Click here for joint USDF/USEF membership card: Click here for joint USEF/USDF membership card! Click here for horse card Scroll down for more information Henk van Bergen  to Lead 2009 Trainers’ Conference Sponsored by Succeed in FL LEXINGTON, KY (May 6, 2008) - The United States Dressage Federation announced today that Henk van Bergen has signed on to be the featured presenter at the 2009 Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference to be held January 18-19, 2009 in Loxahatchee, Florida.  Each year, USDF offers a trainers’ conference to those individuals who meet the attendee criteria to learn training techniques and study with a world class dressage trainer.             Born as the son of a baker in Nijmegen, Holland, Mr. van Bergen started his career as a groom at the local riding stable which he now owns and operates with his wife, Wilma.  This stable, Brakkenstein Dressage Stables, serves as the host site of the Dutch National Championships, and as a home for his and his wife’s riding and teaching.              In addition to becoming a certified instructor with the Royal Dutch Riding School in 1966, Mr. van Bergen has coached the Dutch Dressage Team at both the 1972 and 1992 Olympic Games, the Japanese Dressage Team at the 1988 Olympic Games, and coached private students at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.  In 1988, he was also appointed the Dutch National Trainer and continues to give regular clinics in England, the United States, and Spain.              Kathie Robertson, SeniorPrograms and Education Coordinator, stated, “It is with great pleasure that the USDF is bringing such a renowned trainer and clinician to this year’s trainers’ conference.”              For more information on the 2009 Succeed/USDF FEI-Level Trainers’ Conference, please contact the USDF office at trainersconference@usdf.org or at (859) 971-2277. _________________________________________________________________________ USDF Welcomes New Registries For All-Breeds Awards Program             Lexington, KY (April 16, 2008) - The United States Dressage Federation welcomes all of it’s new and returning all-breeds participating registries/organizations (POs).  The newly added POs for the 2008 competition season include: the Palomino Horse Breeders of America, the Fell Pony Society of North America, the United States P.R.E. Association, the Canadian Horse Breeders Association, the Friesian Sporthorse Association, the Friesian Heritage Horse & Sport Horse International, and the Nokota Horse Conservancy.            All POs, by partnering with USDF, recognize the accomplishments of their breed or registry on a national level through the Adequan/USDF All-Breeds year-end awards program.  Currently, USDF has 62 POs and over 15,015 horses declared to participate in the program.             “Through combined efforts with all of our participating organizations in the all-breeds awards program, we are able to promote dressage within the various breed organizations, as well as to highlight the contributions of different breeds within the world of dressage.  Also, with the support of all of our POs, this program has come to embody the mission of USDF by serving as a catalyst for education, recognition of achievement and promotion of dressage,” stated Krystina Firth, Senior Competitions Coordinator.             For more information on Adequan/USDF All-Breeds awards or to view a full listing of current USDF POs, visit the USDF Web site at www.usdf.org, e-mail allbreeds@usdf.org, or call (859) 971-2277. _________________________________________________ Get USDF News Live on Your Desktop!             Lexington, KY (March 26, 2008) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced today that it has created a new Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed to enable members and businesses to receive the most up-to-date USDF news and headlines.  RSS is an internet protocol that transmits a news feed in real time and is automatically updated as new items become available.  These feeds make it possible for people to keep up with all of the current news and happenings at USDF on their personal Web pages or homepage, with RSS capabilities.  Anyone who wishes to add the USDF RSS feed can do so by clicking on the RSS icon on the USDF Web site.         Director of IT Services Chad Compton stated, “The availability of this feed to all of our members, affiliates, and partners will enable us to keep the public informed of important news and updates from USDF instantly and help us to establish ourselves as the primary resource for dressage news in the United States.  Additionally, the development of this feed ties directly into the USDF Strategic Plan by using technology to make dressage news available to people outside of our membership and to create a world class Web site.”          