). I have also served on or am currently serving on committees for The American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and I was a member of the USHJA Committee on Equine Welfare; I was the chair of the veterinary sub-committee.
I feel incredibly fortunate to make my living and spend my life in the equine industry. My passion is to not only be a competitor, but to see horses treated as fairly and compassionately as they deserve to be in light of what we ask them to do. I believe there are better ways to do things and we need to explore what we can do to make things better. Social License to Operate (SLO) is a topic that should be at the top of our priorities in an effort to maintain the industry and lifestyle that we love; awareness and education are the initial steps.
As a veterinarian, I see some of the darkest parts of this industry. I believe that we need to make changes that reflect equine welfare and focus on ethics of every person involved in this industry. That should include less medications, evaluating competition schedules and ensuring that decisions and rules that we make are based on science and the horse’s best interest. In this light, I am happy to see that upcoming rule changes in the USEF and USHJA are aimed at improving these goals.”
Shelley Campf: Candidate for Director-At-Large – Competition Manager Seat
- Zone 9 / Professional
- Committee work has included:
- USHJA Board of Directors (founding Board member)
- Competition Management Committee
- Calendaring Ad Hoc (2020)
- USEF Committees including Member Services (Past Chair), Competition Management, National Hunter, Technology Advisory Task Force, Budget & Finance (past), IT Advisory Group (past)
- Competitor, trainer, owner, licensee of 6 USEF National shows
- Math/data background
(Information provided by USHJA)
“I have a diverse background as a trainer, rider, owner, USEF licensee, and a committed director and committee member. As a trainer, I have had great successes including winning the Jack Stedding Leading Trainer Award at the 2024 Pennsylvania National Horse Show and trained the 2024 ASPCA Maclay Region 7 Champion.
As a rider, I have won countless championships and finished 3rd in the WCHR Final Four Professional Finals at the 2023 Capital Challenge Horse Show. As an owner, I have had multiple horses that successfully competed through to the highest levels in their respective disciplines. As a licensee, I run six USEF nationally-rated shows. In governance, I was a USHJA Founding Board member and held that seat for 14 consecutive years. I have a variety of extensive committee experience with the USEF, USHJA, and the National Horse Show.
I hope to bring my past experiences to help grow the sport and foster strong community involvement. I am excited with the prospect of being back on the Board and promise that I will work hard, be present, and be approachable for the greater good of our sport.”
Glenn Petty: Candidate for Director At-Large – Competition Manager Seat
- Zone 3 / Amateur
- Committee work has included:
- USHJA Board of Directors
- Executive Committee
- Competition Management Committee (Chair)
- Competition manager, owner, stable operator, USEF Steward
- General Manager of Equestrian Operations at Tryon International
- Former CEO of Virginia Horse Center and former EVP of Arabian Horse Association
- Former President & Lt. Gov. of Optimist Int’l in Raleigh & NC East District
(Information provided by USHJA)
“I bring vast experience in show management and facility management. I coordinated the design and construction of North Carolina’s two horse complexes, the Gov. James B. Hunt, Jr. Horse Complex in Raleigh and the Western North Carolina Horse Complex at Asheville. I have facilities management, construction, and particularly show management background and experience. My wife and I own Raleigh Indoors and Triangle Farms, which is a professional hunter/jumper stable, so I have a background in everything from farm management to competition management. I was chairman of the USEF Competition Management Committee for close to 20 years and now I’ve been Vice Chairman of the USHJA Competition Management for the past roughly 10 years.
One of my main responsibilities with those positions was keeping up with all the rule changes, particularly those that apply to competition management, and I’ve also been a steward for nearly 50 years, and witnessed a lot of changes in that time. I used to be able to keep the USEF Rulebook in my pocket, but these days you can’t do that anymore.
A skill I bring from past experience is managing budgets. My budget at the Arabian Horse Association was approximately the same size as the USHJA’s. An area in which I can particularly contribute to by being on the Board is getting the budget in better shape.
Though everyday competitors don’t necessarily know all the ins-and-outs of show and facility management, behind the scenes I always want to give exhibitors good service. My goal is that my customers, the exhibitors, want to come back. Show management, to me, is keeping my ear to the ground as far as understanding the trends and aspiring to be as user friendly as possible so that exhibitors want to come back.”
Terri Young: Candidate for Director-At-Large – General Seat
- Zone 3 / Professional
- Committee work has included:
- USHJA Board of Directors
- USHJA Awards Committee (Newly Apppointed)
- Horsemanship Quiz Challenge Committee (Chair)
- Budget & Finance Committee
- Emerging Jumper Rider Task Force
- Safety Committee
- Zone 3 Coordinator – L.M. “Sandy” Gerald Equitation Finals
- USEF National Hunter Committee (Former)
- “R” Judge – Hunter and Hunter Seat/Jumping Seat Equitation,
- USHJA Credentialed Trainer & Examiner
- Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation coach/trainer; owner; stable owner/operator • Competition Manager of 1-2 VHSA Associate horse shows & 2 IEA shows annually
- Past Board member of Washington Bridle Trails Association and Loudoun County Equine Alliance; past member of Loudoun County Rural Economic Development Council
- Corporate experience as project manager, proposal writer, and Director of E-Commerce for corporate travel agencies
(Information provided by USHJA)
“I teach juniors and amateurs in the Hunters, Jumpers, and the Equitation. My riders have qualified for and competed at National Championships, such as NAL 1.25 m and 1.10 m Junior Championships, USEF Medal and ASPCA Maclay Finals, Junior Hunter Finals, and NAL Children’s Hunter National Championship. My riders regularly earn ribbons at zone and state championships. In addition to rated shows, I also have riders who compete on the local VHSA circuit, whether it’s for additional practice for a rider moving up a level or starting a young horse. I also run a very large IEA team, with successful post-season participation each year.
I have spent most of my life helping people learn to ride and introducing them to shows. We need to grow this sport and I am able to bring the perspectives of those just starting out or with limited budgets to light. I am constantly teaching my riders how their practice and competition develops them as human beings. I am passionate about this segment of the market. I am enthusiastic and keenly interested in learning. As horsemen, we are never finished learning, and I believe this includes not just learning about horses and ourselves, but also about our industry and sport.
I am a vocal supporter of USHJA programs, hoping to attract others to the programs that I believe can help them. When asked for my opinion, I am not shy about expressing myself. I believe I do this with enough tact so my listeners can hear me. I am also circumspect. It is in my nature to evaluate all sides of a discussion; I want to make sure I understand the various perspectives before forming an opinion. My participation and passions in the horse world are education, horsemanship, and sport growth.
With a strong foundation, the USHJA can facilitate graduating riders up through the levels, to the pinnacle of the sport. My involvement in educational programs, like Horsemanship Quiz Challenge, Trainer Credential, and Emerging Jumper Rider Task Force enables me to represent that sector of the sport well. My participation on the Safety Committee and the Budget & Finance Committee give me a view of where we are and where we are headed. Finally, the skill set I developed in my prior corporate experience, including marketing and project management, enables me to offer a perspective that goes beyond our industry and sport. I am honored to be named to the slate of candidates, and hope to continue to contribute to the success and growth of the Association.”
