>> How to Be a Volunteer, sponsored by ENYDCTA and NEDA.

>> GMHA August Festival of Eventing news.

>> Attention competitors using X Entries: Competitors must open the email and download your entry, sign it, and send money with it unless you do a credit card with USEA. You are not entered until the signed entry, coggins, and money are in the hands of the Secretary of the event.
In addition, a reminder that Preliminary and up competitors must be current members of USEF and the horse must have the life membership with USEA. If someone else owns your horse, that must be clear on the entry and the owner must be a current member of USEF also.
If you purchase a new horse, send a copy of the sales slip to USEA so that the new ownership is recognized.

>> Great news! Thanks to the generosity and hard work of the Organizers, Area I will be hosting two YEH/NEH/FEH events in the 2012 season. GMHA will be moving theirs to June and Stonybrook will hold theirs in September. Full details will be posted soon. Please show your support of both of these wonderful venues by attending both. Heidi Beaumont, Area Chair

>> Rider Rep.s required for all events offering levels Training - Advanced: In the new USEF Rule Book, EV119 refers to the Rider Representative Rules which became effective 12/1/11. A Rider Rep must be named (and an alternate if necessary) 7 days ahead of the competition for all events offering Training through Advanced. The Rider Rep for a competition offering Preliminary Level or below must have completed 4 Preliminary competitions on two different horses.
The USEA has published a list of possible candidates. The names may be found under “Education & Resources”, then "Organizers." Then scroll down to the last entry on the list of documents. Under extraordinary conditions, the TD may approve a Rider Rep if s/he is not on the list. The responsibilities of the Rider Rep are to inspect the XC course with either the TD or President of the Ground Jury before the 3 PM opening of the course, and to inspect the Stadium course at least 15 minutes before the start of that competition phase.
The name of the Rider Rep should be posted for the competitors and (where possible) the cell phone or stabling assignment for contact purposes. Competitors are encouraged to speak to the Rider Rep if they have concerns about the courses. The Rider Rep must fill out a USEA report at the end of the event. This rule does not mean that the competitor cannot communicate directly with the TD or PGJ if s/he has questions about the courses. Competitors and Organizers are encouraged to read the EV119 in its entirety for clarification.

>> The USEA Executive Committee has approved the proposal for Beginner Novice Level and Novice Level 3-Day Event Tests to count toward USEA National Year-end Points and AEC Qualifications. So make your plans early to enter this fantastic event at GMHA this year.

>> Effective with the 2012 competition season, restrictions to compete in the rider and horse divisions have changed. Riders (and horses) who were eligible last year may find they no longer meet the requirements. This change could affect eligibility on the Area level, especially with the championships. Here's the new rule:

2012 Definition
Appendix 3
4.5 RIDER (R) - Open to competitors who have not completed an event above the next highest level in the 5 years preceding the date of the competition, e.g. a Novice Rider may have completed an event at Training level, but not Preliminary level or higher in the 5 years preceding the date of the competition; a Training Rider may have completed an event at Preliminary level, but not Intermediate level or higher in the 5 years preceding the date of the competition.
4.6 HORSE (H) - Open to competitors of any age, horse may not have completed an event above the next highest level. e.g. a Novice Horse may have completed an event at Training level, but not Preliminary level or higher; a Training Horse may have completed an event at Preliminary level, but not Intermediate level or higher.
4.7 For the purposes of this rule, FEI divisions are considered to be one level higher than the equivalent National division, e.g. FEI One Star is one level higher than a Preliminary Horse Trial. A rider who has completed an event at the Advanced Level is not eligible to compete as an Intermediate rider. BOD 1/23/11 Effective 12/1/11

>> GMHA Festival of Eventing Sponsor Opportunities and Benefits.

>> GMHA Vermont Eventing Challenge.

>> GMHA XC upgrade update. Here's the latest on the development of the project, dated December, 2011. Also, remember the sponsorship opportunities are still available.

>> Thanks to your help, Kingsbury Hill Farm, Francestown, New Hampshire is now open for XC schooling. They have elementary jumps (logs), BN and Training fences in the two fields. The Training and Novice loops are mowed and usable but all the jumps are in the fields. Fee is $40/horse-rider combination, signed waivers are required and are available at the check-in table in the main barn. Contact is 603-533-2508 or lisakingsburyhill@gmail.com. Please continue to help - MORE INFORMATION

>> Ride Course Brook HT's Training XC course with Stephie Baer! Check out her helmet cam video.

>> If you respond to any submission on the Area I web site, please, be aware that while we try to post only "legitimate" submissions, occasionally there may be something which turns out to be unethical or inappropriate (such as a clinic offering, schooling show listing, or classified ad). As with any other web site, it's your responsibility (and yours alone) to decide whether to pursue a listing or a response to your listing.

>> Photographers at events: Only official photographers are listed on the Area I site - these are professionals who have secured permission from the hosting organizer to shoot at the event. For liability and safety reasons, and other concerns, those who do not have permission from the event to photograph are not listed. If you want to know who unofficially photographed at an event, you need to contact the organizer directly.

>> If you know an Area I location which offers XC jumps/courses on which to practice, please email and they'll be listed at the bottom of the Links page.