For more information on subscribing to the USDF RSS feed, please visit the USDF Web site or contact the USDF office. _____________________________________________________________________________ Olympian Kyra Kyrklund Selected As 2008 Presenter Of USDF National Symposium LEXINGTON, KY--The United States Dressage Federation is excited to announce that world-class trainer and rider, Kyra Kyrklund, is returning to conduct her third Adequan/USDF National Symposium.  This year’s symposium will be held Dec. 6-7 in Denver, CO.              Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Kyra won the Finnish Championships ten times from 1972 to 1989 and competed in every Olympic Games from 1980 to 1996, placing fifth three times.  In addition, Kyra has participated in the 1990, 1994, 1998, and 2006 World Equestrian Games placing second, fourth, ninth, and seventh respectively.             Beyond Kyra’s extensive resume in the ring, she has also developed a system of training horses that combines the core elements of the German and Swedish systems with her own, unique techniques.  Upon returning to Finland from her time in Sweden and Germany, Kyra started her own business, Helsingin Kilpatalli, which she ran from 1976 until 1991.  Here, she was able to take the most important elements of the systems she had learned abroad and translate these into her own approach with outstanding results.             For many years, Kyra was responsible for the training of the Finnish junior and young rider teams.  Since 1985, they have won medals both individually and as a team at Scandinavian and European championships.  Also, the first ever Finnish Olympic dressage team consisted of only her students and they placed sixth in Seoul in 1988.  In 1991, Kyra moved to Sweden and became the chief dressage trainer at Flyinge stud, which transformed it into an international mecca for dressage.  In 1998, following many successful years in Sweden, Kyra moved to the United Kingdom where she now lives on a farm in West Sussex.              Kathie Robertson, Senior Programs & Education Coordinator, stated “We are very pleased to be able to bring Kyra and her wealth of knowledge and training techniques to the attendees at this year’s symposium.  It is sure to be an unforgettable experience for riders, auditors and horses alike.”             For more information on the 2008 Adequan/USDF National Convention and Symposium, please visit www.usdf.org or contact the USDF office at (859) 971-2277. ____________________________________________________________________________ Scroll down for Convention details! _______________________________________________________________ CHEERS TO ROBERT--Honoree Robert Higgins (far left)  enjoys the  Gala dinner at the with Region 3 "compatriots" Annieliese Vogt-Harber (Competitors Council), Region 3 Director Sandi Bishop and partner Michael Russ, president of PureSunscreen.com, a participant in this year's Trade Fair. Region 3 was host of the 2007 USDF Convention in Ocala, FL. (staff photo) Robert Higgins Named 2007 USDF Volunteer of the Year             Lexington, KY (December 20, 2007) - The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) announced the winner of the 2007 USDF Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by The Paddock Saddlery, at the 2007 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention.  This award recognizes a USDF member who, through consistent and cumulative volunteer activities, has demonstrated exceptional commitment towards carrying out USDF’s mission.  As the winner, Robert was presented with a perpetual trophy, which is permanently on display in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame, will be featured in the yearbook issue of USDF Connection, and received a “keeper” trophy and $500 gift certificate from The Paddock Saddlery.             Hailing from Winter Springs, Florida, Robert has been volunteering for USDF for a very long time, attending his first annual convention in 1984 and soon becoming a member and eventually chairing the Fiscal Review Committee and later the USDF Budget and Finance Committee.   Robert has also served as co-chairman of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Representatives Committee since 2004 and serves on the USEF Fiscal Review and Competition Management Committees.  Additionally, he played an integral role in the USEF committee that restructured competition licensing rules.  Robert’s most recent involvement in the USDF council and committee structure includes conceiving the newly created USDF Audit Committee and serving as its first chairman.             In 2007, Robert served as the Master of Ceremonies for awards, coordinator of judges’ transportation, and coordinator of the Gentleman’s Committee for the Raleigh, Dressage at Devon, and New England Dressage Association CDIs, the FEI North American Junior and Young Riders’ Championships, and the Great American Insurance Group/USDF Region 1, 3, and 8 Dressage Championships.  In 2006, Robert also stepped in, at the last minute, as manager for the entire 2006 Raleigh CDI competition.             