Congratulations, Bob Bell!

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Paige Parker/$25k Pony Classic

Classic Company is proud to announce that its President, Bob Bell, was recently asked by United States Equestrian Federation’s President David O’Connor to take his seat on the American Horse Council’s Horse Show Committee. In this capacity, Bell will replace O’Connor and represent both the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) and the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) on the Council’s Show Committee. “I am very excited and honored that David selected me as his replacement,” commented Bell. “I take this responsibility very seriously and will represent both the USHJA and USEF to the best of my abilities,” he added.

The American Horse Council is a trade organization in Washington, DC representing the horse industry. The organization lobbies before Congress and Federal agencies for the interests of the horse industry, and serves as a unified voice for the equine industry. Bell’s position of representing both the USEF and the USHJA on the American Horse Council’s Horse Show Committee is critical in the promotion and advancement of the hunter jumper sport in the country.

Bell is not only the figurehead and inspiration behind the most popular show jumping competitions in the country produced by The Classic Company, Ltd., but he has been assigned to act as the leader in one of the most influential roles within the American show jumping infrastructure. The United States Equestrian Federation boasts more than 90,000 members and acts as the governing body for the equestrian sport on the US Olympic Committee. Bob has been a Member of the Board of Directors for the past eight years and currently holds one of the most powerful and important roles as the Chairperson of the Competition Management Committee.

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Pony Derby Win

Shelby French, CEO of the United States Hunter Jumper Association, said, “Bob serves as Chair of both the USHJA and the USEF Competition Management committees. One of the things I admire about his leadership style is his willingness to bring issues forward for discussion regardless of his own opinion. He always states his perspective and speaks persuasively in support of it but he never imposes his will on the group. I think this is one of the reasons that he is effective in these leadership roles.”

Bell also serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Hunter Jumper Association which has a membership of more than (47,000) members and is responsible for promoting the hunter and jumper disciplines and the well-being of its participants by offering broad based education for its members and provides the framework for the conduct of the equestrian sport of show jumping and American Show Jumping Policy. Bob Bell currently is the Chairperson of the Show Management Committee. Bill Moroney, President of the USHJA, said, “Bob Bell exhibits the same level of commitment to governance that he uses to conduct his very successful competitions in his involvement with the USHJA. Bob is always willing to discuss the difficult issues and involve his fellow committee members as well as a broader audience in his work to help move the sport forward.”

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Bob serving up mimosas

Volunteerism is second nature to Bell. He looks to consistently finds ways to give back to the sport which has so positively impacted his life. He produces shows and leads a staff that consistently asks the competitors, “What can I do for you?” He applies this same mantra to organizations whose memberships together number over 100,000. “It never ceases to amaze me that every Classic Company show I attend, I am always greeted with, ‘Is there anything we can do for you? Let us know if you need anything’,” said John Mastriano, trainer at Tustin Farm of Hainesport, New Jersey. This message reaches across the United States and other countries’ borders and is the hallmark of Classic Company events.

Congratulations, Bob Bell. Thank you for your leadership, your insight and giving back to a sport that gives us all so much.

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