MISSION STATEMENT

BYLAW 1-03 - OBJECTIVE

Section - 1 - PURPOSE - The USTPF is a National Governing Body (NGB) for Tent Pegging an ancient equestrian sport in the United States. The specific purpose of this federation is to promote tent pegging through the rejected horses, which are not found fit specifically for Polo and other equestrian sports; on the State and on national level in the United States. Those horses that are rejected because they are not found fit for proper stop for Polo, Team Pegging, or any other equestrian sport that demands high spirits and quick response for stop or make sudden move. The USTPF believes and ensures that those rejected horses can be promoted via Tent Pegging, which demands a straight run from the horse with galloping speed and stop at the double the length of 80 meters event distance. The USTPF is organized for charitable purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations described under Section 501(c)(3) of Internal Revenue Code (IRC), of corresponding section of any future federal tax code. We provide leadership and vision for equestrian sport by regulating competitions and promoting the safety and welfare of horses and riders while encouraging interest, participation, and excellence at every competitive level. We at USTPF will help students (in two groups from 8 to 14 years of age and 15 to 19 years of age), senior (seniors 20 to 40 years of age for men, 20 to 35 years of age for women), masters (41 years and above for men, 36 years and above for women) and individual athletes in the State of Oklahoma and throughout the Continental United States to develop the Tent Pegging skills for this equestrian sport. We embrace the Olympic movement and the spirit of fair play while supporting tent pegging as a major disciplines, "Tent Pegging" affiliates within the Federation family equally. We celebrate the equestrian lifestyle and the benefits of good health and outdoor exercise. (December 11, 2016)

Section 2 - NGB COMPLIANCE - As the NGB the Federation shall:

1. Serve as the NGB for Tent Pegging as an ancient equestrian sport in the United States. The Federation as NGB shall comply with all applicable laws and International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF) re­quirements.
2. Serve as the National Federation (NF) for Tent Pegging as an ancient equestrian sport in the United States and member of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF), and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Work together with the FEI, FIP, IOC, ITPF and USOC in its mission to protect competition horses from any form of abuse, extend the universality of equestrian sport, and promote its visibility to the public.
3. Protect and support the welfare of horses by examining, observing and testing to prevent the use of prohibited substances and other cruel, unsafe and/or unsportsman­like practices and by adopting and enforcing rules to prohibit such practices.
4. Promote and encourage physical fitness, promote sportsmanship and public participation in equestrian events (Tent Pegging) and activities in the United States, and educate youth athletes, members and the public with respect thereto; assist organizations and individuals concerned with the development of programs for the youth age groups from 8 to 14, 15 to 19, seniors from 20 to 40 for men, seniors 20 to 35 for women, master from 40 and above for men and masters from 36 and above for women athletes in tent pegging events; and provide services for members' common benefit.
5. Assure the right of a tent pegging athlete to compete in any international tent pegging athletic competition conducted under the Federation’s sponsorship or that of other tent pegging organizations or person, unless the Federation establishes that its denial was based on evidence that the organization or person conducting the competition did not meet the requirements; and protect the right of any athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official to participate in athletic competition in tent pegging events; and provide an equal opportunity to amateurs, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in amateur athletic competition without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, or national origin and with fair notice and opportu­nity for a hearing to any amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official before declaring such individual ineligible to participate.
6. Provide the strongest possible United States representation internationally in the FEI, IOC, ITPFand USOC disciplines (Tent Pegging), including providing a selection process for each major event.
7. Disseminate and distribute, or otherwise make readily available to Tent Pegging athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials, in a timely manner the applicable rules and any changes to such rules of the Federation, the FEI, FIP, IOC, ITPF and the USOC; and provide for the swift and equitable resolution of conflicts and disputes involving its members.
8. Provide governing rules for Tent Pegging as an equestrian sport at the national level, along with an effective means of implementing them, and a judicial process that is fair to competitors while providing for optimal integrity within the sport.
9. Provide efficient and on-time communication to every level of athlete, official, and organizer within the Tent Pegging sport.
10. Develop concentration and involvement in Tent Pegging as an equestrian sport throughout the United States and work with Recognized Affiliate Associations to encourage participation.
11. Serve as the synchronizing organization for Tent Pegging as an equestrian activity in the United States; exer­cise jurisdiction over international Tent Pegging as equestrian activities, and sanction international equestrian competition held in the United States; promote the sponsorship of inter­ national Tent Pegging as equestrian competition held inside and outside the United States.
12. Coordinate the calendar of competitions to ensure ITPF level competitive oppor­tunities domestically; enhance the level of national competition in the two FEI disci­plines (Tent Pegging); and provide for varying levels of regional and national competition to increase the breadth and depth of the sport throughout the country.
13. Train and license officials.
14. Assign recognized status to the Tent Pegging competitions whose operations have been certified by the Federation to further the interests by serving and promoting the Tent Pegging as equestrian sports in the United States.
15. Persuade and support research in the areas of sports medicine and sports safe­ty for both the human and the equine athlete and disseminate information that is developed.
16. Establish national objectives and encourage accomplishment of those objectives.
17. Select and assign individuals and teams to represent the United States in Tent Pegging as equestrian international athletic competition (other than the Olympic, and Pan Ameri­can Games) and certify, in accordance with the applicable interna­tional rules, the eligibility of such individuals and teams.
18. Promote the growth of the Tent Pegging facilities for use by equestrian athletes training for Tent Pegging competitions and assist in making such facilities available to such athletes.
19. Present unbiased support and encouragement for participation by women and minorities.
20. Offer and organize procedural information on physical training, equipment, its design, and coaching including performance analysis.

Section 3 - PRINCIPLES - The following governing principles shall apply to the Federation:

1. The Board of Directors, Officers, and Committees of the Federation shall be selected without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or sex.
2. The Federation shall provide for reasonable direct representation on its Board of Directors for any amateur tent pegging organization (ATPO) which conducts, on a level of proficiency appropriate for the selection of amateur athletes to represent the United States in international amateur athletic competition, a national program or regular national amateur tent pegging competition, and ensures that such representation reflects the nature, scope, quality, and strength of the programs and competitions of such amateur equestrian organization in relation to all other such programs and competitions in equestrian sport in the United States.
3. The Federation shall be autonomous in the governance of equestrian sport in this case "Tent Pegging", shall independently determine and control all matters central to such governance, shall not delegate such determination and control and shall be free from outside restraint.