33 #LoveOfTheHorse AnnuAl RePORT 2017 – 2018 WESTERN AUSTRALIA In January 2018 Equestrian Western Australia introduced two new membership categories - Adult Riding Membership and Recreational Membership. The aim of these new categories is to allow a true pathway from beginner to elite competition and to develop strategies to encourage more participation at all levels of the sport. This has been well received with 360 members across the new categories, resulting in our membership numbers increasing for the first time in three years. 2017 saw a total membership drop of 11% to 2,303, while horse Competition Licenses fell from 1,800 to 1,710. Despite this, there was a 7% increase in Participant Members and a 14% increase in Affiliate Members. Western Australia’s athletes, horses, coaches and officials once again had a very successful year with many achieving outstanding performances on both a state and national stage. A few results of note include: • Chloe Versteegen and Raelyn’s Eliza won the inaugural Children’s Championship at the 2017 Australian Jumping Championships • Keiran Halliday represented Australia at the 2017 FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors in Austria • Anna Duffy won the Senior Rider class at the 2017 Australasian Show Horse & Rider Championships • Niamh Tester and Baringa Time won the CAIJ1*-P1 Dressage + Cone • Penny Hill Park Sophia (owned by Michelle James) won the 6-year-old Young Horse Competition, ridden by Emma Hayward, at 2018 Dressage and Jumping with the Stars • Phillipa Collier was selected as Equestrian Australia Coach of the Month for June 2018 • Samantha Jones and Wallace Hill Sundance represented Australia in Endurance at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in USA In mid-2017 we conducted an organisational restructure, including a restructure of all employee positions, which led to several changes to increase efficiency and reduce costs. This enabledtheemploymentofanEventsandBusinessDevelopment Manager to identify new income opportunities and maximise the profile of current events. The Events and Business Development Manager is working to obtain and maintain major events at the State Equestrian Centre (SEC), including: • WA State Show Jumping Championships • Saddles Plus Interschool Equestrian Festival • WA State Dressage Championships • PETstock Bio-John EWA Horse of the Year • Horseland Young Event Horse of the Year, Off the Track Young Event Horse of the Year and Eventing Grand Prix • Equestra Festival and Show Equestrian WA aims to host these events with the following philosophies: • Continually maintain welfare of the horse as a number one priority • Ensure events are financially viable and rely on a diverse income stream • Provide consistent service delivery of events for participants, supporters and spectators • Ensure efficient utilisation of resources and suppliers • Satisfy the needs of key stakeholders particularly competitors, supporters, volunteers and sponsors with the aim of continually exceeding their expectations • Facilitate providing consistent event policies and rules to uphold integrity of the sport through impartial, professional event management • Create high quality events accessible to all equestrian enthusiasts to experience • Diversify events offered to cater to the wider equestrian community All events require a large number of volunteers to ensure their survival and professional execution while ensuring costs are not prohibitive for entrants. The pool of regular volunteers at all equestrian events has grown in recent years enabling consistent provision of service while ensuring volunteers remain in the sport they support. Without the countless hours of service provided by volunteers, both through organisation and field of play at events, these events would not be viable. The number of partnerships and support from local businesses for events has also increased, which is a reflection of the hard work conducted by Equestrian WA staff, committees and event volunteers to provide a diverse income stream. These