USDF Secretary, Janine Malone, praised Robert for his “extraordinary commitment to his volunteer responsibilities,” adding that, “He is very dependable and thorough in carrying out his commitments and actively promotes USDF to other disciplines outside the dressage community.” ________________________________________________________________ 2007 Group Member Organization (GMO) Award Winners Announced at Annual Convention  ORLANDO, FL--The United States Dressage Federation (USDF) congratulates the winners of the 2007 GMO Awards which were presented during the Board of Governor’s General Assembly at the 2007 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention held here Nov. 27-Dec. 2.  These awards are given annually to recognize outstanding GMO newsletter and Web site layout and design, first person experience articles, general interest articles, and volunteers.          Also included are the winners of the inaugural “Grow Your GMO Challenge” and recognition of three grant recipients from the Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund that provides financial assistance for deserving individuals to attend the Adequan/USDF Annual Convention.  This year’s winners were: GMO Newsletter Awards: Layout/Design: GMOs with less than 75 members:        Brazos Association of Classical Horsemanship, Bach Notes, February 2007            GMOs with 75 to 174 members:           Southern Eventing & Dressage Association, Off Course, May/June 2007 GMOs with 175 to 499 members:         Dressage Association of Southern California, Collected Comments, May/June 2007 GMOs with 500 or more members:       New England Dressage Association, A Tip of the Hat, August 2007 First Person Experience Article:                        Gold Coast Dressage Association, Flying Changes, August/September 2007: After the Fall by Tracey Winter General Interest/Informatory Article:                  Houston Dressage Society, Collective Remarks, September 2006: Lightness - An Elusive Quality by Paul Kathen GMO Web Site Awards: Layout/Design: GMOs with less than 75 members:        Crossroads Dressage & Combined Training Association (www.cdcts.org) GMOs with 75 to 174 members:           Southern Eventing & Dressage Association (www.sedariders.org) GMOs with 175 to 499 members:         South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association (www.scdcta.com) GMOs with 500 or more members:       New England Dressage Association (www.neda.org) Regional GMO Volunteers of the Year: Region 1:          Alison Head (Hamilton, VA - Virginia Dressage Association) Region 2:          Theresa Luley (Sheridan, IN - Indiana Dressage Association) Region 6:          Francy Haupt (Newberg, OR - Oregon Dressage Society) Region 8:          Diane Holston (Athol, MA - New England Dressage Association) Region 9:          Marilyn Kulifay (Houston, TX - Houston Dressage Society) Grow Your GMO Challenge: GMOs with less than 75 members:                    South Carolina Dressage & Combined Training Association (315.79% growth) GMOs with 75 to 174 members:                       Central Texas Dressage Society (112.5% growth) GMOs with 175 to 499 members:                     Dressage Association of Southern California (27.86% growth) GMOs with 500 or more members:                   Georgia Dressage & Combined Training Association (12.71% growth) Ruth Arvanette Memorial Fund Grants Guy R. Vaughn (Sonoita, AZ) Robyn Comeau (Kathleen, GA) Carol A. Voogd (Spokane, WA) _________________________________________________________________ Important Competition Information for 2008   1. USDF Non-Member Fee: Effective 10/1/2007: For each USDF non-member (NM) owner/lessee, and USDF non-member rider there will be a USDF non-member fee of $20 per competition that must be collected by the show secretary and submitted along with the USDF Report of Fees document. In addition, a $5 affidavit fee must be collected if the person cannot provide a copy of their USDF NM card. (For persons applying for the first time for a non-member number the $5 affidavit fee is not required.) Owners/lessees or riders exempt from the non-member number requirements are also exempt from paying the USDF non-member fee (see exception below). An individual with a USDF NM identification number is not eligible for any USDF membership benefits. Competitors can apply for a USDF NM identification number online or at the competition. Once a USDF NM number has been assigned, a USDF NM card can be obtained from the USDF Web site. New USDF Non-Member/Affidavit forms and the updated USDF Report of Fees document may be ordered by using the Competition Management Supplies order form that is located on the USDF Web site under the Competition Management Resources page or by calling the competitions department at (859) 971-2277. All forms may also be downloaded from the USDF Web site and will be sent directly to show managers soon on a convenient CD. Exception: Riders and owners/lessees competing only in classes which are exempt from the USDF HID requirements are also exempt from the USDF non-member ID requirements. These classes include Individual Breed Classes (IBC) at DSHB competitions; breed restricted dressage or DSHB classes at Regular Competitions (e.g. all Arabian, all Friesian, or all Morgan classes; USDF Introductory Level, Pas de Deux, or Quadrille classes; FEI ParaEquestrian classes; or leadline, exhibitions, games and races, classes for 4-H members, walk-trot and academy classes. Also exempt are Handlers of horses competing in DSHB In-Hand or Group classes. 2. USDF/Dover Adult Amateur Medal Test Requirement (Effective 10/1/2007) The USDF/Dover Medal class must be designated as a Second Level Test Three class or an applicable Test of Choice class where the rider must ride Second Level Test Three. 3. Prize List Submission (Effective 10/1/2007) USDF will be requiring that each show submit an official prize list. This official prize list must consist of all of the required and relevant pages; these may be copied out of the Omnibus. (This includes the USDF Recognition Page and entry form). Please submit electronic copies of your prize list to prizelist@usdf.org. Please label each prize list submission as a draft, official copy, or update. This will help us to avoid any confusion in the results submission and also help us keep track of where each show is in the revision process. We encourage each show to submit a draft copy to us for review so that any changes that are needed can be made prior to the prize list going to print. 4. NAJYRC Results Submission (Effective 10/1/2007) USDF has implemented a new requirement to ensure the scores are recorded correctly as NAJC/NAYRC qualifying scores. The class name in the results must be exactly as follows: NAJC Junior Team, NAJC Junior Ind., NAJC Junior Freestyle, NAYRC Young Rider Team, NAYRC Young Rider PSG, and NAYRC Young Rider Freestyle. If this requirement is not met the scores may not be recorded correctly. 5. Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Guest Carded Judges: DR202 General Regulations. [Chapter DR - Dressage Division] Effective 12/1/07: A competition with a Federation licensed Dressage Sport Horse Breeding division must have a Federation licensed Dressage Sport Horse breeding judge and a Federation licensed dressage technical delegate. Guest Cards to judge DSHB classes are granted only to currently licensed foreign FEI Dressage Judges and foreign breeding experts. (See GR1009.) 6. Increase to USDF Administration Fees (Effective 10/1/2007) Please note that beginning with competitions scheduled in the 2008 USDF competition year (beginning October 1, 2007), the administration fees have increased to $75 per competition, regardless of the number of days in length. ________________________________________________________________

USDF Issues Update On Electronic Results Submission Standard LEXINGTON, KY--USDF would like to inform all show managers and show secretaries that USDF is changing its protocol for sending electronic results (USDF Electronic Results Submission Standard--ERSS), effective immediately. The new protocol for electronic submission will simply be sending your results in a PDF format emailed to results@usdf.org. We will continue to refer to this new protocol for submission of results as the USDF ERSS. The standards as outlined in the USDF Results, Fees, and Paperwork Submission Guidelines must still be followed, however, most dressage competition software is already adhering to these standards, and therefore, if you use this software, you are already in compliance with USDF requirements.       Also, effectively immediately, you do not need to code each ride, which had been required in the original ERSS format or protocol. Coding was becoming too complicated, making it difficult to receive accurate results data into our system via a truly electronic process. When you are ready to submit your results electronically to USDF, the Adobe (PDF)  format for submission must be used. (This is already an option with most show software products.) As long as you follow the USDF results submission guidelines, and email results to USDF in a PDF format, you will be in compliance with the new USDF ERSS format or protocol. You can find more details about the correct format and PDF software at http://www.usdf.org/electronicresults/index.asp As the sport grows and changes, it is apparent that we need to create a system that can accommodate these changes while also creating more efficiency for show management, facilitating the processing of results by USDF staff, and meeting the future data needs of USEF and USDF. The goal still remains to build such a system of results submission, but for now, USDF requests that you send your electronic results via PDF. This will ensure that USDF will receive a consistent and usable results format, while continuing to work towards designing and improving the capabilities of a true electronic submission process. You can also send your results via hard copy and mailed directly to USDF. Effective October 1, 2006, USDF will no longer accept faxed results. If you have questions or would like more information on how to submit results to USDF you may access our website at http://www.usdf.org/competition/managementResources.asp or contact Krystina Firth or 859-271-7895.