The United States Dressage Federation announced on June 28 that Axel Steiner of San Marcos, California, and Jane Savoie of Wellington, Florida, will be inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 2019. Steiner and Savoie will be recognized at the Salute Gala & Annual Awards Banquet, held at the 2019 Adequan/USDF Annual Convention in Savannah, Georgia.

Established to honor and preserve the achievements of the people and horses that made outstanding contribution to the growth, development, quality, popularity and appreciation of dressage in the United States, the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame represents the most influential and dedicated within our sport, making Steiner and Savoie perfect candidates for induction.

Axel Steiner is a USEF ‘S’ and retired FEI 5* Judge, having served as such for numerous Olympics, World Cup Finals and Pan American Games. Born and raised in Wiesbaden, Germany, Steiner immigrated to the United States in 1961, to join the Air Force. While there he started teaching basic horsemanship and dressage.

In addition to becoming the first U.S. judge to gain the FEI 5* classification, Steiner is also one of the founders of USDF and has dedicated himself to the sport by having served as a member of USDF’s L program faculty since its inception, a longtime member and three-year chair of the USDF Judges Committee, and a member of the USEF Dressage Committee, including sub-committees dedicated to Test Writing, Rules, Young Horse, and Judge Education. In addition, Steiner has also authored numerous articles for publications such as USDF Connection, Dressage Today, and The Chronicle of the Horse, as well as providing the forewords to several books.

A high performance rider, who has represented and competed for the U.S. as part of the United States Equestrian Team, Jane Savoie is also the author of six books, publisher of four videos and a collaborator on eight additional titles, all of which serve to connect with the adult amateur dressage rider. Through her experience, knowledge, and motivational speaking, Savoie has continued to resonate with dressage riders in the USDF.

Savoie has been a longtime member of USDF, as well as numerous USDF Group Member Organizations, and has dedicated herself to educating its members through her time as the lead instructor of the USDF Adult Clinic Series in 2007-2008, as well as serving as an instructor for numerous USDF University events and convention education sessions.