Proposed I/I Budget Cuts to Horse Providers and Shipping Expenses

This petition is now closed? How disappointing...

Why has the petition closed?

Cutting youth programs in favor of flashy tournaments is unwise for long term growth.

This is a much needed program of the USPA, keep the kids playing!!!

Payments to horse providers should be restored. Teams cant compete with out this. I also believe that the II should seek outside sponsorship to leverage all the college brands. They should use the USPA as a governing and umpiring body and get sponsors to support the teams and the polo. USPA sees little value in arena polo, junior polo, etc... This is just the way it is. Hard for them to see past the South Florida High Goal any more

As an I/I alum, I can attest to how valuable having USPA funding was for successful programs. Especially for smaller programs (like those in the Northwest) who do not get much funding from their schools, USPA funding helps make playing in tournaments and qualifying games possible.

“To track our progress with the ongoing initiatives set forth in the Polo 2020 vision plan, the USPA is committed to listening to member feedback from our Annual Member Surveys. Our future direction is based on your input” The feedback on this petition seems to be very clear. Is the feedback that different on the surveys? If not, then how did we get here?

I/I polo is nothing without the support of their horse providers. A cut like this is detrimental.

Very short-sighted of the USPA to cut off funds to help support up and coming players that could be the future of the sport.

I am always struck by the enthusiasm and commitment of the competitors in our tournaments. We should be doing everything in our power to support and grow our community and not throwing financial impediments in their way. I am certain there are more effective ways to meet budgetary pressures than to diminish the sport.

Keep it growing!

Without fresh young players coming into the sport through the I/I program, American polo will not prosper. It is short-sighted to cut funds now, in fact the program should be more fully funded. It is most unfortunate that the leaders of USPA are so detached from the bulk of the membership that they do not appreciate the need to grow the number of players; some one must take the place of the aging members. It certainly will not be the very limited number of budding professionals that are being catered to in the POLO USA program. Polo will prosper and spread only with more attention given to the individual clubs. My club in San Antonio has a viable I/I program and a start-up collegiate program with Trinity University; both of these programs will suffer severely with the proposed funding cut. We have nearly as many kids involved in these programs (25) as we have regular playing members in our club, and we are counting on some of them to become the next generation of committed polo players. This horse subsidy was one of the few tangible benefits that the San Antonio Polo Club actually received from the USPA (the other being the PUMP umpire subsidy) and it is a pity to lose it.

Member of Cornell Polo Club

Please continue support of the I/I program! So important for the future of polo and it’s players!

The mission statement of the USPA is they are growing the sport. Really! How is this decision to reduce the I/I budget supporting that objective. The Governors/G-A-L need to reclaim being able to communicate directly with one another. They represent the circuits not the Executive Committee. Members need to become organized and demand transparency with the decisions being made by it seems a few within the USPA who are controlling the direction of polo.

I played polo in college and even though I wasn't on the A string, it was one of the most formative times of my life. If the funds are cut, I fear polo will become more inaccessible to more young athletes.

We need continued support for these programs.

Reimbursements to horses providers is necessary for all Preliminary and Regional I/I Tournaments.

Please don’t cut the funding for horse transportation to I/I and I/C programs. The I/C program was how I started in polo and the proposed cuts will greatly impact the future of those programs.

The I/I programs are valuable to all of us. Please keep these programs funded.