The UMECRA Convention was held this year in Madison, Wisconsin at the Holiday Inn and Suites on January 17th and 18th, 2025. There were many Michigan members present at the convention. The day started early on the 17th as multiple car pools were set up to transport MI members from all over the lower and upper peninsula over to Wisconsin. By early to mid afternoon everyone had safely arrived and started visiting and settling in for the weekend ahead. Friday evening the festivities began with the AHDRA award followed by a dance, cocktails and socializing. 

Michigan members receiving AHDRA Awards are listed below. 

Purebred Arabian Endurance 

Diane Meinders and Lumiere WW

Wendy Maas and FT Firestorm 

Jesse Finnila and Sterlings Starstrider

Purebred Arabian Limited Distance

Barb Kurti and Kulta

Wendy Maas and Renegade Raja

Lisa Germann and Ainia DCR

Layla Saatchi and Fadjuraba

Part Bred Arabian Limited Distance

Diane Maxey and LW Constant Sohn

On Saturday, the day kicked off with an early morning board of directors meeting. Afterwards, the guest speaker took the floor and educated us about Osteopathy. 

Jessica Van Buskirk was the guest speaker at the convention. She is an Equine Osteopath EDO based out of Alberta, Canada. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan and from there pursued her education in Equine Osteopathy. She graduated from the Vluggen Institute of Equine Osteopathy and Education in Garwood, TX in 2019. As an Equine Osteopath, her goal with each horse is to restore balance and homeostasis in the body by drawing from the horse’s own reserves and addressing the mobility of all structures in the body. Equine Osteopathy is a manual therapy that involves a whole horse approach and searching for the root problem. Jessica spoke about a number of topics and case studies that really captivated the audience. 

After lunch the annual membership meeting was held to vote on the ride schedule for the year along with bylaw changes. There were many Michigan voters in attendance and each had very good input on the topics listed below. There were 71 voting members present for the meeting.

Proposed Ride Schedule for 2025 

https://umecra.com/Newsletters/2024Newsletters/DRAFT%202025%20UMECRA%20Calendar%20for%20Meeting.pdf

Below are the bylaw changes that were voted upon. 

After each rule change is listed PASSED or FAILED. 

UMECRA Rules 4. Rider requirements M. The UMECRA website: www.umecra.com, shall serve as the official process of notification of ride results and point standings. Ride results and points printed therein become official 30 days after the publication date to the website (Publication dates will be logged on the site.) a. Riders are responsible for checking ride results and point standings for any potential errors in a timely manner and must report any suspected errors to the Points Keeper and Ride Manager within the 30 days of the publication date. Any discrepancies in the attempts by the Points Keeper, rider and/or the Ride Manager to resolve any suspected errors must be forwarded to the UMECRA Secretary. The UMECRA Secretary will inform the Executive Board of Directors of such discrepancies. The UMECRA Board of Directors will be responsible for the final resolution of these issues in a timely fashion. b. The year-end final points and standings published on www.umecra.com will become official the day before Thanksgiving. Riders must check their year-end points, standings, and miles and report any discrepancies before this date. Please note that although the last ride results, final year-end points, standings and miles may be available on the website for less than 30 days, it is the responsibility of the riders to review and address any issues before the deadline. (2020) (2022) 

PASSED

UMECRA Rules 4. Rider Requirements E.

 While the welfare of an equine participating in a ride is the primary responsibility of the rider, it is also the responsibility of everyone participating in the event whether as a rider, crew member, ride official, veterinarian or spectator to protect the welfare of equines at the ride. Any inhumane treatment of an equine may be cause for disqualification. 

PASSED

UMECRA General Rule 2. Management requirements I. If ride management, veterinarians, rider(s), crew, volunteer(s), or family feels that any person(s) have been abused or harassed by a member, they have the right to notify a Board Member. The Board Member will forward the information to the President or Vice President who will notify the Board. • Upon review, the Board will ask for comment from the complainant, alleged offending member and other people who might have witnessed the event. • If deemed warranted, the Board will privately warn that member; part of the warning being that if the offense continues, the member will be publicly warned. • If the conduct continues, the Board can take whatever further action it deems appropriate, including prohibiting the member from entering or attending a ride or from managing any other UMECRA event in the future. (2024) 

PASSED

Ride with GPS service/club membership – this is a website that can be purchased by an individual at $80 or a club at $250. If UMECRA purchases the membership, any ride manager could use it for free to map their trails. Motion for UMECRA to spend $250 to purchase a year membership for 2025. 

PASSED

Intro vs. Novice rides – motion that intro ride entries be subject to the $2.50/rider reporting fee charged the same rider fee as novice ride entries require. 

FAILED 

The UMECRA awards banquet followed after the formal dinner on Saturday night. Michigan members represented many award recipients listed below with their number placing. 

Endurance Lightweight

4. Diane Meinders and Lumiere WW
5. Diane Meinders and Yo Dusty
6. Wendy Maas and FT Firestorm
7. Jessie Finnila and Sterlings Starstrider

Endurance Junior

Nafiseh Seraji-Bozorgzad and DD Whooz Nadirah 

Limited Distance Heavyweight

3. Diane Maxey and LW Constant Sohn

Limited Distance Lightweight

4. Linda Hamrick and Cash
5. Barb Kurti and Kulta 
6. Lisa Germann and Ainia DCR 

Limited Distance Junior

4. Nafiseh Seraji-Bozorgzad and DD Whooz Nadirah

Competitive Lightweight

4. Jan Wylie and Dose

Competitive- Novice

1. Abigail Cool and SYLR Tomoros Kissedbythesun
2. Chelsea Talaski and Jane
3. Amy Fischer and Quiet Wyatt 

Restricted Mileage Endurance Heavyweight

4. Shane Darga and Spot on the Diamond 
5. Layla Saatchi and Fadjuraba 

Restricted Mileage Limited Distance Heavyweight

3. Layla Saatchi and Fadjuraba 

Restricted Mileage Limited Distance Junior 

2. Ilona Jarvi and Trinadee
3. Vienna Finnila and Pistol 

Restricted Mileage Competitive Lightweight 

1. Aurora Walsh and Win D Prado 
2. Sara Hall and Firelily Moon River 

Senior Horse 

    Jan Wylie and Dose 

Charles Phillips Memorial Versatility Horse

Dose ridden by Jan Wylie

Outstanding Mentor Award

Jan Wylie nominated by Sara Hall

After awards ended, everyone started to wind down, visit the bar one more time, shuttle kids to the room, run to catch the last quarter of the Detroit Lions game, and finally start saying their goodbyes. The nice thing about the UMECRA convention being so early in the year is that Michigan members only have to wait three weeks before saying hello again. 

All of us are looking forward to picking up the conversation at the GLDRA banquet held in Clare on Feb 8, 2025. As there will be many more Michigan members in attendance at the GLDRA banquet, we can further celebrate the accomplishments of riders and horses in this great sport of endurance riding.