Olympic and WEG medallist Sonja Johnson
A number of high-profile riders, including Australian Olympic medal winners, are calling for more changes to the proposed reformation of Equestrian Australia, currently in voluntary administration
The recommendations put forward by the Administrators, KordaMentha, at an online meeting on July 14th 2020 (the Second Creditors meeting) were accepted but since that time, additional changes have been made which give the State Branches the power of veto
“As Australians who have been involved in equestrian sports from grassroots to elite level, we strongly support the need for reform,” the open letter says on the Riders For Reform Facebook page “The veto state branches have imposed is a good example of why the current structure has been in place for so long despite many attempts to change and it must be removed to make our sport the best it can be.”
The movement comes ahead of a Special General Meeting due to take place on September 15th when the proposed amendments will be voted on. Should the current structure proposed by the administrator Korda Mentha not be accepted, the governing body of the sport, Equestrian Australia, may be wound up
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to reform for the benefit of all equestrian sportspeople now and into the future” says the letter, which is signed by riders such as Edwina Tops-Alexander, Heath Ryan, Wayne Roycroft, Sam Griffiths and Sonja Johnson among other high-profile Australian equestrians and, since its launch on Sunday, the message is gaining momentum with other riders adding their support
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to reform for the benefit of all Equestrian sportspeople now and into the future. We request the state branches remove the veto power from the constitution to allow this to occur